Should I have a website as a freelancer, sole trader, or small business?

This week I met up with a work buddy friend who I had not seen for a few years due to lockdowns, travels and work timings. We had a lot to catch up on. One major change in her life was that she went freelance last year – so proud of her. Her main reason was so she could travel and work anywhere. Lucky her – I dream of those days and when I can I’ll be off doing the same!

She told me about her recent projects. She has now carved her career as a copywriter and virtual assistant. I asked if I could see some examples of your work. What is your website? Do you have a brand in place? No to both. Oh! I said. She asked if she needed a website as she had been getting work via word of mouth and not online via any Google searches.

Stepping into the freelancing pool can be overwhelming at first, and one of the details you may be questioning is whether you really need a website.

The answer? I would say 100% yes; you do need a website.

Whether you're a freelancer, sole trader, or small business, a website is crucial to establishing yourself as a legitimate online business.

Sure, you can use websites like LinkedIn, UpWork, Fiverr, and other free sites to showcase your services… but these sites will only take you so far.

Let's take a look at the top 5 reasons why you need to brand yourself and have a website.

1.   Showcase your talents

A website is like a business card. It's something that you can easily show potential customers and clients, telling them who you are, what you do, your previous work, experience, and customer testimonials.

Potential customers will take you much more seriously when you have your own website than when you display your portfolio on a freelancing website. Especially if you are a freelance graphic designer.

2.   Establish yourself as an authority

There is a ton of information on the internet. Which makes competition rife when it comes to captivating your target client. To compensate, people are looking for authority figures - they want to work with the best of the best. A website shows that you are that authority. 

You can easily showcase your previous work, write blog posts, and share your insights and industry knowledge when you have a website.

I often get asked: Should I have a blog on my website? Yes - no matter what you do. Having an up-to-date blog on your website is a lot more potent to securing ready-to-purchase buyers than social media marketing can be. I regularly write on my graphic design blog and also share tips about business and freelancing.

3.   Bypass social media marketing

If you rely on social media marketing, or word of mouth, to get new clients, a website is a much surer way of securing future business. While social media can be a powerful tool to connect with new clients and attract the kind of business you want, you don't own your following or your profile.

I know social media has its reach to audiences but a current stat is you have to have at least 16 touchpoints before someone sees/engages with you.

A website allows you to attract new customers through content marketing, secure those interested enough in your offering to explore your website via social media, and create an effective sales funnel.

You can easily create a sales funnel with an opt-in email, streamline your onboarding process, and more when you don't rely on social media to secure your next client.

4.   You own your website

Creating your own website means you ultimately control how your business is portrayed on a digital landscape.

You don't have to worry about scammers and hackers taking your social media hostage. You don't need to be stressed about a social media site crashing and losing your client base.

If the recent Twitter saga has shown us anything, most social media platforms are not robust.

There are better ways to establish yourself as a legitimate freelancer than relying on freelancing platforms to showcase your work. A website offers you legitimacy.

5.   Take your brand to the next level

Attracting the right clientele is critical to surviving as a freelancer. You don't want to be working with people who don't respect you and your skill as a freelancer - you want to work with people who take you seriously and take your pricing seriously.

And that's what a website can offer you. You can niche down or not but showcase your skills, and creating your own website allows you to create an online persona for your freelancing business that attracts the people you want to work with.

For example, if you are a freelance website designer, you must have an online presence to showcase your work.

Websites are such critical, foundational pieces to being successful as a freelancer. You will see your business grow so much more because there is room to grow.

Need help designing your website?

See the potential, but not sure where to start? Need to showcase your work and talents?

Squarespace is a great platform to build and design your website. I’m a Squarespace recognised Circle Member - being a Squarespace Circle member means that I am part of an exclusive community of experienced web designers and developers who are well-versed in building beautiful and functional websites on the Squarespace platform.

Book a call with me, and I will get you started on your website to help your business get more business.

Hi! Thanks for reading!
My name is Angela Lyons and I am the founder and graphic designer at Lyons Creative. I specialise in both print and digital design, I aim to help businesses enhance their visual appeal by creating compelling and distinct designs.

If you are interested in learning more about my services and how I can assist your business, please feel free to contact me via direct message, and we can discuss your design needs further. Hit the button below!