The key to becoming a successful freelancer is making your services stand out. While you may already have the right skills and experience for the job, getting noticed is another ball game.

Typically, when a buyer is looking to hire talent for a project, they receive multiple proposals from freelancers and agencies. They’ve already filtered out candidates by qualifications, skills, and experience, so all that is left to help them decide is the extra details you have added to your profile. Also, because prospective buyers have a lot of profiles to sort through, they should be able to learn all the essential details about you and your services in just a short glance.

Therefore, to increase your chances of getting hired, having a unique profile is vital. You need to find a balance between listing as much relevant information about yourself as possible while highlighting the important parts so that buyers can quickly and easily decide if you are the right match.

To help you get started, we have compiled a list of the tools and best practices that will help you get noticed quickly so that you can become a successful freelancer on Needed.

Make an excellent first impression.

• Profile Image: Imagine you’re trying to hire an expert for a project. After reading through all the proposals and looking through many freelancers’ profiles, you’ve found two great fits, but you only need one. One has a profile photo, but the other doesn’t. Which one do you think you would go with? For the same reason as all of us, you would hire the one with a profile photo. And the reason is simple—the “mystery man” does not inspire trust.
  
  By uploading a clear (preferably) headshot photograph of yourself to your profile, you are creating an instant connection with any buyer that arrives at your profile. They can see that you are a real person, and they will have more confidence that your services are reliable.
  
  You can also use the backdrop cover image for the same purpose. It is another way to share more information about you and give your profile a personal touch. You could go for a stunning photo of the city you live in or a shot from your portfolio of work. However, if you want to represent your brand, it is up to you.
• Your Tagline: The tagline concisely describes your services, summed up nicely in just a few words.  For example, if you help businesses generate sales online with social media, you could go for something simple like “Social Media Expert.”. However, the more specific you can be, the better. From a buyer’s perspective, a tagline like “Helping businesses increase sales with social media marketing” is much clearer and more compelling, stating what you do and how it can help them.
• Profile Description: The description may be the most crucial aspect of your profile. Think of it as a cover letter. Most employers won’t even consider your application without one. It is important to fill out your description with as much detail as possible and put your best foot forward.
  
  Describe your skills and experience, what services you offer, and how working with you will help the buyer achieve their goal. Buyers are most likely reading a lot of these, so it is best to keep things in simple and clear terms. Structure your description with headings, short paragraphs, and bullet or numbered lists to make everything easily digestible. Don’t forget to make it memorable, too! Show off your personality or brand style so potential clients understand what makes your services unique.
• Skills: As an entry-level freelancer, you can add up to three skills to your profile. Use this wisely. Choose the most relevant skills you are confident are your best. If your specific skills don’t show as an option in the list, contact our Support Team, and they will let you know if we can add them. You can also upgrade your package to increase the number of skills you can add, so you can let buyers know exactly how great you are.

At the end of the day, your profile is a representation of you. While it must be filled out completely and professionally, don’t be afraid to add some flair. It should be just as unique, engaging, and brilliant as you are.

3 Steps to Become a Successful Freelancer on Needed

1. Getting the first job is the hardest.

But, as described above, making a good first impression with your profile definitely helps. The other vital tool you have in your arsenal is your proposal. Your proposal is what you send in when applying for a job or project.  Before doing so, make sure you understand entirely the buyer’s requirements. Don’t be shy about asking for clarity if needed; that will show interest and engagement with the job.

Use your proposal to describe what you can and cannot deliver. Buyers know what they need, but sometimes, they may not realise how much work goes into getting it done. For instance, it is not uncommon for buyers to have an unrealistic time frame for a project. In this case, it is better to come in as the expert and let them know what time frame will give them the best results. Be as clear and concise as you can.

2. Underpromise and overdeliver.

Once you’ve landed your first project, you must deliver as promised. Use the chat functionality to ask the buyer for more information if and when you need it so that, throughout the project, you are both clear about what is going on. In these chats, be responsive to comments and feedback, and set expectations with your client. Stick to milestones you have agreed upon and be upfront about what you can and cannot deliver.

In the end, a job completed successfully means a happy client, and a happy client is more likely to leave a positive review or even come back to use your services again. These reviews are among the most important things other buyers look at to decide who to hire. The chances of getting hired are higher for a freelancer with good reviews than those with no or bad reviews. Great reviews are the hallmark of a successful freelancer, especially if you plan on working from home for a long time.

3. Microservices and add-on services.

One fantastic feature of this platform is the ability to set up microservices and add-on services as a freelancer or agency. These are specific, one-time services you can provide at a particular cost. Use them to upsell your services or fill in the gaps in a project’s requirements. We’ve made it easy for you to set these up and for buyers to find and buy them.

4. Keep at it.

Like all things, success doesn’t come overnight. With Needed, the more you use it, the better you will get, and the easier it will become. You will find a rhythm in writing proposals, and after each successful job, you will have more experience and reviews to boost your profile. So remember to put in as much as you want to get out, and you will become a successful freelancer before you know it.