100% Of My Business Is Derived Online
I was reviewing my various projects lately including ongoing contract work and came to a startling realization: every client I have at the moment is 
someone who found me online. Not simply people whom I connected with thanks to the internet, but people who found me through this website.
Three Years Later…Success!
It was three years ago this month that I launched “The Article Writer” having previously had an online presence through other sites that I owned, but nothing dedicated exclusively to what I do. Sure, my corporate flight attendant site (sold June 2007) was already three years old when this site was launched, but it was the act of extracting my identity from these other sites and creating a site pitching my capabilities which made all of the difference in the world for me.
I had no idea that this particular move would be so beneficial to me. Up until then, all of my clients came through phone work, third party job sites, referrals, and previous clients. Soon after launching this site I was “discovered” by the first of several big clients, confirming that my decision to strike out independently was a good one.
Self Reliance Pays Off
I’m not writing this to boast about my personal success, rather to encourage people who do not have a visible online presence to get one. Specifically, two points come to mind when developing an online presence:
- If you don’t yet have a website or your site/blog isn’t easily visible (on its own domain and not hiding on blogspot. com or wordpress.com) then you are making it difficult for customers to find you. Almost always a client mentions that they found me through one of my blogs or through an article I published which links back to this site.
- If you have a website, is it properly optimized? We writers are usually very good at what we do — write — but not particularly good when it comes to promoting our personal sites. Your site doesn’t have to look spectacular but you should be easily found in the SERPs, have a strong linking strategy, and your name should be found elsewhere.
I don’t advertise my services, at least I haven’t done so in more than a year. I don’t use Guru, eLance, or other job sites and I haven’t used AdWords in ages. However, I do keep up with people through social media sites and email.
Success won’t come to you overnight, but you’ll be successful if you develop a strong online presence and maintain it. Maybe I shouldn’t be so forthcoming about my work — I could be giving some valuable grist to someone else’s mill — but that is the risk I am willing to take.
Have you found success online?
Tags: Blogger, blogging, blogs, business marketing, Development, freelance, Marketing, small business, writer
General | Matthew C. Keegan, 5 May 08
By Ty Lombardi, May 5, 2008 @ 2:06 pm
Hey there,
Very inspiring article! Reading this post helped me realize how all this website work will pay off. I have been in “the game” for about nine months now, with a couple websites of my own.
On another note, your blog is very welcoming. Your color scheme is quite appealing and your information is well organized.
Keep up the good work!
By Matt, May 5, 2008 @ 2:18 pm
Thanks, Ty. I appreciate your comment.
I had no idea at the onset that I would eventually find most of my clients online (or vice versa). It has made things easier for me as I can concentrate on my work without going overboard with marketing.
If a site is well designed, the content easy to read and informative, and has been around for awhile, eventually it’ll pay off in decent dividends.
By Dennis Edell, May 5, 2008 @ 7:20 pm
Very inspiring indeed. I’ve been slaving for a few months and see it slowly but surely starting to pay off.
Just keep it promoting
By Matt Hayden, May 6, 2008 @ 8:12 am
Among other things, I have a flyer delivery service. I have recently hit Google’s page one for searches like “flyer distribution Sydney”. I get on average about 3 calls a week from these searches. Several of these people have become clients.
It took a while but all that link-building was worth it. At this stage, I really don’t have to do any other advertising at all.
Perseverance most definitely does pay off!
By Sandra Prangenberg, May 6, 2008 @ 12:17 pm
Hey thats obiviously great. Having clients online is a very good thing. We can deal with them from anywhere and at any time. This also saves our time and also can concentrate much on the work.
By Fotobuch, May 6, 2008 @ 1:46 pm
I agree with you that success doesn’t come hopefully.We have to bring it with our labor with confidence and concentration.
Fotobuchs last blog post..Fotobuch
By psi man, May 7, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
Very inspiring! I left the construction trades three years ago to start working as an online contractor. I now make a decent living-a little more than in the trades, but more hours, although extrememly personally rewarding to know that I could do it. It really took me in directions I couldn’t have forseen.
By Matt, May 8, 2008 @ 4:41 am
PSI, isn’t that true? We work longer hours but we enjoy what we’re doing all the more. I’ve worked jobs where 40 hours per week was about 20 hours too long. Enjoy your “new” career!
By Anne Wayman, May 8, 2008 @ 1:47 pm
My business is 99% from my online presence… and that one percent is left-over as it were. I love it this way.
Anne Waymans last blog post..Q&As for Freelance Writers
By Anthony a.k.a. OldSchoolSEO, May 9, 2008 @ 10:32 am
Matt, thanks for sharing. To me this is more evidence that content matters because as a writer you are inclined to write )or blog) more than the average person.
My first few web-based businesses were built exclusively online, which is why I have such a passion for Internet Marketing. No one can tell me it doesn’t work, although lately some have questioned its legitimacy.
Best regards, Anthony
Anthony a.k.a. OldSchoolSEOs last blog post..Does Anyone Read Print Magazines Anymore?
By Matt, May 9, 2008 @ 11:23 am
Anthony, people seem to have preconceived notions about the internet, making legitimate online work seem suspect too.
There are scams out there and there are plenty of embellished programs claiming results that the average user won’t ever see.
I believe that we’ve seen just the tip of what the internet can do as far as revolutionizing the way we work with many changes yet to come.
By Vivienne Quek, May 12, 2008 @ 3:31 am
Very inspiring and encouraging, I haven’t found business success through my blog but I’m not giving up hopes here. Sometimes people will buy instantaneously,sometimes they need time to observe and decide if that is the most viable option. Perhaps you can share in your future posts, the tips to attract online clients.
Vivienne Queks last blog post..Great Ad 16: It’s Hard to Concentrate on a Good Book With a Wet Diaper
By Drivers License Restoration, May 12, 2008 @ 2:58 pm
cool post. inspiring..i am tying to build my business online and hope in 1 year time, i will achieve success