This is Day 9 of 31 Days to Start a Freelancing Business (or Make Yours a Better One). Click hereto read Day 1.

Today’s task is meant to make you shine: today you’re going to write your Unique Selling Proposition.

I’ve already written in more detail about this a few weeks ago. You can read all about it here. I just want to reiterate that you need a USP to give your prospective clients a reason to hire you and not your competitors, including those who may be charging less than you are.

I also co-hosted a webinar with Sharon McMillan about this topic. If you want to access the recording of that webinar, click here to sign up for The Savvy Freelancing Webinars. Don’t worry, we don’t try to sell you anything.

Watch the webinar if you want to learn:

• why you need a USP
• the four elements to crafting your USP
• how and where to use your USP online and offline

Here’s the link to sign up for the webinar again.

I also suggest that you read Sonia Simone’s post about branding. It isn’t about USP per se, but if you substitute “USP” for “branding,” it makes so much sense.

As an added help for today’s task, here are some examples of USP I’ve seen in freelancer’s sites:

• Virtual Assistant: Your Multimedia Timesaver
• Copywriter: Your $Ka-Ching!$ Marketing Strategist
• Designer & Copywriter: On-Target Web Design & Copywriting to Help You Hit the Bulls-eye of Success
• Copywriter & Internet Marketing Strategist: The Mozart of Direct Marketing
• Virtual Assistant: Girl Friday Online

These aren’t necessarily the best USPs out there. However, they do give you an idea of what a USP is and how you can use it to brand yourself and your services.

Put some effort into your USP, because it’ll work hard for you. It has to be short and catchy, yet communicate effectively with your prospect.

Inspired? Get going and share your insights in the comments below.

Lexi

photo credit: Space Ritual

This is Day 6 of 31 Days to Start a Freelancing Business (or Make Yours a Better One). Click here to read Day 1.

Today’s task is easy and might even be amusing: scoping out your competitors.

The one thing you should watch out for is getting intimidated, to the point that you decide you’re not good enough to get payment for your work. Get that out of your system right now, ok?

How to Find Your Competitors

Where are your competitors? Here are some easy ways to find them:

• Google (you knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?)
• Twitter. Go to search.twitter.com and type in your industry or service or even the name of a specific person.
• Industry forums. Keep your eyes open for service providers forum participants recommend.
• Your target clients. Ask them whom they hire for specific services. They’re usually responsive on Twitter.
• Elance. Search your industry keyword and find out which Elance service providers have earned the most in the past 6 months or so.

What You Want to Know

Now that you have a small list of possible competitors, look at their professional websites. You’ll want to find out:

• what services they offer
• how much they charge
• who their clients are (look at their testimonials or feedback page)

You’ll also want to make note of:

• how well they present and market themselves (do they appear to be professional?)
• what their unique selling proposition is (what makes them stand out from others?)
• what your target clients want which your competitors don’t address
• where they get their clients (this may not always be obvious; don’t sweat it)

Basically, you want to find out how you can do better than your competitors – in terms of the services you offer, your pricing, and your work ethics.

You’re not trying to do what they’re doing; you’re going to distinguish yourself from them. Make a bullet list of how you can (and will) be better than your competitors.

All done? Post a comment below then take a break (another slice of apple pie?). You deserve it.

Lexi

photo credit: -miguelito-