How to Build a Strong Client Base: Tips from Yash Pradhan?

We speak to Yash Pradhan, a freelance designer with a strong list of clients, including Adidas, GAP, Amplifier, boAt, The Collective, and Flipkart. Yash shares his insights on building a successful freelance career.

Yash Pradhan is a freelance designer with a strong list of clients. In this interview, he shares his insights on the importance of personal branding, networking, client relationships, and staying attuned to industry trends in building a successful freelance career.

Personal Branding

Personal branding helped me stand out from the competition as unique and aligned with client’s needs and values,” Yash says. “Strong branding conveys honesty, transparency, and reliability, which goes a long way in building trust with clients.

Yash built his personal brand by showcasing his skills and expertise on his personal website and social media. He also made a point of sharing valuable content, case studies, and success stories that demonstrated his knowledge and experience to potential clients.

Networking

Networking is another key component of client acquisition for freelancers, according to Yash. “Building and nurturing relationships within your industry can lead to new opportunities and a steady stream of clients,” he says.

Yash networks both online and offline. He attends industry events, connects with people on LinkedIn, and shares his work on social media. He also makes a point of being helpful and supportive to other freelancers.

Client Relationships

Yash believes that strong client relationships are essential for success as a freelancer. “I start by establishing open and honest communication with my client from the beginning,” he says. “We discuss project objectives, goals, and expectations, and I clearly define the project scope, timelines, deliverables, and milestones in our contract or proposal.

Yash is also flexible and adaptable. “While I have my creative vision, I’m always willing to make adjustments based on client feedback and evolving project requirements,” he says. “When clients feel heard, valued, and satisfied with the final results, they are more likely to return for future projects and refer you to others.”

Industry Trends

The creative industry is constantly evolving, so freelancers need to stay attuned to the latest trends. Yash does this by reading industry newsletters and following design blogs and influencers on social media. He also makes a point of experimenting with new techniques and styles.

Golden Piece of Advice

Yash’s golden piece of advice for freelancers is to “stay consistent in your creative work and prioritise relationships and reputation.”

“Building strong client relationships and maintaining a positive professional reputation can lead to a steady stream of work and long-term success,” he says

Yash shares a personal anecdote that encapsulates the importance of personal branding and client relationships in his journey:

• A few years ago, I started using some prominent design assets in the form of repetition in different designs. I used these assets in a way that was unique and aligned with my personal brand. As a result, my work started to get noticed by more people, and I started to attract more clients.

• One day, I received an email from a client who said that they loved my work and wanted to hire me for a project. They said that they had been following me on social media for some time and that they were impressed with my use of repetition in my designs.

• I was so excited to be hired by this client, and I was grateful that my personal branding efforts had paid off. This experience taught me that it’s important to be authentic to yourself and to let your personal brand shine through in your work.

Pradhan’s insights are valuable for any freelancer who is looking to build a strong client base and achieve success in their career. As Yash Pradhan’s journey demonstrates, authenticity and consistency are key to building a strong personal brand. By showcasing their unique skills and values, freelancers can attract clients who are aligned with their vision. Additionally, by nurturing relationships with clients and colleagues, freelancers can develop a strong network that can lead to new opportunities.

Ultimately, success as a freelancer is about more than just having the skills and experience to do the job. It is also about building trust, delivering value, and maintaining a positive reputation