“Help! I need better clients.

The ones I have never have enough of a budget. They don’t value my creative services, they constantly haggle with me and they ask for more work than they can pay for.”

Sound familiar? Read on.

about.me has partnered with Ilise Benun, Founder of Marketing-Mentor.com and creator of the 100%-rated Creative Live course, “Command the Fees You Deserve,” to bring you her expert wisdom in the world of promoting yourself as a freelancer.

According to Ilise, it’s time to up your game and get better clients.

Here’s what she says you need:

1. The Right Mindset.
You know the wrong mindset. It sounds like this: “They don’t want to hear from me. I don’t want to sound desperate. If they wanted me, they would call me.” This mindset will undermine every positive effort you make. Instead, cultivate these 3 much more productive mindsets:

• Curiosity: Ask good questions to show you care and to understand your prospects better so you can tailor your marketing to them.
• Generosity: Your services are a gift to those who need them. Don’t hesitate to offer your ideas and your services to help them solve a problem or reach their goals.
• Gratitude: Thank people for sharing their information or responding to your inquiry or trusting you with a project. It makes a difference.

2. Focus.
You can’t be everything to everyone. If you try, you’ll be a blur in the minds of (the ones you really want) your ideal clients. We live in a world of too many options and focus is the key to success. In fact, the more you focus, the clearer your message will be and the easier it will be for those better clients to say, “This is exactly who we need,” when they find you.

3. Creativity.
Don’t leave your creativity at the door when you promote yourself. Use your talents to create targeted strategies and eye-catching materials to get the attention of your ideal clients.

4. A strong online presence.
Your online presence must leave a strong first impression on your ideal clients. Address their pain points and struggles. Show that you understand their needs and demonstrate how your services will satisfy them. Emphasize how you’re different from everyone else who offers similar services.

One great way to present yourself professionally, while maintaining a glimpse of your personal side, is to create an about.me page. Use your bio to speak directly to your ideal clients and your Spotlight as a call to action (for example, “Book a consultation” or “Hire me”).

5. A way to stay in touch.
Timing is everything when it comes to getting the kind of work you want with your ideal clients. If you don’t get and stay on their radar, they will forget you exist. Out of sight, out of mind! So nurture your existing relationships by staying in touch with relevant content that demonstrates why you are exactly who they need when they’re ready.

Follow those five steps, and you’ll get better clients. Whether you work independently or run your own agency, this plan works because it’s not complicated and it won’t overwhelm you.

But you must know who your ideal clients are.

If you don’t already know who your ideal clients are, we invite you to join her for a free webinar, 3 Steps to Your Ideal Client, on March 14, 1-2 PM ET. Even if you can’t make it live, you’ll still get the recording by signing up.

More about Ilise:

Ilise Benun is the founder of Marketing-Mentor.com, the go-to online resource for creative professionals who want better projects with bigger budgets. She is a national speaker, the author of 7 business books, including The Creative Professional’s Guide to Money, a business coach, host of the Get Better Clients Bootcamp and a Program Partner for HOW Design Live, adjunct faculty at Pratt Institute and Maryland Institute College of Art. Learn more about Ilise by visiting her about.me page and be sure to sign up for her Quick Tips here: www.marketing-mentortips.com.

(Photo credit for image featuring 2 people: @jsdaniel via Twenty20.com)