How to kickstart your online presence when freelancing

When freelancing, you’ll positively want an online presence of some kind to market your companies. (Spoiler alert: handing out enterprise playing cards is old-school, and never as efficient.) Increasing your discoverability online is an effective way to enhance your quantity of freelance work.

Your online presence may come within the type of a web site or social media pages. It will take some effort to preserve, which can imply much less time for pursuing your craft.

But do issues proper, and your online presence may simply generate you a gentle stream of freelance work each month.

Not satisfied? Then learn on to study why it’s necessary for freelancers to have an online presence, and a few ideas for leveraging your online presence to get work.

Why begin an online presence should you’re freelancing?

Get a platform to interact with your followers

In the times of snail mail, displaying off your work to individuals globally would have been actually costly, if not inconceivable. But that is now as simple as placing up an online profile and sharing the hyperlink to it.

And as you retain your followers up to date on what you’re up to, who is aware of? They would possibly simply flip into your subsequent freelancing shopper or purchaser!

“When I share an artwork from beginning to end – the initial pencil sketches, insight into the ideas, the process of ink, the completion with paint, the presentation of the final artwork – these artworks often sell before they’re even finished!” writes New Zealand visible artist Lizzie Snow, who goes by the deal with “fortyonehundred” on Facebook.

“I’ve definitely found a direct link between the amount of digital content I produce about a specific artwork’s journey with the speed in which it sells.”

Have shoppers method you for freelance work (not the opposite method spherical!)

Hitting up job boards will help you get freelance work, however wouldn’t or not it’s good to have shoppers come to you as a substitute?

By constructing an online presence, you’re broadcasting to the Internet that “Hey! I’m here, and I’m available for hire!”

And when somebody in want of your companies sees your web site or social media posts, they could simply get in contact.

From expertise, this can be a very nice change from approaching shoppers for freelance work and dealing with rejection (or worse, not listening to again in any respect).

Of course, this doesn’t imply you may arrange your web site or social media account and simply anticipate leads to flood in. You’ll want to market your self, too.

“Marketing is the best skill you can have as a freelancer,” says Demi Bernice, a contract video creator from the Philippines.

All my shoppers are direct. I discovered them on social media platforms and I used to be additionally really useful to their pals.

Qualify the leads that come your method

Getting inquiries from potential shoppers is nice. But are you aware what’s even higher?

Receiving solely inquiries which might be an ideal match for your freelancing enterprise.

That’s as a result of replying to messages will take time—you don’t need to electronic mail a lead backwards and forwards many occasions, solely to discover out that they:

• Can’t afford you
• Actually want a unique service
• Have requests which you could’t fulfil

What a bummer.

So when you arrange an online presence, you’ll give you the chance to state precisely which shoppers you’re employed with. This will assist be sure that the leads you get are match for what you do.

“Having a website not only helped me get more leads who are interested in my services, but most importantly, it also qualified most of the leads that came my way,” shares Muhammad Firdaus Syazwani, who supplies freelance search engine optimisation and content material writing companies in Singapore.

“Previously, I had to explain my services in detail and how my services can benefit their business. With a website and landing page dedicated to what I provide, businesses know specifically what they want and I can tailor my pitch accordingly—saving time and money involved.” 

Editor’s be aware: If you’re excited to construct your web site, look no additional. Get began with the GoDaddy Website Builder at no cost!

Tips for leveraging your online presence to get freelance work

Go for an expert look

The first impression issues. If your web site or social media pages look sloppy, this might be a serious turn-off for shoppers.

As a end result, it’s a good suggestion to put money into well-designed, professional-looking collaterals for your online presence.

(Design not your forte? No downside. You may assist a fellow freelancer out, and interact a contract internet or graphic designer for the job!)

For inspiration, take a look at the web site that freelance copywriter from the Philippines April Alen Abion makes use of to market herself online:

Here are some issues that I like about her web site:

• It makes use of a gorgeous color scheme that’s pleasing to the attention
• It has loads of photographs of April—this makes her seem extra human, and in addition helps shoppers know who they’re working with!
• It contains case research of the outcomes that she’s gotten for previous shoppers, to illustrate her competence
• It’s acquired clear call-to-action buttons that invite potential shoppers to contact her and get the discussions rolling!

Add testimonials for social proof

Let’s say that you simply’re hungry and are considering of getting dinner at both Restaurant A or Restaurant B. How do you resolve?

I guess that what others are saying about each eating places will affect your ultimate choice.

For instance, if online customers write that Restaurant A’s meals is superb, whereas Restaurant B’s meals is common, then you definitely would possibly simply resolve to head to Restaurant A for the night.

Likewise, your web site or social media pages ought to comprise testimonials from previous shoppers that sing praises about your work. These testimonials may simply persuade a possible shopper to rent you over another person!

Malaysian freelance internet designer Zahid Aramai has a devoted testimonials web page for his web site:

It’s a extremely lengthy webpage, compiling testimonials from Google and the Upwork and Fiverr freelance platforms.

And when you click on on the testimonials, you’ll be directed to their unique sources—so there’s no method that he made them up himself.

This could be reassuring to potential shoppers, as a result of some unscrupulous freelancers could faux their testimonials (please don’t do this).

Related: Four efficient methods to get extra clients

With an online presence, the world (vast internet) is your oyster

Gone are the times the place your pool of potential shoppers is proscribed to these residing in your space. Thanks to the Internet, you may get shoppers just about from wherever on this planet now—and having an online presence is step one to reaching that.

In this regard, you most likely already know that it’s free to register social media accounts. But do you know which you could additionally begin constructing your personal web site at no cost?

GoDaddy presents a Website Builder that helps anybody launch a web site, even when they aren’t a technical skilled. The service hosts your web site for you, and in addition supplies freely customisable themes so you may make your web site actually your personal.

The GoDaddy Website Builder is free for the primary month, so use this era to take a look at the platform and resolve whether or not it’s match for your freelance enterprise.

One final thing: when you’ve arrange your online presence, don’t overlook to advertise to begin attracting shoppers your method. Good luck!

Editor’s be aware: Got questions on placing your thought online? Get prompt solutions on GoDaddy Asia Facebook Messenger now.