OK, so I had a great conversation with a lady named Diane Vigil this past weekend.

During that conversation, the subject of exposure came up.

Namely, if you know what you're doing in the world of search marketing, do you seek exposure and take on clients to make some money? Or do you take your knowledge, fade into the background a bit and use your expertise to work on your own websites/opportunities?

She said she used to be very active in the communities online (notably here), but after a while, began to hang back and eventually left the online communities almost entirely to pursue her own opportunities. Mostly it's a time thing - when you get busy, hanging in the forums to help folks slides down the list, unfortunately. It can also be an attitude thing - if bad attitudes begin to permeate a space, folks tend to move no...

It got me to thinking of how I currently approach things. I hang here, there and even over there to offer help when/where I can. I also take on clients from time to time, and I manage my own projects as well. I guess, if we divide things into two basic camps (Have knowledge, stay to myself v. Have knowledge, share what I know), I'm a hybrid of the two.

So, I'll pose the question hypothetically so everyone can participate (not just experts, but those new to this as well):

If you had/have the skills, what do you do?

1 - work on your own projects and efforts
2 - work on client sites for a fee

Remember, this isn't an exercise in proving someone has the skills and knowledge - it's a gut check on who you are, how you value your time and the direction you'd most like to pursue.

I do both and I only work on what I have a passion for. I don't chase the buck, I chase what I like doing and it makes me very happy.

I don't chase the buck, I chase what I like doing and it makes me very happy.

Excellent perspective mj.

I remember Diane--came to SEF every day back in the days. What's going on with her?

It's good to have some sort of root in a community. It keeps yah connected to the pulse. And it's good to participate once in a while (at SEF for me) in forums even if you find yourself busy. I do agree though as you get more into projects of your own, you have less time for forums.

SportsGuy said:

If you had/have the skills, what do you do?

1 - work on your own projects and efforts
2 - work on client sites for a fee

That is totally up to each individual to decide. Guess it depends on what your goals are.

Diane is running her own shop now, and when we last spoke, she mentioned that she hung out at Threadwatch, as did some other from the older crew...and that conversation happened about 5 days before TW announced they were shutting down...

It's one of those, if your just starting up creating your own shop is extremely hard if your not a programmer or designer and you have no cash.

But working on clients sites expectations can be very high but very rewarding

I've done both (as a software developer). I can honestly say that, for me personally, working for clients is easier. When working on my own projects, my standards are extremely high. I also have the illusion that my budget is unlimited, with respect to time. I'll spend days tackling a trivial issue, which I would not have done on a consulting project.

Most people, even those that are highly self-motivated, need strokes. Clients can provide the "atta-boy" that keeps you working through the night. Personal satisfaction is great, but when you pull off something amazing, it's nice to have an audience.

"Letting your customers set your standards is a dangerous game, because the race to the bottom is pretty easy to win. Setting your own standards--and living up to them--is a better way to profit. Not to mention a better way to make your day worth all the effort you put into it."
- Seth Godin, July 28, 2006