If you think the job market is tough, try your hand at freelance work. Competition is fierce.
More than ever before, it’s the person who looks the most polished and professional that gets the job opportunities ahead of all the others. That’s why I am a huge advocate for the concept of creating a personal brand. You want a carefully crafted image and you want to make sure that it is one people will always remember.
Being memorable will transform you from one of the crowd into the go-to guy. You will be the one they call when they have a job to do and need your services.
So what IS a personal brand?
Your personal brand is an image that you create in order to market your services. It might be influenced by market conditions. It might be influenced by the services you offer. It might be influenced by the competition. It MUST be something that sets you apart from the rest of the wannabees out there in the freelance world.
While people don’t think much about it these days, your business “look” used to include the right logo design, stationary, business card, flyers, brochures, or other marketing collateral. It used to be that you would never want to leave home without a business card. I, for one, still use business cards to help people remember me.
You need a professional appearance, so get well-groomed. You need a professional demeanor. You want to enter an office or meeting to discuss your services with enthusiasm and absolute confidence. You should not have any fear, uncertainty or doubt at all (I call that the FUD Factor). Be confident, have a firm handshake. Make eye contact. Be interested in the people or the business with whom you are prospecting.
When you leave the meeting, they should have your business card in hand. If you have a brochure, leave it with them. Make sure that they have a compelling reason to go online and check out your website. That is where you can feature more information, including samples of your work, testimonials, and an offer that will have them submitting their e-mail address in exchange for some bribe (a free report, mini e-book, discounts to help save them money). You want them in your prospect file.
Follow-up with a little thank you note in the mail. Yes, the mail. I don’t mean an e-mail, I mean snail mail– the old-fashioned way. A note to say thanks for meeting with me, delivered by the United States Postal Service will be long remembered and will definitely be something that your competition will not think to do.
Now, put your best foot forward. Look smart. Look confident. Look professional. Get the gig.
Your success is a foregone conclusion.
More than ever before, it’s the person who looks the most polished and professional that gets the job opportunities ahead of all the others. That’s why I am a huge advocate for the concept of creating a personal brand. You want a carefully crafted image and you want to make sure that it is one people will always remember.
Being memorable will transform you from one of the crowd into the go-to guy. You will be the one they call when they have a job to do and need your services.
So what IS a personal brand?
Your personal brand is an image that you create in order to market your services. It might be influenced by market conditions. It might be influenced by the services you offer. It might be influenced by the competition. It MUST be something that sets you apart from the rest of the wannabees out there in the freelance world.
While people don’t think much about it these days, your business “look” used to include the right logo design, stationary, business card, flyers, brochures, or other marketing collateral. It used to be that you would never want to leave home without a business card. I, for one, still use business cards to help people remember me.
You need a professional appearance, so get well-groomed. You need a professional demeanor. You want to enter an office or meeting to discuss your services with enthusiasm and absolute confidence. You should not have any fear, uncertainty or doubt at all (I call that the FUD Factor). Be confident, have a firm handshake. Make eye contact. Be interested in the people or the business with whom you are prospecting.
When you leave the meeting, they should have your business card in hand. If you have a brochure, leave it with them. Make sure that they have a compelling reason to go online and check out your website. That is where you can feature more information, including samples of your work, testimonials, and an offer that will have them submitting their e-mail address in exchange for some bribe (a free report, mini e-book, discounts to help save them money). You want them in your prospect file.
Follow-up with a little thank you note in the mail. Yes, the mail. I don’t mean an e-mail, I mean snail mail– the old-fashioned way. A note to say thanks for meeting with me, delivered by the United States Postal Service will be long remembered and will definitely be something that your competition will not think to do.
Now, put your best foot forward. Look smart. Look confident. Look professional. Get the gig.
Your success is a foregone conclusion.
