How to Brand your Freelance Business Like a Pro

When we think of branding, some of the things that come to our mind are branding for business owners, entrepreneurs, companies, and so on. However, we don’t usually think of branding for freelancers.

Sometimes, this is attributed to the fact that some people don’t consider freelancing as a business. This is wrong. Freelancing is a business, and it should be treated as such.

What is a business anyway? A business is simply a system where goods and services are exchanged for money. You have a service you are offering, you are exchanging it for money. Aren’t you running a business?

You have customers, target market, services to deliver or products to create, you transact with your customers, and so on; you are running a business.

And so, that is why it is important to brand your business, just like any other businesses.

Here are 10 ways you can brand your freelance business like a pro!

1. What’s your Niche? You need to clearly identify your area of specialization. For instance, if you are a writer, ask yourself, which kind of writing would I specialize on? If you don’t have an idea of the area you want to specialize on, you can take a look at the area you are very good at or an area you have so much interest in. It could be copywriting, lifestyle articles, feature writing, real estate writing, etc.
2. What’s your USP? what sets your freelance business from another business? Look at those already doing what you want to do. How different is what you do from theirs? What is your Unique Selling Proposition? Think about these things.
3. Research: once you’ve found your niche, you need to research that area. Research your target market, what is the prevalent need in the market? what is the demand like? how can you help?
4. Ge t a name for your freelance business: some of us naturally decide to use our names as official names for our freelance business. If you want, you can get a name particular to your freelance business, however, when doing this, ensure the name is easy to remember, and that it communicates the right message.
5. What’s your brand strategy? you need to sit down and create a comprehensive and long-term brand plan for your freelance business. How do you want your brand to be perceived? Who are you? What does your freelance business offer? What are your plans towards making your brand identity and brand voice consistent? etc. Think about these things.
6. Get a logo: get an effective logo for your business. Ensure that the logo matches your brand. You will need the logo for your website and social media accounts.
7. Get a website and or portfolio: now, more than ever, if you meet a client for a job as a freelancer, one of the things he or she will ask you is if you have a website or a portfolio. Some people have websites and portfolios, while some have either of the two. Whichever side you belong, just ensure that you have a place to record your works and showcase your skills. To find out more on how to create a portfolio, you can read this article on 7 Online Portfolio Websites Freelancers can use here
8. Know your target audience: who are the people that need your services? Where are they located? What are their likes and dislikes? etc. To effectively know this, you need to create a buyer persona. A typical buyer persona includes who your target audience are, their location, their age, etc.
9. Have a business card: did you know that having a business card can help you network easily with prospective clients. Your business card helps you appear prepared and serious whenever you attend networking events or mixers. Your business cards help you connect with the other person in an easy way. Getting a business card doesn’t have to be expensive, you can get one that fits your budget. Make sure your business card reflects your brand and has all your accurate contact details.
10. Utilize social media: an easy way to brand your freelance business is to make intelligent use of social media. With social media, you have the opportunity to inexpensively promote your business and create the right perception you need. Post relevant topics, post valuable topics, be consistent, interact with others, and follow your target audience.

With that being said, you need to, here are some things you need to consider when building a brand:

1. Have a brand strategy: like it is mentioned earlier, you need an effective brand strategy that will reflect who you are and what your business is about.
2. Build a consistent brand: is your brand consistent across all channels? For instance, can people visit your different social media channels and know that you are the same person?
3. Tell your brand story the right way: what is your brand story? How are you telling it?
4. Deliver value: it is not enough to brand your freelance business, you need to deliver value. You need to ensure that your brand perception matches your brand equity or value.

Are there some freelance branding tips missing above? Kindly share them in the comments section below!