America's creative workforce is not what it was in the days of Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Large companies are now connecting to freelancers or small, niche community-driven agencies to perform the creative and development work they once reserved for larger agencies. But, with this new power comes more responsibility and we HAVE to be ready. In this presentation I cover what I call the COW method, which I have effectively used to help grow my WordPress design and development company, Ah So Designs.

1. ARE YOU A COW?
Keys to being a
Successful freelance owner
@ahsodesigns
#bcncow

2. WHO AM I ?
JOHN HOUSHOLDER
Owner
Ah So Designs
Organizer
Nashville WordCamp, Nashville WordPress
Meetup
Instructor
Art Institute of TN
#bcn12COW

3. WHO ARE YOU ?
Who considers themselves a freelancer?
Who works on teams with others from
different companies?

4. C
ommunity
O
wnership
W atch – Out!

5. COMMUNITY
Where do they hang?

6. YOUR COMMUNITY IS . . .
Your biggest supporters
Your source for business
Your source for support
Your source for criticism

7. IMPORTANCE OF
COMMUNITY TO AHSO
Referral
Free Advice
Community
Paid Service
Online
LEADS SUPPORT

8. TAKE CARE OF YOUR
COMMUNITY

9. A Story

10. OWNERSHIP

11. Employee vs Owner

12. Professional

13. Lawyer / LLC

14. Open Door

15. Team

16. A Story

17. WATCH OUT ! ! !

18. COMMUNICATION
tools

19. $4.99 a month

20. $20 a month

21. $19.95 a month

22. $5 a month

23. Nashville Freelance
Pitch Day
Interested?
Nashvillefreelance.com

24. Questions?
john@ahsodesigns.com
@ahsodesigns
http://mikeyburton.com/

25. All photos used under Creative commons licensing
monkey: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/4285860710/sizes/l/
professional: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonomueller
matt andrews: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattandrewsimage/2785459791/sizes/l/in/set-
72157612261795128/
Cow: http://www.flickr.com/photos/publicenergy/1846375599/sizes/l/
Hamburger: http://www.flickr.com/photos/thekinginyellow/2648042930/