Pinterest & Your Business: Is It Worth Your Time? | Good Inklings

Pinterest & Your Business: Is It Worth Your Time? | Good Inklings.

Good Inklings: Gads and Oodles of Good Advice, Tips, Tricks to Succeed as a Creative Person

 

 

My new blog Good Inklings is up and running. This blog will be full of great information for writers and freelancers. I believe that our success is built through each other and we should have each others back.

Here’s a great quote dorm the Dalai Lama that I came across on Google + this morning.

We need to strengthen such inner values as contentment, patience and tolerance, as well as compassion for others. Keeping in mind that it is expressions of affection rather than money and power that attract real friends, compassion is the key to ensuring our own well-being.

I would love to hear what you think of my new blog. As it grows I will fill it with a ridiculous amount of helpful articles, videos and more. PLEASE follow me!!!!!

How To Move Forward When Everything Sucks : Marie Forleo

I love this lady. Marie Forleo is an incredible force of  inspiration and positive thinking. I always look forward to anything she does.

Visit her website at  www.marieforleo.com and sign up for the email alerts. They will help keep you on the right track in your business and your personal life.

Do You Really Not Have Time To Promote Yourself?: Pt 1-Your Facebook Page

Out in the real world and online I have heard freelancers claim that they don’t have time to promote themselves and that is effecting their being successful. Is it that they don’t have time or that they don’t know where to start?

Often someone stepping into the world of freelance starts with building a Facebook page, maybe they open a Twitter account and they also spend a few hours building a website. As I have heard many times in other articles, just because you build doesn’t mean they will come. So, let’s take a look at what you are doing to market yourself.

Are You Getting the Most Out of Your Facebook Page?

Online marketers have rammed it down our throats that Facebook can solve all of our marketing problems. Not true. Facebook is one of many tools that can help build an online presence. Here is a big problem I see with Facebook users that are trying to promote their business, they forget that they are promoting their business and start throwing in personal posts that are not relevant to their product or service. Your posts should connect with other users but at the same time it needs to have value. For example, as a writer I may post articles form my blog that have nothing to do with selling my service but they have value because it reflects my writing talent. If I was to post about how my grandson made the honor roll or post a cute cat video it would be irrelevant and a waste of time

Sell. Sell. Sell. Right? No. Stop It. Now.

Look at what you are posting and be honest.  Don’t over-post. I have deleted more “friends” because they continually try to ram their products or services down my throat without supplying any interesting content. Let’s say you own a plumbing company and you want to promote your residential services there is a right way and a wrong way to do this. You could post once or twice a day some information on your company and the services you offer or you can show your potential customers that you are an expert in the field of plumbing. Write a short post on an interesting subject such as inspecting your pipes for damage caused by tree roots, how to avoid freezing pipes, new trendy fixtures and so on and so on. Now do you see the difference? You can apply this to any industry. If you post your article in the morning or in the early evening more people will see it. People tend to check their Facebook pages before work and after. Also if you are paying attention to what you post and when you post you can add content  a couple of times a week and get more impact than posting bland, irrelevant posts a couple of times a day. If you can’t write your own content hire someone who can. Ha! There it is I just wrote an article to share on my social media sites that promotes my business. Shameless, aren’t I?

Spread Your Message Like a Bad Cold

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. If you are taking the time to write the post, why not add it to your website, your blog or post it on Twitter and other social marketing sites. Spread your message around. Use the content you create over a week to create newsletter that you email to your existing customers. The world may be your stage but if you don’t build a strong platform to stand on not everyone in the audience will hear your message.

If you find that you don’t have the time or ability to create informed content that gets results I can help. No, really. Visit my website at http://www.laurabwilliamsdesigns.com. I specialize in web content writing and also with my background in graphic design I can give you a hand with all your marketing materials.

