Dive into the archives.
- Should I Write For Free For Me or Get Paid to Post Elsewhere?
This is a little bit of a different post than my usual fare, in that I am asking for your advice. Over the past several weeks I have been approached by a number of design-related blogs requesting that I write articles for them. In most cases I am already a fan of these blogs, subscribe to their RSS feeds, read them regularly and I’m extremely honored by their requests. Also, in most cases, they are offering to pay me for my contributions. This has happened often enough now that I am wondering if I should step deeper into the realm of freelance writing. My primary concern, though, is that I currently find very little time to write on my own blog, much less for someone else’s. So in this post I am going to think out loud a little bit, examine the pros and cons, and ask for your insight and suggestions to help me make this decision. Hopefully my ramblings will be interesting enough for you to read, provide some type of encouragement or assistance in your own situations through the process, and help me form a foundation for a next step in the right direction.
- Weekend Reading: The 419 Design, Freelancing, Social Media & SEO Links I Tweeted This Week (8/21-8/27)
Back again by popular demand. Well, okay. Only 3 or 4 people expressed a desire to see this series continue, but who am I to deprive them? And yes, I counted. 419 links in all my favorite interests – web and graphic design, freelancing, social media, SEO and more! Hopefully there are some tasty little tidbits of info here just for you.
- How To Fail At Using Twitter To Drum Up Business
Several times over the past few months I have received some ridiculous communications via Twitter from freelancers or small businesses who obviously are new to Twitter and have clearly decided to jump on the social media marketing bandwagon in an attempt to utilize the tool to find new clients. The reason I say these exchanges are ridiculous is because they have been asking me – a web designer – if I would like to hire them to do web design! Not asking if they can assist me or if I need an outsourcing contact, but flat out asking me to hire them to design a website!
Thanks to yet another misguided attempt at engaging me as a client for web design recently, I have written this post to help identify some critical steps that should not be overlooked if you are trying to use social media to drum up business. My hope is that it will provide some much-needed guidance for those that are new or considering diving in, while simultaneously aiming to rid current social media enthusiasts of the annoying, hard-sell marketing spam that is making its way onto our platforms.
- Pro Bono and Free Services: Is It Possible To Give Too Much?
Last Thursday I was taking part in a weekly discussion among designers called DCTH (Design Community Twitter Hours) and this question came up: When do you draw the line between pro-bono & just helping for free? A very interesting discussion followed and it got me thinking about my own experience with offering my design services pro bono or for free. In this post I want to share some of those experiences with you and how they have influenced my business approach as well as the impact this has had when I began applying it to my social media interaction.
- Don’t Let Your Bad Attitude Or Ethics Ruin It For The Rest Of Us!
The other night my wife and I went to our eldest daughter’s high school basketball game to cheer her on. We took our regular spot up at the top of the bleachers so we could lean back against the wall rather than slouching on the hard wood for the entire game. As we settled in, we noticed a few parents from the other team had the same idea and were setting up camp about 15 feet away. We commenced with the standard smile and nod acknowledgements and then turned our attention to the beginning of the contest. What transpired over the next hour inspired a range of emotions, from anger to frustration to disappointment. And I’m not talking about what happened on the court.
- 3 Keys To Attracting New Clients On Twitter
I was recently participating in a discussion among freelancers in a Google Wave regarding finding new clients on Twitter. I was surprised to hear that all of the other participants had not found a single new client or made any money through their efforts on the social network. The reason I was surprised is because my experience has been quite the opposite. I came to realize I might be the exception to the rule and I could possibly help other freelancers by sharing what I am finding to be some proven successful keys to marketing my services and finding new clients on Twitter.
- How I Turn My Favorite Procrastinations Into Inspirations
Let’s face it. We all have times that we just don’t feel motivated to do the things that we know have to eventually get done. Since my early days in elementary school I have always been quite skilled at putting things off until the last minute, then swooping in and completing them just in time for the deadline with the greatest of ease (and a little stress, sometimes.) As I grew older I honed this skill to a perfect science and actually found ways to thrive in the rush of last-minute madness.
But as a freelancer this methodology can be fatal. You never know when new projects might arise, or an “emergency” moves up a deadline and suddenly, if not prepared, you find yourself without enough hours in the remaining day to complete that which is required of you. So I have learned to do my best to always stay ahead as much as possible.
In an effort to encourage us all toward productive procrastination (instead of its evil twin) I have put together a few of my favorite workday disruptions and given ways to push them from diversion into the realm of inspiration. Hopefully they will give you some new, guilt-free ways to take a break from all that work so you can return with a fresh outlook, ready to roll again!
- FREELANCERS: Where Do You Draw The Line For What You’re Willing To Do?
Most of this blog post is in the video, so I won’t reiterate it too much here. I just wanted to hear from other freelancers what you are or are not willing to do in your line of work for a paycheck. Where do you draw the line morally, ethically or just plain and simply based on your experience and goals?
- DESIGNERS: Why I Promote and Support You Rather Than Compete Against You
In case you haven’t stopped by this blog lately, my last few posts here have been focused on promoting new, upcoming and/or lesser-known designers. It has been a wonderful experience getting to meet and interact with other designers that I’ve never known or heard of before, and the satisfaction of creating a forum to raise awareness of their work – and even their existence – has been priceless. It has truly been a joy and it has inspired me to continue finding ways to contribute to the expansion of the design community however I can.
Along the way, however, the inevitable question has come up: am I endangering my own freelance design business by promoting other designers who compete for the same clients? So after thinking about this I thought it would be an interesting post and possible discussion with others in the creative community. So here is what I’ve found.
- My Number One Key to Success as a Freelancer
In my wanderings around the internet and especially on social media channels, I have been privy to an abundance of very helpful articles and blogs providing a bevy of tips and tutorials and advice for freelancers. As a full-time freelance graphic and web designer myself, I have benefited from quite a few of these articles, discovering everything from software to accounting practices to pricing advice to freelance peers. As has been my practice from the time the internet became commonplace, I have been continuing my education and strengthening my skills and business thanks to the authors and research that is being offered.
In considering what I could offer to the plethora of knowledge as an experienced and reasonably successful freelancer, I realized that the most important contributor to my achievements has been my passion. My skills have been and continue to be acquired and honed along the way. My education – mostly self-taught – has no end and is driven by my desire for infinite increase in knowledge and understanding. My financial investment has been minimal, if almost non-existent.
But my passionate desire to make a living and provide for my family by doing what I love instead of pursuing something that gives me a nice paycheck with little or no personal satisfaction or fulfillment is the primary reason I am doing it today.
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