# How to market your freelance skills
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2020-10-24
Category: BUSINESS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/business
Meta Title: How to Market Yourself as a Freelancer & Secure Your
Meta Description: Learn how to market yourself effectively as a freelancer with tips on creating a standout CV and LinkedIn profile to secure your next contract.
URL: https://financedigest.com/how-to-market-your-freelance-skillshtml

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_By **Dave Chaplin,** author of The Contractors’ Handbook – Third Edition, which provides all the advice freelancers and contractors need to know about self-employment._

Whilst a continued job slump is inevitable as the impact of Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc on the economy, there may be a silver lining for professionals with a strong skill set who have found themselves out of work. Now might be the just the right time to take a risk, take a leap and go freelance as many firms are taking a cautious approach to hiring permanent staff and are recognising the benefits of taking on flexible resources on an ‘as needs’ basis.

Having sorted out the administrative aspects such as deciding on a business model, registering with HMRC and finding a suitable accountant, the next step is to secure your first contract.  And to secure your first contract, you [need to get yourself out there and sell](https://www.financedigest.com/soccer-deep-pockets-needed-to-persuade-glazers-to-sell-united.html "Soccer – Deep pockets needed to persuade Glazers to sell United") yourself.

Freelancers and contractors get hired because of the value they can add to their clients’ organisation. Those who focus on communicating how they can add value will win better and [higher](https://www.financedigest.com/delivery-hero-sees-higher-gross-merchandise-value-in-third-quarter.html "Delivery Hero sees higher gross merchandise value in third quarter") value contracts.  But how do you reach clients?

Dave Chaplin is CEO and founder of contracting authority [ContractorCalculator](https://www.contractorcalculator.co.uk/) and the author of The Contractors’ Handbook – Third Edition, which provides all the advice freelancers and contractors need to know whether they are new to freelancing or experienced old-hands. He has some advice on [marketing yourself as a freelancer and how to secure your next contract](https://www.financedigest.com/pharmaceutical-contract-packaging-market-current-impact-to-make-big-changes-2020.html "Pharmaceutical Contract Packaging Market Current Impact to Make Big Changes 2020").

Your curriculum vitae, or CV, and LinkedIn profile have one purpose: to get an agent or client interested in speaking to you on the telephone with a [view to lining up a client meeting](https://www.financedigest.com/oil-drops-on-china-fuel-reserves-release-opec-meeting-in-view.html "Oil drops on China fuel reserves release; OPEC+ meeting in view") for a new contract. They are the [key marketing](https://www.financedigest.com/alanine-market-key-players-swot-analysis-key-indicators-and-forecast-to-2029.html "Alanine Market Key Players, SWOT Analysis, Key Indicators and Forecast to 2029") tools you will use to be shortlisted for a possible contract and start increasing your income. Think of them as your offline and [online sales](https://www.financedigest.com/how-i-turned-my-passion-for-art-into-a-global-business-through-online-sales.html "How I turned my passion for art into a global business through online sales") brochures – about you.

The crucial decision about whether or not you are shortlisted for a client [meeting is made largely](https://www.financedigest.com/veterinary-tables-market-rise-to-meet-large-demand-in-coming-years-fact-mr-study.html "Veterinary Tables Market Rise To Meet Large Demand In Coming Years, Fact.MR Study") on the basis of these tools, to which the reader at the agency or client will devote perhaps 20 seconds for the first make-or-break reading. So, you need to approach developing your CV and LinkedIn profile as you would an ‘elevator pitch’.

**Why you need a freelancer CV**

To ensure a successful career as a freelancer, your CV deserves a lot of thought, even in today’s [digital world](https://www.financedigest.com/impact-com-releases-the-partnership-economy-a-new-book-that-guides-businesses-to-success-in-a-digital-world.html "impact.com releases The Partnership Economy, a new book that guides businesses to success in a digital world") where you have dozens of options on how to present yourself to prospective clients. That’s because it is possible to be really good at what you do, and really experienced at it, but your CV might not communicate this to a recruiter or potential client.

An effective CV does not detail your life story across several pages. Don’t expect the reader to take the [time to fish out your qualities](https://www.financedigest.com/beijing-meets-state-air-quality-standards-for-first-time-in-2021.html "Beijing meets state air quality standards for first time in 2021") that are of use to them. You need to prioritise and present your relevant skills to them in such a way that you [perfectly match](https://www.financedigest.com/fintech-cloud-computing-a-perfect-match.html "Fintech & Cloud Computing: A Perfect Match") the assignment’s requirements and they simply can’t refuse you the opportunity.

**Your CV needs to scream “I am your ideal solution” to the reader within 20 seconds of them picking it up**

Your CV isn’t the only marketing tool you have at your disposal. It’s now seen as an essential requirement for contractors looking to progress their [careers to develop](https://www.financedigest.com/developing-your-career-with-online-classes.html "Developing Your Career With Online Classes") their LinkedIn profiles, and widely acknowledged that those who don’t are missing out.

**The importance of LinkedIn**

Recognised by most – including clients and recruiters – as the only credible social media networking solution for professionals in the UK, LinkedIn has evolved significantly and now plays an important role for every party in the contracting [supply chain](https://www.financedigest.com/volkswagen-sticks-to-outlook-as-size-offset-supply-chain-woes.html "Volkswagen sticks to outlook as size offset supply chain woes"). Clients frequently use LinkedIn to [vet contractors who they are considering hiring; recruitment agents use the platform as a candidate database; and contractors use it as both a jobs board and a platform to network and market themselves](https://www.financedigest.com/portugal-approves-new-vetting-system-after-string-of-hiring-scandals.html "Portugal approves new vetting system after string of hiring scandals").

