Need A Creative Freelancer Who’ll Crush The Job? Here’s How To Find Her.

December 7, 2016 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Are you ready to hire a freelancer to help you out with your business?

As a small business owner, solo-preneur, and even a freelancer yourself, you will periodically need help for key tasks. To start, you might need a logo, some well-designed, branded memes for Instagram, product photos, a website, copywriting for your blog or Facebook ads, email newsletters, etc.

You may already have a running list or things you’d like to get done, but something’s holding you back. Maybe, like a lot of new business owners, you’re not sure where to start, and you don’t have much time to learn the ins and outs of digital and print content.

From working with a lot of small businesses, I know that many folks believe they don’t have enough work to hire someone yet. They assume they can throw something together themselves, or hire the neighbor’s son or a local student to get a website up, etc.

This can be a workable solution just to get started. Still, it’s easy to fall behind on basic jobs, particularly in the area of marketing.

The web moves fast, and you just don’t have a lot of time to pull a cohesive creative plan together. And when you’re realistic about it, your priority is sales! At this point, you just need to get on with what you’re good at.

If that scenario sounds familiar, consider hiring a freelancer.

For entrepreneurs and business owners stuck with some portion of a project, I recommend working with a creative professional. Freelance marketers can even help you conceptualize your brand and plan a strategy, even before hiring a creative freelancer, like a writer or graphic designer.

Rest assured that the right person is out there.

Consider all your options for finding a freelancer who fits your needs as well as your budget. It’s not like you’ll have to turn over too many stones. There’s a ton of talent out there. Here are a few places to look.

Bidding Sites

Probably the quickest, immediate (and sometimes the cheapest) satisfaction can be found on job bidding websites.

As described in an earlier post, a few websites I used to frequent were Upwork.com (formerly Elance and Odesk), Fiverr.com and Guru.com. In fact, I got some of my earliest gigs on Elance, and even work with some of those early clients today! When I have slow patches, I still pick up gigs there.

Note to new freelancers, Upwork is a great place to hang your shingle if you’re new to freelancing. You’ll pick up other freelance providers’ tips and tricks there, too.

On these hiring websites, you’ll find plenty of reliable and talented people who can help it take wing.

Thousands of providers on Elance alone claim writing as their specialty; and writing is just one of the hundreds of categories of expertise to choose from. With those numbers, it’s practically impossible NOT to find someone you’re comfortable with after the first or second job. If you enjoy the process and you are satisfied with the completed work, you may even ask about hiring that person again. Then, when a similar job comes up again in her field, you have a go-to expert to contact. Creative people LOVE repeat business!

Bidding work sites have been lifesavers for me, both as a hirer, and a provider . If you’re stuck in a problem at work, discover how easy it is to access affordable resources right from your desktop. The experts are there to serve you, no matter how minor the job.

“Matchmaking” Job Sites

In addition to the bidding websites, you might also look to the agency-style website where you describe your job, and the agency matches you with the right freelancer in their roster. The benefit to these sites is that you have a higher-level marketing team watching out for you and assigning a good fit based on the freelancer’s experience, the price you’re willing to pay, and other criteria you specify.

You spend no time deciding whether a possible freelancer has the chops to do the work, because the agency has already vetted them. Instead, you get to concentrate on your project and the deliverables you require. Be prepared to pay slightly higher fees for this service.

Referrals

Finally, if you’re looking for someone you can work with directly on a long-term basis, don’t neglect turning to your personal network. Ask friends and colleagues who’ve had similar work requests done to their satisfaction.

Referrals are a good freelancer’s bread and butter, and most people are happy to refer good talent. (It makes them look good, too!) If your business friends will share the name of the freelancers they use for past projects, then by all means, start there.

LinkedIn, Blogs, and other Web Searches

Let’s not forget the power of content. Many freelancers are full of helpful advice and opinions about implementing their craft. Providing information and free content is how they attract clients like you!

They show off their web development expertise on blogs and social media; they share personally written articles on sites like LinkedIn and Medium; and they exhibit their artistic talent in shops like Creative Market. When an article, font or design catches your eye, note the author or artist and track her down.

When you’re browsing for the right expert to help you, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Divide a large project into smaller chunks and let a few different providers prove their abilities. Test the mettle of your top few picks to see which one you like the best. Then bring the winner on board for the bulk or remainder of the project.
Read the feedback on the outsourcing website. You will learn about the professional’s work ethic, timeliness, communication, etc — qualities and details you may not have considered before, but which might mean a lot to you once they are on your radar.
Read the personalized messages from individual bidders. See if there’s enthusiasm behind the pitch. Is he excited about your project? Why? Does he have experience with your field on a professional or personal level? For example, let’s say you need an article written about child athletes’ nutrition needs. Maybe a novice writer whose child just happens to play competitive soccer is better qualified for your sports piece than an experience sports writer who covers cycling and racing. Test the waters, and use your intuition. Sometimes the “hungrier” bidder will do a better job than the one with an impressive portfolio and hundreds of finished jobs under his belt. Sometimes it pays to look closely at the eager new freelancers with a smaller, promising portfolio as well as the ones who have valuable experience.
Google the people you are considering. After circling a freelancer on a bidding website like Upwork, for example, I like to check around the web for more insight into the freelancer’s work, if it’s available. A search may unearth negative reviews on another site. If that’s the case, you’d want to know before you hired her. Chances are, the opposite is true. Your prospective freelancer’s work around the web could be just what you need to see to assure you to take a chance on her.
Take the time and effort to write a clear, detailed job description because people can’t read your mind. If you can’t be bothered to put in the effort to describe your project, then you won’t get the results you really want.

