This is really important, and not necessarily as difficult or awkward as you might think. I’ve been on and off freelancing for about 5 years now (often finding myself in the same kind of financial situation that you’re describing), and although I’m in a different field than you are (I mostly write about films and help organise film events and do some talks and so on) some things are the same or at least very similar when it comes to running your business etc.
Try to think if you were to hire someone for whatever kind of job, no matter how big or small – you obviously wouldn’t want someone who was clearly just bragging and being full of themselves. But at the same time you would never hire someone who didn’t make it clear what they’re good at and what specific kinds of things they can do. Just have a look through your own work, see what you’re satisfied with on your own account and also what you’ve gotten good feedback on from others. And even if no specific feedback as such, just things you keep getting hired for or asked to do. Then you can say that “I am good at x and y” in a very matter of factly way, rather than feeling like you have to exaggerate or anything. And I don’t know how much you’ve done of this in the past, but like, it will always feel a bit awkward to begin with. But then it just becomes routine, and you can start to think of it less of you as a person and more in terms of the services that you’re providing, if that makes sense.
It also can feel very awkward at first getting in touch with people or companies to ask if they need any of the services that you can provide. But as your network expands and you get more and more experience to show for, it just stops feeling weird at some point. Because you also kind of realise that it’s just what you have to do, and that any company who ever hires freelancers are completely used to people just contacting them more or less out of the blue – so they won’t think it’s weird.
I think that @chris-budget is probably onto something as well, when he mentions that you should (when presenting yourself and your work) focus on your specialties. Goes back to what I was saying with being able to pinpoint what you’re best at, I guess. And other things that you’re good at will just be a bonus. And if running different websites as you say is too much for you, then at least make sure that your current website is split into very easily visible sections. And don’t put quotation marks around “poet” in your header, or do headlines like “some poems”. Fake it til you make it is actually a pretty golden piece of advice, even if it is a cliché – at least in terms of confidence! If you are going to have all your different stuff on one site, then just be like “I am also a poet” and “Here are my poems”. Might sound like a detail, but I really think this kind of thing changes how people read the actual content!
@chris-budget also has a very very good point in “just telling everyone you meet that you are freelancing”. Most freelance gigs won’t ever be listed publicly.
Hope this makes sense and all (and sorry if some stuff is really obvious to you etc), it’s the middle of the night and I’ve had a few drinks. As I said we do work in different fields… But if you fancy a chat about freelance work in general and so on, you’re very welcome to drop me a message.
