The Art of Selling Yourself
After having prepared a killer cover letter and a super flashy resume, the question now is: Which Way to Go? Most often than not, many freelancers fall into the stigma of not knowing how to market oneself. To sell your skills as a freelancer is definitely full of challenges and it’s all about delivering that perfect pitch which will win you projects. How good are you in the art of persuasion? Do you have a unique tactic in sealing that deal? Now that you have finished polishing yourself into that flawless diamond, it is high time to shine from the window display of the so-called virtual world.
When it comes to the art of selling yourself to prospective clients, you need to remember 3 Cs: Creativity, Cleverness, and Confidence. Think of it as creating your own ad campaign and YOU are your very own product. When times are tough and competition becomes stiffer, you need to think out-of-the-box, or dare to reshape that box for good.
Five Key Steps in Marketing Your Skills as a Freelancer:
1. Ask Yourself
It’s pretty simple! You need to know first what it is you are trying to sell before you even go out in the global marketplace. How will you present yourself to service buyers? You can sit down and list your best qualities, which will help you identify those key points to include in your job interview.
2. Look Back Into the Past
Now is not the time to be modest about your past achievements. You need to dig them out from your old files and put them on the spotlight. If you have won awards in school or have been a leader of a volunteer program, be proud of it! Your clients want to see that you are self-motivated, a good team leader or team player, and someone who is success-driven.
3. Know Where to Sell Yourself
You can network with people, in real-time or online, for you to get as many leads as possible. Remember, anyone you know can be a potential client. You can rely on word-by-mouth advertising, traditional media ( newspaper, jobs bulletin, classified ads, etc. ), social media networks ( Facebook, My Space, LinkedIn, or Twitter ), your very own blog or website, or hundreds of freelancer sites on the web. Let technology work for you.
4. Accept Criticism
Don’t just play it safe by asking your family and friends for opinions about your pitch. You can always ask someone with years of experience to give you an honest feedback on what needs to be improved. You may not like what you hear, but it’s all for the best.
5. Create Good Relationships
Nothing beats having good people skills in helping you win that much-coveted job. Even your witty sense of humor may be that X-factor in helping you secure a freelance project. Learn the basics of business etiquette and always send out your sincerest words of appreciation for the time given to your job application.
At the end of a job hunting day, all you have to do is put on a service buyer’s hat and ask yourself: ” Will I Hire Me? ” The pressures of self-promotion may push you to the edge of sanity, but never lose hope. You are an expert in what you do best and there are no such thing as lucky breaks. When preparation meets perseverance, the rewards can be more than awesome. Believe in Yourself… or else, No One Will!
How To Sell Yourself:
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