Freelancing is a flexible course of work that can be done from one's place of residence and does not require a lot of time or extra money to start the same. But brands need to make it memorable and easy for potential clients to avail of your services.

As a freelancer, you need the branding to ensure your consistent success. Branding can help you stand out from the competition as a freelancer and serve you in the long run.

Freelancing also revolves around an identity that clients relate to, easily. People like to remember a freelancer or would like to hire a freelancer when they want something done and then continue to remember the niche benefits that you offer.

Branding involves the creation of an identity that could span a name, a business logo, and several graphical elements representing the business. The services need to be recognizable and memorable enough for clients to remember the same.

Branding – Defining the Freelance Business Identity

However, what exactly does branding mean? And why should you establish yourself a brand as a freelancer?

Branding implies the creation of a recognizable identity for any offering within a business – a product or a service. The brand could include the business logo, the name of the product, the website and even the approach that could be standardized across multiple teams and in the behaviour of new hires. The brand is a tangible feeling customers relate to when they see or experience your offerings. A good brand always leaves an indelible impact on the minds of clients and customers.

Remember, Personal branding does not only imply having an interesting logo or portal but to breed a sense of trust with potential customers, who are going to hire you because they are familiar with the kind of work you do, and repose trust in good quality deliverables, at any point in time.

Also, Personal branding relies not only on aesthetics to spread the message but also on visual harmony to trigger recall value in the minds of potential customers. It is usually geared to the positioning of an offering within the marketplace. Potential customers will relate to the brand offerings when they're hiring a service from you or buying a product from you. 

As per RazorPay, 60% of Indian freelancers aged nearly 30 years boast of an average income of INR 20 lakh per annum! With the rise in freelancers in India, the average income is only expected to grow from here. Branding one's offerings are crucial now more than ever!

Establishing your freelance offering as a brand

Here are some tips for establishing your freelance gig-based profession into a bonafide brand:

1. Understand your market and audience: For personal branding as a freelancer, one should be aware of their real and ideal clients that promise a lot of revenue and are feasible for end customers to purchase and avail your services. Know the kind of services that are in demand and the expected outcome of your freelance brand, especially the positive one. Know the USP they want to see so that they choose you over other vendors and providers. Explore conversations across the web and social media to understand client needs and research well about specific domains and their pain points to address their needs.
2. Develop a user-friendly website: Create a brand-oriented website that mimics the colours of the logo and is meant for a certain audience in mind. Make the website easy for navigation and browsing, while ensuring minimal steps to reach the enquiry section or even the page that is relevant to their needs. The site should feature a responsive design so that it is compatible with both browsers of desktop and mobile devices.
3. Showcase your portfolio: Show your work through a portfolio page that outlines the kind of work you do or have done for other clients. This portfolio clearly indicates your ability and skills to new and potential clients.
4. Use a person-friendly name: Firstly, you need a name that immediately signifies your USP and why companies should hire you. If you are just starting out, you need to ensure a professional name that entices clients to trust your judgment. If the name is vague and does not in any way correlate to your offerings, they might feel frustrated with their choice and drop you as a freelancer soon after the first instance.
5. Spread the word: Spread the word about your work and success with clients on social media and through multiple channels, including your website, blog, and advertisements. Let the logo, the brand colours, and the style of approach be in harmony across channels. Share information about your services on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Twitter, and even LinkedIn to build a strong online identity that is unmistakable in harmony with your brand image.
6. Network and build relationships: Finally, network and build relationships so that they remember your work and hire you professionally on a consistent basis. Be prompt in your communication and attend to the regular needs and expectations. Do not delay in responding to clients, or else they could be compelled to explore other options.
7. Look out for potential business requirements: Find out the kind of freelance services required by your potential clients on a regular basis or even for their niche needs. If you are a writer, branch your skills across social media management, blog writing, website content writing, and script writing—based on what potential clients might need in the long run.

Personal branding can help you establish trust amongst clients, and your strong identity will ensure that they remember you for your offerings. As a freelancer who aspires to do constant business, you might need to figure out the best branding approach that could work for your needs.