Get Your Profile to the Next Level with an Intro Video

It can be difficult to establish a personal connection through a written profile, but that profile is an important factor when it comes to finding new clients. Adding an introduction video to your profile—alongside your full overview and other completed sections—can be a great way to quickly build a bond with prospective clients by providing a more interactive preview of your unique characteristics and what it’ll be like to work with you.

Think of it as a TV commercial for your freelance business: top clients are often drawn to freelancers who aren’t just experts in their field but also passionate about their trade. Follow these four steps to help create a top-notch introduction video…

Pro Tip: Do you offer services in a language that isn’t your native tongue? An introduction video is one way to show how fluent your verbal skills are.

1. Create a great script

Planning what you want to say is essential to a video that’s short but effective. In 60 seconds or less, describe how you help your clients. What should you include? Here’s a quick outline that suggests key points to cover. Practice a few times before the camera starts rolling to help you feel more comfortable, sound natural, and speak easily and clearly.

Introduction (5-10 seconds)

Who are you? What services are you offering? How long have you been doing what you do? Many freelancers gain extensive experience before they launch a freelance business; don’t feel you need to limit yourself to your most recent projects!

Objective (10-20 seconds)

What types of roles, projects, or clients are you looking to work with?

Business highlights (10-20 seconds)

What professional experiences showcase the breadth and depth of your expertise?

Conclusion (5-10 seconds)

What actions do you want the viewer to take after watching your video?

2. Get ready for the video shoot

If you don’t have access to a digital video camera, the video mode on a digital photo camera, smartphone, or computer webcam can be good alternatives. Shoot in high definition or 1080p, if possible, to help ensure the video quality will be good.

Once you have your equipment in place, it’s time to frame your shoot. A clean, plain background with limited clutter will help ensure that the focus is on you and not the things around you. Choose a quiet place (e.g., no children at play, electric fans, etc.) because your mic will pick up the sounds; background noise can make your voice hard to hear.

Good lighting is another important component for a stellar video. Film indoors in a well-lit room with plenty of light in front or to the side of you. Avoid placing strong lights behind you and, if there’s lighting above you, move around so it doesn’t cast shadows on your face. An easily moved tabletop lamp can help offset any shadows.

Finally, place the camera so you’ll be slightly off-center in the frame. It may sound counterintuitive, but standing slightly to the left or right of center can help better capture the viewer’s attention. Also, shoot from the waist up and keep both your face and hand gestures within the video frame as you talk.

3. Lights, camera, action!

Before you start recording, take time to get yourself ready. Dress in business casual attire to help you look and feel more professional. Once the camera starts rolling, be yourself so clients can get a sense of who you are and how you can help them. And don’t forget to have fun, smile, and speak clearly!

4. Review and publish your video

Sometimes it can take a few tries to be sure you’re completely comfortable in front of the camera and that you have a video you’ll be happy to publish.

Before you call it a wrap, double-check for the following:

• Did you speak clearly and not too quickly?
• Is the video free of awkward pauses?
• Can you hear your voice?
• Can you see your face clearly?
• Is the image background clean and clutter-free?
• Is the shot steady and not shaky?
• Did you smile?
  
  

When you’re happy with the final result, you can add your intro video to your Upwork profile.

Pro Tip: It can be helpful to confirm that your video follows our terms before publishing it.

Need inspiration before you get started?

Check out these stellar intro videos from some of your fellow freelancers:

• Pavel Pomerantsev – Front-End Developer
• Czarina de los Reyes-Guevara – Customer Service Manager
• Chris Warren – Motion Graphics Artist
  

Check out these other resources to help improve your freelancer profile:

• Creating Your Profile (the Upwork Academy course)
• Crafting Your Profile Title & Overview (the Upwork Academy course)
• 9 Tips To Help You Create a Freelancer Profile That Stands Out
• Upwork Profiles: Why a Great Title and Overview Can Make a Difference
• 9 Tips for Your Upwork Profile Picture
• 4 Ways To Create a More Successful Freelancer Portfolio
• How To Use Ads on Upwork to Win Work