When deciding to go solo, many writers, designers, photographers and other creative types find themselves faced with a decision: do they want to be known as a single-person operation, or do they want to appear larger than they are? I’ve heard several freelancers say that no one will take them seriously or treat them as…
Category Archives: marketing
Be Careful What You Wish For
Remember when I mentioned that I’d hoped to step out of my shell this year to do more public speaking? My wish has been granted. I’ve been selected to speak at the 2011 American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) Conference in Jacksonville this fall. The topic: Presenting Yourself as a Freelance/Independent Professional. I’m more excited than…
Another Logo Battle
In case you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last week, Starbucks is changing their logo. Gone is the outer ring reading “Starbucks Coffee” leaving just an updated version of the mermaid or siren in its place. There’s plenty of debate about the logo change; even Harvard Business Review has weighed in on it….
Headshot
I’m in need of a new headshot. More than a few people have told me that my change of glasses and hairstyle have left me with a photo that looks good, but doesn’t look like me. When people can’t identify you at a conference, it’s time to start over. Thus the great debate begins: do…
Inhibiting My Powers of Networking
When I broke my foot, I expected my convalescence to affect my sanity. I didn’t expect it to affect my business. After all, I’m a writer. I’m stuck at home with nothing but a laptop to entertain me, so surely I can get lots of work done. And then I lost my big through-the-end-of-2010 client…
Be Memorable For the Right Reasons
Those who know me know that I’m not exactly a social butterfly. When I go to a conference or other networking event, I’d rather come away with the business cards for 10 people that I’ve made a really meaningful connection with than exchange 200 cards and not be able to place names with faces on…
Googling You
I’m Googling you right now. No, really. Read what I’ve written about it on the Creative Freelancer Blog.
Lemons to Lemonade: Tales of Customer Service
Five weeks ago, I had my annual appointment at the eye doctor. This place also has a rockin’ selection of eyewear, so I also selected a pair of glasses and a long-overdue pair of sport sunglasses from Ray-Ban, carefully chosen by their eyewear professional to best protect my eyes from the sun on long runs….
The Genius of the XM Free Trial
I never understood XM. Why would someone pay for the radio when you already have AM and FM for free? Are these people just signing up to listen to Howard Stern, and if so, why? When I bought my new car in April, it came with a three-month XM trial. I wasn’t even going to…
Not-So-RDQLUS Thinking
Ever since I read this blog post from Steve Gordon — a.k.a. RDQLUS — I’ve been thinking about the creative professionals that I’ve worked with during my career. “I’m so sorry,” they say by way of preemptive apology. “I’m not much of a writer.” I always cringe when I hear that. Sure, maybe they’re intimidated…