Building A Personal Brand: How To Create A Strong Reputation As A Gig Worker

The gig economy is an easy way to enter the small business world. Its low barrier of entry provides equal opportunity to all gig workers. If you really want to thrive in the gig economy, though, you need to find a way to set yourself apart from your competitors. That means you need to create a strong reputation, build a powerful brand, and get the right sets of eyes on the gigs you offer. Getting the attention of your target market starts with a great logo and ends with a stellar reputation.

Start by creating an eye-catching logo for your gig profile. When you’re first getting started, it’s essential to put a face with your name and give your profile a human touch. A friendly, welcoming smile can help potential clients know they’re dealing with a human being, and the old adage is true: people do business with people they know, like, and trust. The goal of building a solid presence to help people get to know you, like your style, and trust your work.

Tell An Attention-Grabbing Story

Start by using your gig profile to tell a story. One or two sentences about you are more than ample. Tell your potential client why you’re qualified to offer the gig they’re interested in. Use the remainder of your allotted space to clearly identify the problem they have and reiterate why yours is the best solution around. Use your gig description space to spell out exactly what each gig offers, what it will cost, and what its turnaround time is. Be clear, concise, and thorough in your description, and don’t leave any potential question unanswered. The goal of your profile and your gig descriptions is to make it as easy as possible for your prospects to choose you. A strong profile and gig descriptions will all but ensure that.

Build A Reputation Across Multiple Gig Platforms

Use the same profile image and gig descriptions to create a cohesive reputation across all the gig platforms your work with. Just as with any small business owners or entrepreneur, building a reputation and creating a following depends in large part on recognizability. Think about it this way: when you see that giant golden M in the sky, you know exactly what’s on the menu. So does anyone over the age of two. There was a time, though, when that wasn’t the case. The world’s largest fast-food chain had to build their reputation one meal at a time. You’ll be building your reputation one gig at a time, so make each and every gig count.

Strive For The Highest Possible Star-Rating

Most gig platforms allow buyers to leave a rating after the purchase process is completed. The easiest way to get a five-star rating is to deserve it. Put your best foot forward and do your best work on each micro job. Check, double, and triple check your work before submitting it. It’s also a good idea to offer at least one round of revisions. That leaves your with room for improvement if your client isn’t five-star happy with the first offering. A small tweak might be all that’s needed to gain the rating you deserve. Ratings help build your reputation, generate repeat customers and referrals, and boost future sales.

Make An Effort to Marketing Yourself

One of the best parts of many gig platforms is their built-in marketing. Don’t make the mistake of allowing yourself to become complacent and rely solely on their platform to make your presence known and felt. At the beginning opt for low-cost marketing like posts and images on social media networks. As your reputation and income grow, consider building your own website and driving traffic to it. No matter which marketing method you choose, make a practice of performing at least one marketing activity each business day and tracking which methods are most successful. Another smart marketing move is to collaborate with another gig worker. If you offer freelance writing services, partner with a gig worker who offers newsletter branding and marketing and trade referrals. See how that works? You each recommend and refer each other without giving away business.

The gig economy is a smart way to get your foot in the small business door. Having a strong, solid reputation is worth its weight in gold, so make sure you go the extra mile, provide outstanding customer service, and deliver a good gig in the first place. Building a personal brand takes time, effort, and a lot of hard work. Graduating from a headshot to a logo to a complete brand is a time-tested way to create a strong reputation as a gig worker and can lead to a long, successful career.

Working in the Gig Economy by Thomas Oppong is out 3rd October, published by Kogan Page, priced £14.99.