The Secret Sauce of Working on Your Own Company

Challenges to work as an “independent contractor”

The Strait Times recently published article about the challenges of working as an “independent contractor” (you can view the whole article here if you have a ST subscriber account). This is my own takes about the writer’s opinion on working as a freelancer.

Can I get paid for that?

That is the hardest sentence that I’ve ever uttered in the beginning of my freelancing career. I have a good experience in managing servers, I know how to program (backend and frontend), I know how Google search and Facebook / Instagram algorithm works and I (usually) helped people that I know for free. I was one of those busy-body guy that volunteers to help family members and friends for a thank you. Now, making that boundary where the ‘free’ has a ‘fee’ is something I have to accustomed to.

Where to get my lead customers?

Here’s something that I am most familiar with. The truth is almost everyone that have started their own company will tell you the same thing, networking, spread the word in your family and friends, and of course, advertising. You can skip renting the office, getting a professional website look, a nice coffee, but not the marketing. In my opinion, that is the only and the most important thing that you need to spend, either money, time or both. 

When to get a professional marketing help?

Do you know how much your minimum fee per hour for your service? If you are spending that much of time (and fee), and getting nothing, maybe it's time to find a professional marketer. They can do the marketing, hopefully at the lower cost, compared to your minimum fee with some guaranteed results. 

If you are looking into hiring someone who can do digital marketing services for you, take a look at our offering: Mr. D Loves Website.

 

Last update: 24 March 2025