April 2018

Sure. Working from home sounds like the perfect lifestyle. Who doesn’t want to stay in their pajamas all day and never have to worry about putting on a tie again? And when you’re a freelancer there are what seem to be an infinite number of temptations that can keep you away from taking care of business. But you’re going to have to learn some self-discipline if you are going to survive in the world of digital marketing.

So what’s the secret to pushing through until the end? As a freelancing Digital Marketing Consultant and business owner, I know firsthand the challenges that come with trying to stay focused and getting a project completed. Luckily, through the years I’ve been able to gather enough experience and tips that I’ll be happily sharing with you on this blog.

Hopefully, they will do you well as you carry along on your adventure into digital marketing.

1. Remember routine? She still loves you.

Remember that office job you left to become a successful freelancer? And the horror of having to wake up every day at 6:30 in the morning to make it to the office by 7:45?

Yes, it’s true that one of the “benefits” of freelancing is creating your own work schedule. But without some routine in your life, projects and assignments can start to pile up quickly, which can mean disaster for your reputation and your business. Don’t be a routine-less mess. Give yourself a “proper” work system so that you can stay engaged and focused.

Also, don’t forget you need to look the role if you’re going to play it. Put on a nice outfit for the day and see if that helps to set you off on the right foot.

2. Put the iPhone down.

What if I told you I just spent the last 15 minutes scrolling through Twitter? And about 15 minutes before on Snapchat. Oh…and about 10 minutes on Facebook. Doesn’t sound very productive, does it?

Digital marketing freelancers tend to be up-to-par with all the current tech trends and social media apps, but the only problem with that is these things can quickly become a distraction. Add to that the TV, the Internet, and home chores, and work tasks can quickly take a backseat to “Likes” and filters. It’s essential that when you’re about to work then you legitimately plan for some quiet work time. I’m talking closed doors, phones off (ok they probably won’t but try not to use them unnecessarily), and all distractions removed.

Of course, this is ideal and sometimes a home setting doesn’t provide you these privileges. Consider a change of setting. Some time at your local coffeehouse can do wonders.

3. “Action expresses priority.” – Mahatma Gandhi

In order to be a successful digital marketing freelancer, you have to be able to prioritize assignments and tasks. You can do this either the old fashion way with a calendar or planner, or with a computer, smartphone, or tablet, which all work perfectly fine. There’s even online software that you can use to help you prioritize.

By quickly and efficiently organizing work tasks, you’ll be able to manage your time – and hopefully – complete assignments in a prompt manner. Remember, even as a freelancer, you can still be constrained by the timelines of your clients. Do yourself and your business the favor and stick to them.

4. “Relax, go to it…”

To the outsider, freelancing seems like the perfect job. I mean…you are your own boss. Who wouldn’t love that?

But the truth for many freelancers is that the line between work and play often begins to merge into one fuzzy reality in which getting away for a breather just never happens. We’re all humans (right?) and not autonomous robots meant to function 24 hours a day. Sometimes you need to recharge your battery and give yourself a mental reboot.

Try to plan vacations, and include them in your calendar at the start of the year, so that you can inform clients of when you’ll be taking a break and for how long.

5. A little face to face time is vital.

it’s important for digital marketing freelancers to recognize that bad routines can develop very easily if you’re not being careful. Strictly speaking to clients through email is a bad habit that you’ll want to break. When the opportunity arises to touch base with them, then try and set up a little bit of face time to get out of that solitary rut.

Of course, a physical meeting might not be doable, but there’s always Facetime, Google Hangouts, Skype, and a variety of visual and audio applications that perform effectively in these scenarios. It’s beneficial for both you and the client to schedule a call or meeting so that you can talk about the project, how far you’ve progressed, and to also get some feedback.

Showing the client that you actually care about their input can help you to re-establish that connection and reinforce their interest in utilizing your business and skills.

6. Be real, real.

If you need any serious motivation to stay focused and get your work done, then just think about losing some of your recurring monthly projects. A long-term freelance project can mean a consistent income for you (and your family), but being a bit too disengaged or setting these assignments on the back burner can ultimately harm your business and your finances.

Sure this can be a scary thought, but sometimes you need a little fire under your feet to push you on and upwards. Whether web design, content creation, website maintenance, social media marketing, or graphic designing, consistency from month to month is a wonderful thing.  Do you really want to lose that?

7. 7. [Enter inspirational quote here.]

Yes, you read that right. There’s nothing worse than a cliché to express a truth so let’s just be honest.  Freelancing can be everything you ever wanted and more than you ever expected. It’s an everyday battle that can mean meeting deadlines by working through the night – for the whole week.