Remember that as you’re building your business, you need to be focusing on the important work that makes you big money, not struggling to learn how to do a task someone can easily and happily do for you. You intuitively know what jobs are $1000 jobs, and which ones are $50 jobs. Do the high level stuff and hire others to do the rest.

If you’re just starting out, you don’t get to that point instantly. Growth takes time. But a professional creative will make you look good and keep things humming while you build your business.

Now that you’ve found the right creative person for your project, what next?

Start small until you’re comfortable.

Start with a small job if you’re unsure how to navigate hiring and working with freelancers. As you grow more confident outsourcing projects and recurring tasks, you’ll learn to rely on others for help in your business.

You may even come to rely on freelancers and contractors exclusively. The benefit to hiring freelancers is that they are as flexible as your needs.

Will you decide to build a team of remote freelancers who regularly work together, or occasionally ease your workload by hiring one freelancer at a time? Will you stay local or reach out to creatives in other countries? It’s up to you.

Other Tips for Hiring Freelancers

Bookmark pages or graphic designs, fonts and colors you like, to show your new freelance hire the vibe you want to convey.

Will there be ongoing work if the right freelancer nails this project? Say so, and you may attract better freelancers from the get-go. Just remember that all freelancers have seen ridiculous promises from hiring sources, and certain tactics for getting cheap labor probably won’t work in your favor.

Of course you need a creative freelancer who will fit your budget (the range is great), but please never say that you expect the work done for free because it’s such a wonderful opportunity for the freelancer to build their portfolio or to gain the chance to work for you again in the future. I’ve never understood why anyone would dangle that obviously poison carrot. Why would anyone worth their salt want to work for a cheapskate who wants free work done now, let alone in the future? You get what you pay for.

Most experienced freelancers describe where they add value in a proposal. For example, you may find that pro copywriter demands higher fees than another writer. The reasons may range from their experience in the subject matter; to a keen understanding of the genre. As an example, press releases, newsletters, white papers, blog posts, and PPC ads are examples of four very different types of writing skills; if you’re looking for a specialist in one genre, it’s worth your while to hire a pro with that experience.

Another example of added value that really pays off: Your copywriter may provide the added service of researching keywords and markets; and generally spending time learning the audience before jumping into the activity of writing. These “hidden” extra tasks and levels of expertise often translate into a higher cost to the hiring party. They also ensure that the copy is exactly on the mark, which offsets the high cost of cheap copy that doesn’t convert.

Be prepared to pay a fair market price for excellent work. Expect a good freelancer to require a deposit to start work, and incremental payments as specific milestones are met.

Feel free to ask questions about her past work, how she works, when she’s available to touch bases, and when she typically is in “creative” mode. That way, if she’s not answering your texts in the morning hours because that’s her productive writing time (or walk-the-dog time, or hit-the gym time, etc.), you’ll know why. Every great freelancer will provide times when she’s be available for meetings and calls, but the hours may not be your usual nine-to-five. If weekday, workday accessibility is important to you, make sure it’s spelled at the beginning. This means you must also take into account the difference in time zones.

If you have a brand kit, allow your freelancer to access to it for correct use of fonts, style and colors. The more you let your freelancer into your world, the better she can deliver exactly what you imagined, and more. You want to be wowed — you deserve it — so give your freelancer the boundaries you require, then let her run free.

By the way, if you get exactly what you expected, then you’ve probably kept the leash too short. Creative people and freelancers who have been at their craft for awhile love to deliver work that is a little surprising sometimes. They work hard to raise the bar, so keep an open mind. Make her part of your team and the right creative will give you way more value than you bargained for.

As freelancing becomes a common way to work around the world, more companies and creatives will hop onboard. The benefits are pretty cool for both the provider and the hirer, as long as expectations are clear. It’s worth it to invest in finding the perfect freelancer and continue to build a relationship with that person. Over time, as projects pop up, you’ll feel you have an extension of your core team at your disposal.

Do you have any questions or ideas about hiring freelancers? Are you interested in getting some of your marketing tasks — social media posts, blog writing, email strings — take off your plate? Give us a call or fill out the form below. We’d love to hear about your next project.

Ditch Your Lists And Be A More Focused Freelancer

October 10, 2016 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

If you are a freelancer or blogger, you have a lot of tasks to juggle.

Chances are you use lists to inspire you and keep you on track. But how effective are your lists?

Do you make lists only to cross of a few items every day?
Do you transfer the rest of today’s list to tomorrow’s list?
Do you have a zillion ideas for new projects, blog posts, content, or activities, but you don’t know which one to start?
Do you have trouble finishing projects on deadline?
Do you have trouble keeping all your jobs organized?

I was guilty of all of these. While my clients’ jobs were and are, usually under control, that was about it. If I wanted to grow my business or focus on accomplishing some writing projects for myself, I always felt like a failure. I repeatedly wrote list after list, filling notebooks, and file cabinets with notes and links, resources, books, recipes, etc. that definitely had a purpose… just not right then… just not until I finished this other thing…

I even started to buy into that little voice telling myself that I’d never retrieve and act on even a small portion of my “good ideas.” I’d write things down knowing in my bones that I’d forget them as soon as they were filed.

Ugh! How demoralizing is that? I was literally becoming the crazy bat who wrote down every thought, and filed it away. Like the woman with the jar of strings “too short to save.”

Lists are great, but for a lot of us, they’re not effective.

