How to Make $3,400 While on Vacation

How to Make Money While on Vacation This last weekend I turned 34. Amidst vacationing on the beach, reading some great books and contemplating future hip replacements, I also kept in touch with potential clients via my phone.

They’d write me and I’d respond with ultra-classy emails such as: “I’m sorry for the short response, but I’m away on vacation until Sunday. I’d be more than happy to discuss your project with you when I return. Until then!”

One for one, without variance, each and every person wrote back and said something along the lines of “Thanks for the prompt reply! And on vacation no less! Enjoy your birthday.”

And one for one those potential clients each became actual clients. Now, only 3 hours into Monday, I’ve got $3400 worth of work lined up for next week. So far. No, that’s not a lot but it’s also not bad for a business that started in late 2007.

I don’t report on my finances much publicly. In fact, that’s the first time I’ve ever done it because people get weird when money is mentioned. They laugh in your face, or start sending you Costco palettes of Top Ramen, or get viciously jealous and steal the hood ornament off your Jag.
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Branding for people who aren’t toilet paper

When I buy toilet paper, I don’t look for the best packaging or logo. I grab the gigantic 6,000-roll pack and call it a day. Toilet paper all ends up in the same place and performs a function that obviates the need for great design and swell packaging.

When I buy staples, I don’t check to see if there’s a mascot on the packaging or if they’re the new Version 2.0 variety. Staples are staples and individuation amongst types and brands means nothing to me.

For such items, branding isn’t really that important. We want 6 billion staples for 12 cents and we don’t care what’s on the box. We want 6,000 rolls of toilet paper for $1.99, regardless of whether or not the package features a talking antelope. As long as the packaging doesn’t have razor blades or dead babies on it, such items are a guaranteed sale.

But you’re not a toilet paper company, are you?

No, you’re not. You sell consulting, or ebooks, or blog posts, or websites, or logos. You do something that, because of your personality and skills and talents, nobody can get anywhere other than from you.

That’s why you need a brand. And that’s why you don’t have to reduce your prices down to a six-pack of toilet paper.

You’re not selling something I can get from any store.

You’re selling something I can only get from you.

How to put together a portfolio when you’ve never had clients

Cart One catch-22 that hits us freelancers in the face in the early early days is that we have to have portfolios, even if we’ve never had a client. Of course if you’ve never had a client you couldn’t possibly have a portfolio. Bummer.

What to do? Fake it.

Seriously, just make one up. Your potential clients are going to want to see what you have done. If you can’t show them that, the next best thing is to show them what you can do.
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Two Things I Depend on For Freelance Commissions

I’m sure some of my subscribers will read this one and unsubscribe immediately because this is no uncharted territory. In fact, if you get anything out of this post at all you’ve maybe had a long life of drinking bleach.

But then again, some of the people who stop by here are struggling to get more work, more clients and make a successful go of owning their own business. This post might help you, as these are the only two things I did to get my own business off the ground.

My two big somewhat mediocre but highly important tips for getting freelance work are these:

Have a good portfolio
Communicate well

Have a good portfolio

Having a good portfolio is essential. At the beginning of my freelance career I knew nobody and so got zero commissions through my connections. I had to build my client base entirely from scratch.
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