As an independent freight agent, you’re really in charge of your own career path. How big your agency grows and how much you earn is up to you! And while independence is a beautiful thing in many ways, knowing which steps to take in order to ramp up your business can get a little lonely. That’s why we’ve rounded up five things independent freight agents can do to grow their business in the right direction.

Identify Your Target Market
As an independent freight agent, one of the best ways to grow your business is to identify your target market. By focusing on a specific group of potential customers, you can better target your marketing efforts and resources. Who is your ideal customer? Where are they located? What does their buying behavior look like? Are they more interested in price or quality? Figuring out these pieces will help you better connect with the very customers who will propel your growth forward.

Establish an Online Presence
Establishing an online presence means putting yourself out there, quite literally, for potential customers to make their own decisions about who you are. There are many ways to do this, but some of the most effective include taking advantage of a company hosted website, a personal yet professional LinkedIn profile is also a great place to start. No matter which platforms you decide to go with, these are the places you can now talk about yourself and your expertise, showcase your agency and specialties, post helpful articles or tips related to the freight industry, and make it easy for people to find you and start interacting with your business.

Develop a Professional Network
Developing or expanding your professional network is always a good thing. For your business, it’ll mean the difference of having the right connections in place for when you need them most. Ideas on how to do this? Attend industry events and trade shows in person, where you’ll meet other professionals in the freight industry face-to-face and get your name out there. Join relevant online forums and groups, where you can connect with others and learn from their experiences. Connect with people through social media, including others in the freight industry and potential customers.

Establish Processes and Procedures
As an independent freight agent, it is essential to establish processes and procedures for your business in order to ensure growth. Keep your processes simple so that you’ll be able to adhere to these going forward. Automate repetitive tasks such as invoicing, quoting, and customer communication. (At Sureway, we are unique in that we have a human support team to take care of these things for our agents!) Document everything and make an effort to continually adapt as you grow.

Embrace Technology
By keeping up with the latest trends and technologies, you can provide your clients with the best possible service and stay ahead of your competition. One example is using the latest load tracking tools to give your customers better visibility of their loads. You can also use online tools to research potential markets and customers. And you should for sure be staying up to date on industry news and trends by subscribing to relevant blogs and newsletters.

As an independent freight agent, there are plenty of opportunities to grow your business. By using digital marketing strategies, investing in proper training and education, networking with other agents and carriers, and leveraging technology to streamline operations, you can increase your customer base and revenue. With a little creativity and perseverance, you’ll be well on your way to meeting your business growth goals. Want to see what our agent model looks like here at Sureway? Get in touch—it might be the best next step for your growth as an independent freight agent if you’re looking to move more freight faster with a dedicated support team by your side.