Presenting Yourself to a Client: Online Pt. 2

The other day I wrote the post titled Presenting Yourself to a Client: In Person Pt. 1. Today I want to address how you should deal with a client online. First of all take a look at what your website or blog communicates about you as a professional. Is your blog full of cute videos about cats or is it interesting content that will show a prospective client that you have the skills that they are looking for. Make sure that there is a photo of yourself on your website, blog and all social media. This photo should be a nice, clean head shot that looks professional and you should be smiling. You probably should avoid photos of you passed out after a night of partying with friends. Believe it or not I saw that on a Facebook profile of someone advertising for work. Wow. Be honest with yourself, would you hire you based on your website or blog or social media sites? Make sure you have a portfolio of your work or information about your product or services that truly communicates the value of what you are offering. A DYI website is not a good idea if you are not a talented designer, hire a professional and you will increase your sites impact.

Second, develop some email templates that you can use with clients. You may need a few for responding to ads that you come across that advertise for someone with your skills. I have a few including one for graphic design projects, there’s one for general web content and another for writing for blogs. Then I may change them depending on the particular client that I am pitching. I also have templates for responding to clients that contact me through my blog, website, Facebook or Twitter. I have found that by using templates I can easily adjust the information to meet the needs of that particular piece of communication but I maintain a consistent voice throughout all my communications.

Next, be honest about what you can offer. For example on the design side of my business, for the most part, I stay away from web design. Not because I can’t do it but because it is very time consuming and there are other projects that I would rather do. Often I work with another designer friend and I sub-contract the work to her and that works well for me. I work with my clients the way I want someone to work with me first and foremost I LISTEN. A client interview is not all about you. By the time a client emails you they have probably visited your website or blog and have a general idea of what you have to offer. It is now time to find out what they need and who they are. I have noticed that a lot of freelancers need to LISTEN more. Take notes as you talk so that you do not miss any important information that will make your job easier. Do not accept jobs that you think you might be able to do. It’s better to turn down work then to send a project to a client that is shoddy and amateurish.

Here’s a good one that I think is very important. Do your research! Whether you are seeking work or a client is contacting you, if possible research their business before communicating with them. If you do that you will be able to better understand their needs, their mission and you will sound better informed.

PROOFREAD all communication. If you are seeking a writing gig and there are a couple of typos in your email you can probably forget about getting that job. Good grammar and proper spelling says that you are a professional and that you take yourself seriously.

Take yourself seriously. If you call yourself a freelancer than this is your business, it is no longer a hobby. Build your brand and create a professional image for yourself. Every client communication is a chance to market yourself and grow your business. Take advantage of that opportunity. Keep in mind that doors can open for you but they can also close. As a freelancer, at least in the beginning you are often a one man (or woman) show and it is vital that you understand who you are, what you have to offer and that you use that information to communicate to potential clients.

Here are some of my favorite books on freelancing. They are all available on Amazon.
Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business

My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire

The Freelancer’s Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Have the Career of Your Dreams – On Your Terms

Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World

Amazing websites for freelancers:

Word Count- http://michellerafter.wordpress.com

Pro Blogger- http://www.problogger.net/

The Facebook Marketing Tool Box

Marketing Plans, Programs, and Small Business Management Articles & Resources

Presenting Yourself to a Client: In Person Pt. 1

I was at a local coffee shop recently and noticed two people sitting at a table close to me. One was dressed in a t-shirt, baggy pants and looked like he needed to wash his hair. The other was well-dressed and professional looking. I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation. Turns out that the guy who looked like a hot mess was a graphic designer and the other guy was meeting him to discuss a logo he needed to have created. No really, the designer had shown up to a client meeting and looked like he had just crawled out of bed. I also think he may have been stoned.

This is the kind of representation that gives us professional freelancers a bad name. So I thought that I would give those that need it some tips on how to present yourself to a client in person.

