Building a Strong Freelance Brand: 9 Tips for Standing Out

Building a Strong Freelance Brand: 9 Tips for Standing Out

As a freelancer, what can you see if you look around your market?

Most likely, there are hundreds or even thousands of other freelancers offering similar products and services. It makes the competition fierce and intense. How can you outperform your competitors and make your freelancing business stand out from the rest?

Have you ever thought about the impact of branding on freelance success?

Let’s consider it together in this article. After that, grab some tried-and-tested hacks to create a successful freelancer brand that will wow your clients and leave your competitors far behind.

Why Freelancers Need a Personal Brand

What is the key role of branding for freelancers?

In fact, it is multi-purposeful. A strong personal brand can help you achieve the following:

  • Become more recognizable among other freelance businesses
  • Establish trust from day one
  • Clearly articulate your expertise
  • Transform your online presence from generic to remarkable
  • Let people know you on a more personal level
  • Get high-quality leads
  • And finally, grow your freelancing business

What does it take to create (and keep) a competitive freelance brand? Find out below.

9 Tips to Build a Strong Brand as a Freelancer (+ Examples)

Here are the most effective branding techniques for freelancers based on examples.

  1. Go creative about your brand name

The name game.

Yup.

It’s the first thing you need to “play”. And play it well.

“What you call your freelance business can either make it or break it,” says Gerald Lombardo, CEO at cauZmik.

“Uniqueness, emotional appeal, and consistency are the three whales that support the memorability of a brand name. You can try wordplay or sound play to surprise your audience and evoke positive emotions. But make sure it is consistent with the services you offer as a freelancer,” he emphasizes.

Let’s take some freelance brand names that can inspire you to coin yours:

  • Purple Spider Web Design – web developer & designer James Cocker
  • KnitBit – Rok Rupnik, a professional in UI and packaging design
  • Making That Website – web developer David Nge
  • Chapters of May – content creator Anika May
  • Redstone Media – professional photographer and filmmaker Isaac Redstone
  • Three Owl Media – writer, editor, and proofreader John Onorato
  • Icoeye – game designer and illustrator Igor Uduslivii
  • AM Translation Services – translator Anne Mulocher

It’s highly advisable to have an Exact Brand Match (EBM) domain name to boost your brand’s recognition. Try Wordroid, DomainHole, or other free domain name generators to check whether the name you’ve come up with is available. They can also help you generate a creative phrase that fits your specific requirements.

  1. Craft an outstanding and memorable logo

Your freelance brand should be immediately recognizable from your logo.

Look at this brand mark of Zachary Lucy Photography.

photographer logo example

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It’s a simple and stylish letter Z, the first letter from Zachary’s name.

Here’s a list of logo makers to turn your freelancer’s brand vision into a standout symbol:

  • Looka Logo Maker
  • LOGO.com
  • Brandmark.io
  • Logomakerr.ai
  • My Brand New Logo
  • Turbologo, etc.

If you have something classical, retro, or vintage in mind, you may use a Vintage Logo Creator Kit to create a beautiful and unique freelance brand.

Just a small legal piece of advice from Mark Pierce, CEO of Colorado LLC Attorney:

“When it comes to freelance branding, it’s necessary to protect your unique brand’s logo/name from theft. The most cost-effective and practical way to do that is trademark registration. By trademarking the logo and/or name of your freelancing business, you prevent third parties from registering a similar one or stealing it altogether.

In the US, you can check the Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) for more information. In Europe, it’s the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).”

  1. Visualize your personality through website design

Emphasize your brand identity with highly-impactful visual elements in your web design.

Immerse visitors with a video

Wow…

That was, well, a spellbinding experience.

Wait a minute and you’ll also be mesmerized by the drone-filmed landscapes that drag you in. Now open the website of Tim Feistner (he offers professional videography services), and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

drone filming portfolio

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There’s another essential video gimmick for freelance brands to capture the audience’s attention. It’s a demo reel. See how motion designer Sam Mularczyk uses it on the homepage. He greets website visitors with a video reel and illustrates how exactly he puts typography and interfaces in motion.

motion designer reel

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Meet your audience yourself

Rok Mlinar, a freelance filmmaker & photographer, does just that and creates an excellent first impression.

rob milnar portfolio

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Creating a lasting first impression is one of the key strategies for a strong photography brand, btw. Of course, it works not only for photographers. First impressions are everything for any brand.

Underline your unique style

Once you land on the homepage of Hamza Belhaj, a freelance web developer, you can see the lines of code being typed and re-typed in front of your eyes. Here’s one of them: <code> I build web interfaces. </code>

web developer portfolio example

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Web developers and programmers often use coding fonts to strengthen their brand image. Choose the right font for your website to underline your personality and make your freelance business stand out.