Thanks to a friend of mine (who runs this school carnival supplies business) I discovered a new way to deal with all the things that need doing. Not just in my work, but in my family and personal life, too. The great thing about my new system is that I can keep as many ideas as I want, and store them within an organizational method that makes me feel like the type-A person I’m not. (You really can fake it till you make it.)

It’s called Kanban Flow, and it resembles a grid-like organizational chart where you move components from one section of the chart to another as you finish them. At least that’s the way this novice is using it. It’s not a bulletin board, though you could visualize it that way. It’s called a Trello board, an online chart where you can see your entire newly- categorized life laid out like the yellow brick road.

This Trello thing could make you crazy effective! The longer I use it, the better habits I have, so I just have to share it with you. This might change your life…

The Kanban system was created in Japanese manufacturing plants as a way to keep track of inventory. As it turns out, kanban (sounds like “bonbon”) is a great way to manage all your to-dos, brilliant ideas, shopping lists, team meeting agendas, car maintenance schedules, or family calendars as well!

Name your project or whatever you’re working on now; you can probably get it done better with a Kanban flow.

Although there are a few Kanban apps out there, I use Trello because it’s free and easy to learn. In fact, I’ve used if for a couple of years now, and I’m just beginning to really embrace how to integrate it into my daily routine and allow it to help me be more productive.

How Do Kanban Flows Work?

Here’s the idea. First you create a board and give it a title. This is your overarching category or theme. Say you are a content writer or copywriter. You might call your first board…

Blog Post Ideas
2017 Blog Content
Guest Blog Categories
Get More Instagram Followers…

Pick some goal or project you imagine conquering.

As you begin creating your first Trello dashboard, you’ll find there a learning curve regarding how you set up your boards.

First there’s the “problem” of being too general. You might start with boards titled, “Things I need to do in October” and then discover that it makes more sense to actually have two boards: “Personal Things I Need to Do” and “Professional Things I Need to Do.”

You may also realize that each project should have its own board. As soon as you begin adding lists to each board, you start seeing how simply and quickly a project that previously seemed out of hand could actually be accomplished.

On the other hand, you might realize that a project requires more steps than you originally thought.

Here’s where you learn to love lists again.

Every board consists of a panel of lists laid out from left to right. Lists consist of cards. Not mere jots and scribbles, but actual separate areas where you can place images, thoughts, get comments from team members, add articles and links found on the web, add checklists, and PDFs or Google docs, etc. from your computer

With the ability to add cards to a list, you are able to flesh out every item on your list with supporting material. It’s list-making for clean freaks. Everything looks tidy and your work is suddenly streamlined, but you still have everything you need. You don’t have to kiss goodbye all those tangential thoughts, and sparks of fancy. They all have a place where you can retrieve them if necessary, but they’re not yammering all over the place disturbing your concentration. (We creative types struggle with that.)

Lists might include background research, questions, hypotheses, history, etc. They could also include active working areas, like components of a project to which different team members are able to make contributions.

I personally like to add a “Done” list to just about every board I start so that I can swipe a task from a working area to that oh-so-satisfying “Done” column. Bliss.

The best way to start feeling that productivity mojo is to just go to Trello right now and start playing.

But if you still need some inspiration for how a freelance writer or blogger can use the Kanban flow, here are some ways to get started.

Here are eight ways I use Trello Boards:

1. Mind Map

Mind Maps! If you’ve ever used a mind map to develop an idea into a finished outline for an article or post, then you know you can either scribble a main idea in the center of a sheet of paper and draw arrows from there; OR you can jot all your ideas onto post-it notes and stick them on a large sheet of paper in some orderly fashion. Either way, mind maps are helpful, fun, and sometimes messy.

Unless you’re really ready to work on an idea, you might not want to start all that brainstorming. You may not appreciate all those notes and sheets of paper cluttering up your workspace either. If you want to insert some order, just use a Kanban flow. (By the way, Kanban people use words like Lean and Agile to describe productive workflows…but Orderly won me over.)

2. Blog Content

This is why I started using Trello in the first place and where the bulk of my usage is still.

Every company or website I write for has its own board. Usually when I’m writing for a blog (or as a ghost blogger) a good part of the work is coming up with ideas. Sometimes the business owner has a monthly or quarterly theme in mind. Sometimes she’s gearing up for a product launch and so the content will lead up to that. And sometimes, it’s up to me to come up with some interesting content ideas.

I keep a board for each website where I’m a contributor. My first column is typically a smorgasbord of content ideas. I toss them up there in no particular order, using the Trello app on my cell phone whenever a good idea comes to me as I’m mobile. Once an idea is on that first column, and if it’s any good, usually I will start to add supporting ideas to it. It’s weird how easily this happens. As soon as I come up with a sticky idea, suddenly everything I see looks like a green light to write it. For example, I might read an article that supports the idea, or hear a podcast that has some relevance to the topic. I may run across a photo or a tweet that would be nice to include. The post practically writes itself if it’s right.

Once I have added a few notes to a possible idea, I take it as a sign that I should run with it. So I move it over to a list of posts I’m currently working on. From there, it will eventually find it’s way to the calendar, if it hasn’t already been assigned, and then to the “waiting for approval” column, then to “Done.”

At the GO phase, it’s just a matter of progression and time, not so much ideation.

Now another other cool thing about Trello is you can add a calendar to your boards — perfect for keeping tabs on publish dates — as well as invite others to your board so they can comment. While I’m pretty strict about tuning out contributing voices as I write, the overall content strategy definitely benefits from others’ opinions.

Again, for blog content, the arrangement of cards means nothing is ever really lost. I make a new card for every general topic I create for my own blog. Right now I have ideas for about 20 articles that are “simmering.” This means I am not exactly tackling these topics right now, but they are generally on my mind.

