Do you want to know how to get more referrals for your freelance business? If so, you’re in the right place!

Landing new clients can often feel like the most unpredictable part of freelance life. One month, you might be fully booked, and the next, you’re wondering where the next project will come from. Many people are intimidated by this unpredictably so they shy away from starting a career as a freelancer.

But the truth is, there are things you can do to drastically improve the odds that you get new clients month after month. One of the best things you can do is start getting referrals.

People are way more likely to check out your business if they see that other people have tried it and seen positive results. Here’s some context that really highlights the importance of referrals: around 80% of people say they ask friends or family for recommendations when they want to make a purchase.

Today, we’ll share why referrals are so good for your freelance business and, more importantly, how you can get more and win over your audience.

Let’s dive in!

Benefits of Referrals for Your Freelance Business

Before we start looking at actionable strategies, let’s go over some of the advantages you’ll see when you start tapping into the power of referrals.

• Higher Quality Clients. Referrals often come from your most satisfied clients. This means you’re more likely to work with people who already understand your values and working style, which leads to smoother projects and more successful collaborations.
• Increased Conversion Rates. Referred leads are warmer leads. Because they come with a built-in level of trust from the referrer, they are significantly more likely to become paying clients, boosting your conversion rates and making your client acquisition efforts more efficient.
• Reduced Marketing Costs and Time. Referrals are essentially a free form of marketing. Getting high-quality referrals may reduce the need to spend time and money on traditional marketing, which will free up your resources so you can focus on delivering excellent work.
• Stronger Client Relationships. Asking for and receiving referrals strengthens your relationships with existing clients. It shows they’re happy and creates a feedback loop that boosts loyalty and encourages people to work with you in the future.
• Build Credibility and Trust. Referrals serve as powerful social proof. Recommendations from others instantly enhance your credibility and build trust with potential customers. This is particularly valuable for business owners entering a new market.
• Faster Business Growth. Consistent referrals are one of the most powerful ways to grow your business. This is an organic and reliable source of new clients that can accelerate your growth in a way that’s both effective and sustainable.

And just to put a point on the last benefit, check out this data. A whopping 91% of freelancers say they get work from referrals and word-of-mouth marketing!

When and How to Get Referrals

At this point, you know about the power of referrals, so the next logical question is: how do you actually get them?

When you know when and how to ask, you’ll be in a much better position to get referrals for your freelance business.

When to Ask for Referrals

Timing is super important when it comes to getting reviews for your business. You want to ask when clients are most likely to report feeling satisfied with their experience.

Here are a few moments to consider:

1. After Completing a Project

This is often the most natural and effective time to ask for a referral, and for good reason.

At this point, you’ve just delivered on your promises, hopefully, exceeded expectations, and the client is happy with the results. Since you held up to your end of the deal and did a great job, they’re more likely to help you out and give a referral.

You’ll want to seize the moment and make asking for a referral a natural part of the process. Your thank you page or emails could include something like, “It was great doing business with you! It would help a ton if you could let others in your network know that I’m available for future projects.”

This makes the request feel less transactional and more like a genuine opportunity for them to help you by telling people they know about their experience.

2. When a Client is Impressed

It’s a good idea to listen when clients go beyond just saying “thank you” and actively express genuine appreciation for your work.

These seemingly small moments are a perfect opportunity to mention that a referral would be super helpful. If a client is taking the time to tell you how happy they are, it means they truly value your contribution and are more likely to recommend your services to others.

We’ve also found that when people in this position give referrals, they’re often glowing. This will help you gather some much-needed positive feedback so you can build confidence in your skills and attract new clients.

3. Ask After a Milestone

Referral requests don’t always have to wait until the very end of a project to be effective. This is especially true if you’re working on a long-term project.

With this in mind, you can identify natural points within the client relationship, such as after reaching significant milestones or achieving key results, as a good chance to ask for a referral.

These moments serve as tangible proof of progress and success, which means your clients are more likely than not happy with the progress.

For example, if you’re a marketing freelancer and you’ve just helped a client boost website traffic or leads, this milestone is a perfect time to bring up a recommendation.

You can highlight the success you’ve achieved together and then naturally pivot to asking if they know anyone else who could benefit from your services. You’ll be surprised at how many people are willing to give you a referral mid-project if you ask at the right time.

Here’s a great example template featuring this type of request:

4. When You’re Already Booked

It’s easy to think about referrals only when you’re in a client drought and desperately need new work. But this is a bit short-sighted. As a freelancer, building a solid referral pipeline is something you should be doing all the time, not just when you’re slow.

Nurturing your referral network, even when you’re fully booked, will help you set yourself up for long-term success. You’ll have a steady stream of potential clients coming your way, no matter what your current workload looks like.

The main idea here is don’t wait until you need referrals to start thinking about them. Make it a habit to subtly let your clients know you’re always happy to connect with new people who could benefit from your services. This way, you’re proactively building referrals that will keep your freelance business thriving.

How to Ask for Referrals

Asking for referrals is a skill, and like any skill, it gets easier with practice.

Here are some of the best ways to ask for referrals without getting pushy or feeling uncomfortable:

5. Ask Directly

Sometimes, the obvious approach is the best.

Don’t be afraid to simply ask your clients if they know anyone else who could benefit from your services or if they’d like to share their experience with others.

