{"id":25753,"date":"2021-02-16T08:17:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T14:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/?p=25753"},"modified":"2021-02-16T16:56:28","modified_gmt":"2021-02-16T22:56:28","slug":"how-to-build-freelance-website","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hostgator.com\/blog\/how-to-build-freelance-website\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Build Your Freelance Website [Step by Step Guide]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For anyone wanting to build a sustainable, long-term freelance career, a website is an essential tool<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s your primary virtual home-the place where you can showcase the kind of work you do, the services you offer, and past client testimonials and case studies. It\u2019s your main platform to make the case for why someone should hire you.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running a freelance business without a website isn\u2019t impossible, but it makes things a lot harder. And you risk losing prospects who assume you\u2019re not legitimate because you don\u2019t have one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below you\u2019ll learn the benefits of having a freelance website, how to choose the best website building platform for your needs, some of the most important pages to include, and how to get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

5 Benefits of Having Your Own Freelance Website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before any prospective clients decide to work with you, there\u2019s a good chance they\u2019ll check out your website, past testimonials, and current portfolio. Here are five reasons why every freelancer needs a website.<\/p>\n\n\n

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    1. Create a Professional Image<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    By having a professional website<\/a>, you\u2019re in complete control over how you present yourself as a freelancer. When a potential client learns about you and goes looking for more information, they\u2019ll find a high-quality website that presents all your best skills and qualities. That makes you look like the legit professional you are, which means they\u2019ll take you seriously and be more convinced you\u2019re worth the rates you charge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If all they find when they go looking is your social media profiles-especially if you regularly post about topics that don\u2019t relate to your profession-it won\u2019t inspire as much confidence in your abilities and professionalism. A website that looks good and communicates who you are and what you do will help make the case that you\u2019re a solid bet for them to choose.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Build Your Personal Brand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Every freelancer has something unique to offer. What makes you special and worth hiring? That\u2019s the unique value proposition you want to build your brand around. And your website is the best tool you have for doing so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It gives you space to provide proof of what you can accomplish by picking the best examples of your past work. You can spotlight past clients you\u2019ve worked for as a form of social proof<\/a>. And you can even highlight your personality-maybe you include a photo of your dog, or mention your love of Star Wars. For some clients, seeing your personality shine through will make them feel more connected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Show Off Your Freelance Portfolio<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Without a solid portfolio, potential clients only have your word to rely on. Even though you may be great at what you do there\u2019s no way to prove it. But when you collect samples of your work onto your website, they can see for themselves. Your portfolio can speak for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And your portfolio helps ensure that the people who hire you already like your style. You face less risk of ending up with clients that are hard to please, because they\u2019ve already had the chance to confirm they like the kind of work you do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Generate Leads<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    One of the hardest parts of starting a freelance business is finding your first clients<\/a>. Many new freelancers turn to bidding sites to get started, but they tend to attract low-paying and difficult clients. Building a website is a first step toward creating the kind of business where clients come to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Once you have a website up, you can start marketing your business with tactics like search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, and social media marketing. Over time, these efforts will drive more relevant traffic to your site, that can then translate into new clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    But trying to build your business reputation online without a website is a much bigger battle. You don\u2019t have any central place to direct all that traffic to. And when promising leads do hear about you, they\u2019ll have a harder time finding more information and learning how to get in touch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    5. Build a Sustainable Freelance Business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    All of this adds up to helping you build a sustainable freelance business. Your website becomes an important part of building up the kind of reputation you need for prospects to learn about and want to work with you. A website that\u2019s built well and sells your value convinces them you\u2019re worth professional rates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When you reach the point that clients are coming to you and you can charge what you feel is fair, you can focus more on doing the work that earns money and less on scrambling to find clients. That\u2019s the real ticket to creating long-term success as a freelancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Should You Use WordPress or a Website Builder to Build Your Freelance Website?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    If you\u2019re skilled in web design and can build a site on your own, you can skip this section. But for all the freelancers whose services fall in other realms, figuring out how to build a website is a big question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Two of the most popular options available for beginners are WordPress and website builders<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Website builders <\/strong>were created with beginners in mind. The goal is to help you build a professional-looking website without having to touch a line of code. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A smart website builder<\/a>, like Gator, will automate the process of getting a base design into place for your website. From there, you can customize as needed using an intuitive website editor. The process can feasibly be completed within a matter of hours-or potentially less.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n