Page 14 - index

and they will always ask when they have the may want to update your site, if you have one
time if you want to go to dinner, have a drink, (and you should), with testimonials solicited
or anything else. from clients.

Especially on weekends. Unfortunately, However this can be a two-edged sword,
especially if you’re “beginning” (even after because so few people may actually be able
months of being at this independent stuff), to understand or “get” what you do that their
weekends are often your busiest days, having words can ring hollow or worse they may seem
spent the week (when normal people are at to be trying to make it seem like they’re saying
work and commercially available) seeking something positive and actually just turning
work, fnding work, establishing work-plans, the screws in a little tighter.
to fnally begin as soon as possible in order to
provide customer satisfaction. Dejection will be bearing down on you, even
if you are doing well and fulflling customer
So a little loneliness at this time orders, desires, personal visions... this is when
is not unusual. it can all seem like a drag.

Now, on top of working to fnd work, and Still, you have to slog through. It may take
working on jobs for revenue, you have to realize years and years, and you might have fewer
by now that you have to work for yourself; friends by the time you have more freedom in
that is, strive to advance your business on the your personal life, but this will be a measure
market horizon, update your site if you have of success.
one (and you should), keep developing those
social networks and connections, reading and You just can’t let the weariness of feeling like
posting to industry blogs or forums, keeping your work is turning into the job you left behind
up to date with the latest in your domain. blind you to what you’re achieving, and learning.

And that’s the “new” web marketing of Of course you just might end up numb and
yourself, if you’re not also doing the classical one day snap out of it, and realize that things
“normal” advertising - which at least is cookie- are pretty darn good.
cutter and predictable, not as time-intensive,
as the outreach methods so plentifully available But try to remember, meanwhile, that you are
to you. learning; step outside yourself and understand
that building this business is educating you in a
And then the friends think you’re putting way that looking at that second hand tick closer
them off; you have to make extra efforts to let to closing time ever could.
them know they’re still in your thoughts, and
then you really do have to take that time off, Find a hobby. No, really. Use this experience
write them, accept some invitations (taking in a blog, a diary even if you want to keep
away from work-time), and then real-time in contact with the “real” physicality of pen
socializing ends up becoming something of a & paper, as a sort of “personal” side of your
chore, which is a terrible feeling. business, and maybe something you can use to
attract more customers or at least let them see
Are you getting depressed yet? the human side of your toil and trouble.

Where once the phrase, “Ah, I’d love to but I Make a schedule. Divide your time of each day
have work to do,” would kinda-sorta make you or week into segments where you create new
proud, it just makes you feel like you’re making business profles on sites like LinkedIn, write in
excuses... the blog, fnish that press release (for you, for
the client - make the division clear!).
Then there’s the job-closures. While fnal
payment is very gratifying, and the end of a Start off by making divisions in the categories
project satisfying, you rarely get the “atta boy” of “stuff”. Professional/Business. Personal/
praise and compliments working for a boss or Business. OK. Then each of those need to be
with a team or partner who complements you. sub-divided into outreach/development -
You’re left to your own objectivity on appraising one is seeking new customers, the other is
your own work in many cases; this is when you satisfying current jobs.

14 PAYOUTMAGAZINE Sponsored by