7 Tips To Create a Killer LinkedIn Profile: Freelance Writers

First things first, let's get something straight: LinkedIn may not be the coolest social media platform out there, but it's definitely one of the most useful for freelancers. It's the go-to platform for professionals looking to network, showcase their skills, and find work opportunities. And if you're a freelance writer, you can't afford to not have a killer LinkedIn profile.

So, here we go:

Use a professional photo

Your profile picture is the first thing that people notice. Make sure it isn’t a blurry selfie that you took in your car when you thought you looked super cool. Just no. Invest in a professional headshot. If you don’t want to, at least ask a friend to take a decent photo of you. It does not have to be a photo where you’re wearing a suit or anything fancy like that. Just a decent photo that looks professional is all you need.

Some influencers edit their photos so that everything apart from their face is either blurred or is a different color. It’s meant to catch your attention. You’ll see purple and orange backgrounds a lot. You take a call whether you want to do that.

Optimize your profile headline and summary

Your profile headline is one of the first things that people see when they visit your profile on LinkedIn. It's important to make sure it accurately reflects what you do and what you're looking for. Instead of using a generic title like "freelance writer," try to be more specific. For example, you could use "Content Writer specializing in tech and B2B" or "Freelance Writer with experience in fashion and lifestyle."

Your profile summary is also important because it's a chance to give potential clients a glimpse into who you are and what you can do. Make sure to highlight your specialties and the types of projects you're interested in working on. Use keywords like "content writer," "freelance writing," and "writing jobs" to make your profile more discoverable.

When I first started using LinkedIn, my profile headline was just "Freelance Writer." One of my connections told me to change that. So, I did. I changed my headline to "Content Writer specializing in marketing and SEO" and added more detail to my summary. Within a few weeks, I started getting more views and messages from potential clients.

Showcase your portfolio

LinkedIn allows you to upload samples of your work, so take advantage of this feature! Make sure your portfolio is up-to-date and showcases your best work. This is a great way to show potential clients what you can do and give them a sense of your writing style.

When you upload samples of your work, make sure to include a brief description of each project. This will help potential clients understand the context of your work and what you contributed.

A few years ago, I was contacted by a potential client who had come across my LinkedIn profile. She was impressed by one of the articles in my ‘featured’ section. She had tried to find writers for a while and she said reading that article made her hire me. If I hadn't showcased my portfolio on LinkedIn, I might never have gotten that opportunity.

Your portfolio is an amazing way for people to find out about your personal brand. So, make sure you spend some time on it.

Ask for recommendations

Recommendations are one of the best ways to attract new clients. Past clients or colleagues recommending you boost your trust and credibility on LinkedIn. Request past clients to write what they thought about your work.

When you receive a recommendation, make sure to thank the person who wrote it and consider returning the favor by writing a recommendation for them.

Social trust is very important. Employers want to know that the person they’re hiring has done a good job for someone else. They want to know that there are others who have paid the writer and liked the writing. They want validation. If they see that there are others who are paying you and they’re liking your work, it makes their decision easy. They’re hiring someone who’s reputed. And the thing is, you can’t really buy that.

So, make sure you ask every client you work with to write a recommendation.

Connect with relevant people

Connecting with other freelance writers, editors, and potential clients in your niche can help you stay up-to-date on industry trends, find new work opportunities, and build relationships with other professionals in your field. When you send a connection request, make sure to include a personalized message explaining why you want to connect.

A few months ago, I connected with an editor who works at a publication I've always wanted to write for. We chatted back and forth a bit, and eventually, she asked if I'd be interested in pitching some story ideas. I ended up writing a few articles for the publication, and it all started with that initial connection on LinkedIn.

Keep Track of LinkedIn Jobs

A lot of companies hire from LinkedIn. There are a ton of freelancing opportunities as well. So, make sure that you’re always keeping track of the jobs that are being posted on LinkedIn.

Here’s something that you may not know. Not all contracts are posted as jobs. Some recruiters just post that they’re looking for a writer on their profile. So, how do you find those jobs?

Hashtags.

Spend enough time on the platform and you’ll start noticing that some hashtags are really popular. So, just take a look at the latest posts that are tagged with these hashtags. Some of the popular ones are hiring, hiringnow, writingjobs, techwritingjobs, and writerjobs. There are obviously a lot of hashtags but these make for a good starting point.

Engage with your non-connections, too

Engaging with your LinkedIn network is important, of course. It’s also equally important to engage with people who aren’t exactly in your network. These could be thought leaders, influencers, or anyone who’s pretty active in the writing space.

So, how do you go about it?

Commenting is a pretty great way to get started. Comment on popular posts, comment when popular people post, and comment when you have anything informative to add.

The advantage of this is that you’ll expose your profile to the audience of the person who posted. If your comment genuinely adds value, some of the people who read your profile will check your profile. Some might even reach out with a project.

That being said, don’t be too spammy. Don’t write a comment just because you have to write one. Analyze the post and see what value you can add to the content. “Great post!” isn’t a great comment. It’s just getting in the way of great comments.

Engaging with the community is something that you should be doing everywhere, no matter what platform you're posting on. As a freelance writer, it's important that you diversify your income. So, make sure you're posting quality content on different platforms. You never know where your next client is going to come from.

Conclusion

Optimizing your LinkedIn profile is an ongoing process that requires time, effort, and consistency. These tips are just the starting point.

As you spend more time on LinkedIn and get a feel for it, you’ll start recognizing trends, fads, rights, and crucially, the wrongs.

So don't wait — start optimizing your LinkedIn profile today and take your freelance writing business to the next level!

In the meantime, if you're looking for freelance or full time writing jobs, check out Simple Job Listings. All the jobs we list are remote, most pay amazingly well, and a significant number of jobs we post aren't listed on any other job site!

Check out Simple Job Listings and find your dream job. Good luck!