Did anyone ever tell you that becoming a freelancer also means becoming a marketer?
Sure, freelancing gives you the freedom, flexibility, and ownership to focus on the services you want to provide. But one unexpected challenge is that you have to know how to promote yourself and your work effectively to secure the clients you want.
If you’re just starting out, here are a few resources that’ll help you get up to speed quickly.
Personal branding shouldn’t be a buzzword. In fact, it shouldn’t be something “new” or brought on by modern advances in social media. At its core, it’s a facet every single one of you should be aware of and have control over.
It’s not a “nice-to-know”, it’s a must have.
By definition, and depending on the source, personal branding is knowing yourself, your preferred industry, and whom you serve.
It’s what people think about you when you’re not in the room.
The first thought that pops into their mind when your name comes up.
It’s the alignment of your core values and day-to-day actions.
I was in a marketing workshop recently and the presenter asked the room if anyone actually thought of themselves as a “brand.”
I hesitated. My inner thoughts went something like this:
“I mean…yeah. I’m supposed to say yes, right? I’ve taught personal branding workshops all over the world. I’ve built a lot of my career on my personal brand. I sell personal branding to other people.”
But no one raised their hand.
I didn’t want to be the only one to do so.
So I stayed quiet. And then I started wondering what a personal brand actually means.
Whether online or off, we all have a brand.
From the moment you meet someone, they immediately begin to develop an opinion of you and they quickly discover what they can expect and depend on you for. Knowing this, the key to the “Personal Branding” puzzle is clear. If you know what you stand for, you can use the tools available today to guide others to form a clearer picture of “Brand You.”
How do you use about.me?
For Veronica Belmont, her page serves as the place where she can show all of her different online identities.
A great opportunity could be passing you by. To determine if it is, answer these three questions:
If your answer to any of these is yes, this post is for you. These questions all revolve around your personal brand. Your personal brand is essentially your reputation. What people say about you. We want to ensure that they’re saying great things.
Are you aware of how you look online? What kind of online identity do you have and are you in control? If you’re a job seeker, millennial or student, these questions are for you.
Having a strong online identity is key if you want to stand out to employers and start building your career. At about.me, we’ve created the best tools in the game for you to start building your personal and professional brands and we’re excited to share them with you.
Whether you’re traveling in a new city or taking a few months off to explore the world, travel is an exciting way to open your eyes, develop new connections and build your story.
For nomads and new explorers alike, here are three ways that travel can help you enhance your personal brand.
