A good freelancer profile is supposed to get you more clients. It should showcase all your talents, even the ones you don’t think you’re so great at. Your profile opens you up and makes you vulnerable. It basically says, “Here I am. Here’s what I can do. Now hire me!”

And it can be quite intimidating, honestly. Even if you’re a freelance writer, you could still struggle with writing about yourself (I do!).

So, here you are. You need a freelancer profile but have no idea where to start to make a good one that will attract potential clients. I’ve wrapped up what I’ve learned over the past few years in a tidy little package just for this blog post. It’ll teach you how to create a magnetizing profile that will make clients want to work with you.

These tips are based on my own successful experiences with places like Upwork and Fiverr – places that helped get me my quick start as a freelance writer. Literally, within two months of signing up for freelance marketplaces, I quit my regular 9-5 job and started my own writing and digital media business.

You can do that, too. But it all starts with the profile freelancers need to have to get moving. Read and utilize these steps, and you’ll have an irresistible freelance profile that will get you noticed.

*This post was originally created on May 13, 2017, and has been updated on November 14, 2021.

Creating A Killer Freelancer Profile

First off, use your real, full name. This should be a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people use a fake name or initials. Clients want to learn about you, not a fake you. And, you want your name to be consistent across the internet for potential clients to find you. So make sure your freelance profile reflects that.

Now that that’s out of the way, we are ready to spend time on your profile. Seriously, take the time you need. Additionally, be prepared to adjust your profile as your qualifications and portfolio changes. This is an important part of your growing business, after all.

Step 1 – Work Your Headline

Your headline is the first thing potential clients will see, so you should put a lot of focus on it. Make it specific, short, and catchy. And, it should also relate to your niche.

So, for example, you’re a freelance writer who writes mostly business and financial articles. Make your headline something like “Small Business and Personal Finance Content Writer”, rather than just “Freelance Writer”. Clients won’t have to guess what you write about, right?

Here are some examples of freelancer profile headlines that totally win on Upwork:

• 2D and Traditional/Classical Animation
• Senior IT Consultant/Professional IT Advisor
• Professional Wedding, Portrait, and Event Photographer
• Technical Translation, Medical Translation, General Translation
• Jazzy Resumes & Effective Cover Letters

See? You don’t have to guess what any of these freelancers specialize in with these headlines.

Step 2 – Add A Professional Photo

Sure, selfies are fun. But professional, they are not! If you’re starting your own business as a freelancer, it’s time to upgrade to a professional headshot.

And no, there is no need to shell out hundreds of dollars for professional photos. You actually can take a professional-looking headshot on your smartphone.

Make sure you love your headshot because it’s what you’ll use on the internet, too. Blog comments, your Facebook page profile photo, your website, guest posts, etc. can – and should! – all use your headshot for consistent branding.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when creating your headshot:

• Use a timer and set up the camera position so you have plenty of space around your head and shoulders. This way, you can easily crop later if needed.
• Use a light, plain background with contrasting clothes to stand out.
• Make sure you’re not in an area with too much light, not enough light, or too many shadows.
• Strike a casual pose. Look like yourself!

Here are a few freelancer profile picture examples I’ve used over the years:

This was one of the first photos I took for professional purposes. I snapped it in a hallway in my home using the delay feature on my phone’s camera.

I decided to try something a little different by going almost grayscale with a hint of color.

This is the headshot I use on my LinkedIn profile.

This is my most recent headshot. I use it for bylines on some of the more casual sites I write for.

Step 3 – Write Your Bio

People get cheesy in bios. Seriously. Lookup a couple on Upwork and you’ll surely see a whole bunch of smelly cheese and non-substance. Example: “I have a degree in programming and I’ve been programming for 8 years and my clients all love me.”

The thing to remember is not what you’re awesome at doing, but more about what you can do for your potential clients. Clients don’t want to hear about you; they want to know what you can do for them.

This is the part you’ll also want to refine to target the things that make you stand out from the pack. For example, if you’re a writer, hone in on your target niches rather than saying “I’m great at writing everything under the sun.”

Your first two lines of your bio are what matter most because these lines are what will show up in search results. So, for the love of all things freelance-worthy, make them stand out! And it’s okay to use a little bit of humor. In fact, I encourage it.

Then, of course, you want to include some facts about yourself that can help sell your services. Just don’t overdo it. Spend a couple of sentences focusing on what you do and what sets you apart, and then focus solely on your client. Think of your ideal client and what, specifically, you can help him or her do that makes you worth your rate.

