How to Increase Business and Look More Professional as a Freelancer

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Zac Johnson, Entrepreneur at Blogging.org.

Thanks to the power of the internet, it seems like now anyone can make money from the comfort of their own home. Best of all, this business model applies to pretty much everyone in the world as well. Well, that is, if they are willing to put in the time, work, and effort to turn their expertise and skill into a real business.

That is something professional freelancers know all too well. It doesn’t matter if you specialize in content writing, design services, marketing, or anything in between — if you have found success in the world of freelancing, you deserve a round of applause!

With all the talk of freelancer success in mind, today I wanted to discuss some of the best ways to not only find more success with your freelance-based business but also for those who might be struggling to find success of their own.

Try out each of the tools and methods below to propel your efforts and success to the next level.

Stand Out from the Crowd with a Professional Logo

As a freelancer, it’s important to make sure you stand out from the crowd — not just to acquire new work, but to also look professional and demand a higher payout in the process. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by having a professional logo design to better brand yourself and your expertise.

One of the most common reasons why freelancers neglect to have a logo or brand of their own is that it’s often an expensive added cost. However, technology advancements and cutting out the middle-man and hiring costly design firms is making this process a whole lot easier. This is especially true in the case of Designhill, which has created an amazing platform that relies on artificial intelligence to create professional logo designs on the go, while also offering an unlimited supply of drafts, and only costing a fraction of what logo design firms typically charge.

To get started with a new look and feel for your freelancing brand, check out their logo maker tool and fill out a few fields like your name, business name, slogan, and select your favorite color schemes and types of logo designs you already like. Within a few seconds, the tool will start creating a few logo designs for you to skim through and then ultimately purchase if you are happy with it.

Showcasing your professional logo and brand can be accomplished by adding it to your social profiles, website, blog, or anywhere else that you might have a profile or show off your best work.

Create a Brand or Company Name for Your Business

Just because you are a freelancer, it doesn’t mean you need to be seen as another individual freelancer looking for work on the internet. In fact, when companies are looking to outsource content creation or marketing, they are often willing to pay a premium to go with a well-known or trusted agency over a cheaper freelancer option. Instead of falling into the crowd, look more professional and increase business by registering yourself as an LLC or INC company.

Before moving forward with this process, you are going to need to come up with a great name for your business. This theoretically could just be “Your Name, LLC”, but it’s best to not go that route. Instead, you should come up with a professional name that could grow into much more over time.

If you are struggling to find a good name, use a business name generator to help with the process. It’s much like selecting a domain name, but allows for more creativity and won’t cost you thousands of dollars for a great name. All you need to do is plug in a few keywords and phrases related to your business, and the tool will do the rest for you.

Payoneer actually has a nice reference guide on the many options freelancers should consider when growing their personal business and turning it into a legitimate company. Be sure to check it out and see if right now is the best time to bring your freelance business to the next level.

Get Real Testimonials and Profile Photos from Clients

The internet has made the business model of freelancing a whole lot easier. In fact, FreelanceMyWay reports that “there are 57.3 million people freelancing in the United States, contributing an estimated $1.3 trillion to the economy each year” — which is 30% higher than the freelancer revenue contributed to the economy last year!

With there no longer being a need for freelancers to focus on local markets and needing a higher education, the doors for opportunity are wide open. Since most freelancers are starting off from scratch or with a low budget, most of this can be accomplished with personal outreach and putting in the time and effort.

However, there are still some effective ways to stand out from the crowd, while also gaining the attention and respect of potential clients in the process.

A perfect example of this would be to have your own website or blog. This is pretty much a no-brainer and something every freelancer should have. Having a site of your own is great for a wide range of reasons, but specifically to secure and rank for your name in Google, showcase your expertise, and to highlight testimonials from previous clients.

When using testimonials to compliment your services, always try to get a photo of the person providing you with their feedback. If possible, try to link back to them on social media as well. If you can get a video testimonial, even better!

The best way to find success with a website or blog of your own is to make it your own sales pages and making your brand and services stand out from the crowd. Trustworthy and real testimonials can be huge for conversions and bring in new clients.

There is Nothing Free About the Business of Freelancing

While the word “freelancing” has the word “free” in it, there is definitely nothing free about it. Not only can it be one of the most competitive industries to be in, it can also be one of the most rewarding as well.

Think of your business and personal brand like a first date. You want to make a great first impression and find a client that you’d love to have stick around forever.

Take advantage of each of the recommended tips and tools above, and continue to see your freelancing business flourish for years to come.

Freelancers, get global payments easily from marketplaces and clients with Payoneer

Zac Johnson is an entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience in the world of online marketing and branding. Zac is currently focused on helping others discover how to make money online through is blogs at ZacJohnson.com and Blogging.org.