26 common Freelancing mistakes to avoid.
FreelanceFolder lists 26 common mistakes that freelancers make when they are starting out–mistakes that you can avoid because you’re reading this post.
Archive for Freelance
Designers, “Hacks” and Professionalism.
Every freelancer who has dared to provide an actual estimate for their work has heard in reply, “I can get it done cheaper.” And the client can. The job, which requires thousands to be done properly, can be delivered for hundreds, and its horridness would never be noticed by the client. SmashingMagazine explores the topic.
Six things you shouldn’t tolerate in freelance projects.
Inexperienced freelancers are always excited about picking up new clients, without considering any possible drawbacks. The trouble is that some clients can make unreasonable demands and they simply tolerate such behaviour. SixRevisions shares his experiences and the six things he pledges not to accept anymore.
How to handle clients objecting to your fees.
You’ve come across a project, you’ve assessed the requirements of the project, and you have sent a proposal to the client, which includes the reasonable fees. The client contacts you, thanks you for your interest, and then informs you that in order to consider your proposal they would need you to reconsider your cost. Make sure you avoid making the wrong call on a questioning client, and follow the advice in this article at TheProDesigner.
Cold Calling Techniques.
Cold calling is usually not one of the favourite activities of most freelancers, but BusinessBalls has some welcome advice. Good cold calling – performed properly and not as merely an indiscriminate ‘numbers game’ – is a fundamental and highly transferable capability, whose basic principles are found in the behaviours and techniques of all great entrepreneurs and leaders.
How to talk about money with clients.
One of the biggest problems Adbase sees as a consultant to creative professionals is the way resistance to talking about money with clients obstructs growth and successful relationships with clients. But here’s the reality: whether you are a photographer, an illustrator, a designer or any other creative, you are also a business owner, and you can’t do business without dealing with money. She has some really useful advice that you need to read.
Productivity tips for Freelancers with toddlers underfoot.
If you’re the freelancing parent of a young child, you’ll find that many productivity books are simply not applicable. They were probably written by either ultra-productive people without children, or those who are never expected to change a diaper during the daytime. FreelanceFolder gives parents some tips to become more productive.
The Pomodoro time management technique.
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management technique which recommends dividing your time into 25 minute chunks. Every chunk of 25 minutes is equivalent to 1 Pomodoro, that is a time span of uninterrupted work. After completing a Pomodoro you can take a 5 minute break. FreelanceAdvisor has the full story.
How to deal with long Working Hours.
Working long hours is in many cases a must for freelancers. Getting rid of these long hours completely will prove almost impossible, so the best you can do is to try dealing with them as well as you can. OneExtraPixel suggests some basic principles.
Should you rent an Office Space?
FreelanceFolder examines when you may want to consider renting an office. They also list some signs that your freelance business is probably not ready to move out of your home. Finally, they describe some of the benefits of having an external office space for your freelance business.