1. Let’s begin by stating that a client meeting is nothing more than a job interview. Treat it like one.
2. Dress appropriately. If you look professional the client will get the impression that you may know what you are talking about. No pajama bottoms, baggy pants, sloppy t-shirts, etc.
3. Know what you are talking about. If your client has a website check it out and get an understanding of what their mission is and what they offer. If you have not done work for a similar client in the past, research, research, research. Go in to the meeting with your guns loaded, so to speak.
4. Prepare a presentation. I am not kidding. If you take the time to lay out what you are going to say and how you are going to say it you will feel more comfortable and your client will get the information they need. This can be a list of bullet points or an actual presentation that you created that can play on your laptop or iPad. Make sure that if it requires and internet connection that you have tested it in the place that you are meeting beforehand.
5. Make sure that you have all the tools you need with you such as, your business card, laptop or iPad if needed, your portfolio, a pad of paper, pen, etc.
6. Take notes. You will not remember everything your client said and you may miss some vital information.
7. Stay on topic. Do not become distracted by your surroundings. Your client is a paying customer and deserves all of your attention.
8. Freelancing is a business. Act like a businessperson. If you don’t you will not be taken seriously.
9. Make sure that your portfolio is designed to attract business. Do not use art projects from school or personal projects. Fill your portfolio with projects that will attract business to you, even if that means making up a few companies and developing an imaginary brand and then creating all of their marketing materials and or website. You may be awesome at fantasy at but unless you are trying to get a job doing character creation for a gaming company it is probably not relevant to the project you are pitching.
10. This is very important. DO NOT arrive stoned. Seems like a no-brainer but it happens.

This all seems like common sense to me but like the late, great Will Rogers said, “Common sense ain’t so common”. You never know what importance that interview may have for your future. You may pick up a job for a logo design but then it turns out that the fledgling business becomes very successful and they are so thrilled with you and your work that they want to give you all their design jobs and now you can pay your bills.

The interview between the graphic designer and the potential client mentioned above did not go well. The client left saying he would think about it and give him a call. I could tell that was just a polite way to blow the guy off. I was hoping that the designer would be the first to leave so that I could walk over and give the potential client one of my cards, but alas he was not hanging around one minute more than he had to.

For Graphic Design Newbies: Are You Not Getting Work Because Your Presentation Sucks

 

I came across a comment by someone recently that I found interesting. I didn’t save it but basically it was a graphic designer complaining that most of the time when he directed people to his online portfolio he never heard from them again and how he thought portfolios and websites were over-rated.

So here I am a couple of weeks later still thinking about this. I wish that he had provided a link so I could have checked his site out but here are some assumptions, right or wrong that I made.

1)      His site is poorly designed.

2)      His portfolio is poorly designed.

3)      His marketing sucks.

4)      And to be brutal his work probably sucks.

 

Here’s why I say this. I have seen many, many sites where budding graphic designers and other artists have built their portfolio around school projects. This is almost never a good idea. DON’T DO THIS. Those are projects to use in a classroom environment and are not something a client should base the decision about whether or not to hire you for their project. Take time to build a portfolio that will attract a client. It needs to show not that you are a good artist but that your art can sell their product. Big difference.

Another problem is a poorly designed website. Your website is extremely important and it shouldn’t be cheesy or sloppy. Make sure it is professional and highlights your talents in the best possible light. If you are not a web designer, hire one or use a site such as www.wix.com. DO NOT throw something up that looks ridiculous. Buy your own domain name. People will take you more seriously. Your website is part of your business and this is where you are sending clients and employers to view your work. Be awesome.

And then there is marketing. I cannot stress enough that if you are a graphic designer you need to take time to build a cohesive brand for yourself. You are trying to find work representing other people’s brands so you better have yours spot on. Take time to develop your logo, your style and really work on your presentation. Write a business plan. Set goals. I can’t even begin to stress the importance of goals. If you don’t know where you are headed how in the hell do you expect to get there? Your image particularly online has to be representative of not only who you are as an artist but who you are as a business person. Decide how you are going to market yourself. How ever you decide to do so learn about that, too. Be the best at selling you.

Of course, maybe none of this matters. Maybe the work just sucks. If you are truly passionate about design but are not getting the work you need reevaluate. Take time to learn more. There are so many tutorial sites that can help you develop real-life skills that you would NEVER learn in the classroom. Get busy and improve your work. Be honest with yourself. Are you really good enough to make a living designing at this time? Would it help you to go to work somewhere that can help you learn as you go? If you aren’t honest with yourself about your skill set will be on rough road. Pick one thing and work to be good at it. Then pick another and another. DON’T EVER STOP LEARNING!!!!

