The Social Freelancer: Media, Music, TV & Film

Facebook for Freelancers

I have had many friends, colleagues and some very annoying acquaintances flow into my Facebook stream in recent years. In particular, I know family members and close friends who are self-employed and see some value in Facebook but are confused (rightfully so!) about how to use it to benefit their own businesses. Over time I have learned a few things about managing what I do and see on Facebook. Today I am sharing five tips that I hope you will find helpful.

This post IS NOT about how to get on Facebook, create an account or any of that. For all general and technical questions go to Facebook Help.

It IS about making it easier on yourself to interact with others and to promote your own brand responsibly on Facebook.

Freelance on Facebook: 5 Fast Tips>>> Read more…

Why “Reruns” Rule Social Media ….I just jotted down this headline and then thought how funny it would be to hear Elmer Fudd read it: “Why Wewuns Wule” hahaha…
As you may have seen from my post last week “Headed to Hong Kong” I’m out of the country and busy with a corporate production, so I hope you won’t mind that I am posting a “rerun” today. This post was originally titled “Why What’s OLD is NEW in Social Media.” I hope you like it. Next week I will be back in action with something new… Cheers, Trace
>>READ: Why What’s OLD is NEW in Social Media>> Read more…

Last year I had an idea to produce some videos describing my experiences with social media. I did so with the help of some fine friends (watch video #4 to see who they are) and began posting this site:
The Social Freelancer ™.
Since then I have been gratified by the response to these posts. I have also had requests to put multiple videos in one post. So here you go!

Trace says "thanks for tuning in!"

What I Have Learned
A sound business strategy in today’s market should be a mix of “traditional” media, done sensibly and “new” media. There are more ways to economically promote your business than ever before IF you have the knowledge and experience necessary to use both old media (television, radio, print) and new media (Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, etc.) to your best advantage.

Who I Am Learning From
It’s astounding, the amount of good information in this “new media” age available for free online for anyone who cares to seek it out. There are many sources out there; I want to share my favorite five with you.
READ ON and visit the Top 5 >>> Read more…

It’s been a long time comin’… – David Crosby

Trace Relations - The Band, logo design by Clay Meyers, cdmgrafx

Greetings,
While I keep The Social Freelancer ™ updated on a variety of topics related to Music, Media, TV and Film, 99% of them NOT a self promotion, I hope you’ll indulge me here for 2 minutes (!) to show off a bit. This video is a new demo of our HD stock footage offerings from CityB-roll.com, edited to a short instrumental track from my band project Trace Relations ™. The song is an advance track from our upcoming debut studio CD release.
Check out the video and the MUSIC>> Read more…

Broadcast television as I have known it for the last 20+ years has changed. The business as we knew it is mostly gone.

“Money’s tight, times are hard, here’s your damn birthday card…”

Trace - Promo for Trace Relations CD ~ Photo by Stephan R. Lewis, all rights reserved

That’s a bit rude but it makes me laugh. I like the sentiment because it’s reality based. The fact is you might think you’re “special” but most times very few others do. I find that it pays to be original and re-invent yourself and what you do every ten years or so.

I am striving to re-invent myself business wise to being more active as a writer, producer, speaker, documentary filmmaker, vocalist and songwriter in addition to keeping the video production business going.

So What’s Up?
That doesn’t mean I am not working as a Director of Photography – I am. It is my primary source of revenue. I love shooting and producing for good clients who appreciate the skills I bring to the table for their video projects. But the long term business reality is that lower quality and cheaper rates are what syndicated TV shows and corporations are wanting and, in fact, demanding. There will only be downward pressure on day rates for freelance media professionals as I see it right now.
Why? Check out the rest of this post from The Social Freelancer ™>>> Read more…

Quality Content – Top Posts from The Social Freelancer ™ – Free
1 email a week, that’s it. No spam here!
Next issue releases Thursday, September 22, 2011, 9 AM Central Standard Time (USA)

Please click here >> The Social Freelancer News Email Sign Up << Secure email confirmation, powered by MailChimp

For all the details>> Read more…

I like my doctor.
Why? Well he’s a nice guy, plus he’s chubbier than me, so I don’t feel so guilty about my expanding middle aged girth! He’s a realist. He told me once that he wouldn’t tell me to not have a beer or 2, maybe 3? …once in a while. He said if he told me not to I might run into him at the concession stand at the Dallas Mavericks basketball game and see him walk away with a cold beer and some nachos. He’s no hypocrite.

What did the doctor say?

It’s not what you do some of the time that matters, it’s what you do ALL the time.

I said “huh?”
Read more…

Music lets people know who you are

I love music. Period. I have surrounded my life with music and connect with it on many levels, daily. Now I have discovered ways to use music to feed social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and Youtube.

In this video I describe how I listen to music (something I would be doing anyway) and grow my social networks all while doing “actual” work in my office. I hope you find it helpful. If so (or if not) would you please post comments below or post this to your Facebook page?…or both? That would rock me. Thanks.

>READ ON> View the video >> Read more…

The Social Freelancer 8 Most Popular Posts:

Why What’s OLD is NEW in Social Media

Keep the “Social” in Social Media
SIX MORE Posts and CONTACT Trace >> Read more…

“You don’t want to be a promotional bullhorn in social media. You have to learn when to speak, when to promote and how much self promotion is expected, or tolerated.” ~ Tony Cecala, Ph.D., Business Strategist

Freelance Media Consultant Tracy Ready interviews Tony Cecala, Ph.d. about managing Social Media for small business, entrepreneurs and freelance consultants:

Read more…

Choice Broadcast Moments…

* “Rest assured, there’ll never be a shortage of Bozos on television”
–Dan Rather, lamenting the end of WGN-TV’s “Bozo”, on the CBS Evening News, 6/13/01 Read more…