Seven Tips for a Standout Online Presence

Yes! You have decided to go all in and become a freelancer. Fantastic!

As soon as you start spreading the word, the chances are that people will start searching for you online and see what you have to offer.

When I first started freelancing there were ads in newspapers and trade magazines (yeah, I can see you trying to figure out my age). How lucky are we that potential employers can share jobs and can find us within minutes online?

I have been contacted recently by a few freelancers starting out (and some starting over again) if I had any pointers as they had seen me online. Over the last two years, I have been more active on LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter. Plus, last year I created a rebrand and new website for Lyons Creative.

I mainly talk about graphic design and freelancing. I don’t share too many personal things about myself but I sprinkle some from time to time. As Lucy Werner said ‘Show a little ankle - you don't need to show the whole body’. If you feel comfortable sharing do. But hey - you are getting started or re-starting, so I created the infographic below: ‘Showcasing your freelance skills - with confidence’.

Below the infographic, I have gone into a little more detail. It may seem overwhelming to get started, but grab a notebook and take down a few action points that you can start with now. Let me know how you get on.

1.  What is your why? Who are you?

You need to tell people who you are. Marketing speak coming up - you should tell them about your Unique Selling Points (USP).

What makes you stand out? Can you write some points that can make you stand out? Don’t be shy, tell us what you do. This could be your niche, skills, or personality traits that align with your ideal clients.
For example, if you're a graphic designer, your USP could be your ability to create designs quickly working for a newspaper or work in a marketing department using brand guidelines.
Action: To define your USP answer these and write them down:

• What problem do I solve?

• What sets me apart from others?

• What benefits do I offer to my clients?

2.  Create a brand that helps you stand out

Before you get all excited with your colouring pencils. We need to think about how you will be seen online. Your Tone of voice, fonts, and colours are critical elements of a brand's identity. They help convey a brand's personality and differentiate it from competitors.
Consistent use of these elements creates a memorable brand identity.

What is Tone of voice? Tone of voice refers to the way a brand communicates with its audience. Your tone can be formal, friendly, authoritative, or humorous, depending on the way you want your brand's personality and the intended message to come across. Everyone is different. Be true to you, create a genuine and consistent tone of voice across your communication channels – it will help you create a strong brand identity and will build trust with customers.

Now we can get the colouring pencils out. Fonts and colours are also essential elements of a brand's visual identity. Fonts can convey a brand's personality, whether it is modern and clean or classic and sophisticated. Similarly, colours can evoke emotions and associations, such as red for passion, blue for trust and security, or green for nature and sustainability. Selecting the right fonts and colours that align with a brand's values and messaging can help create a powerful and memorable brand identity.

Bringing it together When developing a brand, it's important to consider all these elements. A consistent visual and verbal identity can help a brand stand out, build recognition and trust, and create a memorable impression with customers.

Action: Write down 10 words that can describe you and your work. They could be adventurous, professional, caring, authoritative, kind etc. Then narrow it down to 5. Keep those close to you and remember those words when writing your content.

Action: Also, have a look at fonts and colours out there. Maybe create a Pinterest or Notion board and capture what you like.
Take a look further - I have written blogs on font pairings and colour theory.

3. Build a website.

Eeek! A website – but that’s expensive and hard to do, I hear you say.
Well, I say – it doesn’t have to be.

I think a website is essential for freelancers to showcase their portfolio, services, case studies and testimonials. Also, once you have identified your USP and your brand, make sure to highlight it in your website and portfolio.

Choose a domain name that is easy to remember and reflects your brand. Some people choose their own name. There is no right or wrong here. It’s your business. – do what you feel comfortable with. Search Go Daddy or 123.reg to see if your domain name is available. Go for the .com extension if you can.

I use Squarespace to build websites. I really enjoy the simplicity of it and you can make stand-out sites. As it also offers my clients the flexibility to do updates without any coding knowledge.
Don’t forget to include a clear call-to-action (CTA) on your website such as "Contact me" or "Book a call" to make it easy for potential clients to reach out to you.

Action: Go to a web domain name checker and see if your chosen name is available.

Also, I have FREE downloadable checklist that can help you get started with designing your site. You can download it here.

