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Five Indispensable Lessons I learned about running a freelance business

May 12, 2011 By Todd Leave a Comment

You need a vision

A vision informs your goals. Your vision might change over time, but it is good to have one. If you are wondering aimlessly with no vision, then you have no mission or goals.

Freelance is not easy!

When I began Dfwfootball.net, my vision was to make the website the “ESPN of football in Dallas-Fort Worth.” In some ways, that vision still holds true, although I never actually wrote it down. Now, my vision for that website is something that’s not quite as grandiose.

When you have a vision, you know where you need to go with your business. Then, you can implement the goals and tasks it takes to get there.

Persistence is Key

One thing is for sure, you are not going to get to the top overnight. That’s called winning the lottery. Building a freelance business takes lots of time and effort and long hours even. Darren Rowse said in a video that he held at least three jobs, at the same time, before Problogger became a big hit.

It’s just not going to happen overnight. Content can go viral fast, but becoming a successful business takes effort and patience.

Networking is the nucleus

I have gained more ground by networking than almost anything else. Networking online; networking offline, it doesn’t matter. The best way to find fellow collaborators and clients is to network. The methods may be different, but the same is true for all of us.

Networking also takes time, but you can be efficient. Go to as many conferences or meetups as you can. It’s not always possible, so I recommend going to the ones that are free to the public. I attended one last year in Conway, AR where I lived and met a lot of great folks whom I have since become linked to via social media, etc.

Use your social media tools. I have seen projects become reality through the collaboration of people who communicate regularly through Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin.

Failure will happen

Failure will happen somewhere along the road. It might be your first try at running a freelance business. You may mess up a project or make a client mad. You might fail to make enough money.

However, don’t let failure be the reason you don’t try, or, even worse, the reason you stop trying. The future may depend on us being a freelancer in some instance. The regular, normal job is ceasing to exist (http://www.chrisbrogan.com/the-future-of-work/). We are becoming an economy of freelance labors. Everyone is learning that they are bringing something to the table.

I remember my first jaunt in to freelance work. Utter failure.

If you don’t learn how to fail, then how will you learn how to succeed?

Communication is priority

Some entrepreneur are learning they need to write. Blogging has become an essential element of running a business. Speech is another element of communication. Your customers are your community, and community is the base for the word communication. If you want to build a community of customers, you need learn how to communicate.

There are so many platforms to communicate in this day in time. You don’t have to master all of them, but you certainly need to know how to navigate many of them. That is why companies are paying people money to consult, manage or establish social media campaigns.

Companies have been building websites for years now as well as other more traditional marketing materials.

You have to learn to communicate your message to the customer and hear from the customer all of his or her feedback. Companies who fail to do this, especially listening to customers, will have a harder time in the next 25 years.

Marketing has become a two-way street for companies as customers have made use of the platforms they have to use such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube (just to name a few!).

What things have you learned running a freelance or small business?

Shama Kabani has shared hers.

Photo Credit: Mat Honan

Filed Under: Lessons Tagged With: business, freelance, freelance business, freelancing, life lessons

Ten Blogs you should follow

February 24, 2011 By Todd 2 Comments

It's good to learn from the best

So, I have decided to put together a list of blogs that I think you should follow. Aren’t you glad I have decided this for you? Of course, it is my opinion, and I hope you will allow me to express my opinion.

These blogs can be put in a few different categories. There is the category for SEO (Search Engine Optimization), a category for social media, blogging, copywriting, technology, and website design including the use of graphic design. These are many of the things you should know when running a website and/or blog.

As a bonus, I threw in a blog about running a small business.

If you are in charge of your company’s website or blog, then you need to learn about these areas in order to make your website/blog more successful.

So, here goes.

1. SEO Book

One of the two best blogs on the internet when it comes to learning about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Subscribe to the blog, or just spend a lot of time looking at the posts. A blog, or website, with no traffic is silent. If you have the money to invest, they also have tons of great resources.

2. SEO Moz

The other one of the best blogs about SEO on the internet. You may not understand everything on their blog, you can find some good information on how to optimize your website or blog.

3. Copyblogger

Copyblogger is copywriting meet blogging. The articles are excellent and reading them is like getting an education. Brian Clark is the mastermind, and he invites other masterminds to join him.

4. Problogger

Daren Rowe runs, quite possibly, the best of the professional blogs. He has learned everything there is to know, and, in fact, is still learning. You can learn a lot of information about running a blog from a professional level by following his blog.

5. Shama.tv

I began my trek in to the world of social media by watching the little videos at Shama.tv. She puts on high quality productions with good tips on using social media for your business. There are also tons of excellent resources available.

6. Chris Brogan

Brogan keeps up with all things social media related. However, he also delves in how to run your business. His specialty is connecting the human with business.

