Startup Tips Day 22: Alex Hillman from WeKnowHTML

Day #22 in the CenterNetworks Startup Tips Month come from Alex Hillman from WeKnowHTML.

Alex's Tips

Start Independent

An increasingly popular alternative to "traditional" startups is to hit the freelancer market. There is plenty of opportunity for independent contractors, if you know how to find it and make the most of it.

Tip #1 - Bootstrap

One of the best things about starting out on your own is the ability to spend the first several months working on the cheap. Work with equipment you already own rather than buying all new equipment. Work from home or a shared work environment rather than renting your own office space.

By bootstrapping, you not only find yourself in the black faster (duh, you're not paying back massive loans on equipment), but you also find yourself taking a different sense of pride in your work - and you'll be more confident in yourself. That confidence shines through and (potential) clients love nothing more than a confident Indie.

You have a great advantage when you're first starting out: you don't really need to show off anything except your existing body of work and that you're confident in your own abilities.

Tip #2 - Organize and "polish" your resume and portfolio

Just because you're your own boss doesn't mean you won't be regularly applying for jobs. In fact, every new project that comes in comes with it's own set of introductions and interviews. Being prepared with a current, relevant resume could make or break someone trusting you with their project. And for the love of Pete, don't list every job you've ever had or skill you've attempted. Use a tool like Emurse that will help you hone your resume and keep it organized and relevant.

Also, if you have a portfolio of work, that's going to sell you more effectively than anything else. Make sure that it's work that you're proud of and accurately represents your abilities. But also make sure you're allowed to take credit for it.

A portfolio could be presented as list of links included in your resume (a good opportunity to pad it with relevant content if you haven't held a lot of jobs in the industry). It could be something more visual built with a tool like CarbonMade. The best option would be for you to create a slick portfolio page/section on your own site. You do have your own site, don't you?

Tip #3 - Start Blogging

You don't need to tell the world what you had for dinner last night. Find a niche that you're knowledgeable in, and write about it. If you start documenting thoughtful solutions to problems, you will begin to establish yourself as a reputable source. Document real experiences while you're working. This transparency has a similar effect to an open kitchen in a restaurant. When people can identify with you as a person, they're more likely to continue that conversation into the quarters where they conduct business.

Tip #4 - Get out in the field

Remember, now that you're out on your own, you're not only responsible for doing the work but for finding it as well.

One of the best ways to find work (or better yet, have it find you) is to get out into the field and participate in what's going on in your industry, locally and online. Join mailing lists and participate. When someone has a question that you can answer, help out! And when you've got a question, don't be afraid to ask it. Being active in a community shows that you care, and people like to hire people who care.

This is also a good opportunity to link people back to the resume and portfolio or even better, to that blog I mentioned. Don't "pimp" your work, or you run the risk of making the community uncomfortable. If you're contributing quality posts and content to the communities, people will find you when the time is right.

Tip #5 - Don't underestimate the value of word of mouth

If you're doing quality work and making your clients feel appreciated, they will refer you. There's not much more to it than that.

Tip #6 - Stay horizontal for as long as it makes sense

So, business is picking up; you're not only bringing in work, but you're bringing in more than you can do. And the needs of the projects are calling for some complimentary talent...

Time to hire, right? I don't think so.

Keep your business small, agile, and flat until you absolutely need to hire. I've built my business on top of partnerships and collaborations. I know the boundaries of my skillsets and when to involve someone else in a project. But rather than have employees, I build relationships with other complimentary talent. When a job comes in that needs talents X, Y, and Z, I have a personal network of people to choose from. I've got the most agile and scalable team I could build for any given project.

This model also lends itself to participation in a coworking group or facility, if it is available. And if it's not? Start your own!

Alex Hillman is a freelance web developer, consultant and entrepreneur based in sunny Philadelphia. Alex has led and evangelized the coworking movement of Philly by founding Independents Hall, a collaborative community of independent creatives. Alex is also a driving force behind multiple social media and technology events and organizations, sharing his infectious enthusiasm with every person that crosses his path (or finds him on Twitter). His support of the independent creative community is fueled by a desire to see the city of Philadelphia flourish as a destination for innovators and technology leaders.