Do you need to do marketing as a 1099?

by Dale Davidson
A funny image of a consultant wasting money on advertising. The scene depicts a stick figure consultant throwing bills into a large, open flame labeled 'Advertising'. The consultant has a hopeful look on their face, as if expecting a miracle, while standing next to a pile of money that's quickly dwindling. Behind them, a billboard shows an absurdly obscure ad for their consulting services, barely visible or understandable to anyone passing by. Nearby, a confused pedestrian scratches their head, looking at the billboard with a puzzled expression. In the background, a tiny client figure is seen walking away, uninterested and oblivious to the consultant's efforts. The style is exaggerated and humorous, focusing on the consultant's misguided optimism and the ineffective use of funds for advertising, highlighting the absurdity of the situation in a playful manner.

Big companies spend a lot of money on marketing.

This includes advertising, commercials, high end websites, in-person and online demos of their product, etc.

So you may wonder if you need to spend time and money on marketing yourself to be a successful as a 1099.

The answer is, YES. You absolutely do.

But here's what marketing looks like for a solo 1099.

  • Doing great work for your clients and developing a positive reputation
  • Networking with clients, colleagues, and program managers and being able to explain what you do and what you're looking for
  • Creating a resume with a clear narrative
  • Being able to interview well with recruiters and program manager
  • If relevant, a portfolio or samples of your work (e.g. GitHub if you're a coder)
  • A work e-mail with your custom domain (e.g. you@yourcompany.com)

That's it. You don't need to do anything else.

If you find yourself spending money on a Super Bowl ad, you took a wrong turn somewhere.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.

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