More and more people are going
freelance every day, which means that the competition to land freelance gigs is
getting fiercer. If you’re like a lot of freelancers who are looking for jobs
and projects on freelance job networks and job boards, your profile can make
the difference between finding lots of new business—or none at all.
Even if you have the right
experience and great references, if your profile isn’t written properly, it
won’t stand out and potential clients will overlook you.
To help you create a winning
profile, we’ve developed a simple six-step process. After walking through the
six steps we’ll show you examples of how to put them into action.
Step
1: Create an effective headline
Your headline should be short and
straight to the point. We recommend keeping it to one line, which is definitely
possible because you only need to state three pieces of information.
- Position title
- Number of years of experience
- Specialty
Step
2: Upload a professional photo
It’s not all about the words you
use, but the image you portray. A professional photo is a big plus. This
doesn’t mean that you have to head to your local photo studio and purchase
headshots. Simply find a blank wall in your home and have a friend with a good
camera snap a few shots of you. Don’t forget to smile! A friendly smile and a
warm expression will do the trick.
If you’re camera shy, you’ll benefit
from finding a way to get over it. Choosing not to include a photo on your
profile is more likely to hurt you than help you, because clients will feel
like you’re hiding something.
If you don’t want to run a photo of
yourself for personal reasons, you can consider another type of photo, image or
avatar that appropriately reflects you and the service you provide. For
example, if you’re an illustrator, an attractive illustration could
work. If you’re a graphic designer, you could upload a professional logo
that you’ve designed for yourself, rather than a headshot.
Step
3: Open your profile by outlining your qualifications and experience
Cut right to the chase. Immediately
open your profile by telling the potential client why you are a qualified
freelancer. You must tell them everything they want to know about you
immediately to prove that you are qualified for the project. If you hit all of
their checkpoints, they’ll add you to the shortlist.
Open your profile with:
- Position title (i.e. Senior Graphic Designer, Junior Programmer, Entertainment Writer, etc.)
- Years of experience in the field
- Areas of expertise
- Technical skills and program knowledge
- Industry expertise (if applicable)
Step
4: Backup your qualifications with your academic background
Clients like to know that you have
formal training and education in the field you specialize in. If you have
academic credentials, mention them immediately after your qualifications and
experience. Your academic background can either be related to the field you are
freelancing within, or to the industry.
For example, either of the following
academic backgrounds and experience could apply to a freelance business writer:
a) A
post-secondary degree in journalism or English or creative writing, along with
an established portfolio of published work with several business publications
b) A
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Business Administration or a related field,
along with extensive knowledge in specific industries
If you don’t have an impressive
academic background, do your best to make up for it by focusing on the relevant
experience you bring to the table?
Step
5: Always include your contact information
Many clients are drawn to hiring
local talent. By mentioning where you are located, you could get the upper hand
in local projects. Clients also want to be able to reach you. The easier you
are to contact, the more reliable you will appear. After all, reliability is
one of the most important factors for clients when hiring freelancers.
Step
6: Prove how great you are with samples and references
Clients want to know that you are
capable of completing their project successfully, so prove it to them by
showing them past successes. If you’ve worked for well-known companies or organizations,
this is the time to name-drop. Even if your previous clients are small to
medium-sized businesses, the client wants to know that you’ve been hired
before.
In the body of your profile, you can
begin listing each of your major projects, starting from the most recent and
working your way back. Include the client’s name, the project scope, the
timeline, and the budget if applicable. If you encountered obstacles during the
project, explain how you overcame them.
If you received fantastic feedback from
the client, include it in your profile. Using testimonials from the clients
themselves is one of the best ways to show a potential client that you are
worth hiring.
What
shouldn’t be in your profile?
By following these six steps, you’ll
know what to include in your profile. But it’s just as important to know what
not to include. The main thing to avoid is fluff. Fluff refers to weak or
unnecessary sentences, such as sentences where you talk about your
communication skills, your ability to work hard, and your personality. All of
these are things that your client expects of you anyway or would come across in
your profile. For example, if you’re a great communicator, your profile will
speak for itself. And if you have a winning personality, that will come across
too. But remember, the things your client cares about most are covered in the
six steps. If you’ve done a good job there, you don’t need to add anything
else.
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