Finding your way as a full-fledged freelancer can be tricky. Between getting your name out there and scoring a steady stream of clients, the road to a freelance career isn’t always easy.
Related: How To Determine Your Niche As A Freelancer
Here are five ways to brand yourself as a freelancer—and enjoy the flexibility, freedom, and financial gain that comes with it.
Get social.
Up until now, you’ve been social on social media posting pics of your family and friends. As a freelancer, you’ll need to put a more professional polish on your social media strategy. For starters, you should have a professional Facebook page, as well as a Twitter account for your business. You’ll need to rethink your LinkedIn profile, too, to give it a more polished—and freelance-focused—look.
Revamp your resume.
Up until now, your resume has shown all of your work that was done while you worked for various companies. If you want to find freelance clients, though, you’ll need to redesign your resume to spotlight the work you’ve done as a freelancer. After all, clients will want to see samples of your current work so that they can determine what you can do for them—and subsequently hire you.
Set up shop.
As a freelancer, you can find potential leads anywhere in the world. But in order to secure those leads as future clients, you’ll need to show them samples of your work. In lieu of a brick-and-mortar store, you should have a website that spotlights your skills and services. If you’re on a budget (or aren’t too tech-savvy), there are simple ways in which to get your portfolio online ASAP. Sites such as Squarespace or About.me can get you—and your biz—up and running quickly.
Find your referrals.
You know that you’re a whiz at marketing, but potential clients don’t know that… yet. That’s why it’s important to get referrals and recommendations from former clients you’ve worked with. It can be as simple as having them write a small testimonial for your website, a recommendation on your LinkedIn profile, or even a Like on your Facebook page. Every referral will aid in establishing you as an expert in your field, and someone who should be hired for a company’s next project.
Practice your pitch.
From standing in line at the supermarket to picking up your kids from their after-school activities, you never know where you may find your next client. It’s crucial to be able to explain your skills, services, and previous work experience to a potential client at a moment’s notice. Write out the most important aspects that a client who may hire you would want to know about your business, and then practice saying your story until you feel totally comfortable and confident. The last thing you want is to sound phony or rehearsed. So be sure to keep it short, sweet, and personable.
Being a freelancer is one of the best ways to achieve work-life balance. All you need to do is take some small steps and you’ll ensure a long and successful freelancing career.
This is a guest post.
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