I wouldn’t be much of a marketing girl if I didn’t know how to promote and sell my own services. I have my snazzy business cards in my purse for all occasions, and even a few backups in my camera case for when I’m out adventuring. My friends and family all know what I do, and they aren’t shy about promoting me in my absence, or backing up a “pitch” to a business owner if I run across one in our mutual travels.
Ultimately, working with large, national businesses provides me with stability, but it sometimes lacks the personal touch and unique experience that drew me into freelancing to begin with. That’s why, living in a town full of farmers markets, festivals, and street fairs, I’ve taken a slightly more unusual tack with potential clients – beyond the usual brief pitch, I offer an unusual alternative that many other freelancers haven’t considered.
I feel passionately that it’s important to balance shopping at mega-marts with patronizing local businesses, both for financial and ethical reasons. That’s why I almost always offer a barter for my services, right out of the proverbial gate. The benefits are many – I get food, soap, services, car repair, even rent discounts for something I’m familiar with, the client is more likely to hire me if they can “buy” my writing services with stock on hand, and I typically get some word of mouth advertising in the deal as well. I’m supporting my local business, and it’s considerably easier to write about something I can physically eat, experience, or visit over something I have to examine through the internet.
The next time you’re looking for clients, take a few cards and be willing to give a nod to the very beginnings of commerce – item for item, skill for skill. You may be pleasantly surprised at what you end up with!
