Well folks it's been a busy, busy summer for me... between work and going to Burning Man (www.burningman.com) but now that the dust has settled, I'm back to discuss the subject of how bad news could really be good news.
I recently completed 75% of a major web site when I got a call to "stop work". It seems that there was a change of command and the new group of folks wanted a chance to review what was being done.
Now one way of looking at it is: BAD NEWS.
Are the new group of people looking to replace me with someone they know?
Are the new people happy with the work I did?
Are there any problems or issues that I don't know about?
Yes... all these questions popped into my head... but then I stopped and said to myself...
"Hold on! This could turn out to be good news.. in fact it could be great news! I remembered that the Chinese ideogram for "crisis" is made up of two characters signifying "danger" and "opportunity".
Since I know that everyone loved and approved my work to date, it could be that if the new people in charge wanted some major changes made to their site, I would be able to charge my AA (Author's alteration) fees that were spelled out in detail in my signed agreement with them... and that's good news.
Or if they want to take it from the top with an entirely new design, there would be additional opportunities to earn more money.... yes more good news!
Bottom line: A successful freelancer has to make sure that all parties are aware of any additional fees that might occur AFTER approvals are given. As long as everything is done correctly from the start and no one is surprised, you will continue to have a good working relationship with your clients... which will lead to more opportunities for you to make more money in the future.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
You are your clients partner
All successful freelancers know that their clients are really their partners. There's no them and me, it's us.
What's good for your clients is good for you. Help them grow and you will grow with them. This means more projects, more profits.
I just finished a project for a brand new client... and guess what... more business will be following because I've helped my client in such a way that he feels that I'm already one of his trusted "inner circle". Of course it starts with doing a great job... if you don't deliver the "goods" then you will never get another project.
But what I did was save his butt (that's my job)... I created several pieces in record time and didn't charge rush. Some of you might be thinking... that's crazy... you stayed up until 12:30 in the morning and didn't charge extra?
Well folks, that's what being a freelancer is all about... working when other "salaried" people won't or can't work. My client was thrilled by how great his project came out and the fact that he didn't get raked over the coals when he was in a position where the assignment and timing were very critical.
Bottom line... don't go for a one project "killing"... go for the long haul. Become your clients partner and you too can be a successful freelancer.
What's good for your clients is good for you. Help them grow and you will grow with them. This means more projects, more profits.
I just finished a project for a brand new client... and guess what... more business will be following because I've helped my client in such a way that he feels that I'm already one of his trusted "inner circle". Of course it starts with doing a great job... if you don't deliver the "goods" then you will never get another project.
But what I did was save his butt (that's my job)... I created several pieces in record time and didn't charge rush. Some of you might be thinking... that's crazy... you stayed up until 12:30 in the morning and didn't charge extra?
Well folks, that's what being a freelancer is all about... working when other "salaried" people won't or can't work. My client was thrilled by how great his project came out and the fact that he didn't get raked over the coals when he was in a position where the assignment and timing were very critical.
Bottom line... don't go for a one project "killing"... go for the long haul. Become your clients partner and you too can be a successful freelancer.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Being more profitable
You've heard the expression "time is money" well as a freelancer that is the absolute truth. Working with your client efficiently will free you up for more projects or more leisure time... (win-win).
So how do you work more efficiently? By thinking ahead.
For example, I'm working on a major web site now and my processes is to get an approval on the home page before I show an interior page.
Now my client was expecting one interior page, but I noticed that there were actually 3 different major interior pages (one for one type of chart (30 pages), one for another type of chart (30 pages) and one for basic information (10 pages) so I presented all 3 in 2 different versions.
All my client had to do was pick which background they liked best and which navigation structure they liked best.
Sure, I spent more time doing the work, but in the long run it was more efficient to do so and it made my client feel better seeing the differences before I went into the entire site.
Bottom line... sometimes it pays to spend more time to make the project go faster... then it becomes more profitable!
So how do you work more efficiently? By thinking ahead.
For example, I'm working on a major web site now and my processes is to get an approval on the home page before I show an interior page.
Now my client was expecting one interior page, but I noticed that there were actually 3 different major interior pages (one for one type of chart (30 pages), one for another type of chart (30 pages) and one for basic information (10 pages) so I presented all 3 in 2 different versions.
All my client had to do was pick which background they liked best and which navigation structure they liked best.
Sure, I spent more time doing the work, but in the long run it was more efficient to do so and it made my client feel better seeing the differences before I went into the entire site.
Bottom line... sometimes it pays to spend more time to make the project go faster... then it becomes more profitable!
Monday, June 29, 2009
You've got the job.. now what?
OK, so you have a new client and a new assignment now. What do you do?
