Nine Tips to Help You Stand Out as a Freelancer

With more and more freelancers entering the business each year, it can be tough to stand out.

Photo by Elijah O'Donnell from pexels

Do you find it difficult to present yourself as an expert in your field, or to explain why you’re the best freelancer for the job? If so, you’re not alone. Many freelancers have difficulty standing out from their competition, and this can cause you to lose out on much-needed business opportunities. Here are nine tips that will help you stand out from other freelancers and excel in your industry.

1) Choose Something Specific

If you’re looking for freelance writing jobs, make sure that your articles are related to what you want. That way, when you go online and post your portfolio, potential clients will quickly see whether or not they could work with you. (For example, if I was doing freelance writing for business blogs about pets but none of my posts featured pets specifically, it might be hard for a pet-related business to take me on.) Be careful when choosing one of these businesses! Sometimes it makes sense to specialize in one niche — but other times it pays off to do more general topics.

2) Set Up Quality Business Cards

If you’re doing freelance work, business cards are essential. They allow people who you meet in your daily life (coworkers, clients, etc.) to reach out and connect with you. Plus, it allows them (or you) to remember your contact information more easily. Plus — because of their small size — business cards are great for networking events or conferences where space is limited and making new connections is key.

3) Have Branding Material Ready

It’s almost impossible to get a client if you don’t have business cards, an e-mail signature, and some sort of online presence. Make sure that whatever branding materials you have are professional and representative of your work. Don’t be afraid to network with other freelancers — you never know who will have new leads for you or help out with introductions! And most importantly, make sure your work is of high quality. Not only will it lead to more clients, but it also ensures that when you do get clients, they’ll be pleased with their final product.

4) Keep Communication Lines Open

A freelancer’s communication skills are one of his most important assets. If clients or colleagues can’t get in touch with you, your business will suffer. Some freelancers hire virtual assistants who handle calls and emails when they’re unable to answer personally, but a better alternative is setting up systems that make staying in touch easier. For example, create an auto-responder email that lets people know you’re on vacation until a such-and-such date and will respond at a such-and-such time upon your return. Similarly, try using online tools for communicating, like Slack or Dropbox Paper for project sharing and discussion boards for brainstorming.

5) Keep Working Until the Job Is Done Perfectly

Many new freelancers make mistakes because they think it’s okay to stop working on a project after they’ve sent it off. Whether you’re designing an ad campaign or developing an app, be diligent. Meet deadlines, ask questions and finish your job by doing everything that you can to ensure that your client is satisfied with your work. Nothing is worse than finding out later on that there was something you could have done better if you had put more effort into it. Be careful not to lose prospective clients by being someone who only sends off half-baked work. Instead, strive for excellence in everything you do!

6) Follow Up with Clients

For many people, email is their first and last line of communication with clients. Most of us are inundated with messages from friends, family members, co-workers, and strangers — and when it comes time to follow up on an important message (like Your taxes are due next week), getting lost in that stream is easy. Keep your messages organized by using a project management tool like Basecamp or Trello. This will help you set reminders for yourself so you don’t forget an important milestone or deadline.

7) Offer Extra Services

While all of your competitors will likely offer similar services, some of them may also have niche offerings that aren’t being capitalized on. By offering an additional service (e.g., resume editing or one-on-one coaching), you can provide additional value to clients, allowing you to differentiate yourself from your competition. This tactic is particularly useful if you’re working in a highly saturated industry where many freelancers are vying for customers. Potential clients must know they can trust and rely on you. By demonstrating your commitment to customer satisfaction through added services, you can show prospective customers that they don’t have anything to worry about if they choose to work with you instead of another freelancer whose skills are less proven.

8) Deliver a Professional Experience

If you want to stand out, it’s important to always do your best work. A hiring manager doesn’t have time to review dozens of mediocre candidates. They have deadlines, too! Your portfolio and resume should be polished and prepared for anything. Be ready with examples of past work experience that demonstrate your skill set so hiring managers can make an informed decision about whether or not you are a good fit for their project. But remember, don’t give away all your information at once! Reserve some space in your portfolio for potential clients who might want something custom-tailored or outside of what you typically provide. This will show them how flexible you are, but also showcases how skilled you are in general when you create something specific on-demand.

9) Get Reviews and Recommendations

Don’t take shortcuts when it comes to choosing your freelancing gigs. Ask for recommendations from friends and colleagues — and if they can’t provide one, ask them why not. How many hours did you work with them? Did they pay on time? Do they always treat their employees well? If you don’t have any recommendations or referrals, look at job reviews. That will give you an idea of how past clients feel about their experience with that company.