Unlike my filing system I mentioned at the beginning of this post, all of these blog topics and “great ideas” are accessible and viewable. When I see something that complements the topic, I simply click the chrome extension on my browser and the link is captured. A small Trello popup opens and I can simply add it to the appropriate board and list. It looks like this (right).

Why is this so effective? Because I can touch it once, and store it in the right place; but I don’t have to think about it again so it doesn’t occupy any more room in my mind.

The major benefit for me is, I’ve dealt with it as much as I’m going to until I’m ready to compile all the facts and ideas into an article. Then I’ll have everything on hand to outline and create a first draft… if the idea ever gets that far.

After that, I include checklists, another feature that I like. Now I can get the post ready with all the pertinent details: Whether it’s formatted for WordPress, the due date, images selected, title graphics, optimized headlines, keywords, tags and meta tags (SEO items), etc. You can see at a glance how close a blog post is to being ready to publish.

You may be wondering at this point, what can you add to a Trello card?

Here’s a list of some things I’ve uploaded: Images, links to articles, comments, PDFs, Google docs, things I’ve clipped to Evernote or Dropbox, quotes, tweets, and comments from clients. The software is set up to help you access and use a lot of the other apps and software in conjunction with Trello, and you can “power up” your boards with them. Yay!

But wait, there’s more…

Here are some other ways freelance writers can use a Kanban system like Trello to get and stay organized:

3. Job and Contact Management

How do you keep your job searches and contact communication organized? When I’m applying for a freelance job, or after I’ve talked with a prospect I want to work with, I start a card under the list “Jobs” under the Board “New Work.”

I keep list columns for jobs and projects I applied for or bid on, whether I sent a link to my portfolio, I post a link to my proposal and bid, along with a copy of the cover letter. And then I have a follow up list and/or signed contract list.

4. Long, Ongoing Projects

Ebooks, infographics, and longer projects I’m working on. Here again, regular practice and doing the same things over and over again, will help you make progress. If you’re just taking stabs at the thing whenever you “get a chance” you’re probably going to become frustrated that the project is not gaining traction. I include lists for research, various edited drafts, whether it’s formatted for CMS, milestones and deadlines, and graphic design components.

5. Guest Post Management

If you are a blogger, you probably already know about the value in guest posting to other blogs. Similar to the blog board is my guest blog board. In addition to content ideas, there are other things that are important to keep track of:

A spreadsheet of blogs accepting posts
Blogs I’m most likely to get accepted
Ideas for posts geared to specific blogs (sometimes outside my wheelhouse)
Drafts
Sent drafts
Drafts responded to (or neglected or declined)
Articles resent to an alternate blog (because why waste?)

6. Digital Hoarding Collections of Things

As a writer, of course I’m a content consumer, too. I keep a board of books I want to read, courses I want to take, movies I want to see, etc.

7. Personal / Household / Family

My personal projects and goals are perfectly fair game for a healthy Kanban flow, and I’m beginning to use it more for that.

For example, my son is at the age where it’s time to teach him to drive. In Texas, there is a convoluted path to teenage driving. It starts with ordering a parent instruction packet from the DMV. After that, there’s online tests, application for underage permit, logging of driving hours under certain conditions, etc. I will be using my Trello to get us through this.

Another issue that seems clearer thanks to Trello is a household IT problem we’re grappling with these days. Every technician, cable guy, and “geek” has a secondary troubleshooting idea for us. I started a list on my household board dedicated to solving this. I’m keeping the names of specific routers and other products I can try. I’m noting actions we’ve taken to fix the intermittent Internet outages, and network password reminders. Rather than jot notes on paper to transfer later, I just upload the idea or note to a card with my phone. Trello’s mobile app is great!

I’m sure there are other personal and professional goals and projects I could be hacking with a Kanban flow method. Now that I’m beginning to get cozy with Trello, I’ve stopped just throwing things together.

8. Recurring Tasks

Finally, there are those pesky recurring tasks that must be done. Unless you’re a robot or your have extra help with certain tasks, and have your routine so perfectly ingrained in your programming, a Kanban flow could help you with this, as it helped me.

While you can power up a board with Trello’s “Card Repeater,” another alternative is using a Zap or the handy Echo app built by Dennis Martinez. I’ve set this up and it works quite nicely.

I use my recurring tasks board more as a reminder that I have to do these things than as an organizational tool. Just set Trello to automatically open upon login, and you’ll know first thing every morning. Some of my recurring tasks include posting to social media sites, bookkeeping, payments, taxes, filing tasks, etc. I sort them by weeks, months, and quarters.

Are you ready to add an element of organization to your life that you simply can’t touch with lists?

The Kanban method will change your life because it guides you toward changing your habits.

If you want to become a focused freelancer who is ridiculously in charge of your day, you still have to open up your dashboard and take action. Discipline is so important. What Trello does so well is allow you to see the forest of your freelancing business, so you don’t get lost in the trees.

If you’re feeling scattered or unable to keep up with your job searches, invoicing, research, or even your writing, try Trello and begin to know your business — and DO your business — like the true, productive professional you are.

Trello is simple and sleek for easy use. If you have any questions about it, and how to use it in your freelancing business, I’m happy to share more. Just drop me a comment on Facebook.

