How to List Freelance Work On LinkedIn And Land More Clients

As the largest professional network in the world today, there’s no question that having an updated and well-organized LinkedIn profile can go a very long way.

This is especially true for freelancers who make their living working on one project after another.  There’s no telling how much freelance work one can get with millions of companies looking for freelance help.

All of this being said, it’s safe to say that a freelancer should know how to list freelance work on LinkedIn if he or she intends to land more clients and keep doing freelance work for a long time.

Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about listing freelance work on your LinkedIn profile.

Why Freelancers Should Keep Their LinkedIn Profiles Up to Date

While having a LinkedIn profile gets you one step closer to landing more freelance work, this doesn’t necessarily mean that clients will come simply by having one.

With the amount of competition you have to deal with, making your LinkedIn profile stand out gives you an advantage.  The first step to doing this is by keeping your profile updated.

Below are some of the reasons why you should keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date.

It Helps Potential Clients Find You

Discoverability is without a doubt one of the most important reasons to keep a LinkedIn profile updated.  This is because LinkedIn profiles are how companies find qualified candidates.

By keeping your profile fresh, businesses looking for services similar to what you offer will get a better glimpse of what you can do and how you can help them.

Another key quality companies look for in candidates is continuous improvement.  It’s important to keep in mind that mobility is a sign of progress and since progress is something businesses appreciate, it’s only right that you show them on your profile.

It Highlights Your Skills

One of the first things recruiters look for when they visit your profile is your skills list.  This makes sense since they’d want to get a better idea of what you can do and if you’ll fit into their requirements.

If you just finished a new article for one of your clients, make sure to include that in your profile.  If you just learned how to write product descriptions via a webinar you recently attended, make sure to mention that too.  Additionally, you’ll also want to list any courses you’ve completed or certificates you’ve obtained.

There’s no telling what these simple updates can lead to.  What if a certain company only hires people who got their certification from the said graphic design course?

Lots of opportunities await a fresh and updated profile.  You can’t afford to miss out on them especially if it would only take you a few minutes to keep your profile up-to-date.

It Improves Personal Branding

As a freelancer, you’re technically running your own business because you’re marketing your skills to potential clients.

As we all know, every business needs proper branding and your LinkedIn profile is one of the most effective means of establishing that brand.

While skills and work experience will always be important, branding deserves equal attention as well because it improves your chances of getting noticed which, if you think about it, is the name of the game when you’re trying to stand out and separate yourself from your competitors.

So, how do you improve your personal branding?

You can do this by being more active in creating, commenting, and sharing posts.  Post regularly if you can so people can become more familiar with your work.

It May Improve Visibility In Google

If you tried searching your name on Google, what are the first results that come up?

Most probably, it will either be your Facebook profile or LinkedIn profile.  This is because Google seems to value LinkedIn profiles owing to the load of information it contains.

Can you imagine the implications this may have if people found you but your profile isn’t updated?  At the same time, think about the possibilities and doors of opportunities an updated one may open.

Much like anything online, discoverability is essential when it comes to LinkedIn profiles.  The more updated your profile is, the better the chances of getting seen and eventually, hired.

It Helps Build Connections

What’s amazing about LinkedIn is how it made job-hunting into a social network.  With this platform, building relationships and making professional connections have become a lot easier compared to the traditional way of doing it.

Let’s be honest.  Connections can be instrumental to finding more projects to work on.  By finding other freelancers who share the same interest or possess the same skills, it technically improves your chances of getting hired through recommendations and referrals.

Building connections also opens doors for future collaboration or partnerships but for these to happen, you need to keep your profile updated.  You need to let your profile speak for you if you’re interested in certain business ventures.  Your profile should let people know why you are qualified and how you can contribute to a company’s goals.

How to List Freelance Work on LinkedIn

Now that we’ve established the importance of keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date, the next step is to start listing your freelance work in a way that would attract more potential clients.

Here are some of the basic steps you need to know if you’re updating your LinkedIn profile for the first time:

1.     At the top of your LinkedIn homepage, click on the “Me” icon.
2.     Click on View Profile.
3.     Click on the “+” icon at the top of the Experience section.
4.     Provide a title in the “Title” field.  A few examples you could use are Independent Contractor, Graphic Designer, or Freelance Writer, just to name a few.
5.     Enter the name of the company you did consultant work for.
6.     Provide the remaining relevant information then click “Save.”

Apart from these basic steps, there are also a couple of simple hacks you can perform to increase your chances of getting hired.  Below are some of them.

Attach PDF Work Samples

Not a lot of people know about this simple trick but LinkedIn allows you to easily attach an image or PDF of your work history.

What does this do?

It serves as an effective lead magnet that potential clients can look at when they visit your profile.  It also gives them a quick summary of your skills and work experience.

Create a Company Profile for Your Freelance Business

Yes, you heard it right.  As mentioned, being a freelancer also makes you an entrepreneur which is why it makes sense to create a company profile for your freelance business.

While you can always list a company under “Experience,” nothing boosts credibility and legitimacy even more than a company profile.  It doesn’t have to be much.  Just upload a logo, a location, and specialization and you’re ready to go.

Create a Powerful Headline

Sitting next to your name and location, your headline is undoubtedly one of the most visible components of your LinkedIn profile.

That being said, it would make sense to make it as powerful as you possibly can by describing your value proposition right within it.

A powerful headline has a lot to offer.  Not only does it provide a quick summary of what you do, but it also allows you to place some of your most important keywords that can help improve visibility.

Update Your LinkedIn Profile Today!

The gig economy is at full gear with more people opting to have more freedom and better control of their time.  As a freelancer, you’d want to work on more projects as you possibly can especially if it is your primary source of income.

One effective way to make this happen is to optimize your LinkedIn profile by implementing the steps provided.  Putting these changes in place won’t take so much of your time but the returns will definitely be all worth it.

If you’re interested in more tips on how to market yourself as a freelancer, check out our article on how to create a great freelance portfolio.