The top question I am always asked when it comes to building a business is around how someone can market themselves online.
“Okay, I have a website, I have the skills, but how do I actually get clients? Especially more than just one or two clients?”
The power of the first step
We don't talk about first steps enough.
Recently, this topic has entered my mind a few times. A few of my closest friends are experiencing parenthood for the first time and babies' first steps are one of the most celebrated moments in their entire development.
It's Instagram-multiple-post-worthy for parents. It's a HUGE deal.
How to Get Your First Freelance Clients
How to Prepare Your Copywriting for Black Friday Sales
If you live outside the U.S., you’ve probably only heard rumors about the insanity that is Black Friday. Or maybe you saw a terrifying clip on YouTube of people strangling each other over a flat-screen tv. Basically, Americans are great at turning every major holiday into some kind of competitive sporting event.
Fights in Best Buy aside, I’d rather turn your attention to one simple fact: people want to buy stuff during the holiday season.
Should Freelancers Charge Fixed Price Services or an Hourly Rate?
Recently, I bought a microphone so my YouTube videos can sound less like I’m trapped in someone’s dark, bone-chilling basement.
Months ago, I was excited about using it. It took over two weeks to get here and once it did I went through the entire process of setting it up only to realize it needs a power source and an extra cord.
How to Set Boundaries and Rules as A Small Business (Freelancers - Pay Attention)
Look, I can teach you all the things I know about freelancing and how to run a business, but if you don’t know how to set rules and boundaries, you’re going to have an awful time.
If you want to have someone blow up your phone 24/7, dictate your entire life, and generally give you no time off, just go work in Silicon Valley and make a boat load of money. (I did this, I would know. Minus the boat load of money part, because I didn’t stay long enough to find out.)
How to Make Your Company Brand Clear
How to Stand Out Online (It's Not As Hard As You Think)
Standing out online doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg (plus your social security number and your first born child). Although, that’s the way a lot of business owners feel. I’ve seen far too many companies spend 5 figures on revamped branding to stand out online.
Sure, there’s something to be said for having a solid brand, but if you’re not in that position, there’s something you can do that will quickly put you ahead.
How to Fill Your Client Pipeline (Without Having to Cold-Pitch Everyone on the Internet)
7 Ways to Stop Struggling as A Freelancer so You Stop Being A Stressed-Out Mess
When people think of freelancing, they imagine being able to wake up at any hour they want, not have to deal with a demanding boss, and basically living the dream.
However, most freelancers quickly realize this is rarely the case. Well, the sleep part is still true, but it’s rarely as easy as most people think it is.
How to Figure Out if You Should Take on A Client Project
There's A Reason No One Buys Knock Off Legos
When you’re the best, there is no competition.
I was on the phone with a client the other day discussing an idea he has for a new site. It’s a damn good idea, and there’s a huge market for it. However, he is terrified to actually build the site because that means he’d have to *gasp* share his idea with other people in order to get it built.
This thought alone prevents him from starting at all.
Copywriting and Business Lessons from Decluttering My Entire Life
How to Find a Quality Writer for Your Business
15 Step Checklist to Grow Your Business (Free Download Included!)
Lessons on Fear and Criticism
Last week one of my clients launched her first e-course.
About 72 hours before the first launch, we were on the phone and she asked me, "When did you know you were an expert?"
I had to take a moment to think about it, and I realized that the feeling of "expert" never really comes.
I easily have the 10,000 hours under my belt (also the bad eyesight that comes with staring at paper/computer screens for that long), I have my degree in writing (and the loans to prove it), and I my adult career is as a writer.
The Marketing Idea That Changed Everything
Your branding has nothing to do with you.
That's right. I said it.
I wasted so much time trying to "brand myself" and "position myself as an expert" and blah blah blah. Believe me, they're semi-important, but not as much as the marketing revelation my brain finally cracked.
First, a little background story.
The Ultimate Guide to Storytelling on Social Media in 2013
2013 is a tipping point.
Over the next few years, we will see companies start disappearing off social media because they failed to use it right. Up until this point, brands could butcher social media and still gain a following. This is the year when it all starts to change.
The younger generation is getting older and soon they will be calling most of the shots. Like I've said in other posts, they don't know a world without internet and they have been marketed to since they came out the womb, so they are ten steps ahead of every average marketer out there. They are taking social media by storm and if you don't understand social media from their perspective, you are going to lose.