Create a Public Presence Using Social Media
Even if you're an excellent freelancer, it's impossible to get your name back in front of people once they've forgotten about you. When it comes to promoting your work as an independent creative, you have a lot of options, and social media is your best bet.
This is where you should focus your efforts if you're looking for work or trying to build a network. To put it another way, if you've never used it, think of it as a business version of Facebook (if that makes sense). The place exudes professionalism and seriousness, and everyone understands that business is the primary goal.
Despite Facebook's ongoing restrictions on how we can communicate with our target audience, Twitter remains the most important social media platform for gaining attention. People will follow you if you are interesting, creative, and/or entertaining. Instead of using shady methods such as purchasing followers or following a large number of people in the hopes of receiving a follow-back, stick to tried-and-true methods. These figures are meaningless unless they are supported by real people.
Behance
Creating an account here is a breeze, and you can begin sharing your work with the world right away. Behance also gives you the option of using Prosite to build your own slick portfolio on the platform.
Determine a Distinctive Personal Style That You Can Use to Set Yourself Apart
Being unique is a lot more difficult than it first appears. This isn't the first time I've ever asked you to do something nearly impossible, so I'd rather suggest you use a distinct style in your work instead. If you want your designs to be perceived as consistent, then you should use the same design approach across all of your projects.
Invest in Quality Visuals
When you use eye-catching visual elements such as your headshot, portfolio screens and images, targeted videos, and website images, you can easily make your personal brand memorable. However, before you begin creating them, you should have a clear idea of the visual style you want to use.
A minimum of three high-resolution images, graphics, or screenshots should accompany each piece of work in your portfolio. An app for athletes with physical disabilities is featured in Diego Mancilla's portfolio. On top of that, there is a photo of his UX development process and a screenshot from an image of the app being used on a smartphone.
+ If you're going to have a logo, keep it simple and true to your brand's identity. + To make your blog posts (or articles on Medium) more appealing to readers, include images and screenshots. An article with an image is more likely to be shared than one without. + Use a non-selfie headshot or one with a neutral expression across all of your social media profiles. For example, if you're a web developer selling software to B2B companies, you might want to try a headshot that combines professionalism and nerdiness.
+ Print should be used to supplement your online brand. Business cards, branded swag, branded event stands, and print advertisements continue to have a significant impact in the digital age. Printed materials have a longer shelf life. And, if a prospect keeps your business card in their purse or uses that cool branded keychain you gave them, you will be constantly in their mind. However, make sure that all of your printed materials include a QR code that leads to your website. + Make sure your website, business cards, and other branding materials have no more than three colors in their color palette.
Give Back to the Community
In the past, I've relied heavily on the work of others, and I've always been grateful to those who took the time and effort to create these freebies.
In addition, for those who want to quickly brush up on their Photoshop skills, I post Photoshop tutorials on my YouTube channel. This is how I choose to give back, and it also contributes to public awareness and the development of a positive image for myself and my company.
Maintain Your Portfolio and Blog
The online portfolio of a freelancer is their lifeblood. If it's not fresh, you're dead. Maintain it and only show off your best work on it. Spend at least as much time and effort as you did on your logo on your website.
A blog is an excellent way to share your thoughts with the rest of the world. Maintaining a presence on a blog is not the same as having a presence on Facebook or in your high school yearbook; you must keep in mind that these posts will be read by potential clients.
Show Off Your Unique Personality
It's difficult to resist a good story. If you have one, let the world know. Start one now if you don't already have one. Having a sense of humour and personality, as well as demonstrating that you are a unique individual with a set of core values, is essential. It's critical for clients to understand that they're dealing with someone who isn't a mindless zombie with nothing interesting to say. Keep it brief and to the point, as always.