How to Market Yourself for Jobs in the Freelance Economy

How to Market Yourself for Jobs in the Freelance EconomyHow to Market Yourself for Jobs in the Freelance EconomyResumes and cover letters have been commondistributions-mix in the job application process for as long as we know. For employers, theyre good indicators of our past, but they merely represent snapshots of our prior experiences and achievements. With the advent of social media, hiring managers can gain a better sense of the partie behind the keyboard in this freelance economy. Recent studies have shown a significant increase in social media profile usage by hiring professionals in their selection process.In this article, Ill discuss various ways you can better use social and modern media to be mora successful in todays competitivefreelance economy.Personal vs. ProfessionalAt this point, were all familiar with social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You can use these sites to create a more complete picture of yourself by sharing your interests, hobbies, and p assions. Its extremely important to distinguish your professional and personal accounts. While social media is a good platform to express your personality, profiles you share with employers should depict a high level of professionalism. This includes everything from having a high-quality photo of yourself to proofreading your posts before publishing them. Stay away from controversial topics, and avoid using profanity or posting negative comments.Keep in mind, social media can be a great place for employers to assess your communicative skills and determine if youd be a good fit for their company in this freelance economy. Employers often use these sites to verify what youve written on your resume, so you should always make sure your profiles are up to date and consistent with information youve shared with them.Increase Your Presence WebsiteYou can increase your social media presence by creating your own website. Firstly, having your own site can help you control what other people dis cover when they search for you on Google. Secondly, websites are phenomenal because theyre dynamic and dont confine you to a limited space to express your talents and accomplishments. I suggest including an About Me page, where you can describe your career ambitions and areas of interest, including causes you care about. Highlight your previous work and dont be afraid to show off your creative side by employing relevant photos, videos, and other digital media. Remember to keep your content professional and business-oriented. Your website is a great place for you to start building your brand.Increase Your Presence PodcastAnother social media tool to consider in this freelance economy is starting your own podcast channel. Podcasts are a great platform to establish yourself as an authoritative figure in your field. By allowing followers to put a voice behind your words, it helps to humanize your brand, and listeners will actively seek your expertise. Podcasts also show employers your w illingness to collaborate with other experts in your area, as well as your proficiency in oral communication. Hosting a podcast offers amazing opportunities to network by inviting other thought leaders to appear on your show.For example, Ciaran Rogers, cohost of Digital Marketing Podcast, regularly invites other marketing gurus to speak on the show. People are more selective when they subscribe to podcasts than when they sign up for websites. Building a large following will show employers that people value what you have to say.Dont wait to enhance your social media and online presence to employers I guarantee it will make a huge difference in your next job hunt.Readers, what ways have you used social media in this freelance economy to help your job search? Tell us in the comments section belowJackson Hille is FormSwifts content associate, helping create guides and resources for entrepreneurs, businesses, and organizations to operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. A 2014 grad uate from the University of California, Berkeley, Jackson is an avid Cal Bears fan and likes to spend summers hoping his Dodgers will finally win the World Series during his lifetime.Kyungduk Rho is a digital marketing analyst at FormSwift. A graduate of Cornell University with a degree in biological sciences, hes a recent San Francisco transplant. Kyungduk is an avid golfer, dog lover, and shameless Warriors bandwagoner.