Terrified to Put Up my Own Web Page

[HawaiianGirl]

I have always been an introvert. Three years ago I was shaking in my boots when I wrote my first article for TB. The world didn't end that day ... I did well and ended up writing for DS, BH, IB, etc. Fast forward to today. I have found my niche writing legal landing pages for legal web marketing companies and web designers.

My dilemma is that although I have several good paying clients, contract pay is sporadic and I need more income. Although I purchased a domain name and a website, am terrified to make that final leap and to hit the "Publish" button. I am afraid to advertise myself as an independent copywriter to the world at large!

I have never been the social butterfly on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, although I know the value of Social Networking. I hate Skype. I know that I need to "grow a pair" to be more assertive in order to make the final leap as an independent copywriter. It is the fear of failure that always dogs me, sigh.

Ladies, were you afraid before you put up your own webpage? Once you took the step did it rev up your income? Have you encountered any problems with clients? Do you have any recommendations or pointers regarding going independent or about marketing yourself on your web page?

I would love to see a link to your site, and learn about your experiences "going public".

HawaiianGirl

[slvsquared]

I've had a web page since week one, as I happened to be working with web designers at the time Since then, it's undergone several facelifts, and the page that's up now I did myself. Wordpress is really, really easy to use once you get the hang of it, and I think it's so much easier to just link clients to a webpage with rates, samples, testimonials, etc.

Sandi Lilly-Valentine - Ghostwriting, SEO, and Internet Consulting Services
From Diapers to Deadlines

[beanandpumpkin]

Mine is in my sig.

When I put up my site... nothing happened! I had to really work at marketing it in order to get any business at all. Now I use it as a place to share samples when would-be clients ask, mostly.

Go for it!

[LilBlackDress]

Hey Hawaiian Girl,

I have about 20 authority websites. When I started I was totally clueless. Today I make a full time living from my sites. It can be done. I love it!

Also you do not have to participate in Social Media. Yes, it can help but it is not essential. I do have Facebook pages and Twitters but its not like they are driving my income. Most of my income comes from SEO.

If you PM me I will help you get going.

[wahmt]

Interesting situation. I'm introverted too. But I think your problems are more specifically a result of excessive shyness (which I have some of, but not to the extent you sound like you're experiencing Introverted simply means you are drained (not energized from socializing and social settings). Not all introverts are shy, but most shy people are definitely introverts.

If you're proud of your work and what you do, just hit "Publish." I know it can be frustrating when you see "extroverts" professing their expertise and singing their own praises, even when they have nothing to back it up. Take the leap!

"Fear of failure." Most psychologists agree that fear of failure is simply fear of success at the NEXT level. Ask yourself why you are afraid of succeeding. Try not to fear either. Just enjoy the ability to pursue what you're passionate about and enjoy the ability to make money from it at the same time.

Edit: OMG! Ignore me. I meant fear of success is fear of failure at the NEXT level. Off to find some coffee...

[karmicwindows]

Putting up my own webpage was the easy part for me.

I spent a lot of years dreading having to deal with people directly. I did and hid the nerves from it very well.

Think of a webpage as a great big business card that you leave on the bulletin board at the laundromat or the grocery store or even as the flyer you stick on wind shields in the parking lot when no one is looking. Yes, you are advertising your services but you are not doing so in an obnoxious way.

Close you eyes, push the button, and have a drink.

[wahmt]

Put on a hoodie, pull up the hood. Put a pair of sunglasses on, then press Publish. That should definitely work.

[HawaiianGirl]

Ladies,

I appreciate your insight and boundless enthusiasm for what you do. I enjoy seeing your personalities in each of your web pages.

Slvsquared - I am learning more about wordpress and found a great "how-to" site that doesn't skip any steps when teaching newbies the technical stuff -- Conutant | Helping People Build Websites. I have a keen interest in learning more about Wordpress. I had a recent client ask me if I knew how to publish weekly blogs directly to the client's wordpress web page. I really want to be able to offer this service and to become more tech saavy.

Karmicwindows - I know the feeling of hiding the nerves ... lol! Although I am a teetotaler, I think i will have that drink after I hit the "publish button"!

LilBlackDress - wow 20 websites! Is it for passive income purposes or for advertising specific niches?

BeannPumpkin - love your site! I find it elegant and minimalist but to the point. This is how I want my site to look.

WAHMT - Yes i am shy. I have recently thought of going back to being a legal assistant, but I am burned out after working in law firms for over 25 years have come too far in my writing career to give up now. Thank you for your words. I am my own worst enemy sometimes.

Burning Question - Do I have to ask permission from my marketing and web designer clients to post links to the attorney landing pages I have ghostwritten for them? I would need these links to show as Samples on my web page? When i read the "Well-Fed Writer" by Peter Bowerman, he said no. I can always put the samples up and just take them down if asked. What do you think?

[mommy2onelittleboy]

I was nervous as well. I just finished my website a few weeks ago. I don't recommend using Microsoft Sharepoint for your page like I did. It's not very user friendly. It took me a little bit to get the hang of using it and it doesn't seem to rank very high.

Anyways, here's my page:
Home

[WAHbird]

I totally feel you on this one. I am extremely introverted--and a perfectionist to boot--so marketing has been a painful experience for me. My best will never be good enough for me and to actively try to say that I'm great makes me cringe. It took me about a year to put up my website and then I ended up taking it down after a few months. Likewise, I am reluctant to use social networking to promote myself because it always feels so awkward. (I also know how much I hate to see marketing on Facebook and Twitter.) I have managed to make a living without any of these promotional tools, but I know that I would need to market myself better if I wanted to sustain myself in this profession full-time. (Right now I am just a part-time freelancer and am taking my career in another direction.)