Eatin breakfast.

[prog]

On a whim, I just registered for a breakfast meeting of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce tomorrow so I can network with local businessfolk as a service provider. It's a little pricey, but not too pricey to rise out of what-have-I-got-to-lose range. (Plus, it's a write-off. I now make the write-off gesture, to demonstrate.)

I attended another such breakfast around two years ago, when I was starting to look for Volity funding and while my business ignorance was profound. It was entirely the wrong place for that, but I was impressed by how nice the people were. Several gave me tips on more appropriate groups to join. Now, I represent a different business that actually does offer a service they might be interested in. It feels a little topsy-turvy, talking about my programming prowess to random flower-shop owners and insurance-firm partners, but the idea to attend hit me the other day and the idea feels right in my gut. Why not?



I just threw together this business card. It's not meant to be a permanent design for me; just something decent-looking that I can print onto cardstock tonight and hand to people tomorrow. The URL doesn't exist yet but I'll make it happen presently. What do you think?

Is it fair to refer to myself as a consultant, at this point? I get the impression that a consultant is best defined as the person who points at themselves and says "I'm a consultant." It sounds a little more, eh, business-cardy than "freelance programmer". Would you agree?

In other news, the usual client just asked if they can assign me some more stuff. Things are gonna be OK, on the money pillar.

Comments

[keimel.livejournal.com]

IMHO, I think most people are more used to the


http://www.foo.org/oneword

than they are the

http://oneword.foo.org

URLs.


Oh, and when you print them, the paper you can buy that are 'perforation less' end up getting curly, as they actually stick to a backing and you must peel them off. It is annoying.

The perforated look a little less pro, but I wonder if it's so bad. At least they're flat.

Good luck.

[prog.livejournal.com]

Really, with the URLs? To me, having my own hostname looks more professional somehow... otherwise yer just a directory on some other website.

Perforated is fine. I actually have several sheets of the stuff from prior adventures. I can hand them out with a smile and a little story about how I'm just starting out. I'm good with that sort of thing.

[radtea.livejournal.com]

You can get perforationless non-sticky cards now. I recommend them.

"Consultant" is the word to use. Business-people like words they think they understand, and they certainly don't understand what a "Freelance Programmer" does unless they are in the software business themselves.

[prog.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I like the ring of "web programming and consulting". If I wanted to get really abstract, I could go for "web design and programming", but having learned HTML circa 1996, I have a poor mental image of people who primarily call themselves "web designers", even if that might actually mean something totally different now.

[taskboy3000.livejournal.com]

Drop "web programming". You're a consultant. You can do architecture, implementation and teaching. Don't limit the gig to programming, since many manager types equate that with "greasy monkey cog-jockey."

Then you can start asking for $125/hr.

No, I'm not kidding.

Also, I think you ought to consider the http://www.[hostname].[tld]/[onesmallword] URL scheme as it is truly "business-ready."

No one outside of IT understands that "www" is the name of a machine. It's just the magic that you need to get sports tickets/eBay/porn online.

Hmm

[prog.livejournal.com]

How about "Web architect & consultant"? (Also changing the titles from gerunds to nouns.)

Re: Hmm

[jtroutman.livejournal.com]

suggestion: jmac.org/work or /hire

Consultant, for sure. As pointed out above, you are more than just a coder. Especially now with Volity experience (yes, it does count -- a lot).

I have been getting $125/hour or more for most consulting gigs since 1998....

[keimel.livejournal.com]

Really. I agree with you that it looks more professional to those in IT and ISP world. We understand it's more special, but I think even jmac.org/consultant would be better. When I look around at ads, it's that way more often than not.

It's my thought that the unwashed masses are seeing it and remembering things that way, so they're more used to it, is all. It's their training. ;)

Again, it's just my $.02. But I think that's why you posted, to get those kinds of opinions and views.

Again, good luck. If you make them interested enough, they'll have to look at teh card anyway to find you, I think.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

I would use a different font for the contact info. It doesn't really seem to go with the font you use for your name and title. Hmm - maybe a sans serif font? I can't quite put my finger on it, but the all upper-case section looks formal and professional and considered, but the all lower-case section looks casual and um, not (and I don't think it's because it's all lower-case, but maybe).

I spent a couple hours playing with fonts for my F^%%$ing portfolio today. Grump.

[chocorisu.livejournal.com]

Pick 1 nice typeface and stick to it.