How to Grow Your Instructional Design Business Exponentially

Great American poet laureate, philosopher and probable mage Matthew McConaughey once said, “My life is a road, man. I need to keep moving.” While any time is a good time to talk about good ole’ Matty McConaugh’s, we dropped this quote in today’s blog because we’re talking about growth. We’re talking about advancement. We’re talking about growing your freelance instructional design business exponentially.

Just like Sir Matthew of McConaughey, you’re walking down the road of your burgeoning freelance ID career. And if we know you, it’s going great! We do know you, by the way. You know that Police song—“every breath you take” etcetera etcetera— we wrote that. Not a big deal, but ya know. We did. We can call Sting right now to confirm if you want? *puts banana phone to ear *

Oops, no answer!

Like we were saying, even if your instructional design business is doing well, it’s only natural that you’ll want to grow your business at some point. We understand that’s easier said than done, so we’ve put together a list of actionable tips to get your biz going gangbusters in no time.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

Alright, we know this one sends a tingle down the spine, but out of all these tips, this is the most important one. Let’s face it, no one likes leaving the comfort zone. We’re writing this very blog from inside a pillow fort! The hard truth is that the comfort zone just doesn’t allow for personal or professional growth.

Not only will you become a stronger, more self-confident person by leaving it, but the career gains will be many. Have you been putting off reaching out to a former employer for freelance work? Thinking about taking a course on gamification but too anxious? Be brave, freelie!

Set some goals for yourself that you’ve been putting off. And it’s OK to start off with small, methodical steps. Baby step to self-actualization! Let your choices be made in hope and not fear.

Market Yourself on Social Media

Like it or not, we’re all expected to be very present on social media these days. Are we human or are we content creators? That answer is, content creators.

If you don’t already have a well-established presence on social media, now is the time to make sure you’re marketing yourself on all the biggies— Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram. It’s totally free and hands down the best way to get your face, name and portfolio out there to prospective clients.

You might also consider creating a personal website with a blog to really drive eyeballs to your work and spectacular brain.

Spruce Up the Old Portfolio

Your portfolio is almost literally your meal ticket. The difference between a crappy portfolio and a great portfolio can mean the difference between landing that incredible gig or a not-so-incredible one.

Chances are, you already have a fairy well-developed ‘folio, but take some time to reexamine it with fresh eyes. What improvements can be made? Is it cohesive and pleasing to the eyes? Consider building some Articulate samples on E-Learning Heroes to flex your skills. And be sure to upload samples of your work to social media.

You should always think of your portfolio as a work in progress!

Learn a New Skill

How can you improve your instructional design skills? Be honest. We know you’re the Wizard of ID, but are there relevant skills you’re missing from your bag of tricks? Do you know how to use Photoshop? Have you ever tinkered in Virtual Reality tools? As an instructional designer, you’re often expected to be a jack-of-all-trades, so learn a new one to gain an edge against the competition!

Become an IDLancer

Oh my, who snuck this one on here? Whoever did, is very smart. Joining the official IDLance Slack community is a sure-fire way to get more (and better) gigs, connect with other ID peeps, and get way more tips n’ tricks on expanding your instructional design business. Join us, today!

Claim a Niche Market

One quick way to set yourself apart from the crowd and garner more clients is by claiming a niche market! A niche is a small segment of the market that you personally excel in. It’s the difference between shopping at a department store versus your local Mom n’ Pop. YOU are the boutique. When people think of you, they think of a highly specialized skill. Clients will recognize and respect your newfound “calling card” and the gigs will come!

Know Thy Competition

They say comparison is the thief of joy, but in this case, we’re encouraging you to give it a try, as long as you don’t go all Single White Female on us. It may feel icky to research your competition but it’s actually a very helpful way to understand why clients are hiring your competitors (or you) and how like-minded freelies are marketing themselves and their services.

Do your best to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, as well as your own, but please do it with compassion and self-love. Guys, we’re all a tiny speck in space and time spinning on a chonky rock out in space. Don’t be hard on yourself!

Request Referrals

This one is pretty straightforward— request referrals from former and current clients! We understand it can be a bit nerve-wracking, but if you can encourage them to tap into their network, you may just unlock a slew of new, highly loyal clients that are enthusiastic to work with you. That’s word-of-mouth marketing, baby!

Conclusion

Welp, there ya have it— a few ways to exponentially grow your instructional design business.

We know you’re excited to put this list into action, but keep in mind that these things take time. It’s perfectly natural to have highs and lows as you’re growing a business!

Whether you’re making strides or baby steps toward career advancement, you’re making us and Matthew McConaughey very, very proud.

Just keep moving.