Freelance By Design

Not all projects and clients are a good fit, and you can figure that out during the very first conversation you have with a client. Freelancers often approach a prospective client hoping the prospect will like them and want to work with them. What if the tables were turned? In this episode I share about one client discovery meeting where I came away relieved I didn't get the job, and the kinds of red flags you can look for to decide if your next prospect is a rightful for you.

What do you say to a prospective client who won't commit? How do you manage part-time freelancing and a full-time job? How do you prevents clients from using work they haven't paid for? In this episode, I give practical, easy-to-do answers to three questions from working freelancers at various stages in their careers.

Using written contracts should be routine and a regular part of your creative freelance business. In this episode I deconstruct the four aspects to include in every contract: copyright, legal concerns, the working relationship, and getting paid. This is part 4 of a four-part series on contracts.

The working relationships you have with your clients should be built on a foundation of trust and agreement — written agreement. In this episode (part 3 of a 4-part series about freelance contracts) I describe 4 less-known contracts you will have good use for as a creative freelancer: purchase order, letter of agreement, retainer, and the oral agreement.

In this episode we're continuing the conversation about freelancers and contracts. The work you create is your intellectual property. It's valuable. You work hard to create it. Why would you ever let it go unprotected? Did you know the majority of freelancers don't use written contracts? I present some reasons why they don't, and argue why they should.

If you're a freelancer working with clients, one of the best things you can do is implement a safety net in the form of contracts… especially written ones. That means you need basic knowledge of contracts and also copyright. In this episode (part 1 of a series on the topic) we cover three common types of freelance contracts: limited rights, buyout, and work-for-hire.

As with cars, your freelance business needs regular tune-ups to ensure optimum performance. If you don't do regular maintenance, you could end up running into costly trouble down the road. In this episode I share my 5-point business tune-up which you can use to keep your freelance business running smoothly.

Both leads and referrals are vital for finding new clients and growing your freelance business. They're not the same thing. In Episode 21 I compare and contrast leads and referrals, why you should pursue them, and how to obtain both. I talk about a better alternative to referrals, and share ways you can encourage leads and referrals by getting involved.

Nothing's accomplished by taking the easy road. We don't get anywhere simply by deciding. We become ready by taking action on our goals. In this episode I share the four sequential phases we cycle through over and over again to build excellence in our creative work and momentum in our businesses.