STC Consulting and Independent Contracting SIG


Resources & Links —> Tips for Finding Clients
Home What's New UPDATED About the CIC SIG Membership Chapter CIC SIGs Surveys Calendar Contacts Newsletter CICSIG-L Resources & Links		Finding clients is probably one of, if not the, hardest thing for independents. Here are some of the things I've done over the years (some I plan to do; I did not take clients with me when I started my business and I've started over once after relocating): Be active and visible in one or more professional associations (STC, ASTD, ISPI, IEEE-PCS, ACM SIG DOC, etc.). Network with friends, neighbors, anyone you know (always have at least one business card with you). Attend meetings of other groups locally such as various IT organizations. Give presentations at meetings about documentation or writing-related topics. Present at conferences (various STC regional or international conferences, WinWriters, or others). Create a Web site that describes what you do (I get a few leads a year directly from mine). Use meta tags to help people find your site when searching. Ask past and current clients for referrals. Seek projects with ongoing updates or maintenance work. Send holiday cards to clients to remind them you're still around. Send post cards periodically to clients (past and present), announcing new things about your business (new tools, new Web site, new personnel, anniversary, etc.). Answer questions on e-mail lists (your local chapter may have one) to show your expertise. List your company on various Web sites that list consultants or technical communicators. Carve out a unique specialty that is in demand. Read some books about marketing for small businesses. A few of my favorites on the STC Rocky Mountain Chapter site: http://www.stcrmc.org/jobs_freelance/freefaq.htm#q15. Network, network, network!

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