Differentiate yourself by taking a clear position in your area of interest.
What do I mean by that? Here are some examples.
Jeff Jarvis writes a great deal about publishing, and his position is that traditional media companies just don’t understand that the Web has upended their industry.
Shel Horowitz takes the position that ethical marketing is both morally right, and effective.
Vince Flanders takes the position that badly designed websites deserve to be held to account.
Over the years I have taken the position that you don’t need to resort to hype in order to sell effectively.
What position do you take?
It’s not a requirement of freelance success that you do take a position, but it can certainly help differentiate you from all the other freelancers competing in your space.
Standing up and boldly stating what you believe is a great way of separating yourself from other writers and copywriters who may be just as good as you, but remain largely invisible.
Taking a clear position also works as a way to deepen your level of engagement with your readers and prospects. When you express a consistent belief, you will attract a tribe of fellow-believers. They will read all that you write because they share your point of view. Every article or blog post you publish will be an affirmation of their own beliefs.
Also, the Web rewards people with character. If you have the courage to stand up and take a position on some topic, people will notice you and talk about you.
Your writing and your opinions will be shared more liberally, through the blogosphere and through social networking sites.
Of course, if you manufacture a position that you don’t truly believe in, you will be found out and shunned. This has to be real.
What position do you take with regard to the work you do and the industry you work in?
If you do hold opinions and beliefs, think about stating them boldly and consistently. You won’t please everyone with what you say, but you will get noticed and talked about, and you will build a deeper relationship with those people who agree with you.
In addition to which, work is a lot more fun when it is aligned with your beliefs.
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25 Tough Questions to Ask About Your Freelance Writing or Copywriting Business
