You're a freelance Business Relationship Manager. How do you stay ahead of the competition?

As a freelance Business Relationship Manager (BRM), you have the opportunity to work with different clients, projects, and industries. But you also face a lot of competition from other consultants, agencies, and internal teams. How can you stand out and deliver value to your clients while growing your business? Here are some tips to help you succeed as a freelance BRM.

1 Know your niche

One of the first steps to becoming a successful freelance BRM is to define your niche. What are your strengths, skills, and experience? What kind of clients do you want to work with? What problems can you solve for them? By narrowing down your focus, you can position yourself as an expert, attract the right clients, and charge higher rates. You can also create a portfolio and a personal brand that showcases your niche and your value proposition.

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Kacie Pritt

Regional Director Business Development at HCF Management Inc. | 2024 BTG Podcast Ambassador
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The first step to identifying the right niche involves reflecting on what you’re passionate about, your experience and your vision . Look at who your ideal client is and what problems you can solve for them. Evaluate the market, identify if you are unique in offerings. Ask for feedback from your potential customers, competitors and others in industry.. Always remember who your audience is, & if they know what you offer by your laser focused niche.

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2 Build your network

Another key factor for freelance BRM success is building your network. Networking is not only about finding new clients, but also about maintaining relationships with existing ones, getting referrals, learning from peers, and finding partners. You can network online and offline, by joining relevant communities, platforms, and events, by sharing your insights and feedback, and by offering your help and support. Networking can also help you stay updated on the latest trends, best practices, and opportunities in your field.

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3 Manage your projects

As a freelance BRM, you are responsible for managing your own projects, from planning to execution to evaluation. This means you need to have the skills and tools to handle different aspects of project management, such as scope, budget, timeline, communication, quality, and risk. You also need to be flexible and adaptable, as you may have to deal with changing requirements, expectations, and feedback from your clients. To manage your projects effectively, you need to set clear goals and expectations, use a project management software, track your progress and performance, and communicate regularly with your clients and stakeholders.

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Yuvraj Malik

Capital & Deal-Making Strategist | Accelerating Growth through Investment & M&A
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Ensure you're giving each project enough quality time. Do not try to take on too much at once. I personally use Notion to manage my tasks. I've come up with my own custom template for scope finalization and communication (which I'm happy to share) with my own set of workflows and reminders. Note that the marginal gain from taking on new projects is not worth sacrificing your reputation as a valuable BRM. Ensure you provide quality and convenience to all your clients and ALWAYS choose to update your clients on your progress - even if they don't ask for it. It will show professionalism and adds transparency to your ops, ensuring everyone's on the same page - which will help your client understand timeline/cost changes.

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4 Improve your skills

To stay ahead of the competition, you need to constantly improve your skills as a freelance BRM. You need to keep learning new knowledge, techniques, and tools that can help you deliver better results to your clients. You also need to develop your soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, negotiation, and problem-solving, that are essential for building trust and rapport with your clients. You can improve your skills by taking online courses, reading books and blogs, listening to podcasts, attending webinars and workshops, and seeking feedback and mentorship.

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5 Balance your workload

One of the biggest challenges of being a freelance BRM is balancing your workload. You may have to juggle multiple projects, clients, and deadlines, while also taking care of your own health, well-being, and personal life. To avoid burnout, stress, and fatigue, you need to manage your time and energy wisely. You need to prioritize your tasks, set realistic expectations, delegate or outsource when possible, and take breaks and vacations. You also need to have a clear separation between your work and your personal space, and create a routine and a schedule that works for you.

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6 Promote your services

The final tip for freelance BRM success is to promote your services. You need to market yourself and your business, and showcase your value and credibility to potential and existing clients. You can use different channels and strategies to promote your services, such as creating a website, a blog, a newsletter, or a podcast, using social media, email, or video, creating case studies, testimonials, or reviews, or offering free consultations, webinars, or workshops. You can also use SEO, keywords, and hashtags to optimize your online presence and visibility.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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You're a freelance Business Relationship Manager. How do you stay ahead of the competition?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Know your niche

2 Build your network

3 Manage your projects

4 Improve your skills

5 Balance your workload

6 Promote your services

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Relationship Management

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You're a freelance Business Relationship Manager. How do you stay ahead of the competition?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Know your niche

2 Build your network

3 Manage your projects

4 Improve your skills

5 Balance your workload

6 Promote your services

7 Here’s what else to consider

Business Relationship Management

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

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