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In order to generate the leads you want, you have to determine what kind of freelancer you want to be. I say this because unless you are running your own firm, with a lot of resources, you are going to want to decide if you want your client base to be mainly face-to-face local types; that you can work with in a very hands-on fashion. Or to be a geographically broader spectrum, e.g., doing the majority of your business online. I'm not saying you can't accommodate both, but each has their own pros and cons and while a local client my want you to freelance out of their office, that won't be conducive to having another client at the same time... Coles notes version: You have to become a master of time management and even learn to micromanage your life.
Ok, so here we go...
How to generate leads for the "Local Type" clientele:
(this list is probably missing a few bits so please be inspired to add your own ideas)
How to generate leads for the "World Type" clientele:
(again, this is probably missing and lacking...)
Other things that are interchangeable:
(ditto....)
So, those are some things you can do to boost your visibility to your market but I'm not going to lie - it takes hard work and dedication to make that investment turn around for you. Now, I'm not saying that you should quit your job and/or hide away from your family for 16 hours a day in order to accomplish this stuff - because that is just not realistic... or sane. What I am saying is, if you can afford a couple hours a day - do it, but do it every day. If you can only afford 1 hour or half an hour, so be it as long as your dedication to your own promotion is consistent.
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Stacie / Perfektion Design
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WEBSITE . FB PAGE . TWITTER . BLOG
In order to generate the leads you want, you have to determine what kind of freelancer you want to be. I say this because unless you are running your own firm, with a lot of resources, you are going to want to decide if you want your client base to be mainly face-to-face local types; that you can work with in a very hands-on fashion. Or to be a geographically broader spectrum, e.g., doing the majority of your business online. I'm not saying you can't accommodate both, but each has their own pros and cons and while a local client my want you to freelance out of their office, that won't be conducive to having another client at the same time... Coles notes version: You have to become a master of time management and even learn to micromanage your life.
Ok, so here we go...
How to generate leads for the "Local Type" clientele:
(this list is probably missing a few bits so please be inspired to add your own ideas)
- Create a designers press-kit (e.g., with a look-book type portfolio, usb flash drive with your name on the outside and your work on the inside, business cards, postcards, if you are an illustrator - sketch something small and have it printed on nice card stock so you'll be handing out little limited ed. prints with your press kit, stickers, small woodland creatures ... I think you catch my drift.)
- Hit the pavement with your press kits and visit the local businesses you feel would benefit from your skills/services
- Only talk to the folks that sign the cheques: don't be afraid to make an appointment to return in order to deliver your kit (leave a business card in the meantime)
- Join your local chamber of commerce (yep, it's like they do the networking for you)
- Cold-calling. It's an oldie, but a goodie - call the local businesses you wish to offer your services to and give them a reason to hire you (ask for a small job or a trial project)
- Be diligent in reviewing local classifieds (even craigslist and kijiji), every day
- Consider pro-bono work for high profile local events/causes/charities (this is totally different than doing free stuff for every a-hole that asks you do work for free)
- If your service pairs well with the services of another freelancer in your area - approach them with a referral deal (e.g. "Hey, I'll refer my xxx clients to you exclusively if you refer your xxx clients to me exclusively - for xxx% finders fee upon contract..."
- Help create a local designers group that gets together once a month to share best practices, tasty cocktails and network. (Alternatively, find one that already exists in your area)
How to generate leads for the "World Type" clientele:
(again, this is probably missing and lacking...)
- Make sure you have exposure on top sites that cater to promoting and selling your service/skill (make sure your profile/portfolio is flawless and consistent from one site to the next)
- If you are bilingual, this is the time to dust off those chops and launch on multi-language sites as well
- Become familiar with the reputable job boards that focus on your industry
- Learn to become a Twitter-ninja; that search bar is there for a reason
- LinkedIn is more than just your fathers social network, use it to your advantage... that search bar is there for a reason
- Offer free stuff from your website/blog that people all over the planet can download and use, e.g., templates, characters, vectors, etc
- Be prepared to accommodate payments from Zimbabwe
- Know what time you have to be awake and functioning for your 8am client call to London, England
- Make your website easy to navigate - so easy, it can be done even if you don't speak the language (yes, really)
Other things that are interchangeable:
(ditto....)
- Offer free consultation (if you don't get the contract you've made a good impression and perhaps gained a word-of-mouth client, if you do get the contract then ...well... you're employed)
- Always have promo swag to give out - no matter where you are always have COOL stuff to give to people; shirts, stickers, ninja throwing stars, etc
- Get active online; join all the forums and blogs relating to your service and use that signature space to link back to you
- Get yourself in every online directory you can find
- Cross promote with other businesses
- and many many more...
So, those are some things you can do to boost your visibility to your market but I'm not going to lie - it takes hard work and dedication to make that investment turn around for you. Now, I'm not saying that you should quit your job and/or hide away from your family for 16 hours a day in order to accomplish this stuff - because that is just not realistic... or sane. What I am saying is, if you can afford a couple hours a day - do it, but do it every day. If you can only afford 1 hour or half an hour, so be it as long as your dedication to your own promotion is consistent.
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Stacie / Perfektion Design
--
WEBSITE . FB PAGE . TWITTER . BLOG
Looing for some insight
I'm trying to start up as a freelance web and graphic designer but I'm constantly running into snags. I'm self taught for one, I did go to college for multimedia and game design, but I never got the degree. I have done a lot of small jobs for people in the past but now I'm looking to try and expand on the thing i love to do the most.
I've taught myself from the beginning really. Teaching myself HTML and CSS within a week, which wasn't hard, but then expanded to PHP, MySQL, and finally Wordpress. I do have a site that I build with the wordpress.org framework (www.lostlandsparanormal.com) I'm constantly doing something to improve on it when I
Fall Cleaning
I'm going to be cleaning out our contributor list next week. Anyone who has not voted or submitted anything in the past year is going to be downgraded to member as you aren't adding any value as a contributor. Feel free to go through the process again.
Members: if you are consistently getting work accepted, please consider leaving the group and rejoining/applying as a contributor. We could use active people to help with voting. Submissions (your submissions) require less votes if you are a contributor.
Contributors: Please view the work in detail before voting (for gallery items and contributor submission). If no one has commented on why th
A $50 Rolex
Sound fishy? That’s essentially what a very good majority of people expect, if you substitute a Rolex for a logo.
You can’t get a Rolex of a logo for $50, or $100. I’m using a Rolex as an example because it’s made with care and quality and takes a while to make, and the price reflects that. So if you’re a designer and you work for a price that is low, the assumption is your product is cheaply made and won’t last and you didn’t take the time to research and craft an exceptional product. I’m not saying you have to charge $50,000 for a logo. Be aware of fair market standards. If you have n
Rambo + Microsoft Word = Facepalm
Image shown at actual production resolution
And this, kids, is why we never ever use Microsoft Word to design. Anything. Ever.
Does this effort make you want to spend $250.00 a person (to start)? Answer: No.
Sadly, what this effort does communicate, however, is that Sylvester Stallone is a loon, not an Icon...
(take notes, you'll be tested)
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Stacie / Perfektion Design
--
WEBSITE . FB PAGE . TWITTER . BLOG
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Some good advice here. Good luck to everyone, and remember your not a design monkey