Strategies to generate leads as an IT Contractor

Strategies to generate leads as an IT Contractor

IT contractors often rely on recruitment agencies to secure work due to convenience and ease of access to job opportunities. However, marketing your contracting business can open doors for clients to approach you directly. This not only saves you looking for clients but also cuts out the agency, saving your client the agency costs and giving you more control over contract terms and day rates. It can be a daunting task to generate leads on your own, however it’s not as difficult as it sounds. Here are some of the best strategies for you to consider implementing.

Build Your Own Website

Why not distinguish yourself from other IT contractors by going beyond a traditional CV and instead creating your own website? This is an excellent way to showcase your skills, experience, and past projects. It’s also relatively affordable, and with the right knowledge, you can have your website up and running within a day or two. If you’ve also already set up a Limited Company or are thinking about doing so, having a website can increase your credibility, and show potential clients that you’re serious about your career as an IT contractor.

Make Good Use of Social Media

It is essential to harness the power of social media, particularly LinkedIn, which is the largest B2B social media platform. Many businesses advertise contract roles on LinkedIn, making it an ideal platform to find potential opportunities. To make your profile stand out, be sure to include:

• A professional profile picture
• A headline that clearly defines your expertise as an IT contractor
• A comprehensive list of projects you’ve worked on
• A compelling summary highlighting why companies should choose you over other IT contractors

Create Profiles on Job Sites

When registering for contractor job sites, take the time to detail your skills, experience, and qualifications and specify the types of roles you’re interested in. Remember, it’s not only recruiters who use these platforms; hiring managers also pay to access their CV databases. Some recommended job sites for contractors include; Indeed, CW Jobs, Monster, OnlyContractJobs, Reed, itjobswatch (for IT contracting roles), and Jobserve (for IT and engineering roles).

Network, Network, Network

Networking, both online and in-person, is a valuable way to raise your professional profile, expand your circle of connections, and meet like-minded IT contractors. Explore in-person meetups on platforms like Eventbrite and business forums related to your industry. Alternatively, engage in online networking by joining Facebook or LinkedIn groups, or participating in Twitter chats. By joining LinkedIn groups you’ll be able to widen your network by linking with other members of the group.

It’s important not to be discouraged if you don’t get enquiries straight away as it often takes time to build relationships and trust. Just remember that it will all be worth it in the long run! If you’ve already set up a Limited Company or you’re considering doing so, through the use of a contractor accountant, they can also point you in the direction where their other clients find the majority of their work at that particular time.

Request Referrals

If you have already successfully completed some projects and have established a network of IT contractor friends, consider referring roles to each other when you lack the capacity to take them on yourself. Additionally, if you had a positive experience with a client, why not ask them to refer you to their friends and colleagues? It’s always worth asking!

How SG Accounting can help

If you’re new to contracting and require the assistance of an experienced contractor accountant, or if you’re considering switching accountants, click here to explore our all-inclusive monthly accounting packages. We can set up a Limited Company for you, and provide you with the expertise support and advice to help you succeed as an IT contractor. Alternatively, you can contact us on 01962 867550 or get in touch, and we’ll be glad to assist you.

Note: All the information and advice in this blog post was correct at the time of writing.