Comments on: Playin’ the Role: A Case Study in Credibility http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/ The Blog For Freelancers And Web-Workers Sat, 26 May 2012 00:22:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Shane http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-6896 Shane Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:26:57 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/#comment-6896 Bang on Scott! You gotta walk the walk if you're going to talk the talk. It's too easy for entrepreneurs and freelancers to not have the level of confidence needed to get the contracts. Just building that "real business" atmosphere gets you a good way there. Bang on Scott! You gotta walk the walk if you’re going to talk the talk.

It’s too easy for entrepreneurs and freelancers to not have the level of confidence needed to get the contracts. Just building that “real business” atmosphere gets you a good way there.

]]> By: JamieO http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-6816 JamieO Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:56:45 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/#comment-6816 @Tom: I don't see anywhere in this article that suggests one write using 'we' instead of 'I'. The fifth paragraph is dripping with I's.... A recent <a href="http://www.gomediazine.com/business-insights/land-bigger-jobs-appear-bigger-than-you-actually-are/" rel="nofollow">Go MediaZine article</a> also delved into these concepts and pointed out explicitly that we is a bad practice for a company of one and suggested ways to avoid it, <em>"You can avoid it by saying “Studio X can help you by doing this…” or “Studio X can handle almost any project…” Don’t say “we can handle any project.” That’s not right."</em> The point you make in your blog post about creating a brand are excellent, however how you differentiate your services should be a direct function of the type of clients you want to attract. The more personal approach you suggest will usually not attract as much interest from large(r) organizations who are looking for someone who has experience in a corporate environment. True, a small-business oriented site does not guarantee that one has that, but since we all know perception is reality you <a href="http://www.oastler.ca/my-002/other/20080218_10-ways-to-be-confident/" rel="nofollow">don't want to give them a reason not to like you</a>. @Tom: I don’t see anywhere in this article that suggests one write using ‘we’ instead of ‘I’. The fifth paragraph is dripping with I’s….
A recent Go MediaZine article also delved into these concepts and pointed out explicitly that we is a bad practice for a company of one and suggested ways to avoid it, “You can avoid it by saying “Studio X can help you by doing this…” or “Studio X can handle almost any project…” Don’t say “we can handle any project.” That’s not right.”

The point you make in your blog post about creating a brand are excellent, however how you differentiate your services should be a direct function of the type of clients you want to attract. The more personal approach you suggest will usually not attract as much interest from large(r) organizations who are looking for someone who has experience in a corporate environment.

True, a small-business oriented site does not guarantee that one has that, but since we all know perception is reality you don’t want to give them a reason not to like you.

]]> By: Monika Mundell http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-6811 Monika Mundell Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:56:49 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/#comment-6811 I totally second Michael. I was going to say the exact same things on the spot on and the fake it bit. You know, I'm in the process of updating my online portfolio site and until right this moment (before I read your post) I was still unclear on whether to post my rates or not. Thanks for helping me to make my mind up and making it crystal clear. I totally second Michael. I was going to say the exact same things on the spot on and the fake it bit.

You know, I’m in the process of updating my online portfolio site and until right this moment (before I read your post) I was still unclear on whether to post my rates or not.

Thanks for helping me to make my mind up and making it crystal clear.

]]> By: Tom Ross http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-6793 Tom Ross Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:52:52 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/#comment-6793 Whilst I do agree with many of your points you must look at the flipside of the coin... I wrote an article basically arguing for the opposite of what you are talking about here, and feel that we both have valid points: http://pushstandards.com/2008/02/08/shift-from-we-to-i/ Whilst I do agree with many of your points you must look at the flipside of the coin… I wrote an article basically arguing for the opposite of what you are talking about here, and feel that we both have valid points: http://pushstandards.com/2008/02/08/shift-from-we-to-i/

]]> By: Tom Beaton http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-6760 Tom Beaton Mon, 03 Mar 2008 01:35:46 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/#comment-6760 This is a massive problem for freelancers. The first stage of growing your business is acting like the type of business you want to be. There are loads of methods for appearing larger than you are, including real basic tips like have different email addresses for different departments. You can get more elaborate and use a switchboard type system with different numbers for different departments. This is a massive problem for freelancers. The first stage of growing your business is acting like the type of business you want to be. There are loads of methods for appearing larger than you are, including real basic tips like have different email addresses for different departments. You can get more elaborate and use a switchboard type system with different numbers for different departments.

