It Pays To Invest In Your Look As A Freelancer

You would hope that your work would speak for itself and that it would be the sole proponent for whether or not you’re able to get clients on board. However, that simply isn’t true. Freelancers need to market themselves every bit as fiercely as entrepreneurs. That goes beyond your website, online marketing, and branding, however. Your appearance matters, as well. Here are a few ways you can ensure that you’re giving off the professionalism that people expect from you.

Dress appropriately for the situation

You might think that one of the benefits of working for yourself is that you get to dress however you like and that is true. When you’re working at home, who’s to say you can’t rock up in a robe and slippers? But when you’re meeting clients or those you’re looking to impress, then you have to ensure a professional dress sense, too. This doesn’t always mean a suit. Going with business casual to a lunch meeting isn’t going to spoil too many chances. But you want to make sure that your clothes fit and that they look like something a professional adult would be happy to wear.

Grooming is just as important

Throwing on a suit jacket isn’t going to be enough if you haven’t been grooming yourself to an eye-pleasing standard. The length and style of your hair are up to you, you just have to make sure that you have your barber tidy it up for you and take care of it with brushing, conditioner, and, when necessary, hair spray. Facial hair is important, too, you don’t want to show up with a patchy beard that makes it look like you just got out of bed. A good smile is vital, too. If you’ve been drinking a little too much coffee and not brushing enough, then you want to invest in a teeth whitening kit. Not only will it help you make a better impression but you can be a lot more confident in your presentation when you’re not feeling self-conscious about your hair or teeth.

Mind your posture

Body language can have a much greater impact on the impression that you leave on people than you might think. If you’re slouched over, shoulders dropped, and head low, it does not exactly make you look like a confident person, which means that it may be harder to put confidence in you. However, sitting straight up with your face straight ahead can make you look a little robotic, too. There are posture fixing apps that can help you correct your body language so that you look confident, calm, and collected, but without looking overly proud or stiff, too.

You don’t need to fit a specific mold to successfully look like a professional that people want to hire. What’s important is that you’re able to present yourself and that you clearly put effort into that presentation. People are shallow with those they don’t know personally. They will judge you at a glance, so it’s important to make sure that you’re judged well.