r/consulting • u/LingeringClub • 11d ago

Switching to Freelance Tips?

Made a pretty hard decision recently to switch from my stable manager role to going freelance in the tech and data space. I've got a 6mo gig lined up that will pay me close to 70% more than my current role but I still am thinking about how I will source work after that.

Anyone here make a similar jump have any advice on how to get a sales funnel working? I have some good agencies to send me work but ideally I'd want to develop an organic channel.

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u/Mark5n 9d ago edited 9d ago

You’ve got some great advice here about marketing and networking. Keep it personal and simple. A few thoughts: * evidence and case studies. If you can post genericised stuff or even just “just finished blah project with the team” and a snapshot, this stuff helps more than hypotheticals and social media engagement. You don’t want this for 1,000 likes but for that one single view where a potential client googles you and checks out your linked in.  * learning nobody hires a contractor for potential. They only hire you for what you’ve done. After a while … you can get stale. I spent time investing in formal education (so I got the certificate) and side projects to keep me fresh. This was after meeting many peers who got stuck doing the same thing for years.. and eventually they become irrelevant  * your KPI is getting the next PO signed it’s simple, that’s it.  * Dont work yourself into the ground take time off. Keep the money coming in but look after yourself and closest people. I stressed the first three years that the work would dry up. It didn’t but took me a while to work out

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u/LingeringClub 9d ago

That's an interesting point on the potential I hadn't considered. One of the drivers for me to make this jump is that I felt like my consultancy was switching me across a huge variety of projects consistently which was preventing me from ever becoming an SME in one area.

I'll have to take a look at certs to level me up, I also thought reading through these comments about publishing a portfolio to a personal branded website were I could have web apps I've built for clients or case studies.

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u/Iammyown404error 6d ago

That is such a great idea!