My First Year in Business

It's been quite a year. A year ago tomorrow, my mother-in-law passed (in peace and with a smile). On April 16th last year, I dove into free-agency as a freelance copywriter.

The last half of the previous decade, I helped build and organize online communities for a few Internet start-ups, several big-league sports teams and a little company in Virginia, now officially known as AOL. But with the dotcom bust, I quietly made my exit.

The next three years were devoted to different ministries and then moving around the country to assist Cindy's mom.

My first handful of clients each asked about search results and how to improve their standings. With research, I found blogging to be a great tool for businesses to engage with their customers AND to improve search results.

I find many similarities between blogging/Web 2.0 and what happened in the late 90s. By late summer of 2005, I realized that my experiences in building community, Internet conversations and connecting people all pointed to business blogs.

These days, my copywriting gigs are fewer by choice. Business blogging is keeping me plenty (crazy?) busy and its fun seeing business leaders get excited about the conversations and the tools. I like to have fun in my work and watch others do the same.

I've had the opportunity to help journalists, business coaches, advisors, distributorships, marketers, authors, salespeople and a few associations start blogging.

So what does next year hold in store? My gut is that a team of free-agents are about to come together with blogging a key ingredient. Maybe its a company, but I think free-agents stay hungry - and I'm hoping for a collaboration instead of corporation.

There's a good chance that the next post or so here will announce that this site will exist as an archive of my first year. Most of my attention is on the Converstations site. Before I do make the move, I have some redesign issues ahead. If you're not yet subscribed to it, here's the feed for Converstations.

Thanks for a wonderful first year.

Comments

[Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro]

Congratulations on your first year in business Mike! Dan Pink's Free Agent Nation is a great source of information on the topic. Guru.com has a section on copyrighting/editing. And also consider networking with Virtual Assistants who are often looking for specialized resources.

You might also consider creating an online group to attract free agents if you have not already done so, especially considering your expertise with online groups.

As for business blogging, consider adding Andy Wibbel's new book BlogWild on small business blogging to your list of resources. Good luck!

[Mike Sansone]

Thanks for the kind words, Rick. I've got Andy's book on order and look forward to it. Good tips on places like Guru - though since I'm now turning away copywriting gigs, I probably won't use that resource.

[Phil Gerbyshak]

Way to go Mike! Your first year has really been an awesome one. I look forward to more success from you in the coming years, and wish you nothing but the best! Keep making it great!

[Mike Sansone]

Thanks, Phil. It has been great:-)

The toughest thing was to build up to create one business and change completely - but wisdom changes its mind more often than foolish does.

We'll be able to tell which path I took by next year, yes?:-)

[Jim Turner]

Hooray Mike. I remember when we first met last year at BBS and you were headed full steam into the blogging world. Looks like you are still hanging in like the rest of us!

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