From Facebook to Twitter to Pinterest, social media is every where and constantly changing. Busy freelancers may feel overwhelmed by what seems like a lot of work without initial payoff. Most are too busy chasing clients and doing work to check news feeds. However, for those who use it, social media can be an outlet for gaining new clients and establishing brand authority. Here’s some useful ways to use social media to further your freelance business.

Establish your brand

“Good use of social media should be an extension of what you’re doing offline,” NYU Social Media professor Jim Hopkinson said. Having an online presence gives potential clients a choice in how they interact with your product. Said Hopkinson, “some clients may prefer the 140 character version” while others may be more engaged with videos or blog articles. The point is to engage potential clients in whatever format works for them. It may not seem like much but you never know what will happen when you tweet.

Get involved with real conversations

New York -based Independent social media consultant Harry Raymond recently moved and tweeted Excited to finish my move into the East Village. Within minutes a furniture store in the area tweeted back Welcome to the Neighborhood. “That’s it. No ad. No deal. Just trying to open a relationship with a potential customer.” For Raymond social media is most effective when it pulls customers in. “Don’t push content onto potential customers. Get involved in conversations with them.” Hopkinson referred to this as “9 to 1” where nine out of every ten posts are personal for every one marketing based tweet or post.

Listen as well as promote

It’s important to stay on the radar of those in your community. Liking posts on Facebook or retweeting inspiring tweets are good steps. Sites like alltop.com and tweetreach.com are designed to show you what others are talking about in your field. A retweet or a link to your blog article from an influencer can significantly increase your visibility in your field. No one wants to link to ads, so, find a way to articulate your interest and establish your voice. By engaging with the community you establish yourself as an authority and build your credibility.

Images courtesy of Flickr, Rosaura Ochoa

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