Two fascinating things happened to me recently. First an old friend found me online but not through Social Media. He doesn’t use Facebook or Twitter. He did a simple Google search and found my vanity website. We hadn’t spoken in about 3 years. I had updated my bio, so through my website is how he learned I was now married and had relocated to Houston; which is kind of pathetic and good at the same time.
Secondly, one of my contacts that I work with regularly in ministry asked me for my rates. He knows that I am a Certified Virtual Assistant, and he is a business owner. I sent him the relevant link on my website and then I asked myself a hard and honest question. If I were a prospective client that had no prior knowledge of my work, would I want to hire me based on my marketing materials today?
A year ago, I would not have hesitated to say yes. However, in that moment I had to say no. Knowing what I know I am capable of doing and am not showing in my body of work, I would have had to pass.
I love another one of my friends/contacts who is a designer by passion and craft. He is a dear friend that once was a team member of mine. I loved his work so much that I hired him! Yes, I was his boss. I don’t think I have ever seen him stay committed to a website design for more than 6 months. He is also a serial entrepreneur. It’s his passion to be the best at what he does that drives him.
In the last year, I have been diligently working on refreshing my professional skills and acquiring new ones. I am also passionate about what I do. Yet, my marketing materials did not fully reflect this. I had not put my best foot forward. Being the kind of person that I am, what else could I do in a situation like that but to make the decision to treat myself as I was my #1 client?
So, at the top of the year I began the tedious task of doing a full review and overhaul of my personal branding tools: websites, sale sheets, social media profiles. Nothing is being spared; if it is no longer relevant it’s being shut down. If the content and design are dated, it’s being revamped.
I am only sharing this because I think if you are in business in any form, you need to ask yourself questions like this occasionally. It’s ok to challenge yourself. You can always take your message to the next level.
© 2014, Lela Jefferson Fagan. All rights reserved.