[NOTE: I am not a Kanban expert (they are out there!) and I don’t make a cent from Trello, by the way. I just like their product. I’m on the free plan now, and when someone I refer signs up (again, for free), then my account is temporarily upgraded to “Gold,” which has a few more perks. When my team gets a little bigger, I’ll be upgrading to the next paid tier for a reasonable monthly fee. This would allow for larger uploaded files, unlimited Power-Ups, the ability to organize boards into Collections, and more control over team members use abilities, privacy, etc.. ]

I wrote down my top seven ways to get more done, have more fun, and make more money freelancing. That ebook is included in the free content library and it’s my treat… Get it here!

Why Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs Will Rock The Start-Up World In The Next Ten Years

July 5, 2016 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Which generation will start the most long-lasting businesses in the next ten years?

While it seems all the talk is centered on the entrepreneurial tendencies of Millennials these days, the much-cited Kauffman Report of 2015 states that Baby Boomers are actually in a better position to start and run a business, and are starting new businesses at twice the rate of Millenials.

Can you feel it? Entrepreneurship is in the air.

The native techies, those born between the late 70s and the early 2000s, are beginning to enter their 40s, the traditional “power age” for entrepreneurs and workers in general. Among these folks a whopping 67% of them have dreams of starting a business.

Alongside them, Baby boomers have always had an entrepreneurial streak, and that’s showing no signs of fading for at least the next 15 years.

So which group will lead in charge in forming new companies that last?

Many serial entrepreneurs from the boomer generation are on their second, third, even fourth business.

Many other baby boomers have tasted retirement and decided it’s not for them. As ever, they want to lean into new opportunities, to contribute and stay involved with idea-makers and dream builders like themselves.

With all the new ways to work, and the ease with which you can start a business these days, entrepreneurship is the smart way to create your work/life on your own terms, no matter what your age.

Here’s why I think Baby Boomer entrepreneurs will have an equal if not more profound impact in the start-up arena.

Sure, the rate at which baby boomers start businesses will slow as they age, but just as in decades past, my bet is that baby boomers will shape entrepreneurship in new and different ways we haven’t seen before.

And why not? Boomers are living better, healthier, and more vital lives longer than any generation before them.

In addition to the fact that there is hardly any barrier to entry, Baby Boomers have more financial resources to fund a new business.

While Millenials grapple with failure to launch and unprecedented levels of college loan debt, Baby Boomers are in a better position to start businesses. Even though they lost an average of 25 – 28% of their savings in the Great Recession — in fact, because so many saw their wealth diminish, they are motivated to stay in the workforce longer.

Due in part to the wide pool of technical talent emerging from the Millenial generation, it’s the Baby Boomers that will realize the inherent challenges and opportunities of aging, see the opportunities, and capitalize on them

A few months ago, Gary Varnerchuk of Vayner Media, released a video where he challenged people age 40+ to go for it. If you want to start a business, now is the time… You have every opportunity the kid in the hoodie has, he maintained.

While I agree that the opportunity is there, I also know from experience J that as the body ages, you draw more from other resources than youthful vigor and Hustle, which Vaynerchuk is famous for.

I believe baby boomer entrepreneurs are primed to show a different kind of hustle as they remake the start-up world to their requirements.

Why Baby Boomer Entrepreneurs Make an Impression

baby boomers and millennials working together — Boomers and Millennials will (hopefully) work together.

As a kid, I often played with the kids a few years older than me. It’s not surprising, then, that while I’m a few years shy of being a Baby Boomer myself, many of my clients have been Baby Boomers.

There are a few qualities I’ve noted that distinguish them from business-starters in the generations that follow them. Today, these qualities are every bit as valuable as the high energy and drive and natural technical prowess of Millennials. Besides having more wealth to act on their entrepreneurial ideas, Baby Boomers will shape the start-up landscape for at least the next 10 years for the following reasons.

It’s personal. No offense, but they don’t call Boomers the “Me” generation for nothing. Baby Boomers are the center of their universe. It really IS about them. They didn’t cause that condition and it’s not their fault. No judgment here. They just don’t know what it’s like not to have all eyes on them.

The businesses they start are businesses they want to start; they have everything to do with their own interests, motivations, and preferences. As they move through their 50s, 60s 70s and 80s, they will remake what it means to age gracefully, and solve problems no one ever thought to address. And future generations will benefit by their efforts.

They LIKE to tell stories. What does a killer company or brand have that mediocre companies do not? A strong, almost mythical storyline. Baby Boomers have never been a generation to keep their experiences to themselves, and they’re not going to stop telling those stories now.

With their generational flair for unfolding a narrative, new services and inventions will emerge to fill in gaps and add color to their stories. The rest of us will give their new ideas and experiences our attention.

Baby Boomer entrepreneurs in the coming years will be thoughtful, thorough, and loyal. Relationships will take precedence over other factors. Needing the technical savvy of younger workers, they will value others’ expertise and listen to options culled from a diverse pool of talent. They will genuinely want to apply the right tools to the jobs at hand and get it right the first time.

Their networks matter. Their many years of experience have earned them status and respect. They will use this influence to display leadership skills and set expectations for top-notch performance. They know many other experienced colleagues in a variety of industries to find information and get their questions answered. Personal referrals and insider information will be an important form of start-up currency.

Baby Boomer entrepreneurs still read lengthy documents and articles. They don’t max out from information overload after two minutes. They can understand and absorb articles longer than 800 words. They will always have this skill as younger generations lose it. This will be one of their hidden superpowers. And by the way, they will keep reading and using email. (A client told me the other day, “I use email like you use twitter.”) This will challenge younger generations.

Boomers choose how they spend their time.

Because they have experienced business cycles (and heard stories from previous generations) of more extreme economic cycles, Baby Boomer entrepreneurs will be less distracted or challenged by crisis than their younger counterparts and team members. Their experience will make them wiser and more flexible than other business people. They will surround themselves with younger workers, and model how to roll with things, and their businesses will be stronger for it.

