As freelancers we need to make a good impression on prospective clients. We can do this through a number of channels...on our web sites, with our blogs, with the articles we write and so on.

But with each of these channels you are in total control of how you pitch yourself. You are careful to position your expertise and qualities in the best possible light.

Prospective clients are aware of this. They know they have to filter what they find on your web site and blog. They understand that you will be presenting yourself in the best light possible. Then they have to figure out whether it’s all smoke and mirrors, or if you really are the real deal.

Enter Twitter...

By being active on Twitter and by giving prospective clients good reasons to follow you, you can provide a much more detailed and nuanced picture of who you are.

You can’t do much with a single tweet of 140 characters. But you can show people “who you are” by being a good Twitter citizen.

You can answer other people’s questions. You can link to interesting information, and not always your own. You can deliver interesting insights.

You can also demonstrate how well you interact with a group. You can show how you are responsive, polite and helpful.

Over time, your Tweets will build up a pretty accurate picture of who you are.

Put another way, your followers will begin to get a sense that they really know you.

Now sit back and imagine this...

A company needs some help and they check out the web sites of two competing freelancers. Based on their sites, both freelancers appear to be equally qualified.

However, one member of the department involved at the company is also an active Twitter user and knows one of the freelancers from his or her Tweets.

Which freelancer do you think is more likely to get the job?