7. Mashable

If you are interested in trends, technology and social media, then Mashable is for you. They do an excellent job of showing how these things are current. It is one of the best examples of how to run a news website on the world wide web. In fact, it might be the best example.

8. Tech Crunch

If you want to keep up with the tech world, then follow TC. It is the best blog for keeping up with the tech world.

9. The Small Company Blog

Ran by Eric Rudolf, he covers many of the topics that are so important to running a small business including the topics that are mentioned by these other blogs.

10. Smashing Magazine

This is one of my favorite blogs for getting design ideas for websites. They give terrific tutorials on many different aspects of websites including graphic design and html. SM is actually made up of a team of individuals who are extremely talented.

Filed Under: Blogging Tagged With: blogging, business, top ten

Ten Topics to Blog about on your business blog

February 9, 2011 By Todd 2 Comments

I have encouraged business owners to start blogs for more than one reason. There are many advantages to writing a blog including the benefit of increased traffic to your website if your blog posts are marketed well.

Therein lies the problem for many business owners. I understand myself as I often have a hard time trying to decide what to write for my own blogs.

Flickr: camboida4kidsorg

Do you find yourself staring at the screen wondering what to write? Me too!

I don’t have all the answers, but I want to offer some advice, some tips and some good resources for how to jump-start your writing.

I believe the best thing to do is to mix up your types of posts. It adds variety for your readers, and it allows you to have a template to write a post. Some bloggers will even put together a publishing schedule using a basic calendar to keep them on track.

There are many kinds, or types, of blog posts you can write. There are far more than I can mention here, but stay tuned because I will point you in the direction of some awesome resources for writing your blog!

When I first started making this post, I thought in terms of “kinds” of blog posts, but now, it is more in the mode of “topics.” Either will work find, but here are mine.

1 Feature a product/service/employee/customer/community leader

I like to do this one. I like to feature someone for a number of reasons. First, they will instinctively promote the post. Second, and more importantly, it an opportunity to brag on somebody. I love to brag on others!

2 News about your business

People don’t think much about this, but it is a legitimate blog topic. When people are perusing your website, they are curious as to what your business is up to. Large corporate websites do this with their businesses including any media attention they receive. Well, it is just as important to small businesses and maybe more so!

3 How to/Advice

This is simply showing someone “how to” do something. You can be creative with your titles doing lists, etc. However, the premise remains the same. Simply write a “how to” post because people love to learn things. . . or criticize. Either way, you will get readers.

4 Industry Trends

No one knows more about your industry than you. You keep up with your industry and you are your readers’ best source of information. Plus, it gives you an opportunity to give commentary and to add your own spin to your industry’s trends.

5 Fun Stuff

Don’t be afraid to write about something fun. Did you just get back from vacation and really enjoyed visiting a museum or theater? Let your readers know. It breaks up being serious all the time, plus, it lets your readers know that you are a person.

6 Inspiration/Life Lessons

Did you learn something significant about life? Share it with your readers. Do you have a favorite quote or saying? Let them know! Life lessons and inspirations are something that resonates with everyone. Again, it lets your readers see your humanness. Now, this isn’t the place to practice confession, unless its funny and not too damaging.

Flickr: Additive Theory

7 Community News

Are you involved in your community? Comment on news in your local community, especially as it relates to your industry. Support your community and others in it and in turn, you will find they will support you.

8 What I would do . . . .

This is a case of showing your ability to reason and how you would solve a problem. This provides two things. First, it provides content. Second, and most importantly, it is a “resume builder.” As a business owner, you have to have “resume builders” which shows you are capable of doing the work for which the prospective client would hire you for. On the flip side, consider “what I have done. . . ” type posts, which are case studies.

The last two topics require a large community of readers for your blog. If you have that, then you can proceed with these two topics for your blog.

9 Ask your audience

Ask your audience a pressing question. Encourage feedback and develop interaction. Facilitate discussion so that readers can learn from one another.

10 Mailbag. . . .

This is often used in the sports world, but I have seen it used successfully in other industries. You get lots of email each week, many with questions. Choose a good question, or more, and attempt to answer them.

There you have it. This should keep you blogging for a while.

In addition, you might check out these resources.

Resources

Filed Under: Blogging Tagged With: blog, business, topics

Three Myths of Business Blogging

February 7, 2011 By Todd Leave a Comment

Blogging is one of the single most useful things you can do to get your business noticed. People notice you and your business as an expert in your industry and you stand out in your community. Further, it gives your website (you do have a website don’t you?) activity leveraging the power of the search engines to find and display your website in their search results.

Flickr: Stephanie Booth

However, many small business owners fail to see the benefit of blogs. Regardless, the results speak for themselves. The dynamics of blogging help boost your online visibility.

