Getting Back to Regular Programming (& Why I'm Unemployable)
It’s now been a month since I’ve been back to full-time freelancing and I have to say, I’m so glad I did.
Sure, the regular paycheck I got from my employer/client was nice, but working that way isn’t for me any more. To steal Brian Clark’s idea, I’m unemployable. 😁
That’s not to say I’m not hirable, I’m just no longer suited to working as a fulltimer, with a boss, health benefits, and a team surrounding me. I’d much rather depend on me and my ability to develop relationships with clients for my success & happiness.
And that’s the essential thing about working for myself as a freelancer: I’m much happier. Any stress I feel is because of something I did (or didn’t do,) and doesn’t depend on waiting for a manager or boss to give me permission.
So, what have I been up to in this last month of freelancing freedom?
1. Restarted my marketing flywheel
Even while I was working for a client full-time, I didn’t let my marketing flywheel stop completely, but it was definitely moving slowly. So I planned out a series of new blog posts, set up a schedule of LinkedIn messages, and hopped back on Twitter again.
Those are my 3 main marketing channels, so it was time to get those moving again more regularly. I also am using Ilise Benun’s idea of Marketing Mondays and am trying to plan & do all of my marketing every Monday. That way I don’t feel bad come Friday and send out some lame messages.
2. Made new connections
Another marketing channel for me is to reach out to new connections on LinkedIn. I often come across amazing B2B tech companies in my travels around the Interwebs, so when I do, I make sure to follow the company on LinkedIn. That way, I can see if they’d be a good fit for me.
If they are, I’ll research who the marketing director/manager is and then reach out to them. Easy peasy.
3. Reached out to existing clients
A great tactic for getting more freelance work is to reach out to existing clients to see if they have any new projects in their pipeline. As luck would have it, many of my clients were in the planning stages for Q4 and Q1 of next year, so they were happy to hear that I had extra time on my schedule.
I’ve already booked 2 new projects this way and chatted about another couple.
4. Worked on a few projects
All through this, I had a few projects to work on for my clients, which kept me busy in my non-marketing times. I wrote a few new articles for clients, brainstormed ideas for posts for another client, and repurposed a 5-post blog series into a white paper for another. That was a fun project.
I’d love to work on more repurposing projects next year, so if you’re looking to get more out of your existing marketing content, send me a message. I’d love to hear about it.
5. Started thinking about next year
I also took the time to start thinking about next year and what I’d like to achieve with my business. I don’t get into the formal planning like Jason Resnick does with his annual planning sessions, but I do like to have a few things I’m aiming for.
Things like:
- Choosing a new website layout/design.
- Adding a new project package.
- Brainstorming ideas for info products.
- Finding some good guest post opportunities.
That’s what I’ve been up to for the last month. How about you?