How do I get people to ignore my age online?
In person, most people ignore my age because I can speak in a professional manner and I know what I am talking about. But, when I conduct business online people look at my age and how "young" I am and avoid me. I have had many individuals bring it up and automatically consider me less experienced even though I have several years experience, continuously learn, have a marketing job, and stay ahead in my field. Much more than other people my age. I work for a marketing company and I feel it effects my lead generation among other things.
So, how do I get people to ignore my age and seriously consider me and my services? How do I get people to stop asking for free services because it would be "great experience at my age"?
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Oct 12, 2014
Generally people do not care about age in the Virtual World.. they look for the content..
It is possible that you are not able to present properly you knowledge and/or expertise, the way you are able to do in real world.
or
The people you are contacting are non-serious and not a potential clients, since in virtual world you are not sure who is real customer
Aug 5, 2014
Good companies and individual who need quality work never check the age they need work should be done in excellent manner but on site like Badoo.Tagged.Friend Finder people concern about age
Jun 15, 2014
Why not market yourself as someone on the leading edge of development in your field? If your lead generation is being affected, it could well be the subconscious signals you are sending regarding your own insecurity about your age.
Instead, focus on helping potential clients understand what you are offering that no one else can. What is uniquely your perspective and skill set?
The world responds to the signals we put out there. Develop confidence in your offerings, and you will see this mirrored in the response from potential clients.
Jun 9, 2014
Respect comes with results and success. If someone reads your resume...that you work in a costume shop and an online internet marketing group...and just graduated from school a year ago....they will know that you are young and still wet behind the ears. I went to the presto website and first thing i did was click on about us and it went to the owner and there was only her name typed....nothing more.
And in my opinion, that is very mediocre, especially for an online marketing group.
Things that you do today impact your success tomorrow.
But, yes, you look under 18 on your pictures and video. So, when people see you they know you are young. I would suggest an image consultant, or some type of person to tell you how to dress and how to style your hair so that you do not look like you are about to graduate from high school. I am not at all dogging you. I am just being real.
Looking youthful is both a blessing and a curse. But, if you want to get in front of a bunch of high level decision makers, you either have to have the success/history/resume to get you in front of them, and working at the costume shop and an internet marketing group with a poor web presence will not help...or you have to be able to show them the successes that you have had, and in measurable content. right now, your resume tells us that your first job is a student and you are working some part time gigs to pay for school.
Sorry i sound rough...but you are young, you look young...and you have no experience. You may have great skills...and you may go out and change the world...
Next time someone asks you about age, be able to tell them, yes...I am young and I had the same thing happen to me when I spoke to XYz Company, but we got over it and I was able to grow his market share by xyz%, of I was able to grow his sales by double digits for the last three years running.
Look in the mirror, acknowledge that you look like you are in high school, and get over it and get some results. nothing wrong with a young prodigy.
May 27, 2014
Hi Joseph - I have empowered many of my younger VIP clients to overcome the 'age' factor with this one, easy-for-you-to-do-right-now strategy:
As you do have several years experience, how soon will you approach your previous clients (even those volunteer or freebie ones) for a reference note (to clip or post online and in your porfolio) that looks something like:
"Joseph did X, Y and Z to create results A, B, C for us. The one thing that impressed us most about him is how his world-class expertise, wisdom and relevant, innovative strategies far exceed others."
The focus is on the impressive results you bring. Period.
And if you truly are ready to release the negative energy you hold (regarding the limiting self-belief) about age, give a shout now or apply the resources in my book, Ready Aim Soar!
To your improved, health, wealth and happiness, Joseph.
Paul
May 16, 2014
Hi Mr. Gedgaud,
"Age" as many other factors seems to sneak its way through to humans and increases the bias. This bias sometimes works in our favor (silver hair in places like Japan is an asset) while at others might affect negatively (not being taken serious when one claims experience with a young age).
My question is it depends on what you are telling and/or writing on your profile.
We also provide….Before we take on a new client, we start with a ‘Business and Marketing X-Ray.’ We look at what you are currently doing to attract more customers; what’s working for you, what isn’t and what you would like to acc
In order to get the customer who is evaluating your capabilities, you may want to take their attention from the "we...." you use in your profile content to customer testimonials hyperlinked into it. When the customer speaks highly of you, then the potential evaluator is addressing 3rd party thus reducing and/or eliminating the bias that could sneak into the human minds and generate unnecessary rejections to your disfavor.
Instead of stating "we.." have a team mentioned there with names and titles, and it adds to the credibility of your claims.
Integrate enough of those 3rd party testimonials that they would form the signal to the beacon of your profile so that the age factors in a noise hardly even visible in the radar of those potential evaluators looking to possibly do business with you.
Good luck and please let me know if you wish to speak offline on this matter and get some assistance.
Cheers,
Dr. Shree
May 16, 2014
Great question Joseph!!!
My answer: Add value and show up as the person who can do the work...then do it!!
Let your reputation speak for itself.
If you are "new" to your industry, you may need to gather some testimonials at a "TRY ME" fee. That totally depends the services you provide and who you serve.
Some people just want something for nothing. In that case, you just have to say "next" and keep moving.
May 16, 2014
I was sitting on a roundtable panel a few hours ago for the City of Columbus on unemployment and we were discussing the other end of the age spectrum. It is true there is an age bias by people but it does not become real until you make it real.
I actually am going to say that the reason people ask you for free services is because you are talking to the wrong people. (so stop taking the easy answer that it is your age) You are talking to people with invisible websites who spent the minimum investment to bring them online. You need to market to better prospects who can afford or are willing to invest in their online marketing.
There was a day when you needed to be in the phone book and on radio. If you could not afford to do that, then you were going to fail. Next time someone suggests you do it for free, ask them if that is the value they put on their website.
May 2, 2014
Don't tell them, only meet them in person, and when they want you to work for free, ask them if they work for free and say nothing.
And dont you dare fall into the trap of hidding your age by not having a picture or other misleading tactics. A picture is expected, leave it out and people assume you dont know how to post a picture.