Well the "knee jerk" response is usually... do a great job!
WRONG. That's not enough.
You want your client to come back to you and only you. To do that you should also be educating your client about all the "extras" you are handling to make their project really fly.
Now as a designer you might be doing things all the time that are second nature to you. BUT for other designers not as experienced, if they miss these things there could be production problems.
For example... all the photos your client sent. You checked them to see if they were high res or low res, you checked to see if they were RGB or CMYK and then made the correct mode change for the medium they were sent for. You might have removed clipping paths. That Illustrator file... you got rid of hidden layers that could print. How about all those Photoshop files where you discard color profiles that could screw things up.
How about talking to the printer. When you did an animated banner.. all the work involved to make sure the banners didn't exceed the max sizes demanded by Google or other companies.
Bottom line... doing a great design job is important.. but just as important is educating your client to all the extra benefits there are when they work with you. That you are giving them more than just a great design, you are giving them files that will the printers will love. That they won't be spending more money getting corrections done at the printer. Or that your web files will work across all browsers. When your clients trust you, you will get more business.
Well the "knee jerk" response is usually... do a great job!
WRONG. That's not enough.
You want your client to come back to you and only you. To do that you should also be educating your client about all the "extras" you are handling to make their project really fly.
Now as a designer you might be doing things all the time that are second nature to you. BUT for other designers not as experienced, if they miss these things there could be production problems.
For example... all the photos your client sent. You checked them to see if they were high res or low res, you checked to see if they were RGB or CMYK and then made the correct mode change for the medium they were sent for. You might have removed clipping paths. That Illustrator file... you got rid of hidden layers that could print. How about all those Photoshop files where you discard color profiles that could screw things up.
How about talking to the printer. When you did an animated banner.. all the work involved to make sure the banners didn't exceed the max sizes demanded by Google or other companies.
Bottom line... doing a great design job is important.. but just as important is educating your client to all the extra benefits there are when they work with you. That you are giving them more than just a great design, you are giving them files that will the printers will love. That they won't be spending more money getting corrections done at the printer. Or that your web files will work across all browsers. When your clients trust you, you will get more business.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Are you serious about being a full time freelancer?
I was reading in the NY Times magazine section this past Sunday about freelancers.
What struck me was how so many people are freelancing because they've been laid off and how, if they could, they would prefer to have a "real" full time job.
Well... if you want to be a successful freelancer... it's a full time job.
What are the traits of a successful freelancer you might ask...
First... you have to be disciplined.
I start my day working promptly at the same time every day. My clients know that when they call me I can respond to their requests right away.
Next... you have to promote yourself via phone and internet every single day.
You have to put yourself in your client's place and treat your clients how YOU want to be treated... no surprises, bring projects in on budget, be easy to work with.
You have to commit yourself and buy the necessary software to keep up with the industry.
Don't look at this as something to "tide you over" until something "better" comes along.... freelancing is a great way of making a living and a wonderful lifestyle.... if you can take the occasional stress of a "feast and famine" work schedule.
Bottom line... Being a freelancer is a profession that demands creativity and people skills. You can be the best designer in the world, but if you are difficult to work with, no one will give you the time of day or more importantly a second job. Be professional. Act professional. Deliver the highest caliber work and you will succeed. Remember... your job is to help people. They have a problem, you have the solution.
What struck me was how so many people are freelancing because they've been laid off and how, if they could, they would prefer to have a "real" full time job.
Well... if you want to be a successful freelancer... it's a full time job.
What are the traits of a successful freelancer you might ask...
First... you have to be disciplined.
I start my day working promptly at the same time every day. My clients know that when they call me I can respond to their requests right away.
Next... you have to promote yourself via phone and internet every single day.
You have to put yourself in your client's place and treat your clients how YOU want to be treated... no surprises, bring projects in on budget, be easy to work with.
You have to commit yourself and buy the necessary software to keep up with the industry.
Don't look at this as something to "tide you over" until something "better" comes along.... freelancing is a great way of making a living and a wonderful lifestyle.... if you can take the occasional stress of a "feast and famine" work schedule.
Bottom line... Being a freelancer is a profession that demands creativity and people skills. You can be the best designer in the world, but if you are difficult to work with, no one will give you the time of day or more importantly a second job. Be professional. Act professional. Deliver the highest caliber work and you will succeed. Remember... your job is to help people. They have a problem, you have the solution.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Why some businesses and freelancers FAIL
I got a call yesterday. The fellow had a great product that wasn't selling. He wanted to know how much it would cost for 3 banner ads and to redo his home page on the web. Since 2 of the banner sizes were similar and because I felt sorry for him I quoted a very low ball price.. $250 per animated banner.
"That's $750 for 3... I can get it done for $125 bucks!" he tells me.
