Support us on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ConversationsWithCreators
In this episode of the Conversations with Creators podcast, I'm discussing building a 6 figure creative company with Billy "Skipper" Hughes of Skipper Films. We'll discuss rates, advice for scaling a business, and how to market yourself so that clients come to you!
Whether you're looking for advice about your creative career or just want to hear two filmmakers talk shop for a couple hours, this is the episode for you!
0:00 - 2:06
Intro about upscaling a business
2:07
building a team to do tasks to increase output.
4:53
Stock videos and day rates. Is it worth it?
7:40
Kickstarter
8:50
- breakdown on pricing when bringing in a new editor or basically a new team member?
- project based charging
- expenses
- making a profit margin
- Getting/setting a business account that will help you prevent in expenses.
15:40
Taxes and get someone to do it for you.
16:45
- Going back to budgeting, do not charge less than expenses.
- Getting clients through website.
- Using keywords for search engines on your blogs.
- How Google has helped on growing business.
20:10
Freelancer vs Business
25:00
Closing the gap on raising your prices and still getting yes for an answer.
- getting your page to Google's front page is key
27:35
telling clients about price and packages and why every part of it is important in your business.
- How to present your work to clients.
- Bringing value to clients' business through the work you're doing.
- doing small moves that will build to someting bigger for your business.
37:44
Story Time - Parkour video for a conference of a big company.
- One of his fave videos made.
- becoming a part of different video productions.
- Expanding your business with different kinds of videos that you can offer through your website.
- Grabbing the opportunity/being first to new types of videos that's becoming a trend.
46:06
-Google is key in getting you business grow.
-Putting yourself in your client's shoes
48:08
Multimedia Freelancer sites
48:48
Choosing jobs, raising standards
- choosing jobs from businesses, not from personal, singular people.
52:20
You're not better, you're different.
- charging more because of your experience, your style.
- people have to start coming to you because of your products, not your rates.
1:00:00
Talking to clients/scaling up
-ranging your rates x client's budget
1:07:00
Proposals/Contracts
1:10:00
Proposals/Contracts + Making personal relationships with clients.
1:20:00
Website, SEO, Social Media
1:24:00
FB Ads / Social Media
1:27:00
not posting negative/failures in social media. Just posting positive things, posting on how you are growing.
- Trying to figure out social media algorithm.
1:33:00
You can't be a positive guy at one aspect. You have to live it. Make people wanting to work with you.
1:35:40
Biggest lesson.
- sustainable growth is not fast.
- increasing charges gradually.
- avoiding the package price. Make project price.
- Trying to scale back/giving discounts.
1:48:50
Is the money going in to the business change when you scale back with your prices?
-creating a buffer for your expenses.
2:02:30
Diversifying and looking into new trends.
2:06:05
Current business set up
employees, contractors?
2:14:20
Closing
Clothing For Creators: https://www.snowmanfilms.shop
Work with me! https://www.snowmanfilms.net
Use video clips I've shot on your next project: https://wirestock.io/snowman.films
Find Billy:
www.skipperfilms.com
Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/conversations-with-creators/donations