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Recently I visited a corner cafe in my neighborhood and couldn’t help but notice all the business cards and flyers on their main counter. Now I came into the cafe with intentions of buying lunch, but totally distracted by all of these eager businesses looking for my attention. Really they want my business, though when I say business I mean my services.
I can’t tell you how many people may pick up these cards and brochures in this cafe or any other storefront, but small businesses have been doing this type of marketing for years. Now let me tell you my strategy. I looked through every single stack of cards to see which ones did NOT have email addresses to their web domain and which ones didn’t even have a website listed. Why? Because they’re my target clients. They want more exposure, don’t have too much money for a bigger firm when it comes to design, and they’d be happy to hear their phone ring – even if its someone local looking to meet them.
How to approach the call: This part is a bit easy. Even for those of you who may not like cold calling. When you call their listed number from the card or brochure, address them by their name. “Hello, John” then tell them honestly how you found their information. Complement their card design and briefly explain what your design skills are and how you’d like to meet them for coffee. Chances are they will accept your offer for a brief meetup because you also will seem like a potential client for them. Though that’s possible, just be sure to maintain control when you actually do meet up. Be sure to schedule something either for that same day or the next. Never delay it for days or weeks because they’ll lose interest. You might too.
Sell them when you meet them: Arrive a few minutes before they do and have your laptop out and connected to the internet. This is so that you can quickly show them your work. Or have a rotating slide show of your work casually displaying to the side of the table and your own brochure or flyer on the table. When they show up just act natural and woo them with charm. Ask them first about what they do, how long they’ve been doing it.
The Goal: All you need to be sure to do is leave a good impression with these meetups from the cold calls. They’ll have your flyer or business card and if they don’t sign with you for business that day follow-up with them in a week via email. If nothing after that just shelf their information. If you have an ongoing mailing list, add them to it so that they see your work and updates.
Let me know what you think on this cold call approach in the comments below. I’d like to know how many of you try it and your results. Hopefully they’ll be like mine, success!
All Posts, Web Design
From around the internet I’ve found some cool infographics that I wanted to put together to show you. I think they’re getting more popular lately, and they’re easy on the eyes to view while providing great informative content.3
The Internet’s Undersea World
What People are doing on the internet
The life of an article on the web
Largest bankruptcies in history
16 Million Colors – For real!
SEO Check List
All Posts, Web Design
Fellow web designers, I know we’ve all been there. Had a great prospective client meeting. They loved your portfolio of work. Contacted you from a referral of a previous client. So you’re feeling great about this project going into it. You make a draft, show it to them, and it all starts going downhill from there. They want more revisions, the logo needs to be changed, content can’t be agreed upon, and more and more. Originally you quoted a certain amount and now your billable hours have almost tripled and the site isn’t even half way done. You ask yourself, who’s really at fault here? Without getting into any formalities, lets keep most of the blame with the client.
When I first started out, I used a contract with my first client. Ironically, it saved me from an issue once the site was completed. They wanted the workup files and my contract specifically said they’re not included. After some phone calls, emails, and threats from their family members, I stuck to my guns and referred back to the contract that was signed. Could have been worse had I not had that agreement setup from jump right? Well, this type of story is all too common on this side of the fence.
Contracts don’t necessarily have to be only for the protection of one person. The current contract I have and use now actually is quite easy to read to not hard on the eyes for my clients. Really want a contract does is protect the property of each binding party and set rules and understandings of work or a relationship.
Below are some general categories you’ll want to use in your own contract if you don’t have one already:
- Authorization
- Agreement
- Scope of Work
- Payment Schedule
- Confidentiality
- Hosting
- Terms
- Project Guidelines
- Files and Ownership
If your a freelancer doing jobs here and there, a typical surface level contract should do. However if you’re working as a subcontractor or with bigger businesses that are outsourcing work to you, a contract written or reviewed by your lawyer may be your best option. It would be a wise investment in the beginning that may save you thousands in the future.
Have some tips on contracts? Let us know in the comments below.
All Posts, Web Design
As a designer, either in graphics, coding, programming, or in web, we tend to get totally involved in our projects. A lot of times we juggle more than two projects at a time without our clients even knowing, but still providing full support and service. Over time we get used to this type of multi-tasking without even thinking about it, scheduling time to plug in updates, billing, and more. Now what about projects and to our own websites? When will we have time to post new blogs? Update images and links? Yea, this is one of those things I can say (generally speaking) that we all put of way too much.
Between client emails, conference calls, meetings, and the occasional work here and there, it’s hard to find the time to actually do work on our own projects. That includes updating those little annoyances about our work that people may have caught and we still haven’t had time to fix. You also have to consider time to learn new apps and technologies pertaining to your trade.
I’ve learned that time management is such a necessity but is often overlooked. Most of us pretty much go about our days with a general idea of what tasks we will accomplish. Whatever is most important and approaching a deadline, we put to the top of our list of things to do, and the rest is a bonus or shelved for a later date. However there are days where this could totally bite us in the rear for lack of planning. I’ve come up with 5 quick and easy ways to find ways to get to our own projects while keeping in step with our client ones.
