AmberWeinberg.com » networking

How to Bring the Human Touch to Your Freelancing

David Sumner — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:30:34 +0000

Every freelancer knows that by working online they can bring their talents and services to a wider audience and potentially find clients from across the globe. But how can an online freelancer workining from home bring a more human touch to their work, so that clients can put a face behind their services?

Personalize your website

The first step for any online freelancer is to create their own website so that their portfolio of work and services can be accessed by clients and business partners alike with ease. Nevertheless, a website should be much more than simply a platform on which customers can get in touch for a quote. Your website will often be the first port of call for anyone interested in your freelancing services so creating a positive impression is absolutely vital. A biography of yourself should be positioned for maximum visibility on your homepage and including a picture will instantly make you recognizable to any visitor to your site. If you want, include a welcome message, thanking people for visiting your site, this makes yourself appear as an honest and trustworthy professional.

Blogging effectively

Creating a personal blog is absolutely vital to personalizing your freelance work. A blog allows you to share your experiences which can be related to with ease by the reader (for example balancing your work schedule with having kids). In addition a blog also acts as the perfect platform on which you can actively communicate with your clients and readers. If you want to appear down-to-earth, yet professional, then share your knowledge and expertise through your blog. If you want to show off some creativity then use multimedia such as podcasts and videos to deliver fresh and interesting content. However, the blog doesn’t need to be completely work orientated and can include sections about your hobbies and interests. For example, if you love photography and snowboarding then write about it on your blog! Displaying passion for these non-work related topics will make you seem far more approachable as a freelancer and just shows that you are human after all.

Don’t forget to update your blog on a regular basis, create an email subscription for new articles so your readers never miss out on the conversation and lastly, remember, if you’re having trouble finding the right tone for your blog then maybe this’ll help; blog entries should be 100% personal but 0% private!

Social Media – Interaction

As a freelancer, using social media to engage with clients is a fantastic way to achieve a human touch to your work. First of all, social media platforms can enable you to be open to your client’s needs whenever they may arise. For example, if a client of yours wants to tweak your web design proposal then with the use of social media they can contact you via twitter or Facebook at any time. In addition, social media can allow you to converse with clients and contacts if you have a new idea or if you would like some feedback on a design you have created. Try to involve your social media followers as much as possible, for example if you’re thinking about a new design for your blog then encourage your followers to vote on the new design! An example such as this makes your freelancing much more effective on a human level, makes your clients and followers feel valued and shows you’re no robot.

Social Media – Networking

As in any industry, the world of freelancing is not immune from the art (or necessary evil depending on your view) of networking. Plus, no one will disagree that by networking, you can get your face out there in the industry and forge a positive reputation for yourself with vital contacts and clients. However, networking doesn’t just take place at workshops and conferences and can be done online very effectively. Joining professional platforms such as LinkedIn is an absolute must, as anyone can join professional groups on the platform and start networking with other freelancers and professionals. As a side-note, if you do want to visit the right conferences then you’ll be notified about the best ones through LinkedIn groups.

Networking online also comes in other forms, for example it’s good policy that once you have located a contact with whom you wish to work; you can follow them on twitter, or on their Facebook page and contact them easily. Furthermore, promoting other freelancers on your blog with guest article spots is also a great way to network online and they will be sure to return the favour. All of these networking tactics will get you known within the industry and prevent yourself becoming just another anonymous freelancer.

Most people like to get an idea of the people they will work with and for a freelancer this is no different. Following these simple guidelines will set you on the right path and help you bring a more personal side to your online freelancing!

Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us By Seth Godin

Amber Weinberg — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 14:30:15 +0000

Tribes is the second book I’ve read by Seth Godin. Purple Cow was a pretty awesome read, so when several people recommended this book to me, I picked it up eagerly.

I have to admit I was a little disappointed. While it did contain some great thoughts, none of it was really new. Seth Godin is supposed to be some kind of marketing genius, so I expected a little more than “to succeed, go against the flow” well…duh.

The book itself is short, half the size of the iPad I’m typing on right at the moment and only 160 pages. Despite that, it took me several days to read, just because I could’t really get into it.

Seth Godin did, however, offer some great examples of leaders who picked up their community from nothing and became one of the most popular groups in the world. I really found it interesting that Starbucks came from a 3 location struggling cafe. That stuff is cool.

My biggest pet peeve of the book is somewhat political – I found it both laughable and strange that Godin would use Jimmy Carter as an example of selfless charity. Carter was the worst president of all time, and nothing he does is ever selfless.

Other than that though, I’d say it was a solid business book, and worth if it you haven’t read any or many business books yet. If you have, just be aware that there’s a lot of repetition as far as ideas go.

You can find the Tribes at Amazon for only $13.68.

The Power Of The New Crowdsource? The Evolution Of Online Help

Amber Weinberg — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 12:30:35 +0000

Crowdsourcing as we know it today is a terrible thing. It basically boils down to clients asking several, even hundreds of freelancers, to provide spec work in the hopes of getting their product chosen and getting paid. No other industry I can think of does this, and is something that plagues the professional freelancers, as their work becomes devalued, especially if they participate.

