GDPR Compliance Steps for US-Based Freelancers
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 compliance in place by the…
Why Freelancers Should Have an Agency-Styled Website To Attract Clients
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, and are often displayed right…
The New Facebook Algorithm Is All About Quality Time… and Money
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 posts that has overwhelmed the…
Twelve Books To Boost Your Creative Business
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 a difference between reading for…
Do You Need A Marketing Plan?
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 is vital for your business…
3 Reasons Why Creative Freelancers Should Go Bold Or Go Home
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 waiting for someone to hire…
Leads and Referrals — What’s the Difference?
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 consist of members of different…
Should Freelancers List With Online Business Directories?
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 them. There are advantages and…
Create A Better Portfolio
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 and fine-tuning their portfolios during the…
How To Build An Effective Professional Network
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 group of people who are…
How To Attract Your Ideal Clients
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 who pays you to do…
Which is Better for Self-Promotion: Email or Mailers?
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 who have either opted in…
Who Hires Creative Freelancers?
[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 to that niche. Deciding on…
Using LinkedIn Profinder To Find Freelance Gigs
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 Profinder a try. It’s a…
No-Money Marketing Tips for Creative Freelancers
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, positioning ourselves, and attracting or…
Tactics for Better Business Networking
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 watching, creative industry events will not…
What Kind Of Freelancer Are You?
Did you know that there is more than one way to be a freelancer? Independent creatives — freelancers — can choose a variety of working scenarios and operate in more than…
Self-Promotion Tips for Creative Freelancers
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 freelancer, you should include self…
Why You Need To Use Visual Content In Social Media
Have you noticed that social medial platforms have all gone visual? Flickr, Pinterest and Instagram and Tumblr…of course. But Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus and Facebook have followed suit. Posts with pics…
How to Build A Prospecting Pipeline
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 pipeline of prospective clients. If…
How To Build Your Brand With Google+
Google+ is not just another Facebook, as I thought when I first began using it. After putting some serious effort into G+, I have learned there are significant differences between the…
branding influence reputation
typographic illustration in reds for Design and Conquer blog post
A Philosophy of Branding, Part 1
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 about the topic. A very common…
The Best Days to Send an Email Blast
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 the best results, you'll want…
Should You Care About Aesthetics?
Are you more concerned about aesthetics or your bottom line when contracting design services? Designers - good ones - always care about how something looks. This is bred into us from…