Finally, the last part of your bio should include a call-to-action. Don’t forget this! This seemingly insignificant piece could be what makes your client decide to give you an interview. Your call-to-action can be as simple as “Contact me on Skype to discuss your project.”

The point is to get your potential client to take those first steps to get in contact with you. That at least shows they’re interested and you’ll have the opportunity to sell them even further.

Step 4 – Include Academics

Academics are important to add to your profile, but you don’t want to bombard your whole bio with them. The truth is that some clients simply don’t care about your degree in English and will skip right over that if you brag about it in your bio.

But, others look for specific academic criteria, so you’ll want it on your profile in its own convenient little spot.

If the freelance site you’re using doesn’t have a defined area for it, put it toward the end of your bio or simply keep it in your resume. Some freelance websites will let you upload your resume to your profile.

Of course, your degree in English won’t have anything to do with your photography skills. Still, it doesn’t penalize you to include your academics. In fact, it could sway a client your way if they’re impressed with your dedication to continued learning, regardless of the subject matter.

Step 5 – Make Your Portfolio Stand Out

First of all – and I can’t stress this enough – get permission from past clients before posting any work sold to them in your portfolio.

I’ve heard of designers, writers, and other freelancers getting themselves into hot water because they sold the rights to their pieces to a client and didn’t ask for permission before posting them as samples. Not good at all. If you’re a ghostwriter – someone who writes something for another person and that person gets author credit – you can’t just assume you have the right to place something in your portfolio because you wrote it.

Some clients won’t have an issue with you at least getting a testimonial from them, but others do. After all, it lets the cat out of the bag about the whole “ghosting” thing, right?

So, I’m going to assume you’ve been a good freelancer and got permission to place things in your portfolio. Now, it’s time to make it all stand out.

How can you do that?

Testimonials are probably the best way. Samples are great because they let someone see what you’ve done. But, people love a good reference. It shows that, not only do you know what you’re doing, but you also deliver on time and make your customer happy. If you’ve had at least a few successful jobs, try to grab as many heartfelt testimonials as you can to include as part of your portfolio.

Then, choose samples that best highlight the services you’re selling. Make them as specific to your skills as possible. If you’re selling yourself as a business writer, for example, all of your health articles aren’t going to matter much to potential business clients.

In other words, don’t add things just for the sake of adding them. Your profile should be precise and highly targeted to your ideal client.

Step 6 – Add Your Accolades

Now, fill out your freelancer profile with any awards or certifications you’ve received that are relevant to the services you provide. For instance, I list my EF SET score that proves my proficiency in the English language on my LinkedIn profile. I also add my HubSpot Content Marketing Certified credential to LinkedIn. Some clients may see these and choose me over another freelance writer without any certifications.

You never know. It certainly doesn’t hurt to show off everything you’ve worked hard for.

Winning Freelancer Profile Samples

It helps me to see examples of concepts I’m learning about. If you learn similarly, then you might appreciate the following examples of freelancer profiles that really work to get clients. 

First, I’m going to start out with my LinkedIn profile. I’ve had the same About section on my profile for about three years now, just slightly tweaking it as needed to add some categories or reconstruct its formatting. It’s worked well for me as an inbound marketing strategy. Potential clients find my profile based on keywords they’re looking for, and they’ll contact me to help. Here it is:

Notice how I list out several categories of topics I cover. This section is both informational and SEO-driven. People looking for an early childhood education blogger might find me based on those words in my profile. Once they reach my profile, they’ll learn more about what I do and can look at a few portfolio pieces as proof.

Other places work similarly. Here’s my Upwork profile example, for instance:

Although it’s not something I use much anymore, I’ve gotten a lot of traction on Upwork over the years based on this profile. It explains what I do, uses keywords for people to find me, and includes several glowing testimonials.

If you have an Upwork account, I suggest using the thee search bar to browse the “Talent” section. This is where you’ll find profiles of other freelancers on Upwork. Search designer, writer, or whatever type of freelancing you do to find other freelancers like you. Then, use some of their profiles to inspire your unique profile.

Is Your Profile Going to Be a Winner?

I hope so, but it’s up to you to implement these tactics and make them work! While there’s no one freelancer profile template that can work for everyone, including the key elements I listed in this guide can certainly help your profile stand out. 

Is there anything else you personally include on your freelancer profile? Do you have any other questions about creating a freelancer profile? Leave a comment down below and let me know.