Comments on: Selling Yourself as well as Your Services http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/ Freelance Resources for Writers, Designers & Other Virtual Service Providers Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:50:10 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Tamara Berry http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/comment-page-1/#comment-6199 Tamara Berry Fri, 09 May 2008 17:32:32 +0000 http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/?p=154#comment-6199 Jenny - That's actually a really good observation. Exercising a little project management is probably something that I should work harder on. I know I feel better when those I hire seem to know what they're doing and offer "free" project advice. Jenny -

That’s actually a really good observation. Exercising a little project management is probably something that I should work harder on. I know I feel better when those I hire seem to know what they’re doing and offer “free” project advice.

]]> By: jennydecki http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/comment-page-1/#comment-6195 jennydecki Thu, 08 May 2008 21:42:12 +0000 http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/?p=154#comment-6195 No offense, and I'm sure this isn't the actual case...but they were probably looking to see if they were going to get exactly what they asked for...or someone who had a vision and would be able to go above and beyond. Marketing isn't just about selling or pushing yourself at someone. It is giving your potential client a feeling of security before the project even starts that you have things under control. I know many freelancers who don't like to be pushy or forward, and I think that it's just a matter of shifting your perspective, not selling your soul to the marketing demon LOL jennydeckis last blog post..<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/beyondmom/~3/286204930/" rel="nofollow">On Dog Gates and Lockpicking</a> No offense, and I’m sure this isn’t the actual case…but they were probably looking to see if they were going to get exactly what they asked for…or someone who had a vision and would be able to go above and beyond.

Marketing isn’t just about selling or pushing yourself at someone. It is giving your potential client a feeling of security before the project even starts that you have things under control.

I know many freelancers who don’t like to be pushy or forward, and I think that it’s just a matter of shifting your perspective, not selling your soul to the marketing demon LOL

jennydeckis last blog post..On Dog Gates and Lockpicking

]]> By: Renee http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/comment-page-1/#comment-6146 Renee Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:39:33 +0000 http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/?p=154#comment-6146 I, too, have a marketing husband. We also had a heated discussion recently on what to charge for a ghostwriting blogging job. I have told him time and again that if he's so in the know about what I should be doing, he needs to go into business with me. He says, "No thank you, I'd rather stay married!" I, too, have a marketing husband. We also had a heated discussion recently on what to charge for a ghostwriting blogging job. I have told him time and again that if he’s so in the know about what I should be doing, he needs to go into business with me.

He says, “No thank you, I’d rather stay married!”

]]> By: Kathy Scovill http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/comment-page-1/#comment-6130 Kathy Scovill Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:18:24 +0000 http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/?p=154#comment-6130 I really loved this topic and thought I'd chime in. The thing is, you and your husband are both right. The way you market your services may appeal to some clients (the work/resume speaks for itself) and your husbands style of marketing (agressive sales pitch) may appeal to another type of client. Now if you come across a client that you really, really, really want then you may need to switch your tactics to get that client. Unfortunately though, you'll probably need to continue to hard market your services throughout your relationship. My advise, is to keep marketing the way that works best and is most comfortable for you (as long as you're doing something!! in the way of marketing), because you will be attracting clients that make you happy. Leave the aggressive marketing types to those who feel comfortable agressively marketing. <em>Kathy Scovill's last blog post..<a href='http://awardisshowing.blogspot.com/2008/04/cricket-family-should-be-parents-choice.html' rel="nofollow">Cricket Family Should Be Parent's Choice</a></em> I really loved this topic and thought I’d chime in. The thing is, you and your husband are both right. The way you market your services may appeal to some clients (the work/resume speaks for itself) and your husbands style of marketing (agressive sales pitch) may appeal to another type of client.

Now if you come across a client that you really, really, really want then you may need to switch your tactics to get that client. Unfortunately though, you’ll probably need to continue to hard market your services throughout your relationship.

My advise, is to keep marketing the way that works best and is most comfortable for you (as long as you’re doing something!! in the way of marketing), because you will be attracting clients that make you happy. Leave the aggressive marketing types to those who feel comfortable agressively marketing.

