Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com.
Freelancers need a way for potential customers to find them — and online profiles are an effective tool to expand your reach across the globe.
“There are many marketplaces, freelance associations, portfolio sites, and social media platforms where a freelancer might have a web presence,” says Ashley Cisneros Mejia, a freelance writing business coach with 14 years of freelance experience.
But with so many possibilities for freelancers to create online profiles, managing them becomes a job in itself.
To avoid getting overwhelmed or reinventing the wheel with this task, consider the tips below on basic social media presence and marketing for freelancers suggested by Mejia and Samantha North, a freelance SEO consultant and blogger with nearly 20,000 followers across her LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook pages.
“I get a regular stream of work from my social media audience,” North says.
Stay Organized
Managing online profiles as a freelancer requires solid organizational skills — particularly if you’re juggling more than one profile. To keep track of them, Mejia suggests creating a running document that lists all of your storefronts online.
“Make a note of your usernames, passwords, and subscription renewal dates (if applicable) for each website,” she says. “Save a copy of any of the freelance profile or career summary blurbs you’ve created for these sites.”
Mejia points out that having your online profile language handy allows you to make tweaks as you continue to grow as a freelance professional.
“Then, you can simply update and then copy and paste to all of your profiles,” she says.
Tips to Help You Organize Online Profiles
Other areas of your freelance life to keep organized and listed in relation to your online profiles include:
- Types of products you produce
- Skills you have
- Industries you serve
- Notable clients
- Testimonials
- Portfolio samples
- Case studies
Mejia emphasizes that by keeping these records, you can know how you have marketed yourself on each site at a glance — and keep track of the dates that you last updated your profiles on each website — to ensure every account has current content.
Update Your Profile Regularly
As you gain more experience as a freelancer, you’ll have new points to share on your profile pages. Some areas to consider frequently refreshing on your profile page include:
- Clients you’ve worked with
- Examples of work you’ve completed
- Content you’ve created
“Keep your profiles current to boost the chances of being noticed by potential clients,” Mejia says. “As you get more work samples under your belt, you can always update your work samples to replace outdated or irrelevant pieces with stronger ones.”
How often should you update your profile? North suggests posting daily updates on your profile page, sharing valuable content tailored for your audience.
“For example, if you’re an SEO freelancer, you could post fresh content every day with SEO tips,” she says. “I found this method is especially effective on LinkedIn, where people are already in professional networking mode.”
Use a Professional Profile Photo
Just because you’re working for yourself doesn’t mean that your online profiles should be overly casual. Your online profile serves as an advertisement to prospective clients about who you are as a businessperson and what you offer.
So, a professional profile photo will help brand you as someone who takes their freelance work seriously and who can be trusted with a client’s business.
“If necessary, consider having a professional photo shoot, or at least taking a clear photo with your iPhone,” North advises. “Make sure your profile photo shows your full face, looking approachable and friendly, showing up clearly against the background.”
Mejia adds that your professional profile photo should reflect your personality and individuality. “Aim to use the same profile across your online and social media for brand continuity and awareness,” Mejia says.
Showcase Your Work
Finally, be sure your clients are able to view your work on your profile pages.
Mejia suggests maintaining a library of files, saving copies of your work in different formats (JPGs, PNGs, PDFs), presentation decks, and videos.
“Keep details about each work product, including the name of the client, the type of the work product, the software or methodologies used, and a blurb about each product,” she says.
Mejia recommends using the STAR method to create a summary of each work product by situation, task, action, and result.
“Move the ‘result’ detail to the beginning of your summary so that readers or profile visitors can immediately see the impact of your work,” she says.
Polish Your Freelance Profiles for Success
Managing your online profiles as a freelancer is a critical part of building your business. It takes time to do it right, particularly if you’re posting on multiple platforms.
But staying organized, making regular updates, presenting yourself professionally, and ensuring that prospective clients can see samples of your work can help ensure a successful freelance career.
