Paid ads guide: How to get clicks (without burning the whole budget)

Hello!

Let's talk about something that many freelancers think is "too big", "too expensive" or "too complicated":

📢 Paid ads. Advertisements. Marketing you pay for.

But you know what? Done right, it can be one of the best investments you make in your freelancing.

(And no, you don't need a marketing department. Or a glassy campaign budget. I promise you!)

Here's a basic guide with tips to get you seen, clicked on - and booked.

What exactly are paid ads?

Paid ads = ads you pay for, shown to a specific audience. You can often control this yourself:

• Who sees it

• Where they see it

• How much you want to pay per day or click

Examples you can advertise:

• A service (copywriting, UX design, wedding photography...)

• Your website/portfolio

• A post or newsletter

• A free offer to build relationships

Where can you advertise?

Here are some go-to platforms for freelancers:

• Meta (Facebook & Instagram)
  ✔️ Good if you work visually (e.g. design, photo, social media)
  ✔️ Cheaper clicks, good targeting

• LinkedIn
  ✔️ Great for B2B freelancers (coaches, copy, consultants)
  ✔️ A bit more expensive - but often the right target group

• Google
  ✔️ Suitable if you have a clear service people are actively searching for
  ✔️ Requires a bit more knowledge - but high buying skills

• TikTok
  ✔️ For those with video skills or younger audiences
  ✔️ Creativity required - but great potential

How to create an ad people actually click on

1. Grab attention fast
   Image/video + text must stand out immediately. Think: "What would make me stay in the flow?"

2. Speak directly to the problem
   "Having trouble keeping up with social media?" works better than "I offer content packages for Q2".

3. Have ONE clear goal and CTA (Call to Action)
   Do you want people to book a meeting? Download something? Follow you? Clarity wins.

4. Keep it short & easy to read
   People skim. Use short sentences. Line breaks. Emojis (if it fits your brand).

✨ TIPS before you get started:

• Try small first - £30-50/day can go a long way at first

• A/B test - try two different images or messages and see what works best

• Follow up! - send traffic to a good landing page (not just the homepage)

• Keep an eye on the numbers - click-through rate, conversion, cost per result

And don't forget - a good ad is not about "selling yourself" hard, but about helping the right person find you when they actually need you.

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With click-friendly greetings,

Per Hedelin

Co-Founder at Worknode