Is Confidence the Key?

I'm not a faithful reader of the Wall Street Journal, but a recent article that someone tweeted about caught my eye. Its title: "Silencing the Voice that Says You're a Fraud."

Unfortunately, I am very aware of that voice in my head. It plagues me with doubts about my writing ability and causes me to hesitate about marketing my services. What gives me the right to claim to be some great writer? Surely someone will figure out that's not the case! It is thoughts like these that can be immobilizing.

One psychologist is quoted in the article saying, "People usually succeed in spite of their Inner Critic, not because of them."

Just a few weeks ago, a friend and I were discussing how and why some are perceived to be experts in their field. She, for instance, has come to be known a a local authority on social media. She's not really sure what's she's done to deserve it, but she's content to ride the wave. Yet, all the while she's wondering if someone will call her out for being a fraud.

But is she? I'm thinking it comes down to confidence. If you project an air of confidence in yourself, your ability and your knowledge, I think people are drawn to that and in turn seek you out when they need answers or insight into what they perceive is your area of expertise.

So if you silence that inner voice and face the world with confidence, does that result in success? I hoping yes!

The big quandry: Who to work for

Welcome to my adventures in networking. As your typical introverted freelance writer (yes, sad but true, I am generalizing) who prefers to remain safely behind my computer screen, socializing on any level is a struggle! Here's what I am doing to change that.

At the Creative Freelancer conference I attended last year, there was a lot of talk about creating a marketing machine; a system that would continue to market your services no matter what your workload. A successful marketing machine keeps you in front of potential clients on a regular basis and keeps the work from drying up.

Unfortunately, here I sit a year later with no marketing machine.

Thankfully my writing assignments remain steady, but the problem is I am not gaining any new work or clients. The big question for me is: Who do I want to work for?

It sounds like an odd question, but from the books I've read and the blogs I follow experts say that is the all-important question. I suppose I need to look at it from a different standpoint. As a freelance writer, I actually have control over who I work with unlike at my full-time job where those parameters are determined for me.

Of course, I can't be too picky considering I am new to this world of entrepreneurship, but I've learned that the more projects I take on, hopefully the more kudos I receive from work well done, will ultimately result in me choosing clients I really want to do business with.

That would be the goal, right?

So who do I want to work with?

I love the real estate field and considering that my full-time job is marketing for a real estate company plus I write virtual tour scripts for one of my freelance clients, it seems natural to pursue real estate writing. I suppose a Google search is in order.

Next, I would love to write for more trade publications in the real estate, construction and green industries. My Writer's Market membership should help with that.

Once I have completed this research, I suppose the next step would be plunging ahead with the cold calls (eek!) and letters of introduction to see where the opportunities lie. Just another form of networking that I need to tackle!

My photo gets the networking ball rolling

Welcome to my adventures in networking. As your typical introverted freelance writer (yes, sad but true, I am generalizing) who prefers to remain safely behind my computer screen, socializing on any level is a struggle! Here's what I am doing to change that.


Some people love to see their photo in a magazine or newspaper. I am not one of those people.

Even when I was the editor of a growing weekly newspaper, I shied away from having my photo appear next to my column. I just didn't want the added exposure.

However, this past April when the editor of the Naples Florida Weekly, a paper I freelance for, approached me about writing a weekly business column that would also feature my photo, well I was nervous but I wasn't about to turn down the opportunity.

What I wasn't prepared for was the recognition it brought me! While I had been writing for the newspaper for several months, no one, except close friends and family, realized this because very few people actually take the time to notice a story's byline. What they do notice, however, is my photo!

This added exposure has not only brought compliments but some networking opportunities, too, which hopefully will open doors to future freelance writing work. Thus far, I've been invited to help plan the 2010 American Cancer Society's event (Viva Naples!) here in Naples where I will provide my writing skills to effectively promote the three-day extravaganza. Also, former colleagues have contacted me letting me know they saw my column and would love to catch up.

Who knew that having a photo in the local newspaper could actually help me in my networking quest?! What a great marketing tool!

Guest Blog Post ... A First for Me

Welcome to my adventures in networking. As your typical introverted freelance writer (yes, sad but true, I am generalizing) who prefers to remain safely behind my computer screen, socializing on any level is a struggle! Here's what I am doing to change that.

Good things DO happen when you put yourself out there!

A few weeks ago I met Lauren Candito, president of Social Media Solutions in Orlando, and was immediately drawn to her cause, which is to help companies successfully market themselves through various social media networks. I expressed to her my interest in working with her and we've been communicating ever since.

Earlier this week, I received an email from Lauren complimenting me on a recent business column I wrote about Realtors joining the social media realm. She asked if she could use the piece as a guest post on her blog.

This is a first for me and I wanted to share it with you. Here's my guest post: http://socialmediasolutions.wordpress.com/2009/06/24/realtors-encouraged-to-join-the-social-networking-conversation/

If I had not let Lauren know about my interest in her business efforts this opportunity would never have come to be. But because I took a chance, I now have a guest blog post to show for it. How cool is that!

7 Steps to Make Networking Work for You

Welcome to my adventures in networking. As your typical introverted freelance writer (yes, sad but true, I am generalizing) who prefers to remain safely behind my computer screen, socializing on any level is a struggle!

This morning I attended another session (it's a three-part series) of the Advanced Networking Workshop held at the Naples Chamber of Commerce and facilitated by Realtor Matthew Klinowski and business coach Jessica Macera.

Here's what stuck with me: If you live in a big city, you can pretty much remain nameless and faceless and still do business.

My plan of action: Move to a big city immediately! Just kidding.

I'm thinking if I move to a big city, I wouldn't have to actually be out there meeting people face-to-face. Maybe I could simply do business from my home computer, in my sweatpants, and still be a successful copywriter without ever having to meet anyone in person to try to sell my services.

Hey, some people dream of winning the lottery. I dream of never having to face-to-face network. We all gotta have our dreams, right?

In all seriousness, though, I know that is not reality, whether I'm in a city of a few million or here in Naples where we balloon up to about 300,000 or so from January to April. I must get out there and get to know people and, more importantly, have them get to know me in order for my business to even have a chance of growing.

What really took me back this morning was something business owner Phil Dodd said to me. He had read a previous post where I confessed how scary networking was for me and today he told me that at the last Advanced Networking session he felt I was the most approachable. Wow! That was eye opening. I never pictured myself like that. Maybe that will help me in my networking quest.

In any case, here's what I learned from today's session:

• Choose the right events that play to your strengths and the application of your business. Of course, to discover which events are right for you, it may require attending some that turn out to not be a good fit, but you won't know that until you show up.
• Be consistent in your networking and marketing efforts. As Matt quoted, "Repetition is recognition." And remember, more often than not, a simple message that is well executed is typically much more effective than one that is extravagant with no real thought-out plan.
• Carry a pen with you at events and when you collect a business card from someone you really made a connection with, place a check mark on that card to trigger your memory when plugging that person into your database.
• Keep notes about your contacts. This works well in Outlook which provides a spot for notes. As Jessica pointed out, keep notes about each person's likes and dislikes which can spur conversation the next time you meet them.
• Organize your contacts. Keep a list of casual contacts versus those you consider "hot pursuits."
• Maintain a regular follow-up schedule. Whether you follow-up with an email one day after meeting someone or deliver a handwritten note to them within a week, make a plan and stick to it.
• Let your personality shine through. The more you let people see the real you, the more memorable you will be. Stand out from the crowd.

But the most important point is that networking is a lifestyle. If you commit to it in whatever capacity, you will follow-through and get it done. Happy networking!