You’ve got the know-how. You have the unique POV. Your portfolio is on point. But how do you get noticed amidst a sea of super-qualified creators? It can be tough to differentiate yourself and find new jobs online — that’s why we’re constantly improving to help you find the opportunities you deserve.
Our newly redesigned profile pages are designed to make you stand out to potential collaborators with expanded categories, new formats for displaying your work, and so much more. Plus, Vimeo For Hire is built to help brands and individual creators find perfect fits for their next project.
To help you land your next awesome collab, we reached out to filmmakers (and the brains behind a buzzy digital media company) to hear their advice for getting the gig. Here’s what they had to say.
1. Know your stuff
“Keep your eyes open for what everybody else is doing, at all levels,” says filmmaker Alessandra Leone. “Being aware of the status of the industry and keeping up-to-date with freshly published work is the best way to know who the key players are.” Knowing what’s out there not only keeps your eye fresh, but it can also help you find potential collaborators.If you believe in your work and its place in the world, then chances are, others will too.”
2. Show off your work
“Most people aren’t going to take a chance on what you say you can do,” says Staff-Picked filmmaker Mwita Chacha — so make sure you use your profile to showcase work you’re proud of. Once you’ve got a small portfolio of work you’re stoked to share, make sure to label your videos by relevant categories so it’s even easier to see where your strengths lie, at a glance. Remember to tag your content to make your Vimeo profile super skimmable.3. Embrace the cold email
“Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you admire directly through Vimeo messages or otherwise. You’d be surprised how many people will take the time to respond,” says Staff-Picked filmmaker Sean Pecknold. While it might seem cliche, “it’s all about who you know” is often still true — and widening your network can help set you up for fruitful collaborations in the future. “This industry is all about connections and connecting dots,” adds Sean. “You have to make work that stands out from the pack, but you also have to do the leg work of sharing the work and helping it find its way around the internet.”4. Be specific
Use your Vimeo and social profiles to serve as a one-stop-shop for potential hires to see exactly what you offer. Specify your skills and client history on your profile, and consider including details about the gear you own (if any). “If you just bought a new camera, list it, and make sure you list all the gear you have access to,” advises Dundas Media founder Josh Dundas, who recently used Vimeo For Hire to staff a large scale partnership with American Express. Make your contact info easy to find, and share other relevant details (rates, union status, etc.) to make it easy for hiring managers to learn what they need and reach out with your next opportunity. Don’t forget: Vimeo’s easy-to-edit profile interface lets you click into any module and start updating right away, so you can stay current and get back to making awesome content.Make sure to keep your videos constantly updated on your Vimeo profile. Your work is the only thing I look at.”
5. Don’t fear feedback
Sharing your work with people whose opinion you trust can be crucial to honing your craft in between gigs. “There’s nothing more valuable than feedback to get better at making work for a large audience,” says Alessandra. Once you’ve finished a piece you’re proud of, consider sharing the final product with friends and fans of your work. That simple email or LinkedIn post might even lead to more opportunities down the line. “I’ve never had a huge following, but I share projects with friends who care about my work,” says Mwita. “When they hear of an opportunity, they know what I do — and make the introduction.”6. Be easy to find
While your Vimeo profile is your work’s best showcase, it can’t be the only place you share your latest projects. “Vimeo is the best place for sharing your work, but also consider places like LinkedIn,” advises Sean. “You’d be surprised how many potential connections there are to be made there.” Luckily, you can easily share your Vimeo profile to Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter (to name just a few) with a click. But remember, it’s not enough to build your page and let it sit. “Make sure to keep your videos constantly updated on your Vimeo profile,” says Josh. “I know it can be hard to chase up copies of your recent projects, but for someone like me who is looking through Vimeo to hire creative pros, your work is the only thing I look at.”Update your Vimeo profile now
