Practical Tips on How To Build a Reputation as a Freelancer

Once upon a time, people didn’t take the idea of freelancing seriously. It must have been worse for African freelancers? You probably would have heard questions like, “what does freelancing even mean?”

Good thing we are getting past that these days. It is now a question of building a reputation as a freelancer. In this post, we will share some tips to help freelancers in Africa build their reputation.

How to build a good reputation as a freelancer

For some individuals, it is difficult to trust a person they have never met to handle their tasks. They’ll have to be pushed to the wall to even consider the idea. Even though freelancers enjoy several benefits, this is one challenge that we all face.

As freelancing in Africa begins to open up, African freelancers must begin to build strong reputations. Here are some tips to help you out.

Grow your network

You must have heard people say that “your network is your net worth.” This phrase has never been truer than when used for freelancers. Growing your network is one of the easiest ways to build a good reputation. After all, it is difficult for someone with many connections to be a bad egg.

One way to achieve this goal is by making use of social media. Do you know that about half of the world’s population has access to the internet? This means that most people have at least one social media account.

Accept it or not, a large fraction of your target audience is on social media. Build followership on social media by posting valuable content. The more problems you solve with your posts, the more followers you will have.

Don’t try to be too salesy, instead, seek to add value. As you do this, people become more familiar with your work. Gradually, they will begin to trust you. Soon, they will not just patronize, they will provide referrals. The key to getting the best from social media is drawing up a content plan first.

Blog! Blog!! Blog!!!

Many African freelancers will argue that you don’t need a blog to make it in this industry. They may be partially right. However, research shows that about 46 percent of professionals lookout for freelancers that run blogs when hiring. See that?

Running a blog does so much for your credibility. It shows that you are not just any freelancer, you are an authority in your field. This means that you stand head and shoulders above freelancers that don’t have blogs.

Once you stamp your authority, you will notice a rise in the number of prospects that contact you. By now you must be thinking, how can I set up my blog? It’s not difficult, there are several platforms that present you with ready-made templates. Examples are WordPress, Tumblr, and Blogger. 

There are certain things you should know when blogging. For example, understand the use of keywords and SEO. This knowledge will ensure that your blog gains authority and ranks high on search engine pages.

Join a freelancer network

Another way to build a strong reputation is to join a network or community. There are so many benefits of being part of a freelancer network. One such benefit is access to helpful information.

Another benefit is access to freelance gigs. Even if you work with a team, it doesn’t guarantee you consistent work. There are times when you and your team will have a gig drought. This is where freelance sites come in handy.

A final advantage you get from freelance networks and communities is endorsement. As a part of such communities, you become endorsed. This way, when clients check you out, they can trace you to a known network. Because of this, they have an assurance in your reliability. There are several freelance communities to join including African Freelancers.

Sign up on a freelance website

How can you even say you are a freelancer these days and not be signed up to a freelance website? Now, we aren’t talking about communities here. We mean websites that connect freelancers to employers.

There are so many websites such as Guru, Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer, etc. These websites have tons of employers signed up seeking freelance talent like you. Why should you sign up on such sites?

First, you have a plethora of jobs that you can bid for. Another reason is that employers already have a level of trust in you because of the strict application process. These platforms ask several questions that you just answer before you can join.

When employers contact you via freelance websites, they expect you to have a certain reputation. Working with you helps them to build on this. Finally, freelance platforms have mechanisms set in place to ensure trust between employers and freelancers. If you work in a specific niche, you can check for niche-specific freelance platforms.

Build on existing relationships

The easiest way to build a strong reputation is still through “word of mouth.” Asides from being a very potent advertising method, it also doesn’t cost a dime. After delivering great services, it is the turn of your clients to help you out.

Build on the relationship by encouraging them to drop favorable reviews online. So many people confess that it is easier for them to sign up for a service after reading favorable reviews. In this case, you need reviews, testimonials, and recommendations from past clients. 

The more positive reviews that you can gather, the patronage you are likely to have. Another way to build on relationships is by providing top-notch services. When clients are satisfied at the first time of asking, they want to return.

As much as you can, do a great job whenever you have a task. Leave it all on the table each time and watch your clients swarm back to you.

Wrap up

As the idea of freelancing in Africa becomes more popular, it is time to grow your reputation. We have outlined a few helpful tips to achieve this in this post. Most of all, you should join a freelancer network like African Freelancers. What other strategies do you know?