  1. Showcase your portfolio

A creative portfolio is a must for establishing a reputable freelance brand. It’s tangible proof of your skills and expertise.

In fact, 48% of freelancers find clients via an online portfolio or website.

You can follow the example of Tim Feistner and categorize your work samples on your website. He grouped his videos into five categories: Business, Car, Event, Fashion, and Travel.

video professional portfolio example

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Make your portfolio one of the central blocks in your navigation menu. You can label it Portfolio, Showcase, My Works, etc.

  1. Tell your story

“It’s a matter of learning the art of storytelling if you want to create a strong freelance brand,” believes Jesse Hanson, Content Manager at Online Solitaire & World of Card Games.

“You should establish a brand voice and tone and add a personal touch to your narration. As a creative professional, you can share what inspires you, what you like/dislike, or what differentiates you from other freelancers,” he adds.

Jesse Hanson also recommends some tricks you can use to tell a story and make your freelance brand more distinguishable:

  • Add a pinch of fun not to sound too formal
  • Use humor whenever appropriate
  • Boast of your uniqueness
  • Decorate your story with emojis
  • Create a downloadable resume
  • Record a video-story

Take a look at some examples of how freelancers are telling their stories.

In the story of Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer, you immediately see what sets her apart from other creators. Afterward, she shares a few fun facts about herself.

freelance writer website example

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Here’s another example of storytelling by Matt Callian, a professional video creator. It’s a quick video presentation so that you can get to know him in person and hear his voice.

video creator

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  1. Highlight your strengths

I freeze time for a living. What is your superpower?

That’s a bio of Pekka J. Pelkonen on his Twitter photography account.

Do you have any superpowers in your freelancing arsenal?

You should identify your advantages over competitors or some particular talents you have and shout out about them.

Brett Walsh, for example, created the “Why Hire Me?” page on his website. There, you can see over ten reasons why hire this freelance photographer. One of them is language. Brett Walsh is a native English speaker. However, he also knows German, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. If you’re a photographer, foreign languages can indeed help you access new photography markets and establish a cultural connection with clients.

  1. Give free consultations

Why should you consult anyone for free, in the first place?

According to Stephan Baldwin, Founder of Assisted Living, “A free consultation is a go-to solution to enhance your freelance brand.

It allows you to introduce your brand identity and services to potential clients and gain a reputation as a knowledgeable freelancer. As an expert in your field, you can give personalized recommendations and answer people’s questions. By doing so, you demonstrate your professionalism and build trust.”

For example, anyone ready to explore a partnership with Tara Hoover can schedule a complimentary video call with her. It’s a 30-minute consultation on possible web design solutions and the specific needs of a client.

  1. Let your clients speak for you

Did you know that 68% of consumers typically read around six reviews before they feel that they can trust a business?

Customer reviews can build credibility and strengthen your freelance brand immensely. You can add a “Testimonials” section to your website and enlist all the reviews and endorsements there.

Or – 

Place clients’ reviews right on the homepage just like freelance videographer Greg Moore did.

testimonials page example

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  1. Promote your brand online

Consider several digital marketing strategies used by freelancers to boost their online reputation.

  • Podcasting

Marijana Kay, a freelance content creator, launched The Content Love Podcast.

content love podcast

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Sound like a pro in your podcast and lure more clients to work with you.

  • Email marketing

First things first, invite your website visitors to subscribe.

For example, freelance writer and content marketing strategist Michelle Vogel uses a simple subscription form for that.

monthly newsletter optin example

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Once you’ve collected email addresses, use some proven email marketing tactics to engage new and existing clients.

  • Social media marketing

Hope McConnell, a freelance designer, tries to grow on TikTok by sharing heaps of her work and some tips for fellow designers.

tiktok freelancer marketing

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You may also use some other social media channels like Instagram or Facebook for branding.

Stand Out in the Crowd of Freelance Brands

So many freelance businesses out there are vying for clients’ attention. In this cutthroat competitive environment, branding can become a game changer for you as a freelancer. It allows you to present yourself more authentically and give people a reason to remember and champion your freelance brand.

This guide has taught you how to build a powerful freelancer brand and feel like the real captain of your ship. Now you can be sure you won’t get lost in the sea of similar professionals.

But mind: freelance branding isn’t a one-time task you can do and forget. It’s an ongoing process that requires dedication, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

Invest in it continuously and leave your clients speechless with your exceptional brand.

Read next: 7 Tactics to Improve Your Communication Skills as a Freelancer

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