Creating your own freelance identity

If you want to build a successful career as a freelancer people will need to recognise what you do, and easily be able to find and remember you. So one of the most important things you need to consider when you launch your new freelance career is your identity or brand.

Deciding on a name

The most simple identity is your name and an explanation of what you do. For example, Working Mums Marketing Consultant or Sally Elizabeth Bookkeeping. It will make it easier for people to remember, and as it describes what you do will help new customers know that you have the skills they need.

Using your location in your freelance identity will tell potential customers where you are and make you an easy choice for local clients. For example, Barnstaple Design or East Sussex Recruitment.

If you want to be a bit bolder, you can choose a more creative name, such as Fast and Furious Copywriting or Flash Photography.

Choosing a logo and typeface

If you want to appear professional, it’s a good idea to invest in a logo for your identity, too. And the only way to get a truly professional job is to use a professional designer.

Getting a professional designer to create a logo and typeface or font for your new freelance identity is relatively cheap, but can pay dividends. A more professional look can help you win more work and bigger contracts, more than paying back your investment and reaping you long term rewards – often the only thing a new client has to go on before they choose to hire you is how you look, so make sure the quality of your freelance identity matches your skills.

Once you have a logo and typeface, you can use it on:

  • Business cards.
  • Invoices.
  • Your email signature.
  • Your website.

It’s important to make sure everything is consistent, to help build your brand.

Finding a domain name

Once you have a freelance name, you can choose a domain name for your website. A good domain name will have three key qualities:

  1. It’s easy to spell – there will be times you will need to tell someone your domain name, so make it easy to understand. Also, unusual or complicated names like extraecstaticpartyplanning.com have a greater risk of being miss-typed, losing you potential work.
  2. It’s easy to remember – a name like dynamicdesign.com is more likely to stick in people’s heads, making it easier for them to recall you later when they need work or want to recommend your services to someone.
  3. It’s descriptive – blueoceandreams.com may be nice and evocative, but it doesn’t help people understand what you do if you’re an accountant! Just think, if a potential client were to stumble across your domain name without knowing anything about you, how would they know to visit your site?