Part of the reason the big box stores are so successful is because they make it easy for consumers to find everything they need under one roof. Convenience and Value are hot commodities for today’s movers and shakers.

Just because you are a freelancer, there is no reason why you too can’t capitalize on the offerings of convenience and value. All it takes is a little bit of networking and corroborating with some fellow freelancers and you’re in business.

Let’s pretend you are a freelance cake decorator. Mmmmm

Here are the various means of obtaining clients for your cake decorating business:

• Referrals
• Paid Advertising
• Media (Newspaper articles)
• Trade shows

Ok. Now let’s pretend a potential client is planning their wedding.

Unless they are using a wedding planner, the responsibility and task of meeting with all the different services and business necessary for a wedding can take a whole lot of researching and time. Wouldn’t it be great for the client to have a one stop source for all the different necessities for a wedding?

Cake Decorator (that’s you!)

• Caterer
• Florist
• Photographer
• Entertainment

This is the part that benefits you. Form a group with the other freelancers that offer wedding services. Work together to promote each other from within the group. Boom! Your potential new client base just got 4x better.

Here’s how it would work: The client meets with the Florist to go over their flower choices. While dealing with the Florist, the client becomes aware of your awesome cake decorating skills. How? Perhaps by a flyer or brochure you have available at the florist, perhaps from a direct recommendation from the florist, or perhaps from the prints you have hanging on the wall of previous cakes you’ve done.

The point is, the client is working on one aspect of their wedding, and another aspect can be dealt with at the same time. Value and Convenience.

Each member of your freelance services group should decide on an agreeable method of how the other members will promote themselves with in the other members business. A convenient sheet listing all services and even pricing (if applicable) can be made readily available at each business.

Once your group is in agreement, you can work together as a whole and expand your potential client base. Everyone will benefit from the added marketing exposure at a fraction of the cost it would be to reach the same client base as an individual.

So what’s stopping you from taking the reigns and organizing a freelance services group in your community?

photo credit: TheTruthAbout…