Kathy Scovill’s last blog post..Cricket Family Should Be Parent’s Choice

]]> By: Tamara Berry http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/comment-page-1/#comment-6129 Tamara Berry Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:02:07 +0000 http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/?p=154#comment-6129 Peggy - I hear you on the concept of male/female distinction, even though I dislike it as much as Allena. However, I oftentimes find that it's not being female that makes me charge less than $50 an hour. I have no qualms charging what I'm worth. Others have qualms paying it. (And that better NOT be because I'm female.) By the way, I charged them the same editing rate for the sample as I would have for the entire book, which was $5 per 250 words. Peggy – I hear you on the concept of male/female distinction, even though I dislike it as much as Allena. However, I oftentimes find that it’s not being female that makes me charge less than $50 an hour. I have no qualms charging what I’m worth. Others have qualms paying it. (And that better NOT be because I’m female.)

By the way, I charged them the same editing rate for the sample as I would have for the entire book, which was $5 per 250 words.

]]> By: Tamara Berry http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/comment-page-1/#comment-6128 Tamara Berry Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:55:50 +0000 http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/?p=154#comment-6128 Note: Since posting this article, I have heard back from these particular clients. It seems as though timing was the main deciding factor in this case, not my marketing skills (or lack thereof). They indicated that I was their top choice, and that they would be looking to me in the future for work. Ha! Take that, hubby. Note: Since posting this article, I have heard back from these particular clients. It seems as though timing was the main deciding factor in this case, not my marketing skills (or lack thereof). They indicated that I was their top choice, and that they would be looking to me in the future for work. Ha! Take that, hubby.

]]> By: Allena http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/comment-page-1/#comment-6127 Allena Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:50:22 +0000 http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/?p=154#comment-6127 YOu know, I was on your side until I read this: "The clients were male, and men tend to respond better to aggressive tactics. I need to tailor my tactics to the client." I also hate hate when someone waves their hand around and does the "choose me choose me" thing, BUT, at the same time, I do tend to give them a second look. I wonder if "it's a woman thing" (yuck I hate saying that). YOu know, I was on your side until I read this: “The clients were male, and men tend to respond better to aggressive tactics. I need to tailor my tactics to the client.”

I also hate hate when someone waves their hand around and does the “choose me choose me” thing, BUT, at the same time, I do tend to give them a second look. I wonder if “it’s a woman thing” (yuck I hate saying that).

]]> By: Peggy http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/comment-page-1/#comment-6121 Peggy Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:35:12 +0000 http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/?p=154#comment-6121 Considering I just spent the last two days making a web site for myself, YES, I believe in selling. I think women often sell themselves short. I know plenty of women who'd never dream of charging $100/hour, yet I myself have paid a man $200/hour to do writing work that I KNOW I could do. (And yeah, I'm not charging that.) So many women who freelance write are getting under $50/hour -- why? Just curious, you said you got paid to do the sample chapter. Did you ask for all you are worth, or did you do it at a trial discount rate? Considering I just spent the last two days making a web site for myself, YES, I believe in selling. I think women often sell themselves short. I know plenty of women who’d never dream of charging $100/hour, yet I myself have paid a man $200/hour to do writing work that I KNOW I could do. (And yeah, I’m not charging that.) So many women who freelance write are getting under $50/hour — why? Just curious, you said you got paid to do the sample chapter. Did you ask for all you are worth, or did you do it at a trial discount rate?

]]> By: johnwhitepaper http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/comment-page-1/#comment-6120 johnwhitepaper Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:12:43 +0000 http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/?p=154#comment-6120 Marketing is not the same thing as selling. It's very easy to embrace one and dislike the other, though at some point you have to do both, or starve. Marketing is not the same thing as selling. It’s very easy to embrace one and dislike the other, though at some point you have to do both, or starve.

]]> By: Genesis http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/selling-yourself-as-well-as-your-services/comment-page-1/#comment-6118 Genesis Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:25:54 +0000 http://www.sparkplugging.com/freelance-parent/?p=154#comment-6118 I hear you on the hating to sell, I´m the same way. I think that for the most part, your work does speak for you, but your hubby might have had a point in saying that the clients were men . . . they do need a different kind of marketing sometimes. BUT, it´s your business, you´re doing just fine, so I´d stick to what you´re comfortable with for now. I hear you on the hating to sell, I´m the same way. I think that for the most part, your work does speak for you, but your hubby might have had a point in saying that the clients were men . . . they do need a different kind of marketing sometimes. BUT, it´s your business, you´re doing just fine, so I´d stick to what you´re comfortable with for now.

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