With more and more contractors sourcing contracts via LinkedIn, and an increasing number of [recruiters identifying candidates](https://www.financedigest.com/recruitment-in-a-candidate-tight-market.html "Recruitment in a Candidate Tight Market ") via their online profiles, it’s now critically important that you have a well-written and carefully optimised profile.

But it’s not simply a matter of presenting your CV in an online format. Your LinkedIn profile is [expected to provide further value](https://www.financedigest.com/valve-seat-inserts-market-was-estimate-to-be-valued-at-us-5-bn-in-2019-and-expected-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-4-during-the-forecast-period-of-2019-2029.html "Valve Seat Inserts Market was estimate to be valued at ~US$ 5 Bn in 2019, and expected to grow at a CAGR of ~4% during the forecast period of 2019-2029") for the person reading it, be they an agent, client or colleague. If it is impressive enough, you’ll find that the contracts you previously had to search so hard for will start to come to you!

**Think in [terms of the value](https://www.financedigest.com/benign-positional-vertigo-treatment-market-is-pegged-to-witness-sound-growth-in-terms-of-value.html "Benign Positional Vertigo Treatment Market Is Pegged To Witness Sound Growth In Terms Of Value") you can offer your client**

Freelancers and contractors get hired because of the value they can add to their clients’ organisation. Those who focus on communicating how they can add value through productivity and profits, and not just on their specific expertise, will win better contracts.

Filling the pages of your CV with lists of sector-specific jargon, the equipment you are [rated on or even the latest](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-lifts-rates-by-most-since-1995-latest-to-deliver-aggressive-hikes.html "Britain lifts rates by most since 1995, latest to deliver aggressive hikes") buzzwords that sound good, but don’t say what you’ve done with them, is likely to get your CV binned on the first scan-through.

And when you are at your client meeting, which for a freelancer is really a sales meeting, don’t ramble on about how you have just taught yourself the [latest technology](https://www.financedigest.com/cardiac-valvulotome-market-growth-latest-trends-top-players-competition-technological-advancements-outlook-and-forecast-2028.html "Cardiac Valvulotome Market Growth, Latest Trends, Top Players, Competition, Technological Advancements, Outlook and Forecast 2028") in your spare time, unless the job ad or client asks for it.

**Demonstrate how you can measurably add value**

Find out what your potential client [values and what they are seeking to achieve from the project](https://www.financedigest.com/doppler-ultrasound-market-value-projected-to-expand-during-2021-2031-fact-mr-report.html "Doppler Ultrasound Market Value Projected to Expand during 2021-2031: Fact.MR Report") you are pitching for. Always include measurable outcomes of your projects in your CV and explain them subsequently during the interview. Spell out how you applied the skills and experience you have and achieved X outcome over Y timescale, which resulted in Z greater productivity/higher sales/bigger profits.

**Tailor the message to the client**

One client may be [seeking a safe pair of hands with years](https://www.financedigest.com/lilium-aims-to-build-400-air-taxis-a-year-seek-grants.html "Lilium aims to build 400 air taxis a year, seek grants") of relevant experience. Another might want experience within a specific area to help stretch its own team. But whatever the case, they will want to see what value you can add to their organisation.

[Clients hire](https://www.financedigest.com/exit-bee-hires-neil-stewart-as-business-development-director-as-its-client-roster-grows.html "Exit Bee hires Neil Stewart as Business Development Director as its client roster grows") freelancers based on the proven and quantifiable value their skills and experience can offer.

And remember, a freelancer who secures a client meeting is not always the best person [available for the contract but the best person at knowing how to market](https://www.financedigest.com/maximising-the-opportunities-available-from-marketing-technology-and-innovation-focused-thinking.html "Maximising the opportunities available from marketing technology and innovation focused thinking") themselves and get a contract.

**In a nutshell, remember:**

- Your CV has one purpose: to attract interest and secure a client meeting
- A CV is your brochure, website, advertising campaign, etc. all rolled into one. It’s your “elevator pitch”
- Structure and target your CV for high-impact, demonstrating on the front page that you are perfect for the position
- The client does not want to hire you and teach you new skills. Your CV must demonstrate those you already have
- Make sure your list of achievements are things you’ve done for the client, and not for you! They must pass the “So what?” test
- Use multiple copies of your CV based on different [roles you are applying](https://www.financedigest.com/techie-turn-offs-top-7-things-that-put-talent-off-applying-for-tech-roles.html "Techie turn-offs: Top 7 things that put talent off applying for tech roles") for. Tailor each CV for each application
- Recruitment agents now use LinkedIn to identify candidates for contracting assignments
- Having a carefully structured and optimised LinkedIn profile will put you in with a better [chance of being approached](https://www.financedigest.com/a-holistic-approach-to-esg-is-the-best-chance-of-success-in-a-competitive-private-equity-investment-market.html "A holistic approach to ESG is the best chance of success in a competitive private equity investment market") for work
- LinkedIn is not simply the online representation of your CV. It is your [opportunity to demonstrate further value](https://www.financedigest.com/fluid-coolers-market-by-covid-19-impact-analysis-volume-and-value-revenue-business-opportunity-future-projections-and-key-trends.html "Fluid Coolers Market By Covid-19 Impact Analysis – Volume And Value, Revenue, Business Opportunity, Future Projections, And Key Trends") that you can add for the reader.


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