One of the interesting qualities of
freelanc work is that you may never meet with your clients in real life. May be more than any other job market, freelancers rely heavily on their online image-
an aggregate of their resume, portfolio and personality to set themselves apart
and attract new clients who may very well be located on the other side of the
world.
It is true that employers are using social
media not only to screen applicants, but also hunt for potential candidates. An active and professional social media presence can help enhance a
freelancer’s online image, particularly in respects to standing out with
clients. However, it is crucial to keep in mind the personal information vs.
professional information divide when it comes to using social media, especially
when using it as an extension of your professional business persona.
Here’s a breakdown of the most effective social
networks, when & how to use them:
Facebook
If you are a social media enthusiast, you are
probably already using your personal Facebook profile to market yourself
online. However for those that wish to maintain a separation between their
personal and professional networks, you can choose to set up a public Facebook
Page for your followers instead. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of a Page
will likely depend on your traction as a thought leader in your profession-
that is, do you have enough followers (and content) for your Page to take off?
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is your online resume and
professional network, and as a business orientated platform it is probably the
one social networking platform where it will not hurt your image to remain
impersonal. If you want to establish yourself as a thought leader on specific
topics (demonstrating your niche area of expertise to clients), you should
familiarise yourself with LinkedIn’s blogging platform. Your
content on LinkedIn will also likely have a longer lifespan than on Facebook
and Twitter, which are both more aggressively saturated with promotional
content.
Twitter
Twitter is a micro-blogging platform that is
very popular with users looking to cultivate a personal brand and amass a
following- if you are willing to get more ‘personal’ with your followers (and
indeed your potential new clients), Twitter should be the space where you
showcase your thoughts, passions and interests beyond your business profile.
Keep in mind that tweets have a very short lifespan due to Twitter’s
real-time news feed, and you will need to invest consistent time and energy
into maintaining an active profile.
Google
Plus
Since Google first introduced Google Plus
back in 2011, marketers have debated back and forth over the usefulness
(or lack thereof) of Plus as a social networking tool in
comparison with the likes of Facebook. Regardless of what you think of the
platform itself, it remains that content shared on Plus shows
up in Google Search, which means you should have an active Plus account for SEO
purposes if nothing else.