They are passionate. Although they may not want to change the world, but they believe they are working on something that matters. Baby boomer entrepreneurs have the option of doing other things with their time; they are choosing to build businesses. They’re not likely to jump on the latest bandwagon or take just anyone’s advice merely to move one step ahead. The big picture matters.

We’ll see if I am right, but for now, these qualities are ones we like working with here at Content Boomer. As content marketers may more attention to the selectivity of their markets, and preferring quality content to sheer quantity; we feel the focused efforts of Baby Boomer entrepreneurs fit well with out goals, too.

[Tweet “Not tons of content, but unique, valuable content.“]

Less aimless hustle, more focused meaningful communication through well-placed content.

Our team looks forward to serving this intrepid generation of entrepreneurs.

Want more content marketing information like this?

Ten Mistakes Freelancers Make When Starting A Business Doing What They Love

June 6, 2016 by jennifer mcgahan 2 Comments

Freelancers who start businesses doing what they love are some of the most heart-centered entrepreneurs on the planet.

Not only do they truly love and benefit from practicing their craft or delivering their gifts, others feel it and want to be around that energy. Customers are naturally attracted, like moths to a flame.

But heart-centered entrepreneurs can be a bit starry-eyed about their core business at their own expense.

They get swept up in perfecting their thing, and set themselves up for some unique pitfalls. Because they love their craft so much, they forget the business. Their more dispassionate colleagues avoid these things.

I’m not telling you to suppress your emotions or enthusiasm. If you’re fired up about building your dream by going into business with a hobby or interest, go for it! The world needs more passionate people like you. But take it from someone who has made every one of the following mistakes, it’s so worth checking these boxes. You’ll feel better about your work, and be able to serve customers better, too.

1. Forgetting the legal stuff.

Helping people accomplish their dreams through your gifts is a heady feeling — almost like being in love. But don’t forget contracts and milestones. Once, I lost a month’s work by digging into a project a little too much enthusiasm, but no real commitment from the client. You can imagine the result. No payment from the client, and my copywriter/marketer’s broken heart. (I had invested more than time and energy than my client. I invested my heart and mind.) I put everything in to a job that really had no future because the client was not invested… and I never got paid. Now, contracts make me feel more comfortable and excited to move ahead.

2. Falling behind on your books.

Book keeping is right up there with the legal concerns. I used to avoid book keeping whenever possible. But it’s just not possible to ignore it forever. The longer you let things slide, the more work it takes to get your books in ship shape again. If you’re like me and would rather poke a dull ice pick into your eye than file things and keep records, then get someone very competent to do this for you.

The trick is being patient and diligent as you set up your books. You have to participate in the process up front if you want it done right — and if you want your book keeper to be able to work without you in the future. It’s worth the time and the bloodshed involved when, for example, you have to re-file your taxes because the records sent to your accountant turned out to be wrong, as I experienced not too long ago. “Trust but verify” comes to mind here. Take it from me. Make a date with your money and stick to it.

3. Underestimating the importance of being profitable.

If it’s a hobby you love, perhaps you’ve been doing it on your own free time; or in service to an organization or client; or on a volunteer basis. (As an example, I started writing copy for charities and schools.)

You finally decide to hang out your shingle, and serve your clients. Now make sure that you are charging more than you make. Otherwise you will not be in business for long.

If you’re like many heart-centered entrepreneurs, you’re tempted to give away or barter your gifts. Don’t do it. Every time you give it away, you devalue your gift and make it more difficult to internalize and own the energy of prosperity that is rightfully yours. Just because you love it doesn’t mean you can’t charge what you’re worth.

Remember, you’re in business to make money.

4. Not getting the help you need.

I know very few floral designers who love HTML, nor fitness trainers who love creating e-newsletters. At first, you may have to create some marketing or IT pieces going on your own, but as soon as possible you must get assistance with the tasks you hate the most.

Three reasons for this:

Bad energy: Doing crap you dislike drains you and prevents you from wanting to keep at your business.
Time suck: Handing over work that others can do better frees you to leverage your real talents and save precious time.
Blocked resources: Someone out there can do it way better than you. I had to admit I’m not great at graphic design, even though I know good design when I see it. It was worth every penny to let an expert take over my latest website and logo redesign.

5. Lack of self discipline.

Yoo hoo, all you work-from-home entrepreneurs… The endless distractions can easily derail your intentions. A key ingredient of a great entrepreneur is someone who can focus on what needs to be done first to move them forward the farthest.

Whether that means focusing on time management, or discerning next best steps, strengthening this muscle will set you apart from every other wannabe business owner. If you don’t get a handle on setting goals and taking steps to achieve them, you will be like most of the small businesses that fail in the first five years.

You will make no progress and you will give up.

There have been months in that past when I put a hundred other things before my copywriting business…my family, my workouts, shopping, housecleaning, cooking… I’ve begun to integrate the important stuff (family and workouts) and just do the rest of it when my energy is not at its highest level.

Now, for example, even though the HEB market is least busy during weekday mornings, I use this precious time to write, not to get groceries. Mornings are power hours for writing and exercising — the most important activities of my day, and the ones that propel my business forward.

As soon as I understood that in my bones, and made a pact with myself to keep that time sacred, my business started to move ahead. I can always shop, and battle the crowds later!

6. Isolation.

If what you love doing most is a social thing, or if you work with people directly, then you’re probably doing OK here. For businesses like writing, graphic design, jewelry creating, or app design; working in solitude (though often necessary) can deplete our best resources.

