Every second, two new accounts are created on LinkedIn. Among them: maybe a future customer … or a future competitor!
For a freelance, the LinkedIn network is much more than a simple online CV: it's a real showcase which allows you to highlight your skills, your successes and attract project leaders. It is still necessary that your LinkedIn profile makes you want to contact you!
To help you get more freelance missions, here are 9 steps to create a perfect LinkedIn profile.
1. Create coverage that reflects your freelance activity
Your LinkedIn banner is the first thing that a potential customer notes. She can immediately show your field of expertise as freelance (Design, web development, writing, marketing, etc.) as well as your services. For example: a graphic designer on his account can display an overview of his creations, a freelance web developer will rather choose an image that illustrates the programming languages that he masters, while a editor will opt for an inspiring catch…
Freelance :: Add a clear slogan that recalls your specialty, of the type “SEO web editor – I help companies attract more customers through content”.
2. Choosing your LinkedIn profile photo well
Unsurprisingly, companies, or any other types of recruiters, want to know who they entrust their project. Choosing the right profile photo is therefore essential since it is one of the first elements consulted on a LinkedIn profile, especially if you are freelance. It must inspire confidence and illustrate your professionalism as well as your personality.
No need for a costume-tie if it is not your style: your LinkedIn profile photo is above all to be recent, simple and of good quality. Avoid the photos taken in selfie to discredit yourself and favor a nice smile to bring a certain human and warm dimension to your Linkedin profile. A clear and attractive photo is a positive signal that distinguishes you from an anonymous freelance profile!
3. Linkedin profile title: How to optimize and make it catchy?
Your LinkedIn profile title is not just your job, it is a mini pitch of your activity and your services. Avoid the simple “Freelance” To stand out from your competitors and specify your specialty. To do this, you can a title in the first person “I”, it promotes your added value more. Also remember to introduce keywords such as tools or specializations, so that recruiters quickly identify your services.
Note also that its length is 220 characters maximum on desktop and 240 characters maximum on mobile. It is therefore strongly advised to write a title between 170 and 200 characters on average to ensure its visibility regardless of the medium, without doing too long.
To increase your chances of being asked by companies, get inspired by these few examples before personalizing your LinkedIn profile title:
- SEO web editor – I accompany startups to boost their visibility by optimizing all of their content (articles, blogs, product pages, landing page, etc.) through a complete semantic analysis. (≈180 characters)
- WordPress Freelance developer : I design and optimize tailor-made WordPress sites, efficient and secure, integrating SEO, UX and maintenance to help companies boost their online presence. (≈179 characters)
- Independent graphic designer: I create strong and coherent visual identities, logos, graphic charters and communication media to strengthen brand image and the visual impact of companies. (≈175 characters)
4. highlight your strategic links
Linkedin allows you to add clickable links (website, portfolio, profile Coder.com…). This is the perfect opportunity to redirect your visitors to your professional window.
💡 Advice: instead of a simple “personal website”, use a grip that makes you want to click, as “Discover my achievements” Or “See my full portfolio”.
5. Write a customer -oriented summary
Your summary must speak to project leaders. More than a course, he must answer a question: “Why should I give you my project?”
Tell your story briefly, then highlight your successes, your specializations and the results obtained for your customers. A good summary must show a potential client that you are a reliable freelance, competent and available To accompany him.
💡 Trick : Finish with a clear call-to-action (“Are you looking for a freelance for…? Contact me!”).
6. Select your key skills
Linkedin allows you to display up to 50 skills, but a freelancer is in impact by highlighting 3 to 5 precise expertise. This makes it possible to appear as a specialist and not as a general practitioner. For example, you can mention your mastery of certain tools, software and other specializations in rather general branches:
- Developer → React, Node.js, API Rest
- Editor → SEO, Copywriting, Content Marketing
- Graphic designer → Branding, Illustration, UI/UX Design
Read too :: How to find customers on LinkedIn?
7. Request recommendations from your previous customers
The best way to attract new recruiters and therefore obtain new projects is to highlight your previous customers. Do not hesitate to ask them to share their experience on your LinkedIn profile. Nothing is more reassuring for a prospect than seeing other customers testify to your work and your professionalism as a freelance !
8. Publish content regularly
A perfect LinkedIn profile is only if it is active and that it does not play the role of a simple more complete showcase CV. The more content you publish, the more you increase the interactions on your publications, the more your profile will come out in the search results.
As a freelance, you can attract customers by publishing different types of content ::
- Articles to share your advice
- News publications in your sector
- Carousels to show your achievements
- Customer testimonies
- Practical tips and mini
Again, remember to optimize your publications by integrating relevant keywords. In this way, LinkedIn algorithm will identify your expertise in such a field and highlight your profile with people interested in your theme.
9. Why and how to add a PDF CV to its LinkedIn profile?
Adding a PDF CV to your LinkedIn profile is a great way to increase your chances of finding a freelance job or applying for relevant offers. By downloading your CV, you facilitate the search for recruiters and corporate HR managers who can quickly access your experiences and skills, in addition to consulting your LinkedIn profile.
Summary for a perfect LinkedIn profile
Optimize Linkedin freelance profile is today essential to attract the attention of companies, respond to an offer or win a new mission. Here is a synthetic summary of the 9 rules to apply to make your LinkedIn profile your first freelance project portal:
– Opt for personalized coverage: A clear and professional banner values your services at first glance and draws the attention of companies in search of competent freelancers.
– Choose your profile photo well: A recent and professional photo strengthens your image with companies and inspires confidence with those looking for competent freelancers.
– Optimize your LinkedIn profile title: A specific title, rich in keywords and oriented towards your offers and services increases your chances of appearing in the search results
– highlight your strategic links: Add links to your site, blog or portfolio to direct visitors to your concrete achievements and experiences.
– Write a customer -oriented summary: Clearly explain how your services meet the needs of companies and recruiters to advance their projects.
– Select your key skills: Highlight your main expertise to appear as a specialist in your field and seduce recruiters with specific expectations.
– multiply the recommendations of your customers: The recommendations of your previous customers testify to the quality of your past experiences and reassure recruiters in their freelance recruitment process.
– Publish content regularly: Publish articles, carousels, videos, etc., to increase your visibility and come out in LinkedIn's search results.
– Add your PDF CV to your LinkedIn profile: The accessibility of your PDF CV, in a synthetic way, your LinkedIn profile. Companies can easily get it to contact you.