Freelance By Design

Freelance By Design

By Alvalyn LundgrenBusinessEntrepreneurship
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Freelance By Design episodes

  • 3 Criteria Creatives Use To Solve Business Problems
    By way of a true story to illustrate the point, I share a mindset shift for visual creatives who want to elevate their status, pricing, and creative leadership when working with clients. That's by understanding what it is we really do which is far more than making things look good. The true value in what we do as creatives is in how we combine these 3 criteria in our work for clients.
    21 min
  • How To Say No To Problem Clients, Scope Creep, and Bad Ideas
    It seems counter intuitive to turn down a project when you need the income. But saying NO is sometimes the best thing to do for the sake of your future. Turning down a client may in fact be the best business decision you make in a day. Here's why, