Going the freelance route can be quite an exhilarating process. You drop the 9-to-5 workday in exchange for a whole lot more freedom and independence. But with this job track also comes the burden of management.

Personal branding and marketing is a big part of growing your own freelance business. You need to get your name out there into the world and hopefully reel in a few clients. It can be difficult, but I have offered a few ideas below which can get you off on the right foot. It’s best to plan ahead even with a small marketing strategy.

Once you put something in place to get the ball rolling things will only get easier. It’s important not to get discouraged and always keep pushing forward! There will be difficult months, but stay focused on the end result and you’ll pull through like a charm.

Determine a Branding

When you think of brands some popular mainstream franchises may come to mind. McDonald’s, Best Buy, Sony, Apple – these are all examples of big business. But small businesses and freelancers alike should have a style of branding. Even if it’s simply your own name and icon.

This step is crucial to begin with since it can affect so many alternate areas of marketing. At some point you’ll likely need to put up an online portfolio of work, maybe even purchase a domain name as well. Typically freelancers will purchase a domain under their own first & last name. But you could also come up with a creative company name and use this instead – whatever you feel more comfortable with.

The point is to build a solid brand and stick with it. It takes a lot of time to leak out your URLs into the web. So it would be a pain to change domains after 1 or 2 years of solid link building. Take note the type of work you do may also influence this decision.

For example, a freelance web designer may be more inclined to work under their own name. This makes their work easily recognizable by other potential clients. However a mobile app developer launching a few concepts may consider branding under a design studio instead.

Master Social Media Platforms

The fastest way to get your name recognized is through social media. Networking was performed in person for the past couple hundred years. But with the Internet technology has advanced so quickly that we can find each other from any point on the planet!

There are a handful of networks to consider joining right off the bat(excluding Facebook!). I even frequently scour the web looking for new startup ideas with strong potential just to get my account early. But we don’t all have time to signup for 20 or 30+ different social media platforms. So I put together a small compilation below of networks you may consider.

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Tumblr
• Behance
• Artician
• Instagr.am
• DesignBump
• Stack Exchange
• Design Snack
• Pixel Groovy

Google itself is also a very powerful networking tool. The company provides you with tons of free web apps which you can access all through a single account. Examples include Gmail, Analytics, Google Chat, and Documents. If you aren’t already using at least some Google products I recommend giving them a chance.

Network with Other Professionals

By far the best way to get yourself recognized is to connect with other people within the industry. You need to get yourself known amongst designers, developers, and webmasters all over the world.

There are a number of ways you may accomplish this. Some of the social networks I listed above are viable solutions. You may also post on forums and bulletin boards which can attract some attention as well. But my personal recommendation is to stick with a niche field and build up recognition there.

There are many different freelancers out there including graphics designers, illustrators, writers, marketers, and even programmers. When you have work to show it provides a jumping off point for getting your name linked around the web. Some of my favorite networks including Dribbble and Github showcase wonderful design and development work, respectively. These websites often include further contact details such as the user’s personal URL or Twitter account.

Always Keep Working

Even throughout this entire marketing strategy you should be trying to land some freelance projects. These are ultimately the works which end up in your portfolio and get shown off to future clients. And we all need money to pay the bills each month.

Never underestimate the power of landing an extra design job. This can be just the kick you need to build up a bit of credibility and positive buzz. Repeat customers are the best people to build long-term relationships with. They will value your work and often look to you for professional advice. Just don’t set yourself up swamped with work to the point where stress takes over!

Freelancing is all about relieving yourself from the hectic Monday-Friday work schedules. Take advantage of this and build projects around your own comfortable timeframe.

Conclusion

The process of marketing your brand will not build to a climax overnight. You’ll need to stay focused on the goal and continue sharing out your name for months, possibly even a couple of years. It’s a steady climb upwards but if you have the skillset to back up your ideas you’ll quickly build a powerful name for yourself.

Everyone will be writing posts about New Year’s resolutions, so how about one with un-resolutions? That is, instead of talking about what you should be doing, how about we talk about what you ought to stop doing instead?

As we ring out the old year, let’s sweep out some bad freelancing practices along with it, shall we? These practices and habits are things that undo freelancers, keeping them small and stopping them from succeeding. I sat down and thought of….

10 Things Freelancers Must Stop Doing In 2012

1. Stop being a generalist

Even if you’re desperate enough to work with any client, that doesn’t mean you should try to appeal to everybody in your marketing efforts. If you do, you’ll only end up pleasing nobody. Your marketing messages will not resonate with anybody particularly well. You won’t get prospects eager to work with you. And before you know it, you’re in a vicious cycle of chasing after prospective clients – starving – chasing – starving….

So stop that cycle right now. Identify a specific Ideal Client and speak to them in your promotional materials. You’ll be surprised how trying to appeal to a narrower audience makes you so much more attractive. Read this post to learn more about coming up with your Ideal Client and using it to market your services more effectively.

2. Stop competing on price

You may think prospects choose freelancers based on price alone, but you’ll be surprised. Clients who value quality are willing to pay for outstanding work. Lift yourself above the competition by charging what you think you’re worth. Believe me, you can be too cheap. So if you’re keeping your rates low, stop that right now.

Take a good, hard look at the value you bring to clients and charge accordingly. This post may help you determine a more fair rate for your fees.

3. Stop going solo

Sure, freelancers are often one-person businesses. This doesn’t mean you should shun others. In fact, your network is one of your most valuable business assets. Therefore, make an extra effort to widen your network. Attend business events, volunteer, take classes — do whatever it takes to meet more people.

I’m not saying to turn every social activity into a marketing event. Just get out there! People are bound to ask, “What do you do?” Most people you meet probably will not be prospects for you, but they likely know someone who is.

In 2011, I shifted niches, and 2 of my first 3 clients in this new niche were referred by people in my network. Remember, it does matter whom you know!

4. Stop shutting family and friends out

Maybe your closest family and friends aren’t exactly supportive of you freelancing. Maybe you’re sick of them asking, “When are you getting a real job?” Even if that’s the case, they are still part of your network. As such, they need to understand what you do and for whom, so they can talk you up to their network.

5. Stop stuttering over what you do

Do you find yourself stuttering or mumbling when trying to explain what it is you do? If so, I know exactly how you feel. For months, I struggled to come up with the right words to say, especially to people who don’t know what “copywriter” means. A few times, I was even mistaken for a web designer.

If you struggle, too, you may find this post on creating an elevator speech helpful. After you’ve crafted an elevator speech, practice saying it out loud until you’re comfortable. Anticipate follow-up questions and formulate answers for those as well. And feel free to improve and tweak your elevator speech as you go along, or as you meet different types of people.

6. Stop forgetting to follow up

I sound like a broken record when I say, “Follow up!” But following up is so important, that you really must stop forgetting or knowingly not doing it. I know, I know, it’s kinda embarrassing and you’re afraid your prospect might think you’re a pest.

I’m not talking about calling every day, or emailing every 2 hours. At the very least follow up each inquiry, quotation, or proposal two times before giving up.

7. Stop being nonchalant about your finances

Unless you’re a bookkeeper or accountant, going over your finances is probably worse than getting a root canal. Even if that’s so, it’s time to take your finances seriously. If you haven’t done so yet, keep your books updated, using a software like Quickbooks. Or, better yet, hire a bookkeeper and accountant.

Look over your financial reports to see which costs you can cut back on, which services are bringing you the most income, and how you can save more.

8. Stop wasting time

Unless you’re disciplined, it’s hard to keep distractions at bay. Don’t even think about peeking into Facebook; before you know it, 30 minutes have gone by and you haven’t gotten any work done!

Your time is precious. You can either use it to make money, or you can use it to waste money. Of course I’m not telling you to do nothing but work. What I am saying is to know your priorities and to use your time accordingly. For example, exercising is not a waste of time. It keeps your body healthy and your mind sharp — both essential for freelancing success (among other things). However, watching TV for 2 hours straight is a waste of time.

9. Stop being a slave to your business

Some freelancers are so driven to make money that they become slaves to their business: working all hours, eschewing personal relationships and interests, and accepting any client that comes along. Remember, your most precious business asset is YOU. So, take care of you. Set reasonable hours. Make time to exercise. Eat right. Spend time with loved ones. Do the things you love.

And, please, if certain clients are mistreating you, drop them. You deserve better than that! Better clients will come along.

10. Stop being a best-kept secret

Marketing and promotions do not come naturally to most people. Especially if it’s “self” promotion. If you’re one of those people who believe all you have to do is do an outstanding job and the clients will automatically come, stop that right now.

As a freelancer, you’re also your own marketing and sales department. Might as well get comfortable with selling yourself.

You don’t have to get all obnoxious about it. Just get comfortable with talking about the results you get for clients. Educate others about what you do. Offer to help whenever you can — without expectation of getting anything in return. And always ask happy clients to recommend you to others.

What’s Your Un-resolution?

Which of these un-resolutions do you need to embrace to make 2012 your best freelancing year yet? What might keep you from adopting better practices?

Talk about them in the comments below.

Have you ever gotten desperate for clients? Maybe you don’t know how you’re going to pay next month’s rent. Maybe your car broke down and repairs will cost more than you have right now. Maybe a tree fell into your house and your insurance won’t cover it (that’s a true story, by the way).

Whatever the reason, you need clients. Right now. What’s a freelancer to do?

It’s time to step up your marketing game! Fortunately, there are tried and tested marketing strategies that have proven to be effective for freelancers. No need to reinvent the wheel.

Read the list below and choose two you can implement in the next two weeks.

5 Ideas to Get Leads Fast

1. Approach your existing network

The easiest way to get new leads fast is to approach your existing network. Reach out to family members, friends, former co-workers, and even former employers. Let them know what type of work you do and for whom, and to pass along your information to someone who may need your service.

It doesn’t matter if nobody in your network is a business owner. The idea is to somehow get the word out into their networks. After all, everyone knows someone who runs a business, or works in a business that hires freelancers.

Shoot them an email, call them, or set up a coffee date. Do whatever feels natural and comfortable to you.

(By the way, there’s no need to tell everyone about your emergency. That will only make you look desperate, which is not attractive. Promote yourself based on your merits as a skilled professional, not based on your needs.)

2. Tap your current/past clients

Your clients can be your best promoters. Assuming you’ve done a great job and they were happy with your work, they will effectively talk you up to people they know. Don’t be shy; ask for referrals.

Write or call your clients to explore if they may have a need for your services again, or if they know someone who does. It never hurts to ask. The worst thing that could happen is they say “no.”

3. Get super active in one social networking platform

If you use any of the social networks, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook, intensify your presence there in the next couple of weeks. Follow or connect with people who fit your Ideal Client profile, or who may know those who do.

Engage with them. Respond to their posts or updates. Add to the conversation with your own insights, or share additional resources they may find helpful.

If they express a need for anything and you know a solution, share it. Post links to useful articles, blog posts, or reports.

Occasionally, throw in a pitch for your services. Make it natural and non-hypey. Something as simple as, “If you or someone you know needs graphic design services, I have an opening in my schedule right now. Call or email me….”

4. Offer a steep discount to members of a forum/networking group

I don’t like this approach, because in general, I don’t like discounting on my services. However, in times of great need, this strategy works very well.

Go to an online forum or networking group you belong to and offer your services at a special rate — exclusive to the group’s members only.

Be very specific about which services are discounted, and when the offer must be taken. You wouldn’t want people taking up your offer months down the road when you’re already too busy with other clients.

5. Launch a direct mail campaign

Direct mailing to a targeted list of prospects is another effective way of getting leads fast. However, it takes more work than the other strategies discussed here.

Instead of offering your services directly through the mailing, offer a free piece of information or buzz piece instead. A special report or white paper is the most common buzz piece. If you have two weeks to pull this off, I suggest spending one whole week creating your buzz piece.

You want your buzz piece to be focused on one specific need or problem your Ideal Client is experiencing. You want it to be well written (yes, even if you’re not a writer) and provide extremely valuable information. You want it to be so good, you could charge money for it — and people would happily pay you.

After your buzz piece, you’ll need a letter to go along with it. The letter sells your buzz piece. It’s free, but you still need to convince the prospects that it’s more than worth the time and effort to go to your landing page (web page) and submit their contact information in order to get your buzz piece for free.

Don’t Despair

Even if things look dire to you right now, don’t despair. Times like these, you realize it’s actually a GOOD thing that you don’t have a fixed salary. You can make more or less money — it all depends on you.

The amount of projects you can get are no longer limited by your geographic location. Through the Internet, you can connect with prospects from any country in the world.

It’s up to you. Do as much or as little as you like to get the word out about your services and skills. Accept as much or as little work as you like.

But when time is running out, it’s wise to use high-impact marketing strategies that have been proven effective by freelancers who came before us.

If you were desperate to get more clients immediately, which of these strategies would you use? Have I missed high-impact strategies that should have been included in this list?

Do share your thoughts, experiences and questions in the comments below.

PS: Don’t wait for an emergency. Market your business consistently, even when you think you don’t need clients. That’s the only way to ensure you’re never desperate for clients.

Image by kelsey_lovefusionphoto

As freelancers we rely on social media to interact with clients, potential clients, and other freelancers.

Social media is a great tool for freelancers (and since social media is most often free it’s very budget-friendly). But if you’re not careful, social media can also take up a lot of your valuable project time.

Of course, strategies will vary for each individual freelancer. However, over the past few years I’ve put a lot of thought into social media strategy. The tips in this post should work for most freelancers.

Decide Which Social Media Tools to Use

There is a huge universe of social media platforms available. Deciding on which ones to participate in can be confusing. Here are a few questions to help you narrow your choices:

• Are my clients active in social media? If so, which platforms do they participate in?
• Is there a social media platform or tool that most of my freelancing colleagues use?
• Do any social media platforms address my freelancing specialty?

If you find that most of your colleagues and clients are active on a particular social media platform, that’s a good indication that you should have a presence there as well.

Here are six social media platforms where participation will benefit most freelancers:

1. Blogging–Not only does blogging help you to connect with others, it can also help establish you as an expert in your field.
2. FaceBook–This social media platform has a huge group of users and shouldn’t be overlooked by freelancers.
3. Forums–Since forums generally hone in on a specific topic, participation can be a great way to target your social media interactions.
4. Google+–A quickly growing social media tool, Google+ has the reputation of having a more technical user base.
5. LinkedIn–The corporate world has embraced LinkedIn as a way to make connections and for that reason you should too.
6. Twitter–There’s more to Twitter than meets the eye. This microblogging tool has influenced trends worldwide.

Ideally, you would be able to establish a freelancing presence on all of these platforms. However, at first you may want to focus on just one or two of these areas due to time constraints. Which brings us to the our next point–exactly how much time should you spend on social media?

Determine How Much Time to Spend

If you jump in without a plan, social media could easily consume all of your time. That wouldn’t be good for your freelancing business. That’s why I recommend designating certain times specifically for social media during your day. I’ve found morning, noon, and the close of business to be the most effective for me, but you may want to experiment and find your own best combination of times.

For most freelancers 15 minutes, three times a day (once you’ve set up your profiles) is enough to maintain a good online social media presence. Of course, if you just launched a new product or happen to be a social media consultant, you’ll spend much more time on social media.

There are third-party apps for most social media platforms that let you spread your participation over a 24-hour period. TweetDeck and HootSuite are just two popular examples of such apps. These tools are a good way to ensure that you reach users in time zones all over the world. However, it’s also a good idea to make sure that at least some of your social media networking is live.

If you find that social media is too distracting, there are also apps to help you limit the amount of social media time that you spend. LeechBlock and Nanny for Google Chrome are two examples of such apps.

Once you’ve budgeted some specific times, you may wonder who to connect with on social media and how to find them.

Connect with Others

Naturally, you’ll want to connect with the contacts you’ve already made as well as the people that you know in your day-to-life. Consider adding these folks to start out:

• Former boss(es)
• Current or former teachers
• Current and past clients
• Classmates
• Work colleagues (past or present)
• Friends
• Family members
• Neighbors
• Bloggers who write about your freelancing niche

Basically anyone in your extended network who could have a lead on a freelancing project and who is already active social should be invited to connect with you. In addition, many social media sites suggest followers (friends or fans) based on your current followers. Review these suggestions carefully–they could lead to valuable connections. You may also wish to add your social media contact information on your blog or website. Some freelancers even include it on their stationery and business card.

Now that you have built up a social media network, you may be wondering what you should share through social media.

What to Share

What you share on social media sites as a freelancer is different than what you would share if you were just using social media for personal use. As a freelance business owner, you may want to think twice about sharing certain topics or downloading family photos. Without careful planning on your part, it’s easy to share T.M.I. Be sure to check the privacy settings for whichever platform you’re using unless you want everyone to see everything.

One of the biggest mistakes that new freelancers make on social media is making it all about them. Have you been at a social gathering and met someone who talks incessantly about themselves? Naturally no one wants to be around that person and it’s the same on social media.

Instead, balance information about you with relevant information that your connections may find useful or entertaining. Of course, it’s okay to share about yourself from time to time–but such shares shouldn’t dominate your social media contributions.

Also, if someone interacts directly with you and their profile matches that of the folks you’re trying to connect with, be sure to acknowledge them. If they ask a question, answer it. If they share something you’ve shared, thank them. If they message you, reply. The higher the quality of your interactions, the better the relationships that you will develop–and some of those may lead to business relationships.

Your Turn

What social media strategy works for you? Share your answer in the comments.

Image by son_gismo

Freelancers, on the other hand, tend to have a very small marketing budget–if they have one at all. Instead, they rely on networking and word of mouth.

But, does a small business or a lone freelancer stand a chance when competing with a larger organization for a client?

I think they do. Bigger isn’t always better. In this post, I ‘ll list five unique benefits that freelancers can offer to their clients.

Benefit #1. Eliminate the Middleman

Miscommunication is a huge problem in many business transactions. Often, miscommunication is caused because the client has to deal with a middleman–a company sales person, a team lead, or even a receptionist–who then conveys the client’s information to the person who actually does the work for the client’s project. In the worst cases (in very large organizations), a client may have to repeat his or her request multiple times to many different people before actually reaching the person who can help.

In contrast, when dealing with a freelancer, the client can often speak directly to the person who does the work. Not only does direct communication reduce the chances of miscommunication, but it also allows the client to answer any questions the freelancer may have directly.

Benefit #2. Consistency

Because large companies often have many different individuals who perform the same type of work, the odds of the client getting the same individual who worked on the client’s last project to work on their next project are slim. He or she may have already been assigned to another project. This inconsistency of workers can lead to inconsistencies of quality and style.

However, when a client deals with a freelancer they can usually expect greater consistency. Unless the freelancer regularly outsources their projects, it’s likely that they themselves will work on all of the client’s projects.

Benefit #3. Agility

Freelancers are often more agile when it comes to getting things done quickly and on short notice. While I’m not a big fan of rush work, the truth is that an agency or larger business is much more likely to have layers of managerial approval that a client must go through before a new project can be started. Getting all those approvals can take time.

In contrast, a freelancer may be able to take on a new project on fairly short notice. A freelancer needs no approval from their management before he or she can start working because they are “the management.”

Benefit #4. Cost Savings

A larger business may have more resources than a freelancer, such as more personnel and a nice office space. But remember that those additional resources add to the organization’s overhead. In the end, additional overhead usually means higher cost to the client.

Many freelancers, on the other hand, work from home. Their overhead is relatively low. Often this means that they can charge less than an agency or other larger business would for doing the same work and still earn a good income. (Note: I’m NOT recommending lowballing here–just making an observation on how overhead costs are usually passed on to the client.)

Benefit #5. Personal Relationships

Working with a freelancer gives a client a true opportunity to develop a one-on-one relationship with the person who will be handling their projects. A strong relationship between freelancer and client is beneficial to both.

From the client’s perspective, developing a personal relationship with a freelancer increases the odds that the freelancer really understands the client’s needs. In fact, the freelancer may actually become sort of an “expert” in providing superior services to the client. Also, because the client is dealing with the same person each time, they will learn to understand what to expect from the freelancer.

From the freelancer’s perspective, having a good client relationship means that the client is much more likely to give them additional business and referrals. Also, dealing with the same client over and over again means that the freelancer will start understand the client’s needs in greater depth, which will actually make the freelancer’s work easier.

Your Turn

It’s easy to become discouraged when competing for work with larger organizations and agencies, but don’t give up. As a freelancer, remember that you can provide some unique benefits to your client that a larger business cannot.

What did I leave out? Can you think of any additional benefits that a freelancer offers over a larger company? Share your feedback in the comments.

Social media, however, should be the first and foremost tool to spread the word about interesting articles, searching for individuals to interview, gathering new story ideas and more.

Some of the challenges that freelance writers can face with social media are which outlets to use, how often to use them, and where and when to promote them. Although social media is not rocket science, it can be challenging at times, therefore stop writers from effectively using the various tools at their disposal.

How to Use Social Media Promote Your Business

When seeking to promote your freelance writings via social media, keep these factors in mind:

• Promote, don’t spam–There is a fine line for freelance writers to walk when seeking to promote their articles through sites such as Facebook, Twitter and others. You want to promote your copy, yet not be spamming both friends and followers to the point where they turn you off. While there is nothing wrong with sending out a link to your copy or sharing it with others, do not continuously repeat the process so that the same article is showing up in their timelines several times a day. Promote discreetly so that you’re not viewed as simply a spammer.
• It is okay to follow and befriend–While we’re often told to be leaders and not followers, you want to follow when it comes to social media sites. The more users (individuals and professionals) that you follow, the more avenues you will open your copy up to. It is advised, however, to follow users on Twitter, Facebook, and so on, who are worthwhile. Don’t follow just for the sake of following to pile up numbers. If you’re a freelance writer who covers the restaurant industry, be sure to follow and/or befriend others who are in the same field. When writing an article on the latest trends in this industry, the goal is to tweet and/or share your story with relevant parties so they can be your unofficial “salespeople” and help push your article along.
• Engage in discussion–One of the key aspects of social media is that it allows you to engage in conversations. Since I write for several freelance publications on the side of my full-time job, I will often surf the Internet for relevant discussions related to what I’m writing about. For example, I cover professional football during the fall for four to six months. Doing so gives me an opening when I see a discussion about the NFL. I introduce myself, become part of the conversation, and then send along a link to those interested parties on the latest NFL story I wrote. Not only do I become part of the discussion, but my article does too.
• Take the time–Another of the great features of social media is that it is available 24/7, 365 days a year. Given the fact I literally write eight or more hours a day between my full-time job and freelancing, my eyes sometimes need a break from the computer when I get home at night. If I am feeling restless or there is some available time over the weekend, I can get online, find a relevant discussion, and use social media to promote what I’m writing about. The doors are never closed in the world of social media, it just requires some time and effort to walk through them.
• Look for invites to groups–More and more, individuals are taking part in social media chats. Whether it is a “tweet-up” or another opportunity to go online with others, look for such opportunities. The world of social media is all about networking, so don’t pass up the opportunity to be a part of it. You can also initiate such an online event and invite other freelance writers to join you. This is also a great way to share tricks of the trade with other writers, giving you the opportunity to better your skills.
• You scratch my back, I scratch your back–Finally, you have to remember that the world of social media is not all about you. At my full-time job, we make sure we promote each other’s work–not only helping ourselves, but getting our company more public attention. When others promote your writings, be sure to return the favor, forming and keeping relationships together. If you only ask others to promote their articles and do not reciprocate, you will likely find very few willing to spread the word for you.

Is It a Fad?

Some individuals say that social media is simply a fad, something that will eventually go away.

I, however, think social media is not only here to stay for the foreseeable future, but will continue to expand its tentacles. If you have not already, take the time to understand social media as it relates to your freelance writing efforts, and get off the sidelines and into the game.

Your Turn

Have I missed any social media tips? What would you add?

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Many big brands have jumped on the bandwagon and set up their Google+ Pages. Many freelancers have also set up pages for their blogs and businesses. You may be wondering if these pages can help you build and strengthen client relationships.

If you haven’t looked closely at the Google+ Page functionality yet, you may be wondering if this feature is for you. While I can’t make up your mind for you, I can provide you with information to help you decide whether a Google+ brand page is right for your freelancing business.

In this post, I identify over 20 resources on Google’s new brand page feature. I’ve sorted this information into categories so that you can easily find the information that is most useful to you. Of course, this information is changing all the time, so feel free to add your own Google+ information resources in the comments.

Getting Started with Google+ Pages

The resources in this section provide an overview of Google+ Pages and should give you an idea of its basic features. Many also explain how to set up a page for yourself.

1. Google+ Announces and Launches Pages for Business and Brands on jeffbullas.com–This post provides a good overview on Google+ Pages as well as a step-by-step guide for setting your page.
2. Google + For Businesses: At Long Last, It’s Here on Small Business Trends–Susan Payton directs this overview to small businesses, which is exactly why it’s a great read for freelancers.
3. How to Set Up a Google+ Page for Your Business on Social Media Examiner–Kristi Hines provides her usual detailed look at how to set up a Google+ Page. Probably the best part of the post is the examples at the end, which can give you an idea of what a Google+ Page could look like.
4. Google Plus Rolls Out Brand Pages on Duct Tape Marketing–John Jantsch points out some of the basic Google+ Page features. Have you got your brand badge yet?
5. 3 Ways Google+ Pages Make Business Social on NewRayCom–Ray Hilz explains some of the social aspects of Google+ Pages.

Now that you know that basics, it’s time to weigh the pros and cons.

Benefits of Google+ Pages

If you’re trying to decide whether a Google+ Page is for you, these resources list the advantages.

6. The Power Potential Of Google+ Pages For Businesses on Fast Company–Nathaniel Perez explains some of the business benefits of using Google+ pages. If you’re sitting on the fence trying to decide whether to set up a page for your business, this might be for you.
7. Interview: Google + – Time to Get In for Businesses? on Social Media Today–Cliff Figallo interviews a social media specialist, who makes some very interesting points.
8. Why Your Brand Needs a Google Plus Page on P.S. Jones Communications–P.S. Jones gives a clear explanation of why the new brand pages are important.
9. Why you need a Google + Brand Page for your business on The MarketingMomma.com–Kate explains how businesses can benefit from Google+ brand pages. Great perspective for small business owners (including freelancers).
10. Google+ Pages Live: Thoughts Now and on the Future on George Passwater–This post from a freelancer is actually balanced between the benefits of Google+ Pages and the drawbacks, which makes it the perfect post to lead into the drawbacks…

Drawbacks to Google+ Pages

Here is the other side of the Google+ Brand Page coin–some cautions about using brand pages.

11. I wish I had never heard of Google+’s brand pages on Scobleizer–Veteran internet guru Robert Scoble weighs in with his initial concerns about Google+ brand pages. Although some of these concerns have been addressed, some may still be valid.
12. Google+ Brand Pages Lacking, But You’ll Make One Anyway on Search Engine Watch–Miranda Miller lists some of the functionality that was not initially released with the brand pages.
13. Were Google+ Business Pages a Mistake for the Company? on webmasterview–The author speculates as to what might be the thinking behind Google+ Pages.

Now, let’s compare Google+ brand pages with other social media.

Comparison with Other Social Media

You may be wondering how Google+ brand pages differ from other social media. (I know that I was.) These posts will help you determine the differences between these pages and several other types of social media.

14. Why Google Plus Pages (Will) Beat Facebook. And Twitter on Wired–Caleb Garling provides this very upbeat comparison between Google+ Pages and other social media (including Facebook).
15. Google+ Brand Pages vs. Facebook Fan Pages on Mashable–Christine Erickson takes a look at some of the differences (and similarities) between Google+ Pages and Facebook Fan Pages.
16. Which Is Better: Google Plus Pages Or Facebook Pages? on PCMech.com–Rich Menga provides a point-by-point comparison between Google+ Pages and Facebook Fan Pages.
17. Google+ Business Pages vs. Facebook Fan Pages on The WM Freelance Writers Connection–Alyssa Ayst provides this comparison of the page functionality of Google+ and Facebook.

If you’ve already set up a Google+ brand page, you may be wondering how to improve it.

Brand Page Tips

The posts here will help you make your Google+ brand page more effective.

18. 10 Tips and Tricks for Better Google+ Brand Pages on Mashable–Amy-Mae Elliott presents a slideshow to help us get more from Google+ brand pages. She’s got some really interesting tips and ideas that any freelancer can implement after they get their page set up.
19. Google+ launches an official guide for sharing, promoting and measuring Pages on The Next Web–Sherilynn Macale does a nice job of summarizing Google’s guide and pointing out exactly what you need to know. Of course, if you have the time you can read the complete Google Guide here (http://www.google.com/+/business/index.html)
20. 7 Things to Know About Google+ Pages for Brands on Social Strand Media–This post also contains some helpful tips that freelancers could easily implement.
21. 5 Key Things About e Pages for Your Business on Technorati–Kent Wakely makes some interesting points about the brand pages feature.
22. What Businesses & Brands Can Use Google Plus Pages For Now on Search Engine Land–Practical business advice from Monica Wright. This advice is geared towards all businesses, but most freelancers should be able to make use of these tips.
23. The 10 Step Guide for Great Google+ Page Management on G&B Magazine–Louis Gray provides these ten steps to help you get Google+ Pages right.

Do I Have a Google+ Brand Page?

The short answer is–yes, I do. I created a brand page for my writing blog and another for my writing business.

To be honest, at this point I’m not entirely sure how brand pages will fit into my social media and marketing strategy.

What About You?

Have you created a Google+ brand page for your freelancing business yet?

Feel free to share a link to your Google+ brand page or to add your own Google+ Page tips in the comments.

It can be difficult to decide how much to bill for your work. While it is something you do figure out with time, you have to start somewhere.

A piece of sound advice is to decide how much you need to make in a year to be happy (taking expenditures into account), estimate the number of billable hours you will work, and figure out your rate that way.

Of course, even estimating the amount of billable hours you will work can be difficult. A year is a long time, and a lot of unexpected things can happen.

But in the midst of all the confusion there is one certain thing: as a freelancer, you should charge more than you would be making as an employee!

Here are a few reasons why…

1. Accessibility

An inherent benefit to the customer for hiring a freelance worker is accessibility. If they need something completed ASAP, they are not confined to the regular nine to five working hours of a company.

Most freelancers quickly accessible through personal cell phones or personal email.

While getting phone calls at 10 pm may sound like a bit of an inconvenience to you, you can charge the client more because it is an additional convenience to them.

2. Expertise

Most freelancers who succeed don’t go working for themselves without having a bit of experience.

When a client hires you as a freelancer or consultant, they are expecting someone in the know.

When a client takes on a large company to do work for them, they can’t really know what to expect. For all they know, the person responsible for their account just graduated college yesterday.

3. Policy

Oftentimes, employees working for companies have to follow company policies and guidelines.

But is there really a one-size-fits-all policy? I don’t think so…especially when it comes to business.

A company policy may always be the most effective, efficient, or even correct way to accomplish a goal.

Which leads to efficiency and flexibility!

4. Flexibility

It’s pretty normal for a company to operate like a big bureaucracy. And the bigger the company, the bigger the bureaucracy!

Individual freelancers can make alterations on the fly. A company hierarchy doesn’t lend itself to flexibility.

5. Efficiency

When you are your own boss there is no hierarchy of decision making. You don’t have to ask your boss how to approach a certain problem. And your boss doesn’t have to ask their boss.

You are the decision maker. And while this may be a little daunting at first, it provides that work is more efficient.

More efficient work means jobs get done faster. Which means you will probably bill the client less hours than a large company would. Which means you can charge them more per hour!

6. Income Sharing

If you’ve ever had a job doing work for a client through a company, then you know that the company you work for is making a lot more off of you than you are getting paid.

This makes sense.

The company has to make a lot of money off of you so that they can cover operating expenses and still make a profit when all is said and done.

A friend of mine works as an electrical engineer. He gets paid pretty well…in the mid 50,000s. On top of that, the company pays for the gas for his car, and covers his cell phone bill. Not a bad deal!

Taking all of those benefits into account, we can be generous and round up his overall earnings to 65k/year.

In a regular work year that comes out to be around $32.50/hour.

Pretty solid. Until you consider that his company charges over $300/hour to send him out to some clients.

Of course, the company does leverage its contacts and perform all the marketing duties.

And then they have to cover their expenses and send some of the profits upstream to pay higher-level employees. There is a lot of profit-sharing going on!

But as a freelance worker, you don’t have to share your income with anyone. An independent electrical engineer could charge over $200/hour and still save the client money in comparison to hiring a larger company!

7. Benefits

When faced with a decision of where to work, many individuals take benefits like medical insurance into account.

This, of course, is very important.

Companies have the upper hand over individual freelancers in terms of affordable benefits because they get group rates.

That doesn’t mean that you, as a freelancer, don’t need medical insurance!

It only stands to reason that if you are going to be paying more for the benefits yourself, that you should be charging the client more to cover your expenses.

8. Signaling

There are a lot of psychological games in play when money is involved. And with that said, charging too little can actually be dangerous to your business.

Money is a signal of value. When you pay more for a Lamborghini, you expect that it’ll be better quality than a cheaper Kia.

Charging too little can alert a potential client of a couple things: lack of expertise or lack of confidence and uncertainty.

One More Thing…

Have you ever tried negotiating with someone only to have your first offer accepted? That leaves you walking away thinking “I should have offered less!”

It’s much easier to negotiate your rates down, then to negotiate them up once the client agrees.

And as a freelance worker, you are always in the position to negotiate!

Your Turn

Do you earn more now as a freelancer than you did as an employee? Why, or why not?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by Fr Antunes

That’s why, as a freelancer, I like to examine different means of connecting online. Today, I’ll examine question and answer (Q & A) sites and provide a mini review for fourteen popular Q & A sites.

Why Q & A Sites Can Help Freelancers

A question and answer site is exactly what it sounds like. A site where users can go to ask or answer questions. Some sites are specialized within a particular field, while others are broad and encompass just about anything

Depending on the site, freelancers may get four potential benefits from participating in a question and answer site:

• Branding–Probably one of the biggest benefits that a question and answer site offers is that it gives you the opportunity to brand yourself as an expert in a particular field by creating well-written and informative answers.
• SEO–Some question and answer sites are indexed by search engines and provide SEO benefits to the users. (However, this is not true of all Q & A sites, so if this is your primary reason for participating research carefully.)
• Traffic–Well-written and informative answers can attract other users to your profile, which should include a link to your own freelance website.
• Connections–Finally, participating in a Q & A site gives you the chance to interact with others and building connections with others.

There are actually dozens of question and answer sites on the web, but not all are created equal. Some are more popular than others. Some are actually hybrids offering social media aspects or included as part of a larger social media platform. Finally, some are too small for most freelancers to benefit from or are too littered with spam to bother with.

Next, I’ll provide some information about fourteen of the most popular question and answer sites.

14 Q & A Sites for Freelancers to Consider

In alphabetical order, here is a summery of fourteen of the most popular question and answer sites:

1. Amazon Askville–As the name implies, this is a subsidiary of Amazon. Questions can be sorted by category. Here you not only have the opportunity to share text answers, you can also include informative videos.
2. Answers.com–Known for simple questions and answers. This is one of the older Q & A sites and has a huge variety of answers and participants. One drawback for freelancers is that there don’t seem to be any real user profiles here, so perhaps it is not a good option for making connections.
3. Facebook Questions–Despite the popularity of Facebook, I didn’t even know that this feature existed until recently. Did you? This allows you to poll or ask questions to your friends and to their friends. Since questions are in the form of polls, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of ways to show your expertise. Facebook has also recently acquired friend.ly, another questions site.
4. Fluther–Another relatively new Q & A site, this one has two levels of guidelines. One for serious answers and another for those who just want to socialize. The difficulty in finding questions specific to a particular field may make this one difficult for freelancers to use.
5. Formspring–Questions and answers are limited to people you already know and interact with and those who are connected to them. Still, it could be way to show your expertise if you have a large number of connections.
6. junglr.com–This is a new site, still in alpha testing, so it is difficult to tell what it will ultimately turn out to be like. It does look like it’s going to have a social media aspect and even badges, so there should be a chance to connect and build a brand here.
7. LinkedIn Answers–This is a part of the major social network that is known for its ability to connect professionals. Don’t underestimate the value of answering a question here. LinkedIn Answers can be searched by topic and participation is targeted to those who are most interested.
8. Mahalo Answers–A unique factor here is that answering Mahalo questions may earn you a very small reward in Mahalo dollars. However, as a freelancer the point here shouldn’t be to get rich through this site, but to share what you know about your field.
9. Quora–This question and answer site is known for its tech vibe and a younger demographic. You’ll find the opportunity to share detailed answers on a number of topics specific to your field. The site offers the opportunity to complete a detailed user profile.
10. Server Fault–This Q & A site has a very narrow focus. It is for system administrators and those in the IT business. If you are knowledgeable about security issues or an operating system (Linux or Windows) this may be for you.
11. SimplyExplained–This site’s hook is that the users are “experts.” Experts are rated based on previous answers. You can search for experts on a particular topic. Your profile can include a link to your website.
12. StackOverflow–This is a great site for sharing technical knowledge. The site is primarily used by programmers and developers. If you are knowledgeable in this area, this may be worth checking into.
13. StackExchange–A brand new (still in Beta) Q & A site for professional graphic designers and others involved in the graphic design industry.
14. Yahoo! Answers–Dating from 2005, this is one of the older question and answer sites on the Internet. Sadly it also contains a number of silly questions and spam. However, at least one expert believes that participating here can drive a significant amount of traffic to your blog.

Tips to Get the Most from Using a Q & A Site

First of all, follow the rules. Read the user guidelines or terms of service for any site that you make use of.

Next, make it easy for people to connect with you professionally. Fill out your user profile completely. Use the same profile, avatar, and username that you use elsewhere so that potential clients can find you online more easily. If the profile allows for it, also include a link to your freelancing site.

Finally, don’t be a spammer. Make sure that your answers are relevant and helpful.

What About You?

Have you used Q & A sites to build your online reputation? What sites would you recommend?

Share your answers in the comments.

Image by arturodonate

While it’s important to be authentic and genuine online, it’s also possible to overshare. There are some things that clients, colleagues, and potential clients didn’t really need to know about you.

Yet, oversharing happens all the time. I’ve seen it on nearly all of the major networks, and I’m sure you have too. In fact, some social networks have recently encouraged oversharing by suggesting that you use their network to document nearly every aspect your life.

While oversharing might be okay if you limit your fans/friends/followers/circles to a small group of individuals who are well-known to you, it flies against good sense if you are using social media to interact with clients and prospective clients for your freelancing business.

In this post, I’ll identify some bits of personal information that are better left unshared. I’ll also invite you to discuss online reputation and social media.

Information You Don’t Need to Share

Does everyone really need to everything about you? Check the list.

1. Relationship troubles–This information is best shared only with a small group of trusted confidantes, preferably offline. Yet, some persist in announcing breakups and other relationships online. Besides, what if the relationship mends? Your rant will still be out there in someone’s cache memory, even if you delete your original comments. From a business perspective, airing relationship problems publicly makes you seem hard to get along with.
2. Regular updates on your location–Many would disagree with me on this one, but unless you are attending a conference or other large gathering where you plan to meet up with others, regular updates on your location are unnecessary. From a personal perspective, such sharing might even be unsafe–especially if you are alone.
3. Detailed descriptions of what you ate (or drank)–Unless a meal or beverage was truly exceptional and unique, there’s no need to share it (let alone share a photograph of it). Really, I’ve seen a salad, burger, french fries, steak, etc… The exception, of course, is if you are somehow tied into the food industry (restaurant reviewer, food blogger, cookbook editor, etc.). Trust me. Don’t bore your clients and prospects with this.
4. Graphic details of every one of your physical ailments–Yuck! I can’t believe the details people share on social media about their illnesses and physical symptoms. While I understand it’s no fun being sick–it’s no fun reading about vomit either. Besides, do you really want your prospective clients to think that you’re sick all of the time? I thought not. One exception might be if you are a medical writer, but even then I’m not sure it’s always a good idea to constantly write in detail about your own ailments.
5. Griping about clients and past clients online. It can feel good to rant about a bad client. You may even justify your actions by telling yourself you are warning other freelancers. However, if you constantly gripe and complain a potential and perfectly legitimate client may be scared off. Besides, there are non-ranting ways to turn in a bad client. In the U.S. these methods include contacting a state’s attorney general’s office, filing a complaint at the Better Business Bureau, and even hiring an attorney.

As you can see from the examples listed above, there really can be such a thing as sharing too much information. Of course, all of this ultimately impacts your online reputation.

T.M.I. and Your Online Reputation

As a freelancer, your reputation as a professional is probably your greatest asset. Because most freelancers rely on the Internet find work, your reputation as a professional must also be maintained online.

Your website or blog may not be the very first thing that your prospective client reads about you. (That doesn’t mean you don’t need to have a strong business site, though.) More and more frequently, clients are meeting freelancers through social media and then turning to search engines to learn more about them.

It may seem nearly impossible to control your online reputation, and it’s true that there are elements that are beyond your control. For example, someone may tag you, write about you, or otherwise share about you without your permission. However, there is still much about your online reputation that you actually can control. In many cases, it’s just a case of setting boundaries between your personal life and your professional life.

Your Turn

Did I leave out any examples of information that doesn’t need to be shared? Do you think oversharing is a problem for freelancers? Why, or why not?