People are what make your business profitable. Bottom line. They are your customers and colleagues and they shoot your business ahead the more you get your work and gifts “out there.”

My business mentor Lisa Sasevich frequently says “Showing up matters.” Since working with her, I’ve learned to make myself presentable and to take my place at the table.

Community is the key to happiness and success.

Another great friend, Amy Cole, the LinkedIn expert in my circle, suggested I join BNI and show up weekly. Since doing that, I’ve become more clear about how to serve other small businesses and make my network more profitable.

Flying solo from behind your computer, or in your own private workshop is necessary for many heart-centered entrepreneurs. However, a thriving business requires that you make time to get out of your comfort zone and mingle with people. That’s what it means to work “ON” your business rather than “IN” your business. You must practice networking at least 10% of your time in order to grow.

7. The love for your craft dies and you feel like quitting.

Agh, this one hurts. It happens, though, so you’re smart to be on the lookout for it.

Here’s your first clue. Your heart starts looking around for something new to love. What previously gave you joy has now become “work” and so you start slacking off looking for a new fulfilling activity.

This happens a lot with creative types. I should know. I used to love the fiber arts until I realized I didn’t know how to make things out of fabric, build a business around it, and still love it. Making a doll, a purse, or a fiber journal stopped being fun because it stopped being my hobby. Uh oh.

Lesson learned. I still play with fiber and fabric, but I do it because I need the downtime and the open creativity. Same with my art journals. I love creating art, but I found I did not love the business of creating art. Huge difference!

It helps to rub shoulders with people who are doing what you love to do, in order to keep your audience engaged and interested.

8. Lack of marketing strategy.

Now, this may sound harsh, but I love you, so I’m gonna say it. I’m the first to stand up for the tiniest of micro-niches out there. If you love making dollhouses out of playing cards, then I truly believe you can build a business out of it, and even gain a decent following. But it’s going to take some time and some effort in marketing your dream.

Here’s where your passion serves you. You love it, so your enthusiasm and your personality will be the center you work from.

It may take a little while, but steady efforts to grow your community will eventually pay off — if you spend time marketing yourself and your product.

Another requirement is market research, even for a small business. Sometimes I meet entrepreneurs who have a great idea, but they don’t know who their market is, or what drives them. Invest the time to understand your ideal customer. If you make water bottles, understand if your customer is drinking water from it on the subway, or on a hike in the mountains. Know why they want to own a special water bottle (e.e. is it the design, or the function?) and what they see is the primary benefit.

Test things. As you build the business you love from the hobby or product you love, get it out there in front of potential customers before you invest a lot of money in advertising or production. Daymond John from Shark Tank says if you can sell 50 items from the back of your van in the parking lot of a mall in two hours, then call him. He wants to talk to you!

9. Endless tinkering.

Here’s when you know you have a problem. Your numbers and goals are less important than the enjoyment of the work. If you are lucky enough to build up a business from that thing you absolutely love doing, AND your market sustains a regular income, you may be very happy to simply coast along with no growth, testing new things and expecting a loyal customer base to keep things going. But, if you are struggling so much that you’re thinking of moonlighting as a barista at the coffee bar to fund your business, you may have to rethink your business.

I know you love it. That’s great. But there is a little mindset shift that has to take place when you go into business. You can’t love it so much that you tinker, or tweak every little thing. You can’t expect customers to tolerate the intricacies you adore about your art, craft, service, or hobby. Sure, set aside time to experiment with new techniques, but at some point you have to go fast and far with what you know and what you’ve already mastered.

The key is to pick one thing that’s working and keep drilling down into those results. Practice getting better at conversion in those channels.

Document what you know and set goals for growth. Dig in to the business and every now and then stand apart from your “love” and observe it with a critical eye. Tell yourself it’s nothing personal. It’s only business.

even happiness is scalable — heap of yellow balls with smiley faces

10. Neglecting scalability.

This goes hand-in-hand with that common demon heart-centered entrepreneurs battle often…they say YES to everything. They take every one-off job (who would refuse new business?) and try to make each and every customer happy by catering to individual requests.

Sadly, it’s a no-win situation. Repeatability and systems will set you free to love not only your passionate hobby, but also to love the business you are trying to build.

You can still swoon over traditional Bohemian cooking, coffee roasting, or blending things in a Blendtec. You can start a business doing anything your heart desires these days, so follow your heart…and take account of these ten mistakes.

Open 10 doors and build a heart centered freelance business from Jen McGahan

Is there a pitfall you’ve experienced that I didn’t mention? Please share. Comments always welcome.

Need help making sure you’re targeting the right new customers for your business? I help freelancing business owners just like you. Set up a time to chat.

Ten Ways To Simplify Summer When You Work From Home

April 29, 2016 by jennifer mcgahan Leave a Comment

Suddenly, summer’s right around the bend, in the Northern Hemisphere at least. Less than a week till May and the kids are already itching to doff schoolwork along with their shoes. We’re staying up, and staying outside later into the evening, and I’m comparing schedules with colleagues regarding weeks we’ll be out of the office.

Summer’s coming…

If you work from home, and you have school-aged children, summer means your schedule’s about to be turned inside out like a wet swimsuit. And if you’re like me (i.e. the kind of person who’s grateful for Mondays), then you’re going into a minor panic right about now.

OK, not outright panic, just some white knuckling when you think about keeping control of some semblance of a routine.

Managing summer fun when you work from home involves a mindset shift.

