Creative Freelancer Conference Blog

Skype/video conferencing: how is it changing the way you do biz?

In the last year, I’ve started appearing on video a lot more often…though not in the way you might think. I’m getting a growing number of requests from clients and creative partners to replace phone conversations with videoconferences.

I’ve also noticed that it’s causing insidious changes in the way I work from home. For example, I’m finding that I’m less likely to skip shaving in the morning. I’ve become more careful about how I dress, how I arrange my office, and how often I clean my desk (or at least push clutter off-camera). Just this week I rearranged my desk so that my computer camera now faces a bookcase instead of a sunny window that I had to close whenever someone came calling on video.

I’ll be frank: as a recovering introvert, there are times when I resent people looking into my world this way. Didn’t I become a freelance creative so that I could have more control over my work environment?

Am I alone in this?

Tom Tumbusch is a freelance copywriter specializing in Green businesses and the creative agencies that serve them. Check out his new, more authentic identity at www.wordstreamcopy.com.

How can you tell the difference between professional clients and amateurs?

I recently attended the RGD's DesignThinkers Conference in Toronto and met many smart designers running very successful businesses. One common denominator is that they all seem to understand that what you need are "professional" clients, not amateurs.
 
I wanted to get some feedback -- so I asked this question on the CFC Linkedin Group.

What are the qualities and characteristics of "professional" clients, besides the fact that they value your services and don't waste your time?

And here's what I found out:
 
Elle Steiner of MODA says, amateur clients "are the ones who pay less, complain more, and take more time than my 'professional' clients. There are often clues to indicate an 'amateur', but I find that when I don't under-sell myself, that is usually the best way to avoid this type of client."
 
Katie Calvert says, "I realize that I am working with an amateur when I become the "visual simulator" for my client's own ideas and thoughts. I've had clients who only seem to want me to do exactly what they have in their own head - I'm just there to catch their vision rather than give them a fresh and professional designer's approach."
 
What do you think? What are the characteristics of "professional" clients?

Why are you working so hard and not making enough money?

This question came up in another recent interview for my book-in-progress about creatives and money. I was talking with Monique Elwell, CEO of social media marketing start up, Conversify, who will be leading a breakfast roundtable at the next Creative Freelancer Conference (June 5-6 in Denver CO). Monique is also the business partner of Aliza Sherman, who will be speaking about online marketing at CFC.

Monique's short answer: you are probably not charging enough.

Listen to this 2 minute clip to hear Monique's take on how to figure out what to charge.

Expenses just got easier

Imagine how good life would be if you had a tool that simplified your receipts and expenses?

Expensify.com is an online expense report service that helps freelancers especially track and bill reimbursable expenses for each project (without having to keep track of bits of paper) plus keep track of business vs. personal expenses. It even allows you to scan receipts straight from your iPhone as a way to keep digital records.

Take a look at their 3-minute demo:

Here's what Expensify allows you to do:

• Import expenses directly from your credit card
• Manage receipts electronically, "as you go"
• Scan receipts from your iPhone or Blackberry
• Submit "one-click" expense reports
• Reimburse (and get reimbursed) online

It's completely free to create and submit reports (or use them for personal tracking), and only $1/report to reimburse the report online or export to QuickBooks. Get more info, or sign up here.

Need to inspire your marketing mind?

Here is a list of 50 Eye-Opening Lectures for the Marketing Mind. These lectures are free, and include material from Seth Goden, Malcolm Gladwell, and John Gerzema.

What to do when you've underbid a project

One of the issues that comes up over and over in conversations with clients is how to handle scope creep -- when a project becomes bigger or more complicated than anticipated. In a recent Quick Tip, I quoted Kit Hinrichs, of Studio Hinrichs, who suggested some language for resolving the problem together. But sometimes what happens is you underbid and then decide to absorb the additional time and money cost rather than go back with your hand out. Then the question is, should you tell your client or keep it to yourself?

Listen in to see what Lee Silber, author of Money Management for the Creative Person, has to say about this topic. Then tell us what you think.

What to say... when a client asks for "source" files

I've been reaching out to creatives lately to find out if there are times when they don't know what to say.

Troy Birdsong of Birdsong Creative has been getting this question often as "the digital age soars ahead." Here's his question:

Clients are asking for “source” files. With a new client I have the standard “proprietary process” that I’ve pulled from the Pricing and Ethical Guidelines book. I can usually get them to understand, but they aren't always happy. 

However, with existing clients that I have long standing relationship with, it gets a bit stickier. I don’t want to offend them, but I also expect them to respect that line.

When asked for source files, I usually say “we don’t typically....” and explain the reason’s, but give them the files anyway for the sake of the long term relationship. Larger organizations that are used to dealing with creative agencies get it, but in this economy we’re dealing with smaller companies that don’t. Either way it’s awkward.

I feel like there’s more that I should be doing on the front end to derail this conversation before it ever arises.

Any suggestions for Troy?

Are there ever times when you don't know what to say?

What -- exactly -- to say so the decision-maker gets involved from the start

In a recent interview with Petrula Vrontikis (for my new book about how to think about, talk about and deal with money), Petrula shares her strategy for making sure the decision-makers are involved at the very beginning of a project. She also tells us exactly what she says to her prospect or client to persuade them, including why they pay the price of any wasted time and effort if they don't do it this way. Listen here.

Robert, a graphic designer, had a similiar situation recently. Had had known this, he may not have lost a big project. Read about what happened to him on the Marketing Mix Blog.

Looking for inspiration? Or a kick in the butt?

This past August, 100+ freelancers and solopreneurs discovered the tools they needed most to find better, higher-paying clients; and found the inspiration to rejuvenate their businesses at the 2nd annual Creative Freelancer Conference, hosted by Marketing Mentor and HOW Magazine.

Now, you can too because we’ve just released the 2009 Complete Conference Package, a special collection of MP3 recordings (and visual slides in PDF format) that capture every information-packed presentation from the event. Here’s what you’ll discover:

• How to plant the seeds for long-term relationships at any event you attend and develop your own freelance “tribe
• When and how to say “no” to a project that doesn’t satisfy your creative urge…and when to take on a project just for the money
• How to take control of your taxes and maximize your deduction opportunities by developing an independent business mindset
• The simple way to discover how much a prospect is willing to pay before you waste hours of unpaid time writing a proposal
• 5 easy steps for effective presentations that will help you overcome nerves and win the support of your audience
• How to re-claim your power and tame the 5 most common “nightmare” clients, and why the problem—and the solution—is usually in your hands
• The surprisingly painless secrets for harnessing social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Biznik, Twitter, and more without wasting @#$%! hours of your valuable time
• How to keep your creative juices flowing day after day despite the constant pressure to be innovative on demand
• Plus: You’ll also get two great bonus sessions with successful freelancers and our entire speaker panel. These final sessions provide a complete wrap-up of the entire event and reveal how profitable solopreneurs schedule their time, live balanced lives, which marketing tools they find the most effective, and why.

Ready to take your creative business to the next level? Listen to clips from each presentation and buy your copy of the 2009 Complete Conference Package here.

Freelancers claiming credit for subcontracted work?

Join in the lively discussion over at the CFC LinkedIn Group started by Tammy Weidenbach at Tammy Miller Design. Tammy asks:

"I hired a freelancer to develop some design concepts for my client. This freelancer posted the work on his website, as his clients. Do I ask him to take it off or rewrite the project description?"

What would you do? Post your comment here or on the LinkedIn Group.