When delivered politely and genuinely, this is one of the best ways to get referrals.

The key here is to make sure your request is framed as coming from a place of wanting to help others. Emphasize that you’re looking to connect with people who could benefit from your expertise and that you value your client’s insights. This shifts the focus from you “getting something” to them “helping someone.”

When asking, be sure to keep your message concise and appreciative. A simple, “If you happen to know anyone else who could benefit from my services, I’d be grateful if you’d consider sending them my way” can be all it takes to open the door to valuable referrals. Politeness and directness can go a long way.

Here are some more statistics to consider just so you can see how big of an impact asking for referrals can have on your business: 

6. Make it Easy for Clients

I’m sure you know, but people are busy. If you want clients to actually refer you, you gotta make it ridiculously easy for them to do so.

The more hoops they have to jump through, the less likely they are to bother. So, your mission is to remove any and all friction from the referral process.

If a client agrees, you could provide them with ready-made tools and resources that they can quickly and easily share in their network. This could be as simple as drafting a short email template they can forward or creating a shareable link to your website or portfolio.

Your goal is to create a system that practically does the work for them. For example, if you have a referral program, give them personalized referral links they can easily share. Or, if email is your main channel, provide pre-written email snippets that highlight your key services and are ready to send.

The easier you make it, the more referrals you’re likely to get.

7. Be specific

We suggest avoiding asking for referrals in a general, vague way. If you really want to get quality leads, you need to be specific about the kind of referrals you’re hoping for. The more direction you give your clients, the better they can help you.

Think about your ideal client. What industry are they in? What type of projects are you really trying to land? Share these details with your clients when you ask for referrals. This helps them narrow their focus and think of people in their network who are actually a good fit for you.

So, instead of saying, “If you know anyone who needs my services,” try something like, “If you know any marketers who need help with creating content, I’d love to connect with them.”

Being specific like this will drastically improve the quality of the referrals you receive and make it easier for your clients to connect you with the right people.

8. Frame it as Helping Others

When you ask for referrals, it’s crucial to think about how you’re framing this request. You should try to shift the focus away from your needs and instead talk about how you want to help others.

People are more responsive when you emphasize value for everyone involved.

Your clients are not likely to respond if you put the focus on yourself and your needs. But if they can see they’re helping people in their network solve the same problem they faced, they’re more likely to take action.

For example, you could say something like, “If you know anyone who’s struggling with [the problem you solve] or could really use help with [your expertise], I’d be happy to offer them a free consultation.” This approach makes the referral about providing a solution, rather than just growing your freelance empire.

9. Show that You are Open to New Clients

You don’t always have to make a big, direct ask for referrals. Sometimes, all it takes is subtly showing that you’re available across your primary communication channels.

One easy way to do this is to mention in your email signature that you’re currently accepting new clients or projects.

Something simple like, “P.S. I’m happy to connect with new clients – referrals are always appreciated!” can work wonders. It’s a low-key way to let everyone you email know you’re open for business.

You can also subtly weave this into your social media profiles. Your LinkedIn about section, your X (Twitter) bio, or even your Instagram profile are all prime real estate to casually mention that you welcome new collaborations.

Best Practices for Building Trust

As you can tell by now, there are a few things you have to think about when getting referrals. But one of the key elements throughout all of this is trust. You can’t expect clients to send business your way if they don’t truly trust you and believe in your abilities.

Luckily, there are quite a few ways you can build trust with all of your clients, which will dramatically boost your chances of getting a referral.

Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

• Deliver Exceptional Work – Consistently delivering outstanding work is the most effective way to build trust. Clients are more likely to refer you if they are confident you will deliver excellent results, as referrals reflect on their own reputation.
• Communicate Clearly & Proactively – Strong communication is one of the best ways to build trust with clients. Always keep clients informed about project progress, potential challenges, and timelines so they’re in the loop. Transparent and open communication shows that you’re professional and reliable.
• Go the Extra Mile – Going above and beyond, even in small ways, is a great way to boost client trust. We suggest looking for opportunities to exceed expectations, provide extra value, or give unexpected support. These gestures show that you genuinely care about your client’s success and are willing to do what it takes to win them over.
• Build Genuine Relationships – Take the time to understand your clients’ businesses, goals, and challenges beyond just the project scope. Authentic connections make clients feel valued and build a stronger foundation for long-term partnerships and referrals.
• Showcase Social Proof – Actively showcase testimonials, case studies, and positive client feedback to build trust with potential referrals. Make it easy for people to see evidence of your expertise and the positive experiences of your past clients. Social proof significantly reduces perceived risk for new clients coming through referrals.
• Thank Referrers & Referred Clients – Always express sincere gratitude to clients who send referrals and to the referred clients themselves. Acknowledge and appreciate their support to reinforce positive behavior and strengthen relationships. Saying “thank you” shows you value their referrals and helps build your referral network.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it! If you couldn’t tell by now, referrals are truly one of the most powerful, yet often underutilized, strategies for growing your freelance business.

By understanding the immense benefits of referrals, mastering the art of asking at the right time and in the right way, and consistently building trust, you can unlock a consistent stream of high-quality clients and accelerate your freelance growth.

If you’re not currently asking for referrals, now is the time to start!