As a freelance Business Relationship Manager (BRM), you have the opportunity to work with different clients and projects, but you also face a lot of competition. How do you showcase your value and expertise to stand out from the crowd? Here are some tips to help you boost your freelance BRM career.
One of the first steps to differentiate yourself as a freelance BRM is to define your niche. What are the specific industries, domains, or problems that you are passionate about and have experience in? By focusing on a niche, you can position yourself as a specialist who understands the needs and challenges of your target market. You can also tailor your services, portfolio, and marketing to attract and retain your ideal clients.
Cannot emphasize this enough. So many people out there are following the spray and pray strategy, hoping that they close something. If you try to solve everything, you won't solve anything. It's as simple as that. A "mass market" rarely works, specially in your early days, as clients want someone with expertise, someone with authority, someone with tangible knowledge and experience. The best way to check these boxes is to focus on one particular offering and develop your niche. Then go about developing your ICP and you will see the quality of your conversations improve exponentially.
Another way to stand out as a freelance BRM is to update your skills regularly. The BRM role requires a combination of technical, business, and interpersonal skills, such as strategic thinking, communication, collaboration, negotiation, and problem-solving. You should always look for ways to enhance your knowledge and competencies, such as taking online courses, attending webinars, reading books and blogs, or joining professional networks. By updating your skills, you can demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning and improvement.
A third tip to stand out as a freelance BRM is to showcase your results. Your potential clients want to see how you can help them achieve their goals and deliver value. Therefore, you should document and highlight your achievements and impact in your previous or current projects. You can use metrics, testimonials, case studies, or stories to illustrate how you have enabled business transformation, innovation, or growth for your clients. You should also update your resume, portfolio, and online profiles with your results.
A fourth tip to stand out as a freelance BRM is to build your network. Networking is essential for finding new opportunities, referrals, and collaborations. You should reach out to your existing contacts, such as former colleagues, clients, or mentors, and ask for feedback, recommendations, or introductions. You should also expand your network by joining online communities, forums, or groups related to your niche, industry, or skill. You should engage with your network by sharing valuable insights, asking questions, or offering help.
A fifth tip to stand out as a freelance BRM is to promote your brand. Your brand is what sets you apart from other freelance BRMs and communicates your value proposition, personality, and style. You should create and maintain a consistent and professional image across your online and offline channels, such as your website, blog, social media, email, or business cards. You should also showcase your thought leadership and expertise by creating and sharing relevant and useful content, such as articles, podcasts, videos, or infographics.
A final tip to stand out as a freelance BRM is to manage your expectations. Freelancing can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging and unpredictable. You should be realistic and flexible about your goals, income, workload, and clients. You should also set clear and reasonable boundaries and expectations with your clients, such as your scope, deliverables, timeline, and fees. You should also communicate regularly and effectively with your clients, and seek feedback and improvement opportunities.
It is a little bit like the song ‘Razzle Dazzle’ in Chicago. Your clients or competition shouldn’t be able to pinpoint exactly what it is that makes you better. Rather there needs to be an air of mystery that makes it difficult to emulate. Attention to detail matters. Be prepared for meetings. Be on time. Look the part. Smile. Ask questions and be interested. There are a thousand things you can do to set yourself apart, and the way you bring it together, is the razzle dazzle. Just make it authentic. And you will be putting your best foot forward.
Pelo resultado, você tem que conquistar credibilidade no meio corporativo, ninguém perde tempo e cada contato é valioso, construir relacionamento, mensagens personalizadas é o valor agregado para se destacar.