How do you showcase your work to increase your rates?

3 Create case studies and stories

A third way to showcase your work is to create case studies and stories that illustrate your process, challenges, and solutions. These are more detailed and narrative forms of showcasing your work, that can help you explain the context, scope, and objectives of your projects, as well as the methods, tools, and strategies you used to achieve them. They can also show the impact and value of your work, by using metrics, data, or evidence to support your claims. You can create case studies and stories in different formats, such as blog posts, videos, slides, or infographics, and share them on your website, portfolio, or social media.

4 Update and optimize your portfolio

A fourth way to showcase your work is to update and optimize your portfolio regularly. Your portfolio is your online resume, and it should reflect your current skills, style, and achievements. You should update your portfolio with your latest and best projects, and remove the ones that are outdated, irrelevant, or low-quality. You should also optimize your portfolio for user experience, SEO, and branding. This means making it easy to navigate, fast to load, and responsive to different devices. It also means using keywords, titles, and descriptions that match your niche, target market, and value proposition. And it also means using a consistent and professional design, logo, and color scheme that represent your identity and personality.

5 Demonstrate your expertise and passion

A fifth way to showcase your work is to demonstrate your expertise and passion for your field. You can do this by creating and sharing valuable content that showcases your knowledge, insights, and opinions on relevant topics, trends, or issues. You can also do this by engaging with your audience, peers, and influencers on social media, forums, or podcasts, and by providing feedback, advice, or support. By doing this, you can establish yourself as an authority, a leader, and a learner in your industry, and attract more attention, recognition, and opportunities.

6 Negotiate with confidence and value

The final step to showcase your work is to negotiate your rates with confidence and value. You should not be afraid or ashamed to ask for what you deserve, based on your skills, experience, and results. You should also not be too rigid or too flexible, but be willing to listen, understand, and compromise with your clients. You should communicate clearly and respectfully, and highlight the benefits and outcomes of working with you, rather than the features or tasks. You should also be prepared to handle objections, questions, or rejections, and to provide alternatives, incentives, or guarantees if needed.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?