Do you need to do marketing as a 1099?

Published 13 days ago • 1 min read

A funny image of a consultant wasting money on advertising. The scene depicts a stick figure consultant throwing bills into a large, open flame labeled 'Advertising'. The consultant has a hopeful look on their face, as if expecting a miracle, while standing next to a pile of money that's quickly dwindling. Behind them, a billboard shows an absurdly obscure ad for their consulting services, barely visible or understandable to anyone passing by. Nearby, a confused pedestrian scratches their head, looking at the billboard with a puzzled expression. In the background, a tiny client figure is seen walking away, uninterested and oblivious to the consultant's efforts. The style is exaggerated and humorous, focusing on the consultant's misguided optimism and the ineffective use of funds for advertising, highlighting the absurdity of the situation in a playful manner. — Don't waste money on the wrong types of marketing
Source: wildlingsval.tumblr.com/post/86723380717

Big companies spend a lot of money on marketing.

This includes advertising, commercials, high end websites, in-person and online demos of their product, etc.

So you may wonder if you need to spend time and money on marketing yourself to be a successful as a 1099.

The answer is, YES. You absolutely do.

But here's what marketing looks like for a solo 1099.

Doing great work for your clients and developing a positive reputation
Networking with clients, colleagues, and program managers and being able to explain what you do and what you're looking for
Creating a resume with a clear narrative
Being able to interview well with recruiters and program manager
If relevant, a portfolio or samples of your work (e.g. GitHub if you're a coder)
A work e-mail with your custom domain (e.g. you@yourcompany.com)

That's it. You don't need to do anything else.

If you find yourself spending money on a Super Bowl ad, you took a wrong turn somewhere.

If you're interested in learning how to get your first solo 1099 federal sub-contract, check out my book:

Going 1099: How to become a solo federal sub-contractor and gain control of your working life, earn more money and unlock more free time

I'm Dale, the author of Going 1099

Going 1099 is a book that teaches you how to become a solo federal sub-contractor and gain control of your working life, earn more money and unlock more free time. I wrote it because quite a few people have asked me how they can become a 1099. I figured it was best to write a single book that I can send them and that I can share with others who are interested. This newsletter goes out Monday - Friday and covers topics that will help you succeed in starting and maintaining successful 1099 career.

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