What is Your Manifesto?

Merriam-Webster defines manifesto as “a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer.” So the question stands, What is your manifesto and have you made it clear to your potential audience or clients?

Why have a manifesto in the first place?

• A manifesto clearly outlines your intentions. It is a statement of who you are, what you do, what you believe.
• When a potential client lands on your site, do you want them to understand that they’ve arrived at a place a little different, a place that thrives on clear and honest communication?
• The exercise of drafting a manifesto will very clearly help to establish your goals and your intentions. It will clarify them in your mind so that you can focus your efforts to where they can do the most good.
• A manifesto puts your site into a totally different class of available freelancers. It shows clients that you are serious, motivated and that you are a thinker as well as a doer.
• Once you put together an outstanding manifesto, you can refer to it in your advertising materials. In fact, you will find yourself quoting excerpts in your posts, your tweets and in your blog comments.
• Once you have solidified this manifesto in your mind and believe in it with every fiber of your being, it will drive all that you do for your clients, your business and yourself.

Intentions, motives, views

When a lot of folks think about the term “manifesto” they think of 100 page diatribes by the like of Ted Kazinsky or some other conspiracy theory crackpot. Your manifesto is a vision statement, if you will. It does not have to be long or ornate. In fact, it’s better if it is succinct, maybe even in a bullet list format. It should include your:

• Intentions – What are your intentions with your business. Do you intend to create long term relationships with all of your clients? Is it your intention to deliver high quality products on time and within budget? Perhaps you intend to use your freelancing skills to help your clients move up in the world. A bonus is that if you clearly state your intentions, you will manifest what you are intending to create
• Motives – It’s okay to state that making a living is a motivation for you. It makes you real, it makes you human, it makes you a person. It’s also okay to indicate that your motives include building your business into an enterprise that is continually growing and expanding.
• Views – Talk about how you think communication is the key to a good relationship with a client. Give your view on the importance of time and deadlines. Be bold and creative with these, but remain true to yourself. Anything else will come back to haunt you.

So what’s stopping you? After you comment here, you should open a new document in your word processor and get to work.