Many businesses are going through a reset right now, and creative freelance business owners are no different. As we emerge from a state of lockdown
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 difference between discounting your services for Client A and charging Client B full price is one of positioning and communication. Both of these are value propositions.
How do you measure success? How long will it take to succeed as a freelancer? This is a common question among freelancers, and I believe
Has something like this ever happened to you? You have a solid contract with your client that includes payment terms and penalties for late payment.
When I first learned about the power of change orders it changed everything in my workflow. When I implemented the practice, I actually began looking
A mark up, also known as percentage over cost, is one way you can increase your freelance revenue. Marking up is a common business practice,
One thing I struggled with in the past as an independent creative is money. I have a lot of experience with the all too common
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
Did you know that your creative business thrives because of how you do business and not because of the quality of your work or your
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,
I’m a sole proprietor working with businesses and organizations, and so, like you, I had some concern about how the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs
Do you feel like you’re stuck in a rut with your pricing? Do you want to charge more per hour or per project, but for
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
Planning is necessary for any business owner. Going through an end-of-year assessment in order to set up for the next can lead you into more
From the Freelance Road Trip mailbag: A Freelance Road Trip (FRT) member shared an experience with a non-paying client. The member gave me permission to
Successful freelancing is a matter of finding the right clients in the right places for the right reasons. Every client you take on affects your
On his Dear Design Student blog on Medium, Mike Monteiro, design director at Mule Design, author and speaker, discusses designers and their ethics. He addresses
I’ll get to it when I’m ready. I’m sure you’ve had the experience of planning to get something done and then putting it off until
So you have a brand-new shiny client that you’re excited to be working with. You’re looking forward to helping them achieve their goals. They’ve accepted
Building a business requires connection with people: prospective clients, colleagues, mentors, customers, and sometimes even family members. When we connect, we share information, ideas and
Art and design students focus on developing their portfolios during the final terms of their education. The portfolio is the most important tool when entering
Because pretty much everything runs on design and other forms of visual communication, the role of the visual communicator (designer, illustrator, photographer) is more in
I recently read Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World, in which the author, Cal Newport, makes the case for engaging in sdeliberate, uninterrupted
You can get more out of a creative review than just a go-ahead to move to the next phase of the project. In coming together
If you want to be successful, you need to be influential. Influence can be positive or negative, and everyone has influence. The key for success
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
When you’re in business, you use social media differently than you do personally. I was an early adopter on many social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook
When you work project-to-project, you can experience inconsistencies in your schedule and revenue flow. One way to mitigate those gaps is with retainer agreements. These
As I write this article I’m in the middle of a contract negotiation involving copyright and licensing of one of my character designs. I worked with
The first 3 1/2 months of the year are known in the US as tax season. If you are an independent creative professional, that means you
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
I keep a Don’t-Do list. I spend most of my efforts on my to-do lists, agendas, and getting things done, but a few years ago I
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
A photographer is still in school full time but is already establishing connections for professional work. She is purchasing cameras, lenses and equipment she will use
Is there a difference between pro bono and spec work? If so, what’s the difference? First, let’s compare them. With both, you work for free,
Each December I take a couple weeks off to celebrate the holidays and go through a visioning and goal-setting process in preparation for the new
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
From time to time I’ll fire off an email to a client during the late evening or early morning hours. Occasionally, an immediate response comes back
When a client is looking for a creative firm, process and procedures are not obvious priorities in evaluating performance. The prospect is going to look
Productivity is a popular and expansive topic, and it’s also big business. From apps and books on the subject to courses and mastermind groups, tools
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
Most freelancers will agree that it’s easier to hold onto an established relationship than begin a new one. And it’s less work to retain a client
Pricing your creative services is one of the most-discussed topics among freelancers. There is no one right way to price your creative services — there is no industry
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
Freelancing can be regarded as a great adventure in which you go from project to project following your dreams and pursuing your passions exactly as you