So, with so much data in favor of blogging, why do businesses not blog? I suppose there are several, but I think there are at least three reasons.

1. Diary

Small business owners may see a blog as a diary. That’s understandable as people still use blogs that way, and that is how “weblogs,” as they were called in the day, got started. Nevertheless, blogs have become more sophisticated with elaborate publishing platforms for news publications, businesses and other organizations.

2. Time Consuming

Some business owners think they need to write a blog every day. Not so! Figure out a publishing schedule and organize topics you want to write about. Write up several posts and set the publish to specific dates. It doesn’t take too long to write up posts that range between 400-600 words. Add a compelling picture (Flickr can help!) and publish. If you make time to market your business, you can make time to blog. After all, blogging is a part of your overall marketing strategy.

3. I already have a website

Congratulations! You have definitely entered in to the internet age. My question to you is, “does anyone visit your website?” Many businesses have had well designed, pretty looking websites only to have no traffic. A website has to be optimized to get visitors, and one of the best ways is to have an active blog.

So, there you have it. What is keeping you from writing a blog? Let me know!

Filed Under: Blogging Tagged With: blogging, business, myths

Relationships for Business

January 21, 2011 By Todd Leave a Comment

Do you think relationships matter when it comes to business? I do.

Consider this. I just drove past one auto parts store to go to another one in a part of town I rarely shop. Why?

A guy I have met from the gym works there. That’s it!

Flickr: hawaii

Cedric is a body builder/trainer who works out the gym where I am a member. He is a great guy. I tease him about almost being as “buff” as I am. He laughs, or pretends to. He’s always smiling, except when he’s lifting weights. Then, he’s serious.

Funny thing is, Cedric was off. He wasn’t even in the store, but that’s why I went. The guy who helped me was the manager and he was super nice.

The next time you are thinking about whether or not to cultivate a relationship, go ahead! I give you permission. Don’t worry a lot about making the “fast buck.” Develop a friendship and you have a friend. You never know where that will lead. Of course there are people who won’t care, but you don’t really want them as customers anyway because they are not loyal.

Now, by developing relationships for business, I am not talking about handing your business card in every social setting or just being plain overbearing. Make a friend. Friends know what other friends do for a living. Better yet, BE a friend. This is the very modus operandi of the book The Champion by Frank Agin and Jim Ballard.

By the way, social media is a great place to network and make new friends. In fact, I just met a new friend from Twitter. More about him later.

Filed Under: Networking Tagged With: business, networking, relationship, The Champion

10 Habits That Keep Your Business Going by Samantha Hartley

April 8, 2010 By Todd 2 Comments

This article is originally published in Samantha’s Ezine which you can subscribe to here.

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”

Attractingperfectclients.com

I was moved to share with you this quote I saw on Twitter. I’ve seen many entrepreneurs rush off, motivated, ready to implement new ideas, marketing plans and behaviors. But soon, they get fried and fall back into old habits.
Habit is the default setting, which you do automatically and, sometimes, unconsciously. We so often think of bad habits, such as smoking, biting nails, gossiping or watching TV.

But what about good habits, like eating raw fruits and vegetables, saying “thank you” and saving money? Those can be difficult to start but, once they’re the default, easy to continue.

More motivation is not what we need; it’s more good habits.
Imagine how you’d feel if, instead of the cycle of fired-up-motivation and run-down-dejection, you found a few new behaviors and made them habits. You might see enough improvement to get – and stay – truly motivated.

In case you’re wondering what those habits might be, here are 10 suggestions:

1. Create content. Whether you write, record on audio or video, or present to live audiences, information is what drives today’s marketing. Allot time weekly to content development.

2. Systematize, automate and outsource. If you do it the same way more than once, you can turn those steps into a system. If it can be done with software, automate it. If someone else can do it more effectively or efficiently, outsource it.

3. Respect your revenue flow. Revenue-generating activities need to top your priorities list. If you have a proposal to get to an interested client, do it now. Same with invoices, follow-up and anything else that results in money flowing into your business. Do it now. And if any of those can be … well, see #2.

4. Get in front of new audiences. Seek ways to share your brand beyond your usual crowd. You can do this by visiting a new networking group, commenting on a blog or asking readers to forward your ezine.

Speaking of which, would you mind sharing this with a colleague? Just click “forward,” please. Thank you!

5. Stay in touch with past clients. Those who’ve invested with you before are more likely to do so again or to refer you to others. You can also learn a lot about the lasting effects of your work.

6. Connect with your referral partners. It’s best to stay top-of-mind with those who refer business to you. Exchange news, tips and ideas. Propose collaborations. Send thank you notes.

