Here's how you can build a robust online presence as a self-employed individual.

You need to get a better understanding of why you want to build an online presence. What are your goals? Are you looking to grow your client based? Are you looking to expand your network?

Don't wander aimlessly in digital wilderness. Chart your course! Begin asking yourself - What do you want to achieve? More clients? Increased brand awareness? Establishing yourself as a thought leader? Building a robust online presence starts with defining clear, measurable goals. By setting specific objectives, you can tailor your online strategy to meet your unique needs. Want to attract local clients? Focus on local SEO and community engagement. Aiming for national recognition? Invest in content marketing and social media campaigns. When your online efforts align with your goals, your personal brand becomes a compass guiding you towards success.

Be Authentic and Consistent Authenticity: Be genuine in your interactions and stay true to your values. Authenticity attracts like-minded individuals and fosters long-term relationships. Consistency: Maintain a consistent presence and message across all platforms. Regularly update your content and engage with your audience to keep them interested and engaged.

Creating content can be tricky at first because it's new. As you gain more experience, you will start to learn what works and what doesn't work. When you first start to create content, your goal is to niche down and get known for 1 thing instead of trying to be everything.

Orchestrate a symphony of content, don't just have a voice. Remember Your online presence isn't a monologue, it's a conversation. Engage your audience with a variety of content that showcases your expertise and personality. Blog posts, videos, podcasts, social media updates, the possibilities are endless. Share your insights, offer solutions to common pain points, & tell stories that resonate with your target audience. By consistently delivering valuable content, you will establish yourself as a thought leader and foster a loyal community that eagerly awaits your next contribution. Remember, content isn't just about showcasing your skills, it's about building relationships & sparking conversations that propel your personal brand forward.

Creating content doesn’t mean constantly reinventing the wheel. Repurpose your existing content across multiple platforms to maximize its reach and impact. Turn a blog post into a series of social media snippets, convert a podcast episode into a detailed article, or compile your videos into an informative eBook. This strategy not only saves you time but also ensures that your message reaches different segments of your audience in their preferred format. By repurposing content, you maintain a consistent online presence and reinforce your expertise across various channels, making it easier for potential clients to discover and connect with you.

As a self-employed professional, I find that creating valuable content is crucial. Sharing everything I know has not only been a beautiful way of making a contribution to my community, but has also helped me connect with colleagues who have also turned into clients. Building trust and credibility in your personal brand will sure help when someone reaches out to you.

Creating engaging and relevant content is integral to building an online presence. Start with a well-thought-out content strategy by identifying the forms of content your audience resonates with. This could range from blog posts and social media updates - and for the more extroverted, videos and podcasts. Engage your audience by showing parts of who you truly are – your expertise and your personality. Sharing personal stories and experiences allows your audience to form a connection with you, converting them from random viewers to loyal followers. Also, don't forget to repurpose your content. A blog post can be converted into an infographic, for example, helping extend your reach and maximize visibility. Everyone loves an infographic!

Don’t just tell potential clients about your value—let your satisfied customers do it for you. Showcase testimonials prominently on your social media profiles. Real feedback from happy clients can significantly boost your credibility and attract new business. Create a dedicated section or highlight reel for these testimonials and periodically share particularly glowing reviews as posts. This not only validates your skills but also builds trust with prospective clients. Regularly updating this section with fresh testimonials keeps your profile dynamic and demonstrates ongoing success and client satisfaction.

The biggest mistake I see in profile optimization is doing what everyone else is doing and following social media/thought leadership trends. This will not help you stand out from the crowd. BE YOU. Post content that speaks not only about what you do, but who you are.

Having an optimized profile will help your content to perform better. When your page starts to grow, you want people who are on your page to know exactly who you are and what you do.

Your LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media profiles are not just virtual resumes; they are your digital billboards. Ensure they are up-to-date, visually appealing, and consistent with your brand message. Use professional headshots, craft compelling headlines, and showcase your most impressive achievements. But don't stop there! Optimize your profiles with keywords relevant to your industry, making it easier for potential clients and collaborators to find you. A well-optimized profile enhances your visibility and reinforces your credibility as a polished professional.

Connecting with other professionals will help you to network and build relationships. When you build relationships with other professionals, you will gain exposure to new opportunities and even clients.

Announcing that you're self-employed and accepting new clients these days is like announcing you're a green frog in a room full of equally green frogs. While not everyone is a frog, you will need to do a lot more than just talk about your services to stand out from them. There are a TON of other incredibly skilled and talented individuals all over the world. Offering excellent services is no longer enough. You need to network, talk to people, find mentors, LISTEN to feedback. Share information with your network, give free tips. Join groups. The options are endless. So while just being a frog isn't enough, being the loudest frog could be.

Engaging with others helps you to foster relationships and will also give you a boost in the algorithm. This is going to be more important when you're first starting to build your personal brand.

Engaging with others is a sure-fire way to share your expertise, learn from others and solidify your position as a trustworthy voice. Want people to believe you know what you're talking about and build a trusting and loyal audience? Give them what they need, help them without expecting anything in return. Be genuine and be authentic with your audience interactions. They will love you more for it.

Just posting and raking in the likes and comments isn't enough. You have to look at what the metrics are telling you. Are your viewers learning anything? Are they visiting your website? Are they booking discovery calls? Are you having genuine discussions with like-minded people? If you can't answer 'YES' to a single one of these questions, you need to go back and thoroughly analyse your strategy and content, because something isn't working. Don't be afraid to keep trying new things and climb out of the box you've put yourself in. Keep trying!

I have been a solopreneur my entire career. I do not have a payroll or a team. I am responsible and accountable for all decisions related to my brand. I attach significance to my LinkedIn profile and care deeply about the impression I make in the business world—both online and offline. What shapes, elevates, and energizes my online presence is the intense passion I bring to my work and my insatiable desire to create positive change in the business community, especially the lives of those I serve. I let my core values guide me. Personal branding is a function of attitude and effort. When you operate with a strong sense of professionalism and your message is crystal clear, others will notice, and your robust online presence will follow.