Now, while he's telling me that he can buy it cheaper, I'm looking at his web site and I'm not surprised he can buy the services he wants for $125. His web site is not SELLING. It's not professional looking... I guess he paid $125 for his web site too.
I explained to him that he will be spending a lot of money in the future on his advertising... and if he's running the same banner ads over and over again, then he should be getting more bang for his buck with banner advertising that WORKS... that drives clicks to his site.
"But I can spend $125 on it" I keep hearing him say...
BUT what HE wasn't hearing was that he wasn't giving his business a chance to succeed.
He wasn't spending his money where it really counts... in smart design combined with PROVEN marketing strategies designed to SELL at the very beginning.
I didn't get the assignment.
There will always be someone willing to do the project for less. If you are competing on price and not on quality, service and results, then you will be working 24/7 and will be out of business in one year.
My market, as well as yours, should be geared to people who are SERIOUS about their business succeeding and who know that quality and experience will cost a little more BUT WILL BE CHEAPER in the end because they will SELL MORE.
Bottom line: To be a successful freelancer, you have to convince your prospective clients that if they are SERIOUS about wanting their company to succeed, they have to take a swing at it with their best shot... and that's YOU not the inexperienced person who can do it for pennies.... because CHEAP is EXPENSIVE in the long run.
"That's $750 for 3... I can get it done for $125 bucks!" he tells me.
Now, while he's telling me that he can buy it cheaper, I'm looking at his web site and I'm not surprised he can buy the services he wants for $125. His web site is not SELLING. It's not professional looking... I guess he paid $125 for his web site too.
I explained to him that he will be spending a lot of money in the future on his advertising... and if he's running the same banner ads over and over again, then he should be getting more bang for his buck with banner advertising that WORKS... that drives clicks to his site.
"But I can spend $125 on it" I keep hearing him say...
BUT what HE wasn't hearing was that he wasn't giving his business a chance to succeed.
He wasn't spending his money where it really counts... in smart design combined with PROVEN marketing strategies designed to SELL at the very beginning.
I didn't get the assignment.
There will always be someone willing to do the project for less. If you are competing on price and not on quality, service and results, then you will be working 24/7 and will be out of business in one year.
My market, as well as yours, should be geared to people who are SERIOUS about their business succeeding and who know that quality and experience will cost a little more BUT WILL BE CHEAPER in the end because they will SELL MORE.
Bottom line: To be a successful freelancer, you have to convince your prospective clients that if they are SERIOUS about wanting their company to succeed, they have to take a swing at it with their best shot... and that's YOU not the inexperienced person who can do it for pennies.... because CHEAP is EXPENSIVE in the long run.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Your phone call....
It's hard to get in to see people these days. The way you present yourself on the phone is very important to being a successful freelancer.
What you have to communicate quickly is several important points:
1- You can help the person.
2- You can help the person.
3- You can help the person.
People aren't calling you because they think you are the best designer in the world. They are calling you because they have a problem and they are hoping you are the person that can solve that problem.
No matter who calls you, their problem is the same: they need to SELL a service or product. How you are going to do it is the solution to their problem... it could be a sell sheet, or a logo that communicates a deeper meaning, it could be an ad, a flash banner or a new web site maybe a postcard.
You should be nimble and you should be able to offer lot's of different graphic design answers... not just the ones that they are looking for.
Imagine going to a car dealer and telling them that your problem is that you need to be moving large boxes across town every day. If they only sell race cars, they will be only recommending a race car to you.
As a successful freelancer you have to have skills in a wide area so that you have different revenue streams... that's your "toolbox" to help your clients.
Bottom line: your job is to SELL your clients service or product. The more design areas that you are skilled in the better chance you have of helping your client and making a better living.
What you have to communicate quickly is several important points:
1- You can help the person.
2- You can help the person.
3- You can help the person.
People aren't calling you because they think you are the best designer in the world. They are calling you because they have a problem and they are hoping you are the person that can solve that problem.
No matter who calls you, their problem is the same: they need to SELL a service or product. How you are going to do it is the solution to their problem... it could be a sell sheet, or a logo that communicates a deeper meaning, it could be an ad, a flash banner or a new web site maybe a postcard.
You should be nimble and you should be able to offer lot's of different graphic design answers... not just the ones that they are looking for.
Imagine going to a car dealer and telling them that your problem is that you need to be moving large boxes across town every day. If they only sell race cars, they will be only recommending a race car to you.
As a successful freelancer you have to have skills in a wide area so that you have different revenue streams... that's your "toolbox" to help your clients.
Bottom line: your job is to SELL your clients service or product. The more design areas that you are skilled in the better chance you have of helping your client and making a better living.
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