7. Try something new. If there’s a new marketing technique or message you’ve wanted to try, give it a shot. What’s the worst that can happen – failure? That’s a good thing. You’ll never know what won’t work until you try it. If you can’t think of anything new to try, do one of my 24 proven techniques for attracting clients.

8. Update your website. At least weekly, ideally daily. Your website should be the center of your marketing efforts … interactive … as alive and dynamic as you are! Anything less is a wasted asset.

9. Check your stats. You should be measuring your performance on an ongoing basis. How much revenue have you earned year-to-date? How are you doing against your goals? How many visitors to your website? Is the number growing or declining? Why did we get that big spike last week? Who refers the most clients to us?

10. Recharge your batteries. What’s the most energizing thing for you? Working one-on-one with a client, taking a 4-mile run or listening to an inspiring podcast? Whatever it is, weave it into your day so the habit fuels your motivation engine.
It’s easy to create healthy habits for your business

You know that fuzzy feeling you get if you go too many hours without brushing your teeth? Or the sluggish feeling from lack of exercise? If you add one or two of these habits to your business routine today, you’ll soon find it hard to live without them.

Samantha Hartley

“By Samantha Hartley of Enlightened Marketing. For effective marketing strategies that align with your values visit http://www.enlightenedmarketing.com/.”

Filed Under: Samantha Hartley Tagged With: 10, business, Enlightened Marketing, habits, Samantha Hartley

Using Social Media to Level the Playing Field

March 3, 2010 By Todd Leave a Comment

OK, so you have bought an ad in the newspaper (yikes!), you spent thousands of dollars to build a website and you seriously considered that billboard space on the freeway. You have done all of these things to match up with the bigger company down the street, but you haven’t increased any of your traffic at your place of business.

You then decided to quiz old-school businessmen and they tell you that you need to network. “This is 2010,” you say. You wonder if that is still a valuable strategy. They are right! Except in today’s business world, networking can be done, in part, online.

You have heard the hard-to-believe stories about companies using Twitter.com or Facebok to attract new customers and double their businesses. I have heard those too. Now, you are trying decide if social media is for you.

For one, while social media is a great tool, it by itself is not a “magic cure.” Networking, by its definition, assumes communication and conversation, which means that it is a two-way street. You have to engage “friends” in conversation. These online friends are potential customers, and, to be sure, potential evangelists for your business or brand. Your ability to engage your customers online gives you an advantage over the big businesses who might be using social media as a glorified email marketing strategy.

A couple of years ago, I visited an upscale restaurant in Fort Worth. I never would have afforded it, but we were given a gift card as a treat that made it possible. The food was awesome, and the service was outstanding. The setting was wonderful. What put this experience over the top was that the owner and head chef came out to meet the customers! A year later, he had a book signing at the bookstore where I worked. I recognized him and escorted him to where he would be signing his books. He probably didn’t remember me, but I remembered him! I am not usually an upscale restaurant kind of guy–I prefer a place like Cracker Barrel–but if I ever have the money, I would definitely consider going back, just because the owner came out to meet me.

Word-of-mouth has stood the test of time, and social media is a new vehicle to accomplish that. Think about it, when you are looking for a new barber or dentist, how do you find one. You simply ask trusted friends. That is what social media is about.

According to social media guru, Shama Kabani, it is better to manage a couple of social media profiles well rather than to have several that are not managed well. And more, she says in her book The Zen of Social Media Marketing which will be released in book form in April, we need to have a hub, and online presence, in which to direct the customer too. Ideally, that hub would be a website or blog. I believe, it is better to have a website which has the feel of a blog. There are a couple reasons for this.

First, a blog is conversational, therefore, it reinforces the idea of conversation and of engaging the customer or your online friends. Merely having a static, brochure-like website is stale and non engaging. You can separate from your bigger company competition if you have the feeling of friendly and conversational when customers come to your website.

Second, a website which is built to have the feel of a blog, and possibly built on a blog platform such as WordPress, is active and the search engines love active. Each time you update your blog or site, the site will ping the search engines to let them know that it has new content. Over time, the search engines recognize that your site is active. Active sites receive higher rankings in the search engines. Also, when you update your site with articles or news, this creates some backlinks to your site. As Darren writes in the article I linked to, backlinks are not the most powerful thing you can do, but they do help. And by the way, always cross link your profiles with your website or blog.

It takes a while to put a social media strategy in to place. You have to be intentional. I recommend you working on it as if you were at a networking event or conference. Ask questions, answer questions, engage people and seek out experts in your field. Build up a base of friends or followers. The rewards are great. Not only will you tap into another market–a loyal market, but, eventually, your website rankings in the search engines will begin to rise, and the only thing you will have spent was time.

Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: business, shama kabani, Social Media, social media marketing

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Here’s my email address: todd {at} toddejones.net.