OFFICIAL LIVEBLOG - Business of You: Bloggers are Pioneers in a Post-"Employee" World

Session Description: Bloggers have created any number of “portfolio careers” using blogs as a jumping off point for freelancing, consulting, starting businesses, etc. This session will look at the fundamentals of valuing your work, skills and expertise from a business perspective. How to market yourself, how to attach appropriate value to what you do, how to decide when you’ll do something gratis, and when it’s time for that gravy train to roll to a stop. Maggie Fox, founder of one of the world’s largest independent social media agencies, moderates the discussion among women who have used their blogs to come into their own and who have held their ground as women entrepreneurs. Melissa Lion, a professional writer and blogger, Karen Rani Bodkin, who moved from freelance web designer to self-employed designer and Paula Gregorowicz, a life coach specializing in empowering women, draw on their experiences to help you successfully propel your own business. Additionally, Kaveri Subbarao joins us with legal advice on Internet practices, blogging, trademark issues, advertising law and more. Come get your questions answered and share with us what has been the best (and the most difficult) part of launching your own blog-based business.

PG -

ML – Believes in yoga pants – wants to be in them all the time. Never wants to go back to 9-5 job. The fear of that is what motivates her.

KR – Has designed things she'd never tell anyone about. Also terrified of returning to a 9-5 job. BlogHer 06 was her lightbulb moment. Realized that charging $95 per site wasn't enough. People told her that she was worth $300 per blog.

MF – Women suck at valueing themselves. Back when she first wanted to start her SM company, she had great ideas, but no real plan for setting it up. Lightbulb moment was at a conference for tech people, talking to people there she realized she was good at it, and really understood it. Realized she could go after major Fortune 5000 companies.

KS – Is a lawyer, but has a business for helping emerging businesses. When you're looking at how to pitch your value, if you don't understand it yourself, you won't be able to promote it. Biggest challenge when you decide to ask for more $$ is for YOU to feel like you deserve it. You add a bit of flair to everything you bring. They might get it cheaper somewhere else, but they won't get YOU.

MF - You have to make it about value, not price.

How do you package yourself?
ML – Had clear goals at first. You get $x/word. But became a pro by blogging for free. But she's SO opposed to blogging for free. If we support blogs that pay per blog, that's better for everyone. But at the same time she did blog for free before getting the paying jobs.
Some free communities can be great for exposure, but some of the bigger sites (Huff Post) should be paying writers.
Some of the bigger sites don't give you the exposure that smaller sites can give you. Little blogs mean you can meet people face to face. Better community relationships.

KR – Sometimes does a smaller site for almost nothing because of the traffic that person gets. She never has to advertise. Word of mouth is everything for her.

MF – Back to fear. Fear gets in your guts, paralyzes you.

PG – Comes back to valueing yourself. Until you can value yourself to you you can't value yourself to other people. You're not going to get rid of fear. Not as long as you're human. So how can you harness the fear and use it as a teacher? Fear can be your friend and partner.

MF – We have this idea that we can't ever be vulnerable in business. Finds fear really gets her when she's talking to senior executives. Even if she has to ask for an extension or something. Has learned to recognize the fear and cusses it out. Fear wants to hold you back. You have to say “No, not listening.” What's the worst that can happen? You'll make a mistake. Oh, well. Better than being held back.

Blogger in audience – Negotiating a new rate for blog posts. Help!

Other audience member – Look at other sites like yours and see what they're being paid. If you have hard numbers from other sites you can defend your case best.

KS – If you've already agreed, then you can't go back. Unprofessional. For future reference, use the info.
MF – When people propose, always give the lowest number. Don't be scared to negotiate.

Brandy Shaffles “Ask Patty” in the Audience – When you give a proposal, give a range. But stick to the limits, especially time, that you set. Once you set a value to yourself you also have to apply it to your time.

KS – Formula for pricing. Avoid giving an hourly rate. Instead propose a package deal. Value you're getting for X amount of money. In YOUR head, know your hourly rate, then add a cushion. If you can do it in less time, you make more money. But they aren't figuring your hourly rate and thinking it's high.

PG – when you're going to negotiate and go down in price, make sure you take something away from your proposal. Don't devalue your work.

KS – Ask, what's your budget and decide if that's too low for yourself. If you REALLY want the job, don't devalue yourself. Figure out a happy medium.

KR – Don't be afraid to charge a premium rate if their deadline is tight or they're being demanding.

“Good, cheap, fast, pick two”

Liz Rizzo Everyday Goddess – question about mistakes. How do you deal with mistakes?
PG – What do you want to focus on? What does it make you feel like? How is ruminating about mistakes doing for you? Got the lesson, so does sitting in the muck still help?
Make a list of successes, even a short one, before you go to bed. Then that's what you focus on instead of ruminating on the bad.

Heather – Rookie Moms – Let's pretend she knows her skills and her worth. How do you take that and enter the right level of an organization.
MF – multipronged strategy – Speaking engagements are great way to build profile and to figure out how to articulate your strategy.
Figure out where you're going and how to get there. Lots in your head.
Don't always negotiate on price. Consider the value of what you're getting. Sometimes exposure is as important as salary.
Call the CEO, meet the CEO. Pick up the phone. Be prepared to walk away and say now.

KS – Have a strategy. Know what you're doing. Having a strategic plan in place helps. Have goals for yourself. Figure out the tactical steps to get where you want to go. Start local! Have that 1 on 1 interface. Could be the starting path to get a national empire.
Reach out to local companies.
NEED an elevator speech. Know how to present what to do. Be able to do it at the drop of a hat. People everywhere can present opportunities.

Uncommon misconceptions – I have a job how do I turn it into a blog?
SK – If you work for a company that is not your own. And you blog on the side. Important that you know what the company policies are and that you make the company aware of your blog if you write about work. You could get terminated.
The more you reveal up front the more you can continue.

PG – Always looking for someone to give us permission, we have to learn to give ourselves permission to be who we are going to be in the world. You have to chose for yourself how much of yourself you're willing to leave at the door.

KR – You have to be yourself on your blog. Don't worry too much about the fallout. People will love you or hate you, but at least you're you.

Mother of All Trips – Focuses on good quality of the writing. Takes a significant amount of time. How do you balance quality of work and time.

ML – 40hrs a week is pitching work, keeping the freelance jobs coming. Writing is a tiny part of it.

KS – You don't have to do it alone. There are virtual assistants. There are communities. REAch out and figure out what works for you.

Jenny on the Spot – Shooting for the small community. Gave away lots of ideas to a local company, scared they're going to go away. Wanted them to buy in, so pitched lots.

KS In order to capitalize on intellectual property you have to be willing to give some of it away. You have to be willing to give up some of you to get it back. Once you make your pitch, then you have to let it go. Start thinking of other pitches.
Trust in yourself that you've given something of you. Trust that they can't get that somewhere else.

Danelle – Homemaker Barbie.com – What's the strategy on pricing for expenses etc... fees for speaking...
MF started setting a fee. Then changed – if there's value in her going, she'll absorb the cost. Business development cost.
When you're at a conference or meeting with an organization. You have to talk to people who make the decisions and have the money.

PG – Don't be afraid to sometimes say no. What are you trading off? Is it working out?