The Importance of Knowing Why
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,
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,
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
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
As an independent creative, you get to decide how you will attract clients and projects. One option is via Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Whether or
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
When you start freelancing you become a business owner and are responsible for the success or failure of your enterprise. Honestly, it can go either way,
Since I established my design studio over thirteen years ago, I have worked with clients large and small, designed for sole proprietors and for publicly-held
Every project and every client is different. Freelance creatives need to consider the unique needs and objectives of each client when determining their fees.
As the owner of an independent creative business, you are responsible for absolutely everything creatively and managerially. The whole thing’s sitting on your shoulders, and
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
To begin with, social media is not about selling, but about conversations and providing value. Be knowable, likable and trustworthy. To make the most of
It’s red. It’s can get up to 2 inches thick. It’s an almost constant companion. I am describing my paper planner: my planning/project/time management companion. It’s
Commenting on this article is currently closed. Previously-posted comments are full of helpful details. Please read to the end for the latest updates. Designers
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
With value pricing for design and illustration projects, I am able to custom-tailor my services and fees to fit each client and project. But even
The commonly-given advice is: Do what you love and the money will follow. This is a great ideal, because no one wants to spend the majority
Design your time. Time is wasted when we do the wrong thing at the wrong time. It’s easier to keep your time boundaries and your well-being intact if you plan ahead.
Have you made resolutions for the new year? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to change? Where do you see yourself
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
…your process of emerging from school into the (design) profession needs to be as carefully framed and designed as any of your projects.
As an independent creative, prospecting is a practical and necessary business activity that needs focused attention to. It requires work to maintain a pipeline of
Every independent creative professional should have a web site. Hands down, WordPress.org is the most popular self-hosted content management web site framework. Over 50% of self-hosted
When you’re in business for yourself and you are regularly seeking new clients and projects, you will come across all types of prospects in your
