Free Advice on a Freelance Life – Part 1

In the fast and connected times that we live, its becoming increasingly popular and
financially viable to set up your shop in your home office and become a business.
With your new-found freedom is easy to forget that you are a business owner and as
much, are now responsible for much more than snazzy Photoshop files. Making that
leap from staff designer to Big Kahuna requires more than a desk and the desire – it
takes new clients and a bit of business planning. And so we begin a series of articles
concerning all the condiments and side dishes that take your freelance burger and
fold into a business owner picnic. The first thing you we would recommend you do
is take a shower and put on some fresh duds – you’ve got a date.

Date Your Clients
Many of the keys to a good personal relationship carry over to your clients and
vendors.

1. Be a Good Listener
Feedback is tough to take sometimes but hear them out.

2. A Little Extra Goes a Long Way
You’re a handy photographer? Project could use some better photos? Shoot a few. You heard them say something about needing some business cards but it wasn’t in the scope? Give it a shot. It’s always good to exceed expectations.

3. A Nice Way to Say Thanks
Maybe send some after all the deliverables have been handed over and everyone is happy. That’s the kind of stuff that turns a client into a referral machine.

4. Being Thoughtful Makes Them Feel Special
I had a developer fix some things while out of town, using a Paradise Bakery as an ad hoc command center. After the project was completed I sent him a little gift card for Paradise Bakery and it was much appreciated.

5. Don’t Air Dirty Laundry
New projects, bad clients, bumps in the road – keep that stuff to yourself. Venting to your significant other is one thing but you can never be sure who is going to hear (or read) your ill will and the hand that pays for those lattes is not the one you want to bite.

And away we go. I hope you enjoyed our first installment, we’ll be back next week
with a little advice on Freelancing Finances.

- A Life In Color