But I’ve discovered something new. Something I think is revolutionary and possibly the most helpful thing for designers and coders alike – I’ve found the 21st century of crowdsourcing – and it doesn’t hurt us or the industry, nor does it involve clients.

Read the rest of my post on SpyreStudios »

Are There Too Many Freelancers?

Amber Weinberg — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 14:30:11 +0000

Finding freelance work can be tough, especially if you’re just starting out or not too well known in the community. A lot of people try to find some clients for a few weeks and when they can’t, they give up and think that there’s just too much competition for jobs out there today. But is there?

If you’re looking for work locally, then it’s entirely possible that your market is already overly saturated, but I doubt it. There’s always someone looking for a freelancer. As a matter of fact, I started my own business in the middle of our last recession, and was always scheduled.

When it comes to freelancing, we’re not limited to our own towns or markets. So, your town’s economy is a bit slow? Try New York City. Try another country. The awesome thing about being a freelancer is that you don’t have to meet your clients in person. So, even if there are tons of freelancers, there’s always more work.

Of course, when you’re not having any luck getting work and you’re always competing for work, it may feel like there’s too much competition, but perhaps you’re just looking for work in all of the wrong places.

Read the rest of my article on FreelanceFolder »

10 Vital Networking Tips for Freelancers

James Adams — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:30:23 +0000

You are stuck for hours and hours in front of a lonely keyboard while your friends have gone out to play. Networking provides an excellent reason to get out of the house, break out of your research and connect with others in your field. Contacts and resources are everywhere, from the cashier at the local grocery store to the conference on web 2.0. Here are ten great ways to network, both online and offline.

Conferences - Local conferences and conventions make great networking opportunities. They keep you informed of the latest innovations in your field. They teach new techniques for increased efficiency. Those conferences will introduce you to countless like-minded people who can help your business thrive. Bring business cards with you.
Social Networking - Facebook and Twitter are valuable tools in the freelancer’s arsenal. Communicate with the masses through tweets or posts, small snippets of information. Find freelancers and more creative types by searching through the forums and using hashtags on Twitter.
Talk with everyone - Every person you talk with is a resource. Make friends with everyone you meet because you never know when they may give you that vital link which will make your business thrive. Gather their contact information. Remember that the process is not strictly for you, there are others who may benefit from your new contact.
Forums - Join the forums on your favorite freelance sites. The people who gather on forums come from all experience levels, all working for the same purpose. There are individuals who can sympathize with you, educate you and offer you jobs. Make the most of your time on forums by asking intelligent questions and giving intelligent answers.
Networking meetings - Networking meetings are held more frequently than the local conferences. These are usually general meetings which include people from all walks of life. This offers you a chance to get a unique outside perspective on your field. Admission is usually the price of a meal, but the results are priceless.
Volunteer - Take time from your day to change the world. Help your community by offering your services to the local food bank or shelter. This is a priceless opportunity to make new friends and generate new contacts. Remember that everyone has a story to tell.
LinkedIn - Find out where your coworkers went when they left your company. Ask for introductions from former colleagues, learn about opportunities and keep in touch at LinkedIn. Network with the other freelancers in the forums.
Professional organizations - There are organizations for nearly every professional industry. Professional organizations offer valuable resources to its members. Most of them will have forums and newsletters which keep people connected. Your organization may offer events to meet your peers in person.
Events - Every company has annual picnics and outings to help their employees bond. Why not use it as a networking event? Take several business cards when you are dragged to the company bowling tournament or picnic. You may find that your spouse’s company is in need of your services.
Join a local civic group - There are great networking opportunities in civic groups. People are more likely to work with someone with whom they have had contact, rather than a total stranger. Local businessmen may not be aware of the services that someone in your field has to offer.

Networking should comprise at least 10% of your daily activities. This includes sending email to former colleagues, researching local events and finding new forums. That strong network can generate work and help you realize your dreams.

6 Ways to Increase Your Visibility on Twitter

Amber Weinberg — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 14:30:41 +0000

I’ve found that one of the fastest ways of getting your name out there is to use Twitter. Without it, I think I’d still be struggling to find work and other freelancers who I’ve come to depend on for sharing work.
I know some of you are still skeptics as to how social media can do anything for your business.

I assure you the few minutes spent on Twitter throughout the day are well worth it. Thanks to the site, I’ve been able to get my personal blog read, which lead to lots of paid guest writing positions, I’ve gained several clients who’ve heard of me on Twitter, as well as several other freelancers who share work with me.

It’s still not easy to get heard on Twitter though, as there are millions of accounts and it can seem like you’re screaming in a crowd to make yourself heard. However, most of the people who are successful on Twitter are so for a few good reasons.

So how can you get yourself heard? Here are six tips.

View the rest of my post on FreelanceFolder »