SXSW: "I'm Good, Really!": Self-Marketing for the Freelance Web Geek
The most important thing it to be a good listener. Don't be the aggressive marketing self-promoter who can't have a conversation without pitching your site. Instead, promote yourself by being helpful and adding to the dialogue. Do what you do but be out in the open.
It is a balancing act between spamming the world and selling yourself short. If you are promoting yourself in more than one or two venue it is probably too much.
The way to get cool freelance work is to be a good participant in the blogs of people you admire. Instead of just getting to everyone, get to the people you want to work with. Just have relationships with people.
There's also a balance between appearing busy and appearing to have too much free time. Being able to turn down work is very important. It is about directing your career path. As a freelancer it is important to be driving the bus.
On the other hand there is not real "no" in freelance, you just double the price.
How do you have your own platform for promoting yourself? One way is to get a way to balance small clients with big.
As you plan your freelance career it is very important to think about your goals. Think about how balance plays a role in that. But don't always think in the end goal step. Think about the short-term steps, the one year plan.
If you can, do things that don't necessarily make money but get you great experience.
If you can, devote half of your time to marketing. It's like dating. Most of it won't work but the stuff that does is worth it.
Get involved with local groups of people who do what you do.
Confidence is profoundly important. The people that are good at it have work coming out of their ears. When you aren't desperate it is easier to be relaxed and confident. Nobody has self confidence all the time but you have to know that you can be crushed and get back up again.
Giving work for free is really valuable. Just put yourself out there to a good contact and see what happens. Also check out Idealist and VolunteerMatch.
See: Secrets of Consulting by Gerald Weinberg
If you think you are great, show don't tell them. You are on the web so have a great web site. Nobody likes a blowhard. Don't try to do everything, just do what you do.
Look at the job boards on smaller more focussed communities like SvN or Authentic Jobs. Sites seem to be adding job boards so use it.
When you are pitching to someone, its about them. Be a good listener, that's the most important thing. Every time you send a resume you should tweak it for the audience.
If you need to leave a client, don't burn your bridges. Be polite, train the next person, and refer them to a friend but not too good of a friend. What you want to be known for is giving other people work and then they'll give you work.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: SXSW: "I'm Good, Really!": Self-Marketing for the Freelance Web Geek.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.samfelder.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/275
1 Comments
Leave a comment
Who is this guy?
Hi, Sam. The real-time posting is impressive. My life would be so easy if I could do my own blogging this fast....
Penelope