As a freelancer in today’s world, a website is an absolute must. Even if you don’t work primarily online, your clients will likely search for you and your services online. So, if you don’t have a web presence you’re missing out on clients and freelance work – and the opportunity to earn while you sleep instead of chasing that next contract yourself.
Here are some things to consider when building your freelance website:
No.1 Choose a website format that fits your personality and your market
There are many options. If you want something that’s very basic and just has your contact details, you can use a single-page website that simply lists your qualifications and has a contact form or your contact number and email address. If you want to go a step further, you can add a blog to your website so you can create a more elaborate multi-page website. The choice depends largely on who your target audience is and the type of freelance work you do.
For example, if you’re a website designer then you’ll want either a blog that you’ve created yourself from scratch or a multi page website, again created from scratch. The design of the site will speak volumes about your designing skills and you would also want to think about how you showcase your portfolio. If you’re a writer, however, then the content on your site will be more important than the overall design – though good design is always appreciated. You will want to make sure the site is spelling error free, and is grammatically correct.
No.2 Make a list of the information you’re going to provide
Here are some of the essentials:
- Bio – who are you, what is your experience? This is a great place to showcase your personality a bit and tell people that makes you unique. You may also want to include a photo of yourself to make it more personal.
- Services – what exactly do you offer? For example, a web designer may only specialise in one designing language, e.g. html, or one industry, e.g. the food industry. Tell people what you do and what you have to offer them.
- Prices – how much do you charge? Some people prefer to leave this information off of their website and instead negotiate or name their prices when they are contacted. Others believe strongly that transparency is necessary and listing your prices will only serve to benefit both you and your potential customer. It’s a judgment call you will have to make – one compromise is to use the age-old “prices start from…”
- Policies and procedures – what is the process to hire and work with you? Do you have a form people need to fill out? How long does it take to complete a project? These are important questions that people want answers to right away. They help them make a buying decision. Be as upfront about your policies and procedures as possible. If you there are questions that people always ask you, then you can create an FAQ page on your website to answer these questions.
- Portfolio – Publishing your CV on your website isn’t necessary and it’s a bit old school these days. However, you do want to impress, so consider approaching it in these ways: List and/or link to the clients you’ve worked with. Big names are always attention grabbing. And include images, samples, or links to freelance work you’ve done.
- Testimonials/reviews – Publishing testimonials and reviews helps potential customers make their buying decision. It makes them feel more comfortable contacting you. Don’t hesitate to publish rave reviews and client testimonials on your website. In fact, if you have room, devote an entire page to them and use them throughout your website where appropriate.
- Contact information – your contact information should be easy to find and easy to use. Phone number, email and maybe even a contact form all make it easy for potential clients to get in touch. Be sure to include this information on every page of your website and to make sure it’s featured prominently.
Step No.3 Polish your website and your website content
Remove grammar and spelling errors, make sure all links work, and that all the information on your site is accurate.
Your freelance website is a direct reflection of who you are and what you have to offer. Take time to make sure it accurately represents the quality of work you can produce.