But this is your career. Your life. There’s a reason why you chose this route, and though sometimes it may get hidden in all the muck and dirt that life brings, that creative spark is alive somewhere in all the craziness of work. Don’t forget why you got into the amazing world of digital marketing.

And don’t forget to continue visiting me here at my website for all things digital marketing and entrepreneurship.

Every single entrepreneur that has sought, developed, and found any level of fortune has done so through diligence, creativity – and sometimes – a little bit of luck.

But fortunately for us, many of these great entrepreneurs have left a breadcrumb trail and plenty of information to help us along our own path to business success. If you’re eager to start your journey, then let me, business owner and Digital Marketing Consultant, Mauricio Pina, offer you seven startup secrets every potential entrepreneur needs to know.

1. Be Passionate About Your Business

Sure, it’s a cliche, but you have to love what you do. The fact of the matter is that loving your business idea and what your startup is trying to accomplish will provide you with that extra motivation you need to push through the toughest of days (or months).

That same passion should be evident to your customers as well. That energy and desire to provide the best product/service will certainly help to draw in clients.

Make sure that any future employees also share that same level of passion and commitment in their work as you do.

2. Study, Plan, Simplify & Repeat

So…being passionate is great. But you also have to be realistic and well informed. How much do you know about the business world? And specifically, how much do you know about the niche you’re trying to get into?

This is where doing your homework is absolutely essential. You don’t want to make any assumptions or take a bad step early on in the process that can quickly doom your startup.

Make sure to talk to experts in the industry you’re interested in becoming a part of. Create a business plan (albeit a flexible one). Understand your financial needs so that you can plan for the initial period of being in business, which can be one of the toughest times. Go back through your mission statement and make sure that it meets client needs.

Study, plan, simplify and repeat until you have a solid strategy to get to where you want to go. And don’t be afraid to say no sometimes. Promising to overdeliver can mean failure if you don’t tread carefully.

3. Teamwork Wins Games

Having the right team of like-minded individuals all sharing one common goal and all pushing towards one outcome is a force that just cannot be beat. If you want your startup to succeed, you’ll need a dedicated team of intelligent, thrifty, hardworking individuals who are willing to fight an uphill battle.

As a startup, your team members will need to have the ability to learn quickly, adjust efficiently, grow from constructive criticism, and hopefully have a specialized skill that serves your business well.

4. So About This Criticism Thing…

Mistakes happen in any good business and sometimes you’ll need to correct employees after an especially problematic snafu. But being an outright overbearing and rude leader can quickly lead to bigger issues.

In today’s world, it’s not too hard for a scorned employee (or client for that matter) to quickly hop on social media and relieve some frustration. A harsh employee review can easily make its way across the Internet. And that’s not the type of publicity a startup needs.

On the other hand, as an entrepreneur, don’t be afraid to get some feedback of your own. As the great Elon Musk has said, “ “Take as much feedback from as many people as you can about whatever idea you have…seek critical feedback.  Ask them what’s wrong.”

5. Living in a World of Data

Data and analytics are essential for any startup. When coupled with creative, intuitive business acumen, data can open up a whole new world of opportunity.

Following data to recognize when to make an investment into a certain portion of your business (i.e. marketing, product, new personnel, etc.), is the best way to go about making the right decisions for your company.

And just as a side note: data is going to be pivotal to your digital marketing scheme.

6. Go Big (Sometimes)

So “going big” is definitely a balancing act.

Some projects are just too important to your startup and you’ll need to tackle them in order to get yourself ahead. While we did mention that sometimes it’s ok to say no, sometimes you need to say yes.

Even though a challenge of this nature can be an ego-crushing, time-consuming, all-out-war, it’s still necessary to accept certain projects to really develop your skills – and to reap those big-time benefits including an improved reputation. This is especially true if it allows you to get into a lucrative market.

While these “go big or go home” opportunities may test your limit, they can also push you to the next level.

7. Have Some Faith & Jump (After Planning of Course)

Starting your own company is a tremendous task. There’s plenty of planning and hard work that comes into just getting things going. But if you’re waiting for the perfect moment to jump, it might not ever come.

It’s going to be scary and there is definitely no certainty in life, but by attacking aggressively, consistently, and energetically, you should be able to get your startup to come to life.

But it all starts with taking the first step.

But don’t worry. You aren’t facing this challenge alone. There is a whole spectrum of individuals and professionals who can help to reap the benefits of a global market.

Including a Digital Marketing Consultants such as myself. If you’re eager to learn more about the digital marketing game or want to learn about the importance of having an online presence, contact me – Mauricio Pina – today at (956) 566-4998.

Together we can open a world of infinite possibilities.