Develop yourself and your brand and you may be able to go out there and compete but if you don’t take yourself and your business seriously I hear McDonald’s is hiring.

 

Make Good Art. – Neil Gaimen

Advice For the Freelancer ( and pretty much everyone else) Believe In Yourself…As Is

First Rule of Freelancing and Maybe Life: You need to believe in yourself.

What?
You need to believe in yourself? What does that really mean? Believe I am what? The best writer ever? The best graphic designer ever? The best person ever? Seriously, what am I to believe?

This is what I believe. I believe I am a good writer. I believe I am a good artist. I believe I am a good person. I think if you get into a self-defeating ego trip where you think you can only do something if you are the best at it you have wasted time and talent. Belief in your abilities does not have to be encompassing. I am lucky to have found people who pay me to write and pay me to design stuff. What really motivated me to take myself seriously was that one day I realized I did not have to be THE BEST I just had to be good enough. I heard that repeatedly on Oprah. “You Are Good Enough”. If you are doing something you love to do you are probably good enough at it because if you weren’t you probably wouldn’t still be doing it. (That does not apply to American Idol contestants; they are a whole different breed).

I am good enough that I can make a living doing what I love. I can compete and compete well. I try to be realistic about my abilities and no, I may never design the packaging or branding for some Fortune 500 company but I will help many smaller businesses shine. No, I may never write the great American novel but I can write cool and interesting stuff people like to read. And no, I may never be the perfect woman but I am pretty awesome….as is.

So I believe that the best of me is good enough.

10 Easy Steps to Becoming a Successful Freelancer: Stop Laughing Someone is Going to Believe This

April 1st will be my third month writing this blog and deciding to take my freelance graphic design and writing business seriously. So, what do I have to say about that? A lot actually because I have noticed things I have done right, things I have done wrong and I have learned a lot. Most of the learning is due to the generosity of spirit that other writers have shown by letting me get a peek into their trials and tribulations laid out in some very interesting and inspiring blogs.

I am going to list the top 10 reasons I have survived and why I am going to keep on keepin’ on.

The Learning Curve

Whew. This has been the toughest and I am well aware that the learning process will never, ever, ever end. Not in graphic design, writing or in running my own business. Here is what I brought to the laptop Jan 1st
1) A tired, sick and worn out body, always a great way to start off any endeavor.
2) A pretty solid knowledge of graphic design and writing skills.
3) Experience running other people’s business and marketing.
Sounds great, huh? I thought so too until about day three when I realized I didn’t know Jack about how to start. So I sat back, put on more coffee and thought about it. I had no money so I had to figure it out at no cost. Well a little. I did buy some e-books. I decided the best thing was to take the next five days and read EVERYTHING that I could find. In one week I learned so much about freelancing, marketing and myself that it still amazes me. Mostly with the help of freelancers that been there and done that.
Some faves:
http://michellerafter.com/
www.freelanceswitch.com
http://www.therenegadewriter.com

Don’t my friend Lee Tyler at The Point of the Quill she always offers great and thoughtful advice.

Read. Read. Read.

The Money

What? Oh, you want to know about the money. Aren’t we all in this for the sake of the art? Here’s the skinny on that. It’s out there. I am just now seeing a return. I have two clients I do several writing pieces for every week and then other clients that kind of move in and out of my life as they have needs. I do make more from the graphic design per project but the writing fills in the gaps. Am I making a living? Yes. Am I rich? Be serious. But the potential is huge and the more I learn the more I make.

The “I Can Do It’ Factor

If I knew now….. Well, you know what I mean. I would have done this years ago, kid you not. I have never felt more confident about myself and my abilities. The sky really is the limit. The only thing that can stop me is me. Which leads me to my next point.