1) Populate your calendar down to the hour. This may seem like a big task, but once you get it started and up to date, filling in your tasks and projects by the day and hour will really help you find open times.
2) Create a To-Do List. There are many books out there on Getting Things Done (GTD), and all will recommend a list of some sorts with all of your tasks. Since we’re so tech savvy, there are also smartphone apps and web sources to help with this also. Toodledo is a great free one to get you started.
3) Set Realistic Goals. If you know you need to make some serious adjustments to your own site or work, set a goal for when you want to complete it. Not just a mental one, but actually write it down and place it somewhere that you’ll be constantly reminded of it. Be sure to make these goals tangible. After completing a few you’ll feel proud and accomplished.
4) Eliminate the fluff. The constant checking in on your social sites, spam email accounts, watering the plants, watching sunsets, calling to check on mom. You know what I mean. These fillers are nice “fluff” but take away from what you really need to get done. Though it may be important
5) Make yourself accountable. Now this may be the toughest off all, but I promise it works. Being a freelancer, you really are only accountable for your deliverables to yourself and your client. As an employee, your tasks need to get done so that the next person in line can do theirs. So appoint a fellow designer, friend, or significant other to monitor your projects. Maybe start with the big ones at first so you don’t start resenting them with the smaller tasks and projects.
If you’ve come up with ways other than what I’ve described please let us know in the comments below. It’s all about helping others improve, and we all know we can use improvements every now and again.
All Posts, Web Design
The word “NO” may be one of those forbidden words in the vocabulary of most freelance designers. We may be used to hearing it from time to time from prospective clients or recruiters, but actually saying “no” to someone is something we seldom do. Why is that? For me, I’ll say it’s because deep down I’m in business to help people. It’s not all about the money – though the money is a factor. Really it is about helping people understand why they need my services, and how I can make their dreams come true. Essentially fulfilling a worthy need. This comes with strings that may be harmful to that blissful and wonderful life we know as a freelancer though. Let me explain why.
There are a growing number of design freelancers out there either straddling the line of full time or part time work, and the main dream is to one day only work for self. In working for self, there are some preconceptions about how tasks and work will be from day to day. This may include getting up a bit later in the morning, watching the news, going to the gym, hours or work, quick snack for lunch, then more hours or work into the wee hours of the night. Sprinkle in some emails, phone calls, social media engagement, and research; and that would complete a typical day.
Here’s where things can go wrong. When you’re currently juggling a few projects and a new prospect is eager to work with you and ready to pay – but their project isn’t really within your scope of work or expertise. Obviously you want to take the job because you’re thinking of the money and maybe some bills it would pay, or new iPad you’ve been craving. I won’t call it greed, but you accept the job. Things seem to be ok at first, but after a few days or weeks the project takes a turn for the worst. The client is very needy or lacks feedback you need to continue. Their requests are over your head and out of your know-how. You’ve spent entirely too much time contemplating how to do or what to do. And my favorite, you’re now running behind on your other projects that are completely within your realm of service.
By now you’re thinking, “I shouldn’t have taken this assignment.” Hence, you should have said “NO.” I’m here to tell you its quite ok to just say no to a project. The level of stress you endure when taking these non-essential gigs can start to ruin your ideal day of work. You remember that blissful feeling you had when you first starting reading this and reflected on your perfect day? Well that’s what keeps you doing what you do.
Here are some tips for saying “no” and being polite about it:
Increase your prices: Provided that you don’t have your prices listed on your website or posted service, you can accept a project, sub-contract it to a known associate that you trust, and still make a little money while retaining a new client.
Delay the project start date: Chances are that client may be looking to get started yesterday. (which is already a bad sign) Explain to them your current workload and defer to a date in 30-60 days. If they’re still interested you can contact them back. This also works when current projects are about to expire and you’ve got nothing else lined up.
Admit to your limits: This is a bold step here but can be accepted as a humble gesture. Explaining to the client that their project is out of your scope of work and that you wouldn’t want to accept it without full confidence in what you’ll be able to produce in the end.
Offer a recommendation to another freelancer: This may seem like your passing them off, but if you can explain to them softly why they will understand. Especially if the recommended person is an associate of yours that you can make a warm introduction to this client. Now their project can be done with confidence, your associate will be happy with the referral, and you can keep your day bright and shiny.
Bottom line is that you have to respect people when they come to you for work, and also respect your existing clientele to ensure adequate service is kept for them. One common complain I hear with people I’ve met is that their current or past designer doesn’t seem care about them. Either by not responding to emails, phone calls, missed deadlines, and more. Word of mouth is so powerful and a kind word goes far; while a bad word goes even further and impacts a lot deeper. As a freelance designer, we’re a dime a dozen. What sets us apart is our reputation, keep this in mind with the projects you do take and the ones you probably shouldn’t.
As always, your thoughts are appreciated. Please leave a comment and let me know if you agree or have different views.
Recently I visited a corner cafe in my neighborhood and couldn’t help but notice all the business cards and flyers on their main counter. Now I came into the cafe with intentions of buying lunch, but totally distracted by all of these eager businesses looking for my attention. Really they want my business, though when I say business I mean my services.
