How to perfectly sell yourself as a Freelancer

Freelancing is a highly competitive field; this is why you must be doing something different which includes selling yourself well. Marketing yourself as a freelancer means showcasing the value you have to offer to potential employers, and the process requires you to be exceptional with your strategies. To get the right clients and work on interesting and engaging projects, you need to show them how capable you are. 

While you may not like to sell yourself or somehow feel embarrassed about it, you can't have a freelance business without putting yourself out there - in the face of your clients. Marketing is for freelancers and that is how they bag the money; therefore, If you are clueless about how to go about this, keep reading. 

Be authentic 

Everybody understands the need to impress your client but usually, modesty does it. Be honest and precise about your skills and experience; rather than over-selling yourself, just go ahead to highlight only the important information which may include your strength and the value you have to offer to the client. Be transparent about your limitations because, in the end, a client will only stick to a credible and trustworthy freelancer. While you may be tempted to say something like " I am a social media guru," opt for a better way to say it, avoiding unnecessary buzzwords. You can say "I have vast experience in social media management, including content creation and community building. If you let me, I can help you achieve your social media goals." 

Your Portfolio does the talking

Regardless of the amount of "word of mouth" that you do, your portfolio is your actual testimonial. Showcasing your skills requires a strategic approach; therefore ensure that you select your best works to build your portfolio. You may want to create a new portfolio different from the one you already have because it is important that you focus on projects that are relevant to the type of client you want to attract and the type of project the client is proposing. Also, incorporate diversity into your portfolio;  this can communicate to the client that you can handle different project types and work across different industries. If you are a writer, your portfolio can contain articles you have written for a wedding blog, a news blog, a career blog, or even book reviews that you have made. Most importantly, be sure that your portfolio doesn't look tacky; keep it organized and visually appealing.

Read also >>> Must have skills for freelance jobs

Be prompt with your response

When a client reaches out to you, they may have gone through your portfolio or you were recommended. Be sure to respond promptly even if you are not available to take on the project right away. While there may always be a next time, you must focus on selling yourself in advance. Don't leave the message unread for a long time, instead, acknowledge their message and inform them about your availability. Also, when responding, freelancing doesn't give you the luxury to slip out of profession; be professional and take note of your language while conversing.

Don't sleep on "people"

Whatever it is called professionally, "networking" or "building relationships" - the point is to never underestimate the importance of having people. While you may not always attend every conference or event, take your social media seriously. Talk about yourself and your services; listen to others talk about theirs too and engage. Join relevant communities and contribute effectively. 

Furthermore, as a freelancer, you must have worked with different clients, ensure to keep the relationship, and stay in touch regularly. They may recommend you to other clients in the future when they consider how cool and skilled you were while working with them. 

Related: How to land your first freelance tech gig

Be Tenacious

It is quite easy to feel discouraged when you send out several proposals to clients and you don't get any response. This can be likened to a vendor who is not making any sales at a physical store, maybe because it's a new store or for other reasons. However, just as you wouldn't want to close the store because of a slow day/sales; as a freelancer, you cannot stop trying, you can only keep looking for new opportunities. Different people have talked about how hard it can be to get clients especially if you are new to freelancing or you took a break, then came back. Persistence helps you to win as a freelancer; so, follow up with your proposals and keep showing up daily.  

Leverage good reviews/feedback

Request feedback and hold on to the positive reviews you have gotten from your past clients as this can serve as a great testimonial. It gives your potential employer an insight into the value you have provided for others and helps them to increase their trust and confidence in your abilities. The testimonials can take any form, short texts, or videos; as long as they are positive and convincing, showcase them and ensure that they are easily accessible to anyone planning to work with you. 

Join a freelancing Platform

 Freelancing platforms can help to boost your visibility and attract potential clients. Some of these platforms include: 

• Upwork

• Freelancer

• Fiver

• People per hour

• Dribble

• Flexjobs

• Behance

• Simply hired and more.

These platforms have various features that are solely designed to help you market yourself effectively and bump into new opportunities. You need to be able to utilize the platform's built-in marketing tools if you are looking to boost your chances of getting clients and projects to work on. 

In the end, as a freelancer, you are in the business of selling yourself. So, give it all it takes, intensify your grit, use strategic approaches, and even as you go on, know your metrics, observe, and tweak!