Marketing. Ugh.
It’s like going running on a cold rainy day. You know it’s good for you, but you don’t really want to.
You may be the most talented creative in your field but if no one’s heard of you, your business isn’t going to grow. SEO can help, sure, but it takes time. And unless you’re paying a premium to stay at the top of everyone’s searches, that could take forever.
So, what do you do instead? How can you make sure the people who want to hire you actually find you?
How, Where, and To Whom
Let’s start with how to advertise your creative freelance business : the methods, channels, and approaches you can take.
There are two big categories of marketing:
- Broadcast marketing (to many people at once): social media, blogs, podcasts, newsletters, or even paid ads.
- One-to-one marketing: cold outreach, networking, collaborations, and word-of-mouth.
Cold emails scare a lot of creatives. I get it. For the longest time, I told myself, “No way, I’m not sending emails to strangers!” But we’re not talking about spamming here. I started with just five emails a day — specific, personalized messages to people in companies that hire voiceover talent.
It was small, consistent effort that paid off months later. People I’d emailed got back to me with auditions and job offers, sometimes ten months later. That’s the power of showing up. And don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a reply. People are busy and often save those emails for a rainy day. Don’t assume you’re being ignored.
When it comes to how you market, choose methods that align with your strengths:
- Love writing? Start a blog or newsletter.
- Work with visuals? Post short videos or reels.
- Work with sound? Record a podcast or audio samples.
Pick one medium you actually enjoy, and do it consistently.
Then comes where to market yourself. That’s the space your audience hangs out, online and in person.
LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or niche job platforms for voice actors like Voice123 or Bodalgo can all work. Figure out where your industry buyers live.
And don’t underestimate in-person connections: local networking events, conferences, or casual meetups. Just remember to read the room. Some spaces are for pitching. Others are for listening. (And yes, never corner someone in the bathroom — not cool.)
Finally, to whom should you market?
Not to “everyone.” Your ideal client is specific.
Who would you love to work for? Who values what you do? Who has a problem you can solve with your skillset?
Think about their industry, role, goals, and even company size. The way you pitch to a marketing director at a big agency isn’t the same as how you’d approach a small business owner who does everything themselves.
Why It Matters
Why be so specific? Because general messaging doesn’t resonate.
If your posts or outreach aren’t aimed at a clear audience, they’ll fall flat, or worse, get ignored. When your message has focus, your ideal clients self-select and think, “She’s talking to me.”
Being strategic with your “how,” “where,” and “to whom” helps you:
- Stop wasting time shouting into the void.
- Build visibility where decision-makers actually look.
- Attract work that’s aligned with your goals and expertise.
And here’s a truth I’ve learned in both fitness and freelancing:
Consistency beats intensity.
You don’t need a massive marketing push once a year, just steady effort that compounds over time.
Take Action
Start with these three steps:
- Pick your channel.
Choose one marketing platform or method that feels natural and doable for you. - Show up where it counts.
Find out where your ideal clients hang out — both online and offline — and focus your energy there. - Reach out to real people.
Make a list of two or three dream clients, and write them a short, thoughtful email explaining how you can help them. Then…and this is the hard part…hit send.
There are no guarantees in life, only risks worth taking.
You won’t always know how your marketing will turn out. But if you don’t try, you won’t grow.
So get out there, stay authentic, and make those future clients glad they found you.
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Want more?
This article is based on my Freelance Fitness podcast episode, “Marketing Your Creative Freelance Business: How, Where, and To Whom.”
Each week, I coach you through a 10-minute workout and a creative business challenge — because building endurance matters in both.
Listen on your favourite platform, and let’s keep growing — in business and in strength.
