There are more than 42 million freelance workers in the United States today.
If you’re one of them, branding yourself is absolutely necessary for getting noticed and making sure people remember the kind of freelance work you do. But too many freelance sites don’t do a good enough job of showcasing a memorable brand.
A good chunk of freelancers (20.8 percent, to be exact) say their biggest challenge is finding clients. A solid brand helps you accomplish that, and many other common freelance challenges, by making people more aware of your company and services.
Here are three major ways to establish your brand as a freelancer:
1. Tell Your Story
Great brands tell great stories, and freelancers are no different. Nobody wants to read your boring freelance resume, but they do want to learn more about your personality and skill set so they can feel confident they’re making the right decision before they even speak to you. With an increase in the number of freelancers comes a decrease in the overall quality of the pool. Telling your story allows potential clients to not just find out what you do, but who you are as well.
Whether it’s an interesting tale of a fantastic client or a witty detail of your favorite jobs, everybody loves a good story. Tell people why you became a freelancer in the first place, and explain what you were doing before. Use your creativity and business savvy to craft a compelling story that gives potential clients a bit more insight into your professional personality than a resume ever could.
2. Start A Blog
This may seem like old news, but having a blog is crucial in maintaining a great freelance brand. A website is great and all, but you want to have as many avenues as possible for potential clients to find you. Creating a blog will greatly increase your reach, and people will be able to gauge how knowledgeable you are about your industry. If you’re hesitant about the benefits of starting a blog, you should know that 60 percent of businesses who have one acquire more customers.
If you own your own freelance company, chances are you’re pretty savvy in your industry. The blogs that do the best for businesses are the ones that give informative, interesting, and shareable views on different aspects of the field in which they work. If you’re struggling for ideas to write about, it always helps to have some inspiration.
3. Stay Consistent
In figuring out your branding strategy, it’s critical to come up with a website design and logo that’s in tune with the audience you’re trying to target. The design and look of your site creates an incredibly strong first impression that potential clients will remember. Giving your brand a strong visual connection is helpful, but it needs to be consistent across the board.
Your website shows the personality of your freelance brand. It’s important to use a similar design in your business cards, stationery, sign (if you have a brick-and-mortar location), and swag. When creating your logo, make sure it’s unique and aesthetically appealing, and reflects the style and work of your company. Staying consistent allows people to better identify with your brand — just be sure you’re ok to keep the design you use for a long time!
