Building your brand as a freelancer is key in order to both keep clients coming back and bring in new clients.
For my freelance business, branding has both brought in more paying work and the kind of writing I love to do.
Do you want the worksheet that goes with this training?
I’ve created a worksheet to complement this training, available for download. This is a free resource but it’s part of my resource library and you’ll need a password. You can get access by popping your email address into the form below.
Once you’re in the library, navigate to the blogging section and look for the worksheet called “Brand Elements.”
Building your brand as a freelancer
Here are a few ways you can start building your brand as a freelancer right now.
Establish Yourself As An Expert
Positioning yourself as an expert isn’t as intimidating or difficult as it first sounds. You do this by sharing helpful information with your audience.
Figure out the questions they’re asking and the problems they’re trying to solve and then provide the answers/solutions.
This is a fabulous opportunity to help people take the next step on their journey as well as share your unique knowledge and expertise.
Don’t worry too much about sharing free information. You build trust with your audience by helping people and establishing yourself as an expert doesn’t hurt either. People hire people they trust.
Focus On Your Digital Footprint
Whether you’re building a website or setting up your social media profiles for business, make sure your digital presence is easy to discover and communicates clearly.
Here’s what a solid digital footprint includes:
- Consistent branding: Use a consistent name, visual style, and messaging across your website and professional profiles
- A clear description of your services: Make it easy for potential clients to understand what you do, who you help, and how to work with you
- Your unique personality: Let people get a sense of who you are and what makes your approach different
- A professional online presence: Keep your website, social media profiles, and contact information current
- A strong About page or bio: Use this space to explain how you help your ideal clients and why you’re a good fit for their needs
- Examples of your work: Where appropriate, showcase projects, testimonials, or other evidence that demonstrates your experience
You don’t need to have everything perfect before you get started. Focus on creating a consistent, professional presence that gives people a reason to trust you.
Think of your various bios and about pages as an opportunity to let your ideal client know how you can help them and why you’re the right choice. Don’t underestimate the power of a great about page!
How much does it cost to build your personal brand?
The good news is that you can start building your brand as a freelancer without spending much money at all.
Free tools, such as Canva’s free plan, social media profiles, and a simple website or portfolio option, can help you establish your presence and start sharing your expertise. You can invest in a custom website, professional photography, paid software, or branding services as your business grows.
My advice? Start with what you have, focus on being clear and consistent, and spend money where it will make a meaningful difference to your business.
Create an On-Brand Marketing Strategy
I don’t care if you’re too busy or you just plain hate it, building your brand includes marketing. Unless you love the feast-and-famine cycle of freelancing, that is.
Solid content marketing strategies can keep your prospect funnel full all year long. When creating your marketing strategy make sure to build something sustainable otherwise you’ll quit before you start.
How long does it take to build your personal brand?
You can establish the foundations of your personal brand in a few weeks, but building recognition and trust takes longer. Expect to spend several months consistently showing up, sharing useful content, and building relationships before you can properly assess what’s working. Your timeline will depend on your audience, your approach, and how consistently you put yourself out there.
Make sure to grab the worksheet that goes with this training
I’ve created a worksheet to complement this training, available for download. This is a free resource but it’s part of my resource library and you’ll need a password. You can get access by popping your email address into the form below.
Once you’re in the library, navigate to the blogging section and look for the worksheet called “Brand Elements.”
Show Off Your Personality
A big part about building your brand is growing your platform. Figure out what makes you stand out in your market and find ways to weave it into your business.
Your personality is part of your brand, so be sure to highlight it. The first step is to find your unique voice and which aspects of your personality and experiences are best to convey.
Focus on the positive, exciting and engaging aspects of your brand personality.
Building Your Brand? Invest in Relationships
Referrals are a gold mine, which is why networking with other freelancers is so important. Word of mouth is also extremely powerful, so make a point to invest in your relationships. You never know which clients might suggest you to a new anchor client or introduce you an amazing career opportunity.
Take time to go the extra mile, giving excellent service and ensuring both your colleagues and clients are taken care of.
How do you know if your personal branding efforts are working?
Look for signs that the right people are noticing and remembering you. This might include more relevant profile visits, inquiries from potential clients, referrals, repeat business, or people mentioning your content when they reach out.
You can also track website traffic, email sign-ups, and engagement with your content. Choose a few measures that align with your business goals and review them regularly. The real test isn’t whether everyone knows your name, it’s whether your brand is helping you build the kind of freelance business you want.
If you want to read my personal branding story check out Branding Yourself: Choosing a Niche.
From this experience I’ve learned a lot about how branding yourself on your website or blog is good for search engine optimization as well as for attracting your ideal clients. But more than that, branding yourself is important for growing your business in the direction you want it to go.
Branding Yourself: Choosing a Niche
One more thing. You may be interested in my free resource library. This is where I keep my files, downloads, ebooks, worksheets and whatever else I manage to create. I love sharing what I learn and want to keep adding to this library so it becomes a wealth of helpful goodness.
The worksheet that complements this training is available for download as part of my resource library. You can get free access by popping your email address into the form below. Then once you’re in the library look for the worksheet called “Brand Elements.”
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