How to get clients for your social media marketing agency or freelance business

Wondering how to get clients for social media marketing? We've all been there!

Whether you're running a social media marketing agency or managing brands as a freelance social media manager, getting new clients can be one of the most challenging processes to master. But with the right approach, client acquisition can be smooth sailing! 

In this blog post, we cover seven tried-and-true strategies for getting new social media marketing clients. Let's dive in!

Build your personal brand get clients for your social media marketing agency

If you want to land more social media marketing clients, consider building your personal brand. A strong personal brand doesn't just increase your reach and credibility. It also attracts real business opportunities! 60% of consumers are more likely to do business with a company that uses personal branding effectively.

To get started, pick a platform that you feel comfortable on – maybe it's LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok. Then follow personal brand best practices to connect with your community and build relationships with new social media clients. 

The best part about building a personal brand is you don't have to be an extrovert or a big-name influencer to find success. Introverts can build powerful personal brands too! If you need some inspiration for your posts, steal our 25 personal branding prompts. Or take a peek at our community manager's personal brand on LinkedIn. s Alyssa post about all things social media management (and she loves to cheer on other social media managers!). 

Attend conferences to get clients for your social media marketing agency

Planning to attend any social media marketing conferences this year? It might be a good idea to add a conference or two to your calendar. 

New social media marketing clients may not hang out at conferences. But other social media marketing agencies certainly do! Conferences provide an excellent opportunity for social media managers and agencies to network – and build business partnerships! 

If you specialize in organic content creation, you could join forces with a digital ads agency that wants to outsource its clients' day-to-day social media management. Alternatively, if you specialize in TikTok marketing, a partnership with an influencer-focused agency could help you expand your pool of new social media marketing clients. At the very least, attending social media marketing conferences helps other agencies and freelancers know your name and area of expertise – so they feel comfortable referring new potential clients to you. 

To make even more of your conference experience, consider submitting yourself as a guest speaker. Leading a social media marketing session is a surefire way to establish your credibility in the industry. 

Here's a list of 35 marketing and social media conferences to help you get started. 

Join online communities to get clients for your social media marketing agency

Where do social media managers go when they need industry insights, helpful resources, and words of encouragement? Online communities, of course!

But there’s another benefit of joining social media management communities: They can help you grow your client roster! Many groups allow members to post about legitimate work opportunities. Here’s an example posted by Paul Strong in the HeyOrca Community.

If you're on the hunt for new clients, make being an active member of social media management communities a part of your client acquisition strategy. Pro tip: Keep your social media management portfolio up to date so you’re ready to prove your impact whenever a new opportunity gets posted.

Not sure where to find the best online communities? Don't worry. We did your homework for you! Check out our list of 9 Facebook groups every social media manager should join. 

Cold pitch to get clients for your social media marketing agency

Cold pitching involves sending an email to a prospective client who doesn't yet know who you are or what you offer. It's a tactic that can (understandably) make some social media managers feel apprehensive. 

But before you cross cold pitching off of your list for being too "salesy" or forward, give it a try with a list of thoughtfully curated businesses or brands. 

First, identify your ideal customer profile (ICP). This profile is just what it sounds like: a description of the perfect client for your agency. It may include industry, location, company size, budget, revenue, pain points, and core desires. Once you have a clear idea of what your ideal social media client looks like, do your research to compile a list of businesses that seem like a perfect match. 

From there, you can use our pitching tips to introduce yourself:

Wondering if cold pitches really work? They do! But don't expect a response to every cold email you send. Only 8.5% of cold emails get a reply. However, you can improve your chances of landing a new social media client by personalizing your pitches and following up with prospective clients. Personalized subject lines can boost open rates by 50%. And multiple follow-up emails can double response rates! 

Leverage referrals to get clients for your social media marketing agency 

Chances are that your existing clients have relationships with similar brands and businesses that could use your services. So don't be shy. Ask for a referral! 

The next time your social media client emails you with glowing feedback or praise, follow up by asking them to recommend you to their network. You can even incentivize your client by offering a discount on your services for every successful referral. According to Sakas and Company, agency referral fees typically fall between 5% and 10% of revenue. 

Similarly, you can make a habit of asking for testimonials from your existing social media clients. This social proof will help your prospective clients better understand your approach and results as they evaluate whether or not they want to work with you. Here’s a simple email template you can use to ask for a testimonial:

“Hey [First name], 

So glad to hear you’re loving [your service(s)]!

I’m actually in the process of building out my portfolio of testimonials, and I would love to add your voice to the mix.

Would you be open to providing a short testimonial about your experience working with [your business name]?

Thanks,
[Your name]”

Offer freebies to get clients for your social media marketing agency

Everybody likes a freebie! Attract more social media marketing clients with a free, value-packed resource. 

First, create a lead magnet that solves your target audience's problem and shows that you're an expert. Then, promote your offer by posting organically or running paid social ads. (Don’t be afraid to collect email addresses so you can nurture your leads with friendly follow-up emails!)

Here are 10 freebie ideas to help you get more social media marketing clients:

1. A complimentary social media marketing audit

2. Free Canva templates for engaging social posts

3. A live workshop on the platform you know best

4. A checklist for optimizing company social profiles

5. An ebook on organic social for ecommerce brands

6. A video tutorial on how to navigate TikTok SEO

7. An interactive quiz that reveals marketing advice

8. A resource list chock-full of all your go-to tools

9. A workbook that helps brands develop content pillars

10. Swipe files of engaging posts for boring industries

Write blog posts to get clients for your social media marketing agency 

What should you do when your website looks fantastic but isn't getting traffic from new social media clients? Start blogging! 

Companies with active blogs get 67% more leads every month compared to companies that don't blog. Businesses that blog also have 434% more indexed pages and 97% more inbound links. Makes you want to start typing up an article, right? 

Here are five things to keep in mind as you blog to attract clients for social media marketing:

1. Use keywords that are relevant to your prospective social media marketing clients. We like Semrush for SEO keyword research. 

2. Keep your topics client-focused. Your blog posts should provide valuable tips and resources for your target audience. Save the humble brags for case studies.

3. Include visuals, such as social posts, videos, and infographics. The industry standard, according to Orbit Media, is between 1 and 3 visuals. 

4. Include CTAs. If you have an offer you think your reader will love, there's nothing wrong with giving them a (gentle) nudge in the right direction. 

5. To attract social media marketing clients, aim to publish a new blog post about once per week. Although a high posting frequency can result in better outcomes, quality-over-quantity is the best approach. 

Summary

Bringing in new clients is a key part of running a successful social media marketing agency or freelance business. And it doesn’t have to be a painful or complicated process! Add these simple but effective methods to your strategy to discover what works best for you and your team. 

To score more free resources, industry insights, and social media tips, subscribe to our daily newsletter, the HeyOrca Brief.