BFF · Blueprint · Launch · Lesson 15
Launch · Box 16 · Enhancement Training

Professional Online Presence

The 4 platforms clients check before replying to your application.

Length: 20 minutes For: Every freelancer past first applications Updated: 2026-05-15 (v2) Replaces: 2019 video lesson

"The client Googled me. They found my old college blog. It was embarrassing."

Common question from new BFF learners

Friend, Google search yourself today. What does the client see? The first 5 results are your online reputation. Being lazy will not get you anywhere but doing hard work doesn't necessarily mean you will succeed unless you have the right foundation and you have good strategy. Today we will walk through the 4 platforms you can shape.

The wrong question vs the right question

Wrong question: "Which platform is most trending?"

Better question: "Which 4 platforms do clients click before they reply?"

Trending is fleeting. The 4 "must-haves" have been stable for 5+ years. LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, plus a portfolio surface. That is the foundation. TikTok, Threads, and BlueSky are optional.

The 4 platforms every Filipino freelancer needs

PlatformWhat it signalsMinimum setup
LinkedIn"Professional presence." The first stop for international clients.Photo + Headline + Summary + 1 work entry
Facebook"Authentic person." PH clients especially check FB. Verify you're real.Clean profile + photo + city + occupation
Instagram"Visual personality." Especially critical for creatives. Optional but valuable.Professional handle + bio + 9-12 posts representing brand
Portfolio surface"Proof of work." Behance, Notion public page, or personal site.3-10 work samples + brief context per piece
The pro tip

The BFF video lesson is 2X-able. The tip is: speed up to 2X to finish faster while it is still understandable. That tip generalizes: do not watch videos at 1X if you can follow them at 2X.

Example: a healthy 4-platform online presence

Example 4-platform setup

LinkedIn
Professional profile · clear role title · connections built deliberately over years
Facebook
Personal page locked down · public surface limited to work-related content · admin of a community group if you run one
Instagram
Personal-brand handle · selective posting · Stories for ongoing community
Portfolio
Your own URL (writings site / portfolio / case studies). Owned surface, not rented.
The honest moment

A common setup: Facebook personal posts locked to "Friends Only." Public surface is limited to work-related content. You don't have to share everything publicly. Privacy settings are our tools.

The warning that sometimes makes applicants cry

The old-photo trap

Old photos on Facebook, including anything from college or early twenties, may still be visible even if you do not remember them. Most clients check Facebook before hiring. The pre-onboarding background check is real. Spend 2 hours cleaning up before your first major application.

Practice. Audit + cleanup. 60 minutes (one-time).

  1. Google your name + city in incognito browser. What appears in first 10 results?
  2. LinkedIn setup or refresh (15 min):
    • Professional photo (per Lesson 02)
    • Headline matches your archetype + wedge
    • About section: 3-paragraph story from Lesson 14
    • Current role + 1-2 past roles
  3. Facebook cleanup (20 min):
    • Profile photo + cover photo professional or neutral
    • About → Work and Education updated
    • Privacy → set old posts to "Friends Only"
    • Untag yourself from cringe photos (Activity Log)
  4. Instagram (15 min):
    • Decide: personal IG or new professional IG?
    • If professional: handle = your-name-VA or your-name-creator
    • Bio = wedge + location + portfolio link
  5. Portfolio (10 min):
    • Notion public page is fastest. Create at notion.so
    • 3-5 work samples minimum (mock projects okay)
    • Share link in LinkedIn + IG + email signature

Action items, based on your archetype

🌟 The Polished Freelancer~25% · proceed ~80%

All 4 platforms exist. Optimization mode.

Do this week
  1. LinkedIn weekly post. Thought-leadership in your wedge. Build inbound.
  2. Portfolio upgrade. Notion → custom site (Cloudflare Pages, GitHub Pages, or Webflow). Premium signal.
  3. Cross-link all 4 surfaces. Same bio, same link, same brand. Consistency.
💼 The Corporate Transitioner~30% · proceed ~60%

LinkedIn likely best-set already (BPO industry uses it). Audit IG + portfolio.

Do this week
  1. LinkedIn translate corporate jargon out. "AHT" → "average handle time." "FCR" → "first-call resolution."
  2. Build portfolio of "translated work." Anonymized examples of past BPO work, reframed for remote VA.
  3. Hide BPO-only IG posts if personal account is mixed. Or create new VA-focused IG.
🎨 The Creative Specialist~15% · proceed ~70%

Instagram + Portfolio are your primary channels. LinkedIn supporting.

Do this week
  1. IG must be flawless. Grid coherence, bio with portfolio link, Highlights organized.
  2. Portfolio on Behance or Dribbble. Industry-standard for creatives.
  3. LinkedIn = secondary but present. US clients still check LinkedIn even for creatives.
🛒 The Solo Entrepreneur~15% · proceed ~55%

Probably has shop IG + personal FB. Add LinkedIn + VA portfolio.

Do this week
  1. Setup LinkedIn from scratch. "Operations + Marketing for E-commerce SMEs." Wedge-driven.
  2. Reuse shop IG as portfolio surface. "I grew this account from 0 to N. I can do the same for you."
  3. Separate personal FB from business FB. Cleanup, don't blend.
📋 The Generalist Admin~10% · proceed ~50%

LinkedIn most important. Portfolio is harder for admin work but doable.

Do this week
  1. LinkedIn polished + wedge-positioned. Match the wedge from Lesson 14.
  2. Portfolio = process templates. Show the SOP, workflow, calendar, and other systems you have built. Visualize them.
  3. Instagram optional. Skip if not natural. LinkedIn + Notion portfolio is enough.
🌱 The Fresh Starter~5% · proceed ~30%

All 4 needed but lightweight. Don't over-engineer.

Do this week
  1. LinkedIn basic setup. Photo + Headline + Summary + Education + 1 internship/project.
  2. FB privacy lockdown. Old photos = friends only or archived.
  3. Notion portfolio with 3 mock projects. No paid client needed.

Checkpoint. Show proof that you used the lesson.

Postable artifact

Post this in BFF Facebook Group (Work At Home Geek):

  1. 4 links. "Archetype: ___. LinkedIn: [link]. FB cleanup: ✅. IG: [link or N/A]. Portfolio: [link]."
  2. Ask for peer audit. Tag 2 BFF members. An extra pair of eyes catches what you miss.

Community + next step

Next lesson →
Choosing My Client
Box 17 · Working · Client-side filters
← Previous lesson
Personal Branding
Box 15 · Launch
Zoom out →
See the full Blueprint
All 30+ boxes · the growth loop
Start →
Archetype Finder
Find your path first

Hold steady, BFF Team. We keep going together.

– Lala