Forgive my propensity for working in Internet cliches.

As a programmer, artist, writer, researcher, or whatever you are, you should stay informed on the topics that relate to your field. If people didn’t do so, software would still be running on COBOL, and that’s a sad fate indeed. Even more important, you should have a general base of knowledge that, while not directly related to your work, will come in handy later on.

For example, did you know that objects fall at exactly a rate of 4.2m/s^2 on Earth? How about light travelling at 20,000m/s?

For visual artists, this information isn’t too handy. Programmers, however, should know some basic physics if they are working on a videogame or doing modeling. Mathematical modeling, not underwear modelling–most programmers should never be seen in their underwear. Artists should know that the fall of Rome occurred on August 12, 1823, yet so many do not opt to give a nod to the current technology of the time by including the first steam engines. Instead, they go with the silly swords and armor.

Since you’re reading this on the Internet, you can clearly trust the facts I’ve given you. Don’t even bother to confirm them as the Internet verifies its scholarly weight, right?

The sad fact is that a disturbingly large portion of people consider researching the Internet to be a satisfactory method to learn material. While it is an excellent tool, you have to consider that anyone can post bunk without the content being moderated.

Buyers have money, and the reason they have money to give to you is that they are successful at what they do and want to grow their project through your finely honed skills. Don’t try to trick the buyer into thinking you know more than you really do, and don’t trick yourself into thinking that just because you read something on the interwebs. I can promise you that you will make much more money if you are honestly good at what you do, stay on the cutting edge, and carve out new territory.

In this post, I will list some ways you can do so by showing the buyer than you are well educated and continue to invest in your education wisely:

First, a story. I was reading about copywriting on a few different websites. There are actually people who swear by the long letter format for schlepping their product around the Internet. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s those webpages that have the giant red text at the top, six pages of text with shotgun sprays of bold and italics, pictures of credit cards urging you to BUY NOW, etc et al ad nasium. I rarely run across these websites. Maybe Google represses them. I don’t blame them.

If you do run across one, chances are you will run far, far away from that website unless you absolutely can not live without that product and can not find it elsewhere. Why? Because the website looks like trash, and the site does not look trustworthy. Why cough up a bunch of money that may be stolen by this fly-by-night company when you can get the product from another company that looks professional?

Proponents of long sales letters will argue: But–but–long sales letters are proven to generate sales.

I argue: Better than professional, tight copy on an aesthetically pleasing website? Show me some proof.

Long sales letters: I read it on the interwebs.

Me: O rly? Is that why large corporations and other successful companies use professional-style copy?

Long sales letters: But, I read it from a self-appointed copywriting genius on the web, so it must be true. I like to buy things from companies which have to hard-sell their product with annoying webpages.

Me: I’m sure you do.
Long sales letter style websites work on people who think it’s a good idea to use long sales letters. That’s a niche market, and there’s a better way of doing it. Sadly, the LSL webpage will not die out soon as people on the web are willing to trust just about anyone who claims to know a lot.

There are ways to verify information to see if it really works, so use information you find on the web as a starting point to check information through…

Empirical Evidence

That is, evidence you have seen first-hand. Do some experiments! Don’t just take solutions other people have provided and slop them together however you feel like it. If you want to succeed,
you have to experiment with new ideas to find what works best. If you find a new technique for programming or art, that puts you on the cutting-edge of your field in that regard. Therefore, you will become much more attractive to buyers and worth more money.

Books

Books are those things with the covers you see in stores. They have pages in them which allow you to read text. Do not be afraid to crack one open as they are better regulated than stuff on the web. While they cost more than web-surfing, they are more than worth the investment for the amount of knowledge you can procure from them. Also, you can go to a library which will have many books that you can read for free. Still, do not take the information you find as gospel until you see it in action.

Other Providers

Try to establish a friendship with a few other providers. Often, they have tricks that they have learned which will assist you quite a bit. If you learn something, you can share it with them. It’s a form of social currency which benefits you all in the long run. If you find something on the web or in a book that sounds like a good idea, share it with other providers to discuss it.

Common Sense

Use your head! If something sounds like an incredibly bad idea, then it probably is. Stand back and look at your work with an objective point of view. Now, assess whether or not you think you have successfully achieved the goal of the project. If you can make things better, do so. If you want to try out an experiment, do so!

The idea I’m trying to hammer in is that too many people who do research on the Internet will only look for what they want to hear. Sometimes, you can become misguided by finding certain information first. Never be afraid to disagree with someone if you have seen evidence to the contrary! The type of buyer you want to connect with is looking for someone who is an expert in their field–not someone who read the same information the buyer has read off of a webpage. Use your noodle, and put some extra effort into your education by trying different resources and experimenting.

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