Figuring Out Who the Hell I am and What Does that Mean to You the Reader

This takes some thought and I am still trying to figure it out. I am a 50 year old woman with kids and grandkids (two of whom live with me), former nightclub manager, bartender, server, salesperson, secretary and some other nonsense. I have severe COPD which sucks BTW and I live in a teeny town in Florida. So I asked myself who wants to hear anything from me. The answer: Who the hell wouldn’t want to hear what I have to say. I am well- read, bright, articulate, funny, caring person and I actually give a damn. About all of us.

Selling Myself

This may make many of you laugh. I sell my wares via Craigslist. Almost every job I have completed in the last three months has been thanks to CL. Bless their hearts. I have done logos for sportswear, print ads, business logos and more. I have written web content for individual blogs, mills and completed several articles for others. But let me tell you baby, I know how to work it. I have a schedule that I go by and post ads in different areas on different days with different content so that I can fly somewhat under the radar. I also read job boards as often as I can and I have come across some projects through them.
Here are some I use:
http://jobs.problogger.net/
http://www.online-writing-jobs.com (one of my favs)
http://www.peopleperhour.com
Look around there are so many more. But read articles where other writers recommend sites. It will save you a lot of heartache and time.

Time Management and other Bull

Please don’t think that I am saying time management is unimportant that is not what I am saying at all. It is crazy important. When you work, you are working. Period. Door closed. Phone off. Set aside time to check emails and blogrolls. I do this on average twice a day, in the morning and at night. Plan your days. Planning a schedule is important for your mental health and believe it or not clients appreciate when your work is turned in before deadline. The Bull part, well that is where life interrupts. Everyday, usually several times a day. Someone comes home. Someone leaves. The cat needs to be fed. The dog needs to be walked. You need to eat. Shower. See where I am heading? If you do not have a plan you don’t have room for the Bull and soon they will be carting you away to a quiet less stressful place.

I Will Survive

You don’t know what this means to me. This has given me a way to support myself and my family from home, because I get so sick so often working outside of the home that is no longer feasible. Besides the financial end it allows me to do what I love everyday and that is the best medicine in the world. And an additional bonus is that I can work while I am in the hospital. So, yes, I will survive.

Cool Tips, Tricks and Other Great Stuff

Things I can’t live without:
www.paypal.com
www.evernote.com I use this on all my devices. It helps me keep track of all my research, emails, business receipts and much more. Get it. Use it.
www.iqtell.com “The Best Productivity App in the History of Doing”, that’s what they say and they are right. This is in beta-release and I had to be invited to use it but I will tell you what I will cry if they ever take it away.
http://www.pandora.com Music does soothe the heart of the savage beast and freelancers everywhere.
https://bitly.com/shortenHelps by reducing those insanely long web addresses into short links.
http://www.grammarbase.com Grammar checker so you don’t sound like a complete idget. I wish more people would use this.
And every social marketing site I can find.

This blog turned out to be much longer than I planned and I hope you found something useful. If not I hope that it is enough to know that I am struggling along beside you slurping coffee and wearing yoga pants. Here is one quote that keeps me going day in and day out.

BTW did you notice 9 & 10 are missing? Well, honestly I only had three months. Please let me know what you think should be added to the list. What makes you a freelancer or just some dude in his underwear trolling the internet eating snack cakes? I need all the help I can get.

From a Freelancing Zombie with Bronchitis

On another note since I did spend the week on lock down I accomplished quite a bit. Besides the usual school work and client obligations I was able to forage around and bring in a couple of promising clients. I certainly kept myself busy. I also ate brownies. Probably more than I should have

I wrote a wonderful blog posting for one of my clients that I will repost here once he has it up on his site. It is about the USS Indianapolis which sank in 1945. It is considered one of the largest sea disasters in history and the largest shark attack ever. Very sad but interesting story. My great uncle was a survivor of the sinking.

Busy. Busy. Busy. I can’t even express how glad I am that my freelance business is coming together. I made the right decision.

The picture I attached to this post is a strange piece of Zombie art I drew quite awhile ago. He kind of reminds me of how I feel on days like this. Zombified.