It’s affirming when clients refer new business to you. Their recommendations are a testament to your expertise and experience. For a long time referrals alone
The European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation goes into full effect on May 25, 2018. The internet and blogdom are all abuzz about getting
If you’re an independent creative professional, you probably already have a website showcasing your amazing portfolio. Portfolios are a necessary component of any freelancer’s website,
Mark Zuckerberg wants Facebook to be a place for people to connect and engage. His post on January 11, 2018 decried the plethora of public
It’s widely acknowledged that there is a direct correlation between reading and success. But it’s not the amount you read, it’s what you read. There’s
Q: As a freelancer, do I need a marketing plan or can I just wing it? A: Indeed, you do need a marketing plan. Marketing
A long time ago in a faraway place called Pasadena, CA, I sat in a classroom and heard my instructor say, “You can’t sit around
Early in my freelance journey I joined a business networking group through my chamber of commerce for the purpose of generating leads and referrals. Networking groups
Q: As a freelancer, is it worth having business listings like Yelp and YP? A: It depends upon what directories you choose and why you choose
Whether online or in hand, your portfolio is the primary means of landing a job or finding clients. Art school graduates have focused on developing
When you’re in business (and freelancers are in business), you build reputation through social and in-person networking. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a network is a
First of all, let’s define who your ideal clients are. An ideal client is one for whom you do the kind of work you want to do, and
Self-promotion is an ordinary and necessary aspect of doing business as an independent creative professional. Unlike social media marketing, self-promotion campaigns are targeted to contacts
[themeone_drop_cap letter=”T” color=”accent-color3″ /]he current mantra for creative freelancers, and for any independent business owner, is to create or define a niche and aggressively market
This article was updated on February 8, 2017 by the author. Being always on the lookout for new client opportunities, I thought I’d give LinkedIn
We are always marketing. From the quality of our work to how we talk about ourselves, we are constantly sending messages into the public square,
If you are a self-employed creative, business networking is a significant part of your marketing mix. While designers, illustrators and photographers naturally get together with other creatives for mutual support and trend
Did you know that there is more than one way to be a freelancer? Independent creatives — freelancers — can choose a variety of working scenarios
Self promotion is the practice of telling potential clients about what you do. With it you build your brand, engage prospects and find clients. As a
As an independent creative, prospecting is a practical and necessary business activity that I need to give focused attention to. It requires work to keep a
Of Influence, Time and Trust Branding is a popular discussion in my circles, and in the course of those conversations I gain great insight into perceptions
Email is the most effective means of reaching your customer base. It’s targeted and direct, and recipients have opted in to your lists (hopefully). For
Are you more concerned about aesthetics or your bottom line when contracting design services? Designers – good ones – always care about how something looks. This
Identity is the facts – the indisputable reality – of who or what something is. Without getting into an existential discussion, let’s acknowledge that we
Start-up businesses and organizations tend to hold themselves back in terms of establishing reputation and solidity by under-budgeting and under-investing in the brand-building graphics and
Whether you’re a business owner, executive or staff member, business cards continue to play a leading role at events, in business and in the marketplace.
Non-descript design that lacks distinction will do nothing to add distinction and value to an organization.
Like any design, websites are experienced. Your goal should be to provide the best experience to the largest percentage of people who visit your site.
To be meaningful, design needs to connect on five successive levels of significance…
How many people set goals and never achieve them? How many creatives start a business and then watch it fizzle out Are you someone who,
Does it matter if a design is good or not? Before we can deal with that question let’s ask a more basic one: What makes
To be promoted in our design-driven culture, a product must be packaged in such a way that it becomes meaningful to the person using it, so that they become an evangelist for it. This requires thoughtful planning and execution of a design strategy
How can you invest your product or service with “lovability” and create devotion in your customers? Here are some options: Love it yourself. If you’re
I was asked by a client to re-design a print ad laid out by someone else. The original layout (above, left) was cluttered and confused.
Graphic design represents ideas and values. A design is not in itself the idea, but the expression of it. Design points to something greater than
I am currently designing a new print promotion series for myself.
My friend, Mary, was in a community theatre production of The Mikado, and was asked to write her bio for the printed program. This being her first theatrical
Once you have made the investment in the creation of a company identity – a logo – how should you utilize that to build a
If brand is a person’s perception of a product, service, experience or organization, then the best branded branch of the
This afternoon I was listening to a radio talk show in which the host was interviewing business majors from a local college. One of the