How to Use LinkedIn to Land Freelance Clients

A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Authority and Winning Work

LinkedIn isn’t just for job seekers or corporate recruiters—it’s one of the most powerful platforms for freelancers to attract clients, build trust, and generate steady business.

With over 1 billion users, including thousands of decision-makers, LinkedIn offers massive opportunities for freelancers in every industry. But most aren’t using it right.

In this post, we’ll show you exactly how to use LinkedIn to find freelance clients, grow your brand, and generate inbound leads—without being spammy.

Why Freelancers Should Be on LinkedIn

Before diving into tactics, let’s talk about why LinkedIn is worth your time as a freelancer:

• High-value clients live here: LinkedIn is full of startups, business owners, and marketing teams who outsource work regularly.
• People expect to talk business: Unlike Instagram or TikTok, the default mindset on LinkedIn is professional.
• Organic reach is strong: You can grow a network and reach thousands without spending a dollar on ads.

Whether you're a designer, developer, marketer, writer, or consultant—LinkedIn can help you connect with the right clients.

Step 1: Optimize Your Profile Like a Sales Page

Your LinkedIn profile is your freelance landing page. Most profiles are written like résumés—but you're not looking for a job. You're offering a solution.

Here’s how to make your profile attract clients:

• Headline: Use a value-driven format.
  Example: “Helping SaaS companies boost retention with UX design”
  Avoid: “Freelance Designer | Illustrator | Front-end Dev”
• About Section: Write in the first person. Clearly describe:
  • What you do
  • Who you help
  • How your service solves their problem
  • Social proof or results
• Featured Section: Showcase:
  • Case studies
  • Client testimonials
  • Links to your portfolio or booking page (like Schemon)
• Profile Photo & Banner: Use a clean headshot and a banner that communicates your value visually (e.g., “Available for freelance writing—Let’s talk”)

Step 2: Define and Connect With Your Ideal Client

Don’t randomly connect with everyone. Instead, build a targeted network of:

• Founders
• Marketing directors
• Product managers
• HR or operations leads (depending on your niche)

Use LinkedIn search filters:

• Job title: e.g., “Marketing Manager”
• Industry: e.g., “SaaS”, “E-commerce”
• Location: target areas you serve or prefer

Start by sending 10–20 custom connection requests daily, and always add a short note like:

“Hey [Name], I work with founders like you to improve [X]. Would love to connect!”

Once they accept, don’t pitch immediately. Instead, build rapport by engaging with their content or starting a friendly conversation.

Step 3: Create Valuable Content That Builds Authority

Clients will Google you. Your content should make it obvious you're an expert.

Post content that speaks to client pain points:

• Short tips or how-tos
• Before-and-after case studies
• Client wins and testimonials
• Behind-the-scenes of your process
• Industry insights or trends

Post 2–3 times a week. Consistency is more important than virality.

Examples:

• “Just helped a coaching client streamline onboarding—cut churn by 30%. Here’s how we did it →”
• “3 mistakes I see founders make with landing page copy (and how to fix them)”

When potential clients see your name in their feed, sharing valuable, actionable content, they’re much more likely to reach out.

Step 4: Reach Out With Soft, Strategic Messages

When the time comes to start a conversation, focus on value and relevance, not hard-selling.

Example Outreach Template:

“Hey [Name], I saw your post about launching [X product]. Congrats! I specialize in helping early-stage teams with [your skill]. If you're ever looking for support, happy to share a few ideas—no pressure at all.”

This opens the door without being pushy. If they show interest, you can:

• Send a link to your portfolio or case study
• Offer a free consultation call via your Schemon booking page

Bonus Tips for LinkedIn Freelance Success

• Use LinkedIn’s "Open to Work" setting: Customize it to say “open to freelance gigs”
• Engage daily: Like, comment, and share relevant posts to increase visibility
• Join LinkedIn groups where your clients hang out (not just freelance groups)
• Track outreach and replies in a simple spreadsheet or CRM

Final Thoughts: Build Connections, Not Just Pitches

The freelancers winning on LinkedIn aren’t those spamming inboxes—they’re the ones building relationships, solving real problems, and showing up consistently.

Focus on being helpful, not salesy. Over time, your content and outreach will snowball into referrals, inbound leads, and long-term clients.

Once you find a client, make sure that you invite them to Schemon so that you can transact with them as a freelancer.

👉 Get started free →