From Blue Collar To Cubicell To Freelancer To...

[CoreyinMN]

What kind of shops did you do the CAD work for?

Only a small handful as a draftsman. The lighting company where I was in product development and standard product management. Worked with many different materials and processes. I did a few small small one off projects for a milking machine part in the dairy industry, a compact tractor implement manufacturer and a specialty machine shop. But that was when I knew it was time to move on to my true love... MARKETING!

I'm wondering if you might be able to have a niche of helping these kinds of businesses to get great new clients and promote their specialty products. It seems you have some experience there that would put you ahead of the generic SEO/PPC consultant when it comes to working with some of these businesses.

I've actually thought about this but never really fleshed it all out. I have a few AdWords clients at the moment where it basically got me the job in each case.

Corey, I think you could do really well with Andy's style of phone conversations as a very soft sell, to people who already know and like him from his forum participation. For you, the marketing funnel might be something else. But I think the respectful business calls are a great way to go.

I am always trying different things. UpWork has been the main source lately because I have a system but I am branching out (and need to).

I wasted most of last year with a client who imposed his own demands on what I do, while also being a broke cheapskate about it! I made the mistake of thinking some money was better than none. But I was wrong. I had to cut ties and do a dumb day job through the winter and spring. This year, I learned my lesson. Just landed a big project now where the project launch took a lot longer, because it was truly respectful back and forth meeting of the minds. I'm looking now at how I make the process more systematic, to start working with other worthwhile clients. I'm still learning about this, would be happy to share what I've found so far with you.

Feel free.

 

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[CoreyinMN]

Ot vjot tunivjoph zua'wi emsiefz fupi? Op hipisem, jux fuit ov xusl? Fu emm pix dmoipvt qez gus "gostv fevi qsukidv" pu nevvis xjev? O'n katv vszoph vu wotaemobi xjev't opwumwif.

Zit, O fu Fotduwisz dupvsedv xjip O dep. Op e pavtjimm zua fu ep eafov + qsuwofi tuni tusv ug sitamv op 30 fezt gus e tnemmis gii (14 fezt gus tuni tnemmis qsukidvt epf/us comm juasmz gus vjot qisouf). Vjot howit zua e djepdi vu hiv optofi epf siemmz ettitt xjev piift vu ci fupi, muph visn, gus zua vu hiv vjin sitamvt (O hiv eptxist vu raitvoupt moli ot vjios vsedloph tiv aq sohjv? Xomm O piif vu josi tuniupi vu goy tunivjoph? ot e qsuditt op vjios temit fiqesvnipv lommoph ugg huuf mieft, ivd, ivd). Qmat ov qsuwofit e djepdi vu xusl xovj iedj uvjis xovjuav e muph-visn dunnovnipv (og xi jevi xusloph vuhivjis gus tuni sietup pu xussoit, ov xomm ci uwis tuup).

Vjip egvis 30 fezt, zua howi vjin e siqusv xovj ep uavmopi ug xjev piift vu fupi emuph xovj e pix, nusi eddasevi qsukidv gii.

Ov xuslt hsiev cideati op vji qetv vjisi xisi vonit xjip O xuamf vjsux uav e pancis upmz vu gopf e vup ug tvagg xsuph us vjev xuam qsiwipv ni gsun cioph ecmi vu qsuwofi vji raemovz xusl O qsunotif xovjuav dutvoph ni e muv nusi voni epf nupiz.

 

[Late Bloomer]

Zit, O fu Fotduwisz dupvsedv xjip O dep. Op e pavtjimm zua fu ep eafov + qsuwofi tuni tusv ug sitamv op 30 fezt gus e tnemmis gii (14 fezt gus tuni tnemmis qsukidvt epf/us comm juasmz gus vjot qisouf).

Vjev muult moli e hsiev xez vu hu. Vjeplt!