]]> By: Michael Martine, Blog Consultant http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-6728 Michael Martine, Blog Consultant Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:39:02 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/#comment-6728 This is great - spot on, except for one small item. I don't think of it as being something I'm not... I think of it as doing everything necessary to become what I want to be, to be perceived how I want to be perceived. In a way, it's "fake it till you make it" but you still make it and there isn't anything fake about that! :) This is great – spot on, except for one small item. I don’t think of it as being something I’m not… I think of it as doing everything necessary to become what I want to be, to be perceived how I want to be perceived. In a way, it’s “fake it till you make it” but you still make it and there isn’t anything fake about that! :)

]]> By: JamieO http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-6720 JamieO Sat, 01 Mar 2008 21:29:55 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/#comment-6720 I'm already on the path to completing this transition for my own business. Domain name has beeb purchased, <a href="http://www.oastler.ca/design-dream-develop/1-define-your-goals/" rel="nofollow">design concepts formalized</a>, and a strong collection of articles like this bookmarked to help with the copywriting exercise which will play a huge part in how my future brand is perceived. <em>Fighting false perceptions can eat away at your entire career.</em> Is the term freelancer is too vague for this elevator pitch driven world? "They" want to know your job title in 30 seconds or less. Saying all the things you do (project manager, solution architect, graphic designer, web developer and usability expert) sounds like you're fishing to meet whatever their need of the moment is. In a corporate world, it would be next to impossible for one person to fulfill all those duties....What makes you, Mr. Freelancer, think that you are capable of being all things to all people? People often forget the second half to the "Jack of all trades" moniker is "Master of none". The bottom line is that the issues you speak of all relate to peoples' overwhelming need to pidgeon-hole. It isn't worth your time to try and change this tendency, but it is well-worth your time to control how will be perceived and where you will be pidgeon-holed in the future. I’m already on the path to completing this transition for my own business. Domain name has beeb purchased, design concepts formalized, and a strong collection of articles like this bookmarked to help with the copywriting exercise which will play a huge part in how my future brand is perceived.

Fighting false perceptions can eat away at your entire career.

Is the term freelancer is too vague for this elevator pitch driven world? “They” want to know your job title in 30 seconds or less. Saying all the things you do (project manager, solution architect, graphic designer, web developer and usability expert) sounds like you’re fishing to meet whatever their need of the moment is.

In a corporate world, it would be next to impossible for one person to fulfill all those duties….What makes you, Mr. Freelancer, think that you are capable of being all things to all people? People often forget the second half to the “Jack of all trades” moniker is “Master of none”.

The bottom line is that the issues you speak of all relate to peoples’ overwhelming need to pidgeon-hole. It isn’t worth your time to try and change this tendency, but it is well-worth your time to control how will be perceived and where you will be pidgeon-holed in the future.

]]> By: Katharine http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-6715 Katharine Sat, 01 Mar 2008 18:33:24 +0000 http://freelancefolder.com/playin-the-role-a-case-study-in-credibility/#comment-6715 You're so right, Scott. That's why, as a freelance editor, I've long had a company name (though my company is a sole proprietorship rather than an LLC), my own domain, a professionally done web site, a dedicated business phone line, and a logo that appears on all the materials that I produce. You’re so right, Scott. That’s why, as a freelance editor, I’ve long had a company name (though my company is a sole proprietorship rather than an LLC), my own domain, a professionally done web site, a dedicated business phone line, and a logo that appears on all the materials that I produce.

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