It is estimated that half of the people living in the USA are working as a freelancer. Today, over a third of all companies in the USA use freelancers and 50% of companies use remote workers.
More and more people are choosing to work as a freelancer today. It is because there are so many benefits to being a freelance worker.
You are your own boss, and you set your own work schedule. You do not have to sit in a cubicle for long hours. You can work from the comfort of your home without bothering to commute for long hours. Basically, no one is sitting on your head trying to pull strings.
Moreover, freelancers are paid well. Freelancing gives you complete freedom in your life instead of a 9 to 5, day job.
In fact, according to MoneyConnexion,the USA has the most significant number of freelancers in the world. Before the pandemic, the number of freelancers in the USA was over 57 million. However, after the pandemic, this number has gone up considerably.
Over 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the USA is contributed by freelancers. This is further expected to rise in the coming years. Moreover, American freelancers pay well over 15.3% of all taxes to the government under the Self Employment Tax category.
These figures tell you the sheer number of freelancers working in the USA. This field has become more competitive than ever with so many of them. Freelancing platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, Guru, Total etc., are teeming with millions of freelancers from all over the world.
This means a newcomer like you has no chance!
However, this is not true! If you can craft a compelling, unique and comprehensive freelancing profile that sets you apart from the crowd, you can get work in no time. To ascertain the quality of your work, your profile is the only information available to your prospective client.
This simply tells you the importance of a good freelance profile.
I have jotted down a list of 10 tips for creating an excellent freelancer profile.
Here are they …
Choose a Professional High Pixel Photo
It is often said that the first impression is the last impression. Your profile picture will be the first impression any potential client will have of you.
In your photo, you should come across as a professional, fun-loving guy who enjoys working online. Upload a photo with a smiling face, no sunglasses, and a simple background without any distractions.
Your appearance in the photo will reflect your work. Your branding as a freelancer starts with your photo.
Moreover, yes,Selfie does not count here!
Write a Most Compelling Headline
After seeing your photo, clients will go straight to the headline written just below the photo.
A powerful headline must be precise, informative and look very professional. It should reflect that you are very serious about the project and have the necessary skill set.
It really does not matter how good your portfolio is. A poorly written headline can keep you from any consideration by your potential clients.
Include 2 – 3 Minutes Intro Video
As I said earlier, now a day’s competition is very tough. So to stand out from the rest, just a compelling headline is not good enough. You also need to create an intro video to help your clients know you better.
Creating a 2 -3 minute video will show your confidence and win the trust of your clients.
You can talk about your work, skills, and client testimonials in your short video.
Write in First Person
Now let us get into the details!
Write your bio in the first person. It will help your clients to know you much better. Try to give your professional information as much as possible. However, avoid giving any personal details like your political beliefs and hobbies.
Your online profile is just like your CV. So try to keep it professional but very interesting to read. Your bio must be at least 200 – 250 words long.
Share Your Best Work in Portfolio
After reading your bio, clients would like to dig deep into your portfolio. Try to share your best piece of work through a portfolio. Demonstrate your wide range of skill sets and capabilities.
For example, if you are a freelance writer, show all the best-published articles you have written for top websites. Also include testimonials from past clients and other balanced reviews of your work.
Try to show how your work profoundly affected your past clients.
Specialize is Better than Generalize
While constructing a portfolio, try your best to narrow down your niche. Highly specialized niches get more attention from clients on platforms like Fiverr and Upwork.
If your clients find your niche too broad or general, they may not get what they are looking for. A more targeted niche will stick out to clients looking for that type of work. For example, MoneyConnexion website specializes in one particular niche named Make Money Online or MMO.
So to beat the competition, specialization is essential.
Showcase Your Unique Selling Point
You can further embellish your portfolio by showcasing at least one skill that makes you different from the rest of the freelancers in your niche.
Do you have special training or educational background that others do not have? Do you deliver your work before the deadline? Have you worked for clients who are famous? Etc.
Do not exaggerate but mention at least one unique selling point.
Include Your Educational Background and Work Experience
You can further add other important information like your educational background, work experience and employment history.
You can mention your volunteer work, mentorship programs, online courses and other extracurricular activities. You can also add your work experience with past clients. Provide each of your previous roles and responsibilities, and accomplishments.
Keep the information concise and list them chronologically.
Proofread and Format Your Portfolio
Wait! Your profile is not over yet.
Proper formatting makes your profile look professional and stand out from the rest. Especially if you are a freelance writer, then formatting becomes even more critical.
Do not lump together a 500-word long profile into one giant paragraph. Always create short sentences with 1 – 2 line paragraphs. You can use Bold and Italic letters to highlight certain things.
Furthermore, always remember that your profile must be Search Engine Optimization (SEO) friendly. So try to include as many relevant keywords in your niche.
Keep Your Profile Up to Date
Your work experience, skill set, number of clients and other information will change over time. It is essential to update your profile with the latest information regularly.
If you have an inactive profile, clients may not be interested in it. An updated profile improves the chances of getting new projects considerably.
I will conclude by saying that a good freelancer profile that stands out from the rest increases the odds of securing projects from clients. There is no human contact in the freelancing world, and your profile is the only chance to connect with your potential clients online. There is no margin for error. Therefore follow the above-mentioned tips for creating a perfect freelance profile.
