Social networking sites are considered to be the next big thing on the web, and many of the most famous social networking sites have now become household names. One of the most well known of these sites is MySpace, and then there is Face Book, Twitter, and too many others to mention. The key thing which separates these social networking sites from traditional websites or blogs is that the content on these sites are “user generated,” meaning that the users are often responsible for creating new content on the site. Social networks generally bring together different communities of people who are interested in the same topic. When you become a member of a social networking site, you will typically be able to create a profile where you're able to list your interests, and you will be able to easily find people who have interests which are similar to your own.
While many social networks are overly trendy and cater to the general public, there are either communities within these sites, or social network sites which are specifically designed to bring together business people who have related interests. These social networking sites can often be great places to find freelance work, and they are also great places to hire freelancers as well. Many business partnerships are now being formed over the World Wide Web, and they are often being conducted via social networking sites.
This chapter should give you a solid idea of the different ways in which you can get your name out there. These methods shouldn't be considered hard or fast rules; it is inevitable that technology will advance and new ways will be introduced for people to connect. As a freelancer, your job is to keep abreast of these new developments so that you will have the edge on the competition. When using the methods discussed in this chapter, you will inevitably find that some methods suit you better than others. Regardless, we still recommend at least trying all these methods in order to get a feel for them, and to increase the likelihood of you generating sales within a short time span.
Many of the people who play by Industrial Age rules will be slow to use the Internet as a medium of marketing, and most will never use it for this purpose. It is ironic that during the current economic crisis, many people are complaining about an inability to find jobs, when the primary reason for this is due to their lack of skills in areas that are high in demand, and their failure to use the Internet as a tool for self employment. While the competition in certain industries can be fierce, those freelancers who are able to push forward and exploit every marketing tool available at their disposal will thrive.
At the same time, it is crucial for you to be cautious when it comes to the type of clients you choose to work for. Not all clients are good clients, and some may cause major headaches. The concept of customer relations is something that you must master if you wish to become rich and enjoy the life of your dreams. Some people can be hard to deal with, and others are not even worth dealing with at all. In the next chapter, we will focus on the importance of sharpening your mind, and we will show you ways and methods that you can use to develop the right mindset to become a freelancer.
In order to properly harness the skills that you've learned, you will need to have the right mindset. For much of this book, we've been gearing you towards this direction, getting you to think bigger. The self employed freelancer doesn't think in the same way as an employee, and if your mind is not in the proper state once you begin your freelance career, you will be a failure before you even start.
It is inevitable that as time goes on, technology will change. Many of the websites or methods mentioned in this chapter may become obsolete, or may evolve into something entirely new. Regardless, the basic principle remains: through the power of the global network known as the Internet, you can either cheaply or freely advertise your freelance services to those who need them the most.
There are many ways in which you can market yourself, and in many cases, you will only be limited by your imagination. The Internet is not a static organism, like any complex system, it will evolve over time. Your job as a freelance is to evolve with it.