How to Use LinkedIn as a Freelancer (Guest Post)

If you’ve ever logged onto LinkedIn for “just five minutes” and somehow emerged 40 minutes later feeling both inspired and like you’re a failure because another freelancer else just secured a $100K contract… welcome to the club. You’re not alone by a long-shot.

LinkedIn can be a powerful tool for freelancers. But only when used with intention. 

It can connect you with new clients and keep you in the loop with industry trends. However, it can also be a never-ending scroll of your peers’ success stories that make you feel invisible as a freelancer, even if you’ve been in the game for 10+ years. 

Let’s break down how to actually use LinkedIn to grow your freelance business without losing your sanity (or your confidence).

1. Think of Your Profile as Your Digital Shop Window

As a freelancer, or even if you’re just a LinkedIn user, your profile is often the first impression people get of you. 

You need to treat it like your virtual storefront. This sounds strange, but hear us out. Your profile should be easy to understand and tailored to your target clients. 43% of LinkedIn users are aged between 25 to 34, so keep this in mind when drafting posts.

Quick checks for your freelance Linkedin profile:

• Headline — Go beyond your job title. Instead of “Freelance Graphic Designer,” try: “Helping eco-friendly brands tell their story through impactful design.” This is especially helpful if you’re targeting a niche industry.

• About section — Write like a human, not a robot. Share what you do, who you help, and why you love it. And don’t stop there. Add a hint of personality, it makes you more memorable and attractive to potential clients. 

• Featured section — Did you know you can pin your best work? From case studies to popular posts, you can show off your finest moments.

• Photo & banner — Don’t forget the visuals. Use a clear, professional headshot and a banner image that reflects your niche or personality. For example, if you’re a quirky copywriter, you can go bolder than a freelance personal assistant. 

Pro Tip: Review your profile every few months. Yes, it might feel like a chore. But your services and focus can shift quickly as a freelancer. LinkedIn should reflect where you are now, not where you were last year.

2. Post With Purpose, Not Pressure

One of the biggest LinkedIn myths is that you need to post every day to be relevant. 

It’s simply not true. What matters is consistency and value. Quality posts on a weekly or monthly schedule will beat every-day quantity. 

There’s no hard or fast rule about what to post. A good rule of thumb is to talk about your client’s pain points or to show previous projects. 

Some additional post ideas that work for freelancers include:

• A behind-the-scenes look at your process

• Quick tips relevant to your niche

• Reflect on a client win (with permission)

• Share lessons learned from a recent project

And remember: done is better than perfect. The post you write and publish today beats the one you overthink for two months.

If you’re really stuck for time, repurpose your content. That blog post you wrote? Pull out a quote for a LinkedIn post. Use a client testimonial. Turn it into a short story about the problem you solved.

3. Engage Like a Real Person (Don’t Be A Sales Bot)

LinkedIn is a networking space. And networking, at its best, is about genuine conversation.

While your main goal is likely to sell services or book clients, you need to avoid looking too pushy. This will scare potential clients off before you hit send.

Engage on LinkedIn like you would at a friendly, in-person networking event. Leave thoughtful comments on posts from people you admire, celebrate others’ wins without comparing yourself, join relevant group or hashtag discussions, and send personalised connection requests instead of generic ones. Never copy and paste those messages!

Flip the sales script. You’re there to listen and build relationships. Not to shove a business card into every hand!

4. Use the Search Function to Find Opportunities

LinkedIn’s search bar is underrated gold. You can find potential clients and even hidden projects to fill gaps when clients cancel freelance projects.

However, you need to know how to search properly. Luckily, this isn’t rocket science. 

• Look up “[Your Service] + hiring” to spot people posting about needing help.
  Use filters to find people in your target industry and location.

• Save your searches so LinkedIn alerts you to new matches.

Once you’ve found some interesting opportunities, it’s time to reach out.

Feeling a shiver down your spine? Yeah, that’s normal. If cold outreach makes you nervous, remind yourself: all freelancers do this. Be polite and offer value. 

You might want to lead in by pointing out where the prospect is failing. For example, their blog might be lacklustre. Sometimes, it’s best not to do this, as it might frustrate the recipient before you know them.

Instead, lead gently and point out your expertise, without criticizing their current posts. Ultimately, you should be humble and frame your messages as solutions, not sales pitches. And if you get rejected, know it’s okay. 

Freelance life isn’t possible without a few no’s!

5. Avoid the Comparison Spiral

You’ve probably heard this exact phrase before about social media, but it bears repeating: LinkedIn is a highlight reel. 

For every client win someone posts, there’s ten pitches (or likely more) you don’t see. There’s nothing wrong with that! But it’s important to keep this in mind while scrolling.

Likewise, whenever you see hundreds of followers or a big milestone update, remember that years of work and experience on gig work platforms have probably led up to that point. 

If you find yourself frequently falling into the comparison trap, first, know that we’ve all been there. And secondly, it might be a sign you need better LinkedIn boundaries. Limit your LinkedIn time to a set block each day or week. 

For me, this looks like a check-in every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday so I’m not overwhelmed. 

Final Thoughts

LinkedIn is an ally to freelancers. It’s a launch pad for your career, one that can even help you land clients and meet freelance friends. But it should never be a place that leaves you feeling like you’re behind.

Hopefully, the main takeaway from this blog is that you can use LinkedIn without the negative side elements, as long as you’re mindful.