I’ve been doing a lot of interesting things lately, all in pursuit of my own passions. I have struck out to attend a few conferences on my own. I’ve started putting together thoughts on how I can get deep into this new media revolution, and what I can do to contribute. It’s led me to some interesting experiences, and has springboarded into some great conversations, contacts, and potential things to do in the future.
Oh yeah, and I have a day job too. One I love. One that lets me touch HUGE technology. But that’s besides the point.
If you’re starting out, trade your free work for testimonials
It struck me just the other day. I’m doing all kinds of interesting things for free right now, and loving every one of them. I think of it like startup web companies. I’m starting to produce content and some value for what I’m doing, and I’ll figure out how to monetize it later. And then it hit me: I can leverage the work I’ve done for folks (if they like it) into testimonials and things to line my “experience” pocket with, to use for future paying gigs, should the interest arise.
Barter is Alive and Well
Another neat idea is to trade what someone can do that you can’t for what you can do that they can’t. Maybe you know someone who’s a great web designer. You might trade them your marketing skills for their web skills. You might give people free publicity for the links back (that’s how all the problogger sites say you’ll get big).
What can you trade with folks you’re working with at the beginning of your new and fascinating venture that will seem fair and useful to you?
Coach the Testimonials
Okay, it’s not like you can write the testimonial, and then ask the other person to sign off on it, but you might consider explaining up front what you want and why. You can say, “I’m really trying to grow my consultancy business. Would you be comfortable speaking in terms such that you’re my client, and I performed a business service for you?”
Whatever you can do to get the testimonial to be helpful to your future needs while still being accurate is what I’m aiming for here.
Promote
See what you can do for cross-promotion. Are there ways you can get your name mentioned in the places you’ve been helping out? Similar to link-sharing, doing a bit to promote someone else’s product or site or services will go a long way in getting help to promote what you do. Think of it as a yellow pages of related services, if that’s the case.
What are your thoughts on this? Have you used this tactic?
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