First, accept this true fact: A lot of people ease up on the throttle in summer. Even super driven people let things slide more than any other time of year (except maybe the winter holidays). They are more forgiving of half days. They take long weekends. They understand when you have to take a call from a pool deck or a cabin. This relaxed vibe extends goes both ways. You’re probably more understanding of others’ weird schedules, too, and wiggle things around to accommodate.

Summer brings graciousness and warmth.

Maybe it’s because there are more hours in the day to get your work done, or so it seems when you work from home. Or it could be that the heat takes the edge off our more aggressive instincts. Things just seem to stretch more easily. Conflicts are more malleable, more resolve-able. “Island Time” mentality is permissible now, if during no other season.

When I first started this work-at-home gig as a copywriter, I was writing sporadically for clients, taking jobs when I had extra time, not going after jobs when I wanted time off. I would go for days without hitting social media sites, marketing my services, or even writing a word.

I don’t choose that anymore, mainly because my kids are teenagers now, able to schedule activities on their own — a huge turning point in mom-child relations. Beyond that, they don’t want to hang out with me much anyway. As a result of their growing up, and my stronger commitment to Content Boomer and My Team Connects, I don’t accidentally lose days to summer fun anymore. Instead, I plan them.

Most work-at-home parents of and freelancers with young children juggle work and fun days, if for no other reason than to avoid all-day screen time and expensive summer camps. There’s also that small thing about enjoying the kids before they grow up. It would be a shame to miss out on summer fun with your children, especially since (I’m guessing) you chose a freelance lifestyle to be able to make choices about your time. (That was my reason.)

Over the years, I learned to set goals, get organized, and manage my time if there was any hope of staying on target. Now, I plan days off to stay balanced and have fun!

Yes, you can truly enjoy your summer, and still get stuff done.

This is still true, even though I take less time off during summer than I used to. First, I realize that if I’m taking an impromptu vacation day, so are my customers and prospects. I need to expect that. Now that I work with a small team, and honor their flexibility, I account for their days off, too. It’s a bigger management issue these days, but oh, so worth it!

It’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine … it’s summertime! ~ Kenny Chesney

Mostly, this means taking each day at a time, but being very clear about my daily priorities so that I can afford the time off — and keeping open communication channels between myself and others whose ideas, work, and input I rely on.

Here are a few ways to simplify summer when you work from home – and still enjoy the long, warm, easy days, too.

Share your summer calendar with your team, regular clients, and everyone who may need to reach you
On your email signature or automated out-of-office emails, note your upcoming days off, and when you plan to respond. If your emails are being forwarded, let people know to whom, if not you.
Offer alternative means of reaching you on the days when you’re “half on”, i.e. you’re working, but may be distracted by children’s activities, etc. Otherwise, drop out altogether, note your substitute or your return date, and let your contacts know when you’ll be back in the game and able to focus on business.
Each night, make a short list. Write down the top five calls or tasks that you absolutely must accomplish the next day — and then get up early and get started.
If necessary, make use of extra daylight for longer work days, especially when I know I’ll be taking a few hours off later in the week. Take advantage of your body’s natural Circadian rhythm and the extended daylight hours to get more done.
At the beginning of summer set one or two specific, long-term goals you can attain by September. Write them down and post them where you’ll see them. Frame your summer’s day-to-day work around getting them finished.
Use free time to concoct new mental treasures. Time spent relaxing or enjoying yourself is often the most conducive to creative thinking. Ideas for new projects or book chapters will flourish if you set the intention to ruminate on them as you play.
Break down large projects and goals into small actionable tasks. Track daily and weekly milestones.
Communicate with family members — especially your little ones — what you need to get done at your desk each day so that you both can enjoy recreation later. For example, when my child knows that we will go to the skate park as soon as I finish an article, he is more likely to give me the quiet time I need to finish quickly. If I simply say, “I’m busy,” or “I’m working today,” leaving it open-ended, I guarantee you the kids will be at my office door pestering me or fighting with each other all day long. By the way, this step is essential even with older family members and friends. If you’re planning a weekend at the lake with your family, for example, make sure everyone knows that you’ll be bringing your laptop and working for spells. That way, they’ll understand if you forego the afternoon antiquing, but join them later for dinner.
Two words: Hotpockets and Popcicles. Make it easy for kids to grab their own food. If you can get them to eat something healthier, you’re a better mom than I.

One final word about balancing work and fun this summer…

There are two ways to counterbalance summer’s casual vibe to ensure it doesn’t throw your goals into reverse. If you’re not necessarily at your most productive, at least you won’t completely lose a grip on things. Which one you choose will depend on your personality and/or energy level on any given day or week. It’s important that you decide on one or the other to accommodate weird summer schedules:

Stay hyper-focused and put 110% into the work hours you choose. When it’s time to play, play hard. Give recreation the same attention you gave your work. OR…
Mix work and play. For example, write your notes for an upcoming webinar while you’re waiting for a tee time to open up; agree to take a long weekend with your sister’s family as long as they agree to do the driving and you can work in the car on the way there. You get the picture.

Your personality and work style will guide you toward a schedule that makes sense — but you must have the intention to plan and follow through. Otherwise you’ll accept invitations to goof off more frequently than you can afford; or keep your nose to the grindstone and feel like you’re missing all the fun. Neither is any good.

Summer doesn’t have to mean that you won’t get any work done, close new business, or finish projects. It doesn’t have to mean you’ll drive yourself crazy juggling too much, either. Even though schedules are more relaxed and people don’t seem as driven as usual, remember that summer months are a time of rejuvenation and inspiration. Squeeze the best out of both work and play to simplify your summer, and you’ll be well rested for the fall.