Freelancer Lifeline is a resource destination where FX members can find grant opportunities, loan information, digital events, creative tools, and more. We hope it serves as a source of comfort, inspiration, and support as we navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic together.
This virtual presentation will provide the knowledge and tools necessary to create and grow a successful YouTube channel.
You’ll learn:
different types of content you can create for your chosen niche that will resonate with your audience
how to optimize your channel and videos for discoverability
tips and best practices for creating high-quality videos on a budget
how to monetize your channel to add another revenue stream to your freelancing toolbox
Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your channel to the next level, this event will have something for you.
Grab your lunch and join us on Zoom:
11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Networking 12 to 1 p.m. – Presentation
Members: Free / Guests: $10. Be sure to register in advance on Eventbrite in order to gain access to the Zoom link.
Michelle Schneider has 15 years of experience in the marketing and design field, with a primary focus on email marketing and web design. Before going full-time as a freelancer, she worked in-house on marketing teams at Sporting KC, AMC Theatres, & Airshare. She launched her YouTube channel @Michelle.The.Creator in June 2021 and grew it to be eligible for monetization in 18 months. On her channel, she teaches tech tutorials and discusses various marketing and freelancing topics. Michelle also currently serves as the VP for The Freelance Exchange.
Isn’t it interesting how skills developed in one field ultimately redirect you into a vastly different career? Some of The Freelance Exchange’s web designers and developers are prime examples of this phenomenon.
For instance, Brian White started building up expertise to support his skate company. After teaching himself logo design, White screen printed shirts, hats, and other clothes in his garage to sell around town. He got into web design and development so he could sell his wares online.
“I learned the basics and built a new site for my company every six months,” he wrote in response to a questionnaire we sent to all of FX’s web design and development members. “This taught me the skills to … do outside business, and I started making websites for other companies.”
The road to becoming a freelance web designer and developer began for Sarah Humphrey when she worked as an urban planning consultant.
Her company needed someone to create websites that supported its projects. She embraced the opportunity because it played to her strengths of writing and organizing information, and because it combined creativity with technical skills.
It was certainly not lost on her that she was also mastering high-demand skills.
But LuLu Cao might win the prize for the most unconventional path into freelance web design and development. With a master’s degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Cao has taught college-level courses in her field.
The pivot to a full-stack developer seems like less of a leap when Cao explains her interest in philosophy, a passion she would pursue full time were it not for the real-world concerns of finance and employment. Philosophy, Cao wrote, cultivates critical thinking and challenges beliefs.
“It’s the most useful discipline in developing one’s knowledge and wisdom,” she wrote.
That sure sounds like a good underpinning for work as a freelance web designer and developer.
The field of web design and development has certainly changed through the years.
Our respondents noted a lot more drag-and-drop functions, the proliferation of do-it-yourself options, the emergence of mobile apps, and the explosion of e-commerce.
But don’t be fooled, they said.
The work is not easy and freelance web designers and developers are not interchangeable.
Doing the work right takes skill and patience, Humphrey wrote. She advised web freelancers to use all the free and low-cost tools available online to learn new skills.
One of the most common misperceptions of the field, White wrote, is that the work is easy and anyone can do it. “There are things in this field that literally take five-plus years to learn.”
As Humphrey and Cao demonstrate, web work is not just a guy thing. That is a misguided belief that Cao would like to put to rest.
“I know many excellent female programmers who have expressed tremendous enthusiasm and shown great talents in coding, learning to code, and solving coding challenges,” she wrote.
Yet as technical as the skills are, succeeding as a freelance web designer and developer still requires old-school concepts of customer service and perseverance.
Think small steps and be consistent, White advised, and don’t think success will come overnight. Earning five-star reviews and referrals are the way to go.
“When people are ‘behind’ you, they will drop your name to others and the work will roll in,” he wrote. “This is the best way to build a business and takes time.”
Humphrey also noted that, while it’s important to stay up on the technological changes in the field, it’s just as important to keep the client’s needs in mind.
Remember, she wrote, “clients usually need one good solution for their digital marketing needs — they are more interested in making sure it achieves their marketing objectives than knowing it is the absolute newest way of doing something.”
The FX of KC is for Freelancers, Contractors, Consultants and whatever else you call yourself. There’s a place for you here! Want to learn more about FX of KC?
On Thursday, January 12, join us at Brew Lab in the Grain Room for a special happy hour to give both members and non an opportunity to learn more about the club and volunteer positions available.
Come join us for drinks and appetizers, meet current board members, and discover the committees and leadership positions FX has available. FX will cover your first drink!
If you’re interested in serving, have a bit of time to spare every month, and have the commitment, passion, and reliability to help lead the freelance community in KC, we encourage you to attend!
BRRRR! Come out and grab your favorite brew with fun folks. We will spend time in the new year catching up and networking. Look for the FX of KC banner when you arrive. We cannot wait to see you!
Java Garage 1323 W. 13th Street Kansas City, MO 64101
Would you believe? One of the secrets to finding freelance success is to get involved.
Get involved with organizations (like The Freelance Exchange!) … but don’t just join. Get the most out of your membership by becoming an active member. Go to events, participate in conversations in person and online, and yes, volunteer on committees and serve on boards.
That’s the pro tip. That’s the secret sauce.
That’s how so many of our FX members have found freelance success. By volunteering.
Why?
Because people like to work with (and refer!) those whom they know, like and trust.
So, you need to become that person!
People will send you work and referrals when they know:
WHO you are
that you’ll do good work
you’re reliable
And a great way to do that is by giving back to the community.
In doing so, you can create a name for yourself and your business. You can establish and improve your professional reputation. And you can be rewarded greatly with new business and find freelance success.
Not only will you get warm fuzzies when you volunteer, you’ll also get to have your voice heard AND be able to make a difference for our organization and members.
Think of it as Part of Your Marketing Strategy
You probably post on social media. Maybe you have a website. You might send emails. What else can you do to improve your company’s reputation?
Obviously, there are tons of opportunities for self-promotion. And, if you’re self-employed, you may very well be seeking out free or inexpensive options to do so.
Newsflash! Volunteering fits that bill.
Just think … you could join a committee and help out with simple tasks. You could serve on the board as a Chair or Director, helping lead special projects or events. OR, you could even share your leadership skills on the Exec Board, helping guide the ship.
Each and every time you volunteer—in whatever capacity—you get the chance to:
rub elbows with movers and shakers
take ownership of the organization
and be rewarded for your hard work
This is one very easy way to put your company on the map. And find freelance success with free PR!
Just by donating a bit of time here and there, you get plenty of opportunities to share about it!
You’ll now have an added reason to share something on social media. You can add that impressive bullet point on your bio or résumé. You could add it to your website and/or FX portfolio page. You might be listed on a leadership page. You might win a Volunteer of the Month award and get added recognition. You could even get a special name tag. Plus, as a bonus, you’ll make new friends!
There are endless benefits to volunteering. You just have to put yourself out there. Level up your business by volunteering, and reap the rewards with more referrals and more business.
