2. While the world of social media may be a virtual
one, it’s a world nonetheless, and being up-to-
speed on social media etiquette can help you look
professional, respected, and even make you
stand out of the crowd.
3. 1. Make it about more than
moving up.
Promoting your work and getting your name out there is a
big part of social media, but being helpful and friendly to
other freelancers in your niche (and in peripheral niches)
can snag you referrals, boost your word-of-mouth
reputation, and gain respect. Retweeting content you find
amusing or helpful and commenting (helpfully) on the posts
of others is a great place to start.
4. 2. Make worthwhile
connections that will last.h
As a freelancer, it’s those long-term, real followers who will
ultimately add to your success. Scoring a bunch of one-off likes
after a giveaway or even purchasing followers can feel good at
the time, but it’s often a shallow victory. By using helpful content
and making actual connections with clients and freelancers,
you’ll build a network that will last long after your giveaway
ends, or after those followers you purchased get their accounts
terminated.
5. 3. Keep criticism constructive
and respectful.k
Remember: Discussion via social media is good; trash-
talking only makes you look unhinged and unreliable.
When it comes to client-based annoyances: Keep your
complaints off of social media. Talk it out privately with
another freelancer whose opinion you trust, or perhaps bring
up the situation hypothetically in a freelancing group… but do
not publicly humiliate a current or former client.
6. 4. Keep in touch with current
and previous clients.K
Social media allows you to not only keep up with their
activity, but share it with others. A simple retweet of a big
announcement, or a comment of appreciation for recent
work shows that you’re invested in that client’s well-being,
and will remind them of your value.
7. 5. Follow the Golden Rule:
Don’t be a jerk.K
When you’re participating in any kind of discussion, sharing a
post, or commenting on someone else’s, make sure you’re being
helpful. Put genuine thought into your answers, and if you aren’t
qualified to contribute to a topic, don’t. Don’t flood peoples’
streams with links to your work and projects… look for relevant
opportunities to insert them naturally and helpfully. Being a
thoughtful and useful resource via social media will grant you
credibility and a loyal following.
8. 6. Let people know you’re
working.
As a freelancer, you want to be the one who is obviously
working. Post about projects you’re completing, important news
or interesting developments in your field, and boost up fellow
freelancers. Showing clients and other freelancers that you’re
working hard and following your industry will make you far more
appealing in a hiring or collaboration capacity, and will provide
followers with consistent reminders that you’re open for
business.
9. 7. Play up your strengths.
Personal strengths come to play heavily in social media,
too. The number of platforms out there are overwhelming,
and if you were to expend equal amounts of effort to each
one, you’d spend your whole day maintaining streams,
feeds, statuses, and shares. Look at your business and look
at your strengths. Which social media option best fits you
and your freelancing? While it’s important to at least have a
presence on many of them, it’s perfectly fine to focus on the
ones that benefit you the most.