4. Create a strong social media presence
Once you have your business name. Check if those names are also available on social media platforms. Such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest or Facebook. When creating the profiles use the same name- so they are consistent. I know I have different names but if I was starting out again I would make them all the same.

Choose social media platforms that align with your niche and target market.
Share updates on your projects, industry insights, and engage with your followers.
Use hashtags to increase your reach and attract potential clients.
Share valuable content such as blog posts, infographics, or videos that showcase your expertise and provide value to your audience.

Action: 

1. Decide what social media platforms you would like to focus on and create a profile. You don’t need all of them if you think you will be overwhelmed by them.

2. Create an image for your social media headers - they are real estate. Again, who you are, what you do and if you have it your web address and a tagline add it here. You can create a tagline from your tone of voice words.

See mine below. Also, make them all the same. I have mine across all my social media profiles: LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Also remember to have the same photo of yourself across all platforms, preferably facing the camera. I know mine is not facing the camera. But I have made that image part of my brand.

5. Attend networking events
There are online webinars, events and coworking sessions you can attend. I have listed a few here.
I know I said online presence, but you can also attend local networking events or industry conferences to meet potential clients and build relationships with other freelancers.
Once you have your brand in place, order business cards, bring them to the event and be prepared to introduce yourself and your services. It can feel a bit uncomfortable if you don’t want to do it. Don’t. You must feel comfortable doing it.
But if you do go, follow up with the people you meet after the event and schedule a call or meeting to discuss potential opportunities.

Action: Join a networking event or identify one that you would like to try.

6. Online job platforms
Have a look at these platforms such as YunoJuno, Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr to find freelance opportunities and build your portfolio.
I will be honest here. I have never found or put myself forward for work on these. I mention them because I know a few of my freelancer friends have. They have been successful but what I noticed with them is that they won’t offer the cheapest service in their profession. Which is great as they never undersell themselves just to get more work in. See if they suit you, you can always try them out. It does not have to be forever.

You can apply to relevant jobs and customise your cover letter for each job application.

 Action: Set up a complete profile which includes your portfolio, skills, and experience. Keep a spreadsheet to see what type of work comes in and how much you charged for each project. Also, don’t forget to ask for client testimonials, it will help build your credibility.

7. Create valuable content
Since being online over the last few years. I realised as well as all the work I do – I have been creating content via my social media platforms.

I talk about graphic design, freelancing, my newsletter and what’s happening in my world. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get a 1000 likes as soon as you start… keep going, connect and follow people/businesses that align with you or that you want to see their content.

One point to remember with social media companies, I’ve realised over the years is that these companies have my content. So, I decided to use my website to create content via blogs. Also, from time to time, I download and keep track of what I have posted on those platforms.

You can create blog posts, e-books, or video tutorials that showcase your expertise and provide value to your potential clients.
Choose topics that align with your niche and target market.

Don’t forget to add visuals such as images, infographics, or videos to make your content more engaging. Again, use photo libraries listed here to help you.

Action: Create a post. What shall I write? Why not create a ‘Get to Know me' post? Outline who you are and what you do. Add an image of yourself here. If you don’t have any yet from a professional photo shoot, take a selfie image. People will love to see the real you. Share your content on social media and include a call to action to encourage your audience to contact you.

HOT TIP!

How long will this take? The points above are what I have done and learnt over the years, by implementing these tips, you can promote yourself with confidence and hopefully attract more clients. It's important to remember that building a successful freelance career takes time and effort, but by focusing on your USP, creating a professional online presence, and providing value to your clients, you can build a thriving business.

As the TV detective Columbo would say ‘Just one last thing…’

‘Stay in your lane’. Try not to compare yourself to other freelancers. Everyone is on a different journey and will have different experiences.

Action: Do take a look at what others are doing but remember not to get a case of comparisonitis.

I hope this has helped. Let me know and if you would like further help let me know. Hit the button below.

Hi! Thanks for reading!
I’m Angela Lyons and I am the founder and graphic designer at Lyons Creative. I specialise in both print and digital design, I aim to help businesses enhance their visual appeal by creating compelling and distinct designs. I also help freelancers and share my experiences of freelance life.
If you are interested in learning more about my services and how I can assist your business, please feel free to contact me via direct message, and we can discuss your design needs further. Hit the button below!