How do I make money - self-employed - without using corporate social media?

I was coasting along on an extremely minimal income and I embraced an ethical position of using only privacy-compatible technology.

I subsequently had a wonderful little person come into my life who has made me want to have more material capability & flexilibilty. And so I have turned to trying to sell my skills again.

By refusing to use to use corporate social media to promote my services, I am handicapping myself in getting work.

I also struggle to bring myself to cooperate with powers which are working to undermine my child’s opportunity to have a good life.

Would appreciate your thoughts

  • irmadlad@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 day ago

    First, congratulations on the new family member.

    Not knowing exactly the nature of your entrepreneurial skills, I have found good success with meet n’ greet, press the flesh as it were. Some businesses need a lot of advertising, some don’t need any. Join your local Chamber of Commerce or Business Association. Keep your ears open. Treat every interaction as an opportunity to grow your business.

    For example, I am getting along in years so farming 20 acres got to be a bit much for one old guy. I started leasing acreage to other local farmers mainly for growing silage. I was at one of our local farmer’s market one day and by chance overheard/eavesdropped a conversation a small group was having. They were talking about looking for small plots of land that they could all go in on together and have a communal garden. You help with the labor, you get a share of the grow type of thing.

    So I approached them and listened to them talk and suggested that I may have the solution they were looking for. Long story short, I now have four, one acre plots that I lease to locals for their communal gardens. I provide the pipe stand for a water supply with bib to split off different watering troughs and I plow the plot for you. All you have to do is work the soil, grow your veggies, and profit.

    So basically now, I have positive cash flow with moderate to minimal work. I still maintain a one acre plot for my personal grow but in all honesty it’s far to much for just one person to eat. I usually donate most of that to local food banks in town. Which is another good thought to keep in mind. We all get help along the way in life. No one is self made. Pay it forward. Give something back to the community local to you.