6 simple tips to build a successful freelance website

Photo credit: happydancing / 123RF Stock Photo.

Successful freelancers are those who’ve been able to make their hobbies into full-time work. However, this is easier said than done; venturing this path actually takes a lot of hard work, discipline, and dedication.

In this profession, there are many things you have to sacrifice: your fixed monthly salary, employee benefits, and other such incentives. And as with any job or business, you will have to invest your time and money to build it.

But what is the secret to making it a success? According to experts, it starts by laying the right foundation: creating your freelance website.

Having a freelance website shows your commitment and your business’s professionalism. Without a site, clients won’t be able to contact you and may not even know you exist. With one, on the other hand, you can be recognized as a professional who deserves proper fees.

Here are things to keep in mind when building your own freelance website.

Choose a business name that describes you and what you do perfectly

Names matter; branding is important to the success of any freelance business. When deciding your business name, you want to create a name that isn’t too long or too complicated. The goal here is to help people remember your site easily and to make your services accessible to every potential client.

You’ll also want to be descriptive and relevant so that people will understand what you do at first glance. You don’t need to be too clever or think too hard — you can always change it afterward. For your first business name just make it simple and make sure that you like the sound of it. If you’re stuck, you can simply use your real name for starters.

Choose the right web builder

In setting up your freelance website, you’ll need your own domain and hosting. Domain names will serve as your freelance business web address and will be used to search for your homepage. Your website will also need to be hosted on a dedicated web server. This helps you maintain files for your site content.

When it comes to building a website, you can choose to do it yourself or hire someone else. Do-it-yourself websites are currently the preferred method as they cost less and are very easy to customize. Hiring a web designer can cost a lot of money, which you may not be able to afford if you’re just starting out.

There are many website builders out there, but I personally recommend Wix as they have the most affordable, simple, and user-friendly themes available. Here’s an expert overview of Wix’s platform to help you understand what this builder can offer.

Keep it professional but don’t lose your personality

In order for clients to take them seriously, freelancers have to be professional in everything, even in their online presence. However, a freelance website is not only a business website. It is also a personal one. Since you’re representing yourself, not an agency or a brand, you have to match the tone, voice, and overall content of your website to your own personality.

Include your portfolio

Clients will want to see how good you are. The best way for them to determine your skills is to browse through your past projects, which should be present in your portfolio. There are many good portfolio sites out there, but I particularly like the free one offered by Contently.

With Contently, you can add your own authored blog posts or stories by simply putting the link in the box. It also shows the number of articles you’ve written along with all of the publications you’ve written for.

Show your contact info on every page

Don’t forget to collect reviews from clients