Stress alert! And time to ask you fine folks for advice.
I recently hired a business consultant to help clarify my services and direction. After a year and a half of this, it’s time to take what I do to the next level. Apparently the next level is to brand myself as a business, not just a freelancer. To be taken seriously as a consultant, I can’t just be “Marian Schembari, Freelancer” I need to have a company name and brand.
At first, I got really excited. Ooohh, I could have a snazzy business name! Own a company at 23!
The excitement maybe lasted a day, because for some reason, the idea of starting a business just doesn’t sit well with me.
There are a million reasons to stop going by name. First of all, Schembari is a bitch to spell and pronounce (it’s shim-BAR-ee, by the way). Unless you’ve read or heard about me somewhere (which is highly unlikely) you would have no idea what I did from my name alone. My tagline, while awesome when first starting out, gives no indication of what I do.
Basically, I need a full-fledged rebranding.
Except, in the year and a half I’ve been doing this, I’ve grown my blog from a big, fat nothing to (yay! it’s official!) over 11,000 visitors per month. I’ve been in some major print and online publications, guest posted on a variety of sites, and generally made a name for myself. Not as a business, but as Marian Schembari.
I know I can change. Everyone can change.
But let’s do a little comparison…
Branding Is Like Marriage
I’m not a big believer in marriage, but if – BIG IF – I ever do get married, no well in Hellsies am I changing my last name. Yeah, I’m a Big Fat Feminist, but I also can’t imagine being anyone other than Marian Schembari.
I can’t imagine running my business as anything other than Marian Schembari. That’s why I left the corporate world.
It’s the same thing with a business. Sure, it might bring in bigger clients. But do I want bigger clients?
I charge waaaaay less than my competition, mostly because the people that can afford to pay me that amount aren’t necessarily people I want to work with. I’d much prefer to work with a little art gallery than a major museum with a corporate voice. I’d rather help a struggling author than bend to the will of a major (but stuffy) publishing house. I realize I’m making sweeping generalizations, but why does everyone assume every freelancer wants to be BIGGER? More successful.
I’d love to make more money, I really would. But for what?
I quit my job last year so I could stop doing things the corporate way. I run this blog with my own voice, regardless of tension or consequences, because I don’t want to pretend to be someone I’m not.
But I also might be acting like somewhat of a baby.
Honestly? I can’t think of a damn business name. I tried using other words for “social” and shoving the word consulting in there. Talk Consulting. Talk Media. (The boyfriend suggested Bitch Consulting. I love him.) Then I tried working in my name: Marian Studios. Schembari Social Studios. Ugh. Nothing fits. I guess part of it is my complete lack of creativity.
The other part of it is — I’m multi-passionate and, as of right now, there’s no one thing I want to spend the rest of my life doing. But my name will always be Marian Schembari. My business might change, my life is changing every day, but no matter what, my name will be my name.
Does this make sense from a business perspective? Maybe not. So, like any nerd, I made a list.
Pros of a Business Name
Clients with enough money to pay what I’m worth will respect a business more than a lowly freelancer.
It will be significantly clearer to portray what I do.
It’s possible to do both. Matt Cheuvront is the perfect example with his blog, Life Without Pants, and his company, Proof Branding.
Freelance Folder has an amazing post about the pros and cons of both, though it does generally imply business = better.
Pros of Keeping My “Maiden Name”
I’ve built up a “name” for myself already with said name.
I can easily change my career course without giving up my business.
Other people have done it. I realize I’m not Laura Roeder, but there’s a perfect example of someone whose name and business are one and the same.
I posed this dilemma to Twitter, and here’s what some folks said:
Notice how they all pretty much agree with me? It’s because you guys are amazing, generally trust me and believe in my gut. But I also need a kick in the pants. I need someone to disagree with me and someone to agree with me. So I created a poll. Yes, I’m a dork…
Decisions, Decisions
I’m opening up the floor to you. Here’s a little poll I’ve created, and if you have an opinion one way or another, I’d love hear it!
And if you have any suggestions for a business name and/or tagline, I’d love hear those too! If I end up selecting your name/tagline you’ll get some swag. Profile critique, coaching call, whatevs. I’ll be eternally grateful, but keep in mind I’m incredibly picky.
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DON’T FORGET! Prices for my profile critiques are increasing to $197 starting this Friday, November 5. If you want in on a critique, get in for cheap while you can. Click here to reserve your spot.
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