You're a freelancer looking to build your personal brand. How can you stand out from the competition?

Social selling is when you use social media to reach potential customers, create strong connections, and boost sales. It includes using platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to get in touch with potential customers, share useful information, and build trust and a good reputation. Social selling is not like traditional sales methods, which focus on pitching products or services. Instead, it focuses on building relationships and providing value to customers. By using social selling strategies effectively, freelancers can stand out from the crowd by showing off their skills, developing a strong personal brand, and making real, interesting connections with potential customers.

Social selling is about creating meaningful connections and showcasing social proof expertise. By consistently providing value through 1 on 1 conversations,content and insights, freelancers can build trust and credibility, making them more appealing to potential clients in the competitive freelance landscape with their own voice and style = sweet spot. The significant bottleneck for many freelancers is their excessive focus on clients and assignments, often neglecting the development of their personal brand. Yet, this is precisely what catches the attention of clients, and LinkedIn stands out as the ideal platform for this purpose. It's crucial not only to accelerate when you need something but also to consistently work on your brand.

Social Selling is about building relationships with future clients using conversation starters found on the internet in the wide sense of the word. The relationships move you as a sales person through the Know, Like and Trust steps to the level that you collaborate on solutions that solve the client's challenges.

Social selling is essentially using social media platforms to engage with potential customers, share valuable content, and subtly promote products or services with the aim of building relationships and driving sales in a natural and authentic manner.

Begin by clearly outlining your unique strengths and value. Explain how you differentiate yourself and what your expertise can bring to potential clients. Enhance your online presence by optimizing your social media profiles. Use professional images, engaging headlines, and descriptions that showcase your skills and specialties. Share informative content that highlights your knowledge and establishes you as an expert in your field. Interact with your followers by responding to comments, joining discussions, and connecting with colleagues and potential clients. Maintain consistency and authenticity to build a strong personal brand that connects with your target audience and sets you apart in the industry.

As a social seller you have to be present where your prospect and their influencers are. Create profiles to start building relationships and start conversations. If and when you use multiple channels make your that you use images where you are recognizable (and not necessarily the same). Create you profile with professionalism in mind and how you want to perceived by your clients. Make it also simple for clients to reach out to you if they need to

Choose a professional photo and use keywords in your bio to highlight expertise. Share valuable content regularly and engage with followers by responding promptly to inquiries and fostering authentic connections.

We have to remember that multiple people take part or influence buying decisions. As a salesperson, you need to build relationships with both the BDM and the people around the BDM. Surround your buyer and make the these people your best ambassadors even when you are not in the room.

Search social media for relevant individuals or businesses. Send personalized messages expressing genuine interest, and engage with their content to build rapport before pitching your services.

Consider the "Van Damme Double Impact Strategy": Engage in genuine conversations in the Conversational Track, prioritizing mutual benefit. Simultaneously, in the Content Track, consistently share valuable, personal content. This approach fosters trust and connection over time, embodying a commitment to consistency and genuine engagement. More importantly, schedule dedicated time in your agenda for networking, posting, and giving focused attention. Instead of rushing through these tasks, allocate specific time slots to engage with full attention.

Maintain regular contact, tailoring your communication to their needs. Share valuable insights to establish trust, and be readily available to assist them throughout their decision-making journey.