Personal Branding Tips for Freelancers

Today, more individuals than ever are taking on freelance work, and as a result of this, those looking to have great success freelancing have to take decisive action to ensure they stand out. While of course the quality of the work you do matters, you must also invest energy in establishing name recognition and building a strong personal brand that convinces prospective clients that you are the best freelancer in your given niche.

Our team at The Collective Rising has gone ahead and created six key tips that freelancers should follow in order to best establish their personal brand, stand out from the herd and make sure they get hired.

Invest time in building an effective social media presence.

You can’t establish your personal brand without engaging in social media. Here are a few points to consider:

1. The Collective Rising, Medium, and LinkedIn are the best platforms to use to position yourself as a thought-leader.
   Twitter provides you with opportunities to engage in current conversations that are relevant to your industry.
2. Facebook is still extraordinarily popular and a great way to discover opportunities. Consider joining a few niche groups and check them bi-weekly for new updates and alerts.
3. If you are a designer or work in another creative profession, consider using Pinterest or Tumblr to showcase your work.
4. Focus on creating and sharing relevant social media content that showcases your expertise. Show your authority by providing industry-related commentary and act as a source of thoughtful insight.

Finally, take a look at your personal social media pages. Even if you are ‘private’, it is smart to assume that whatever you have ever shared has the potential to be seen. Make sure all the content you have visible serves to support the reputation you wish to have.

Focus on your “upside” and find ways to show your best attributes
You are your brand. If the branding you put forth doesn’t appear authentic to your personality, people won’t buy it. Make a list of your positive attributes. Then, focus on creating a brand that highlights those.

Make your story (and your brand) personal 
What drives you?  How did you enter your respective field and what motivated you to start work as a freelancer? What are you passionate about?

People want to do business with people they relate to, who they respect, and who they believe share their values. Make sure that your core values are woven into your personal story. Then, share that story on your website, in your social media profiles, and on your profile on The Collective Rising.

Establish a visual identity 
Visuals are undeniably an important part of any branding effort.  The best place to start is your logo. Even as a freelancer, you must have one. Also, invest in getting professional headshots. These two steps are essential personal branding tips for any freelancer.

Know what other people are saying about you
Your personal brand isn’t what you want it to be.  It is what it is. When your perceptions of yourself don’t match the perceptions others have of you, then you have a problem. It is imperative that you understand how you and your work are seen by others. That way, if there are discrepancies,  you can take knowledge-based action to make changes.

You can learn about your brand’s perception by:

1. Setting up Google Alerts for your name and your business name.
2. Asking clients for honest feedback.
3. Being receptive to complaints and criticism.

The world today is full of individuals who are wanting to freelance. While yes, this space is crowded, don’t let that get you discouraged. Use the tips outlined above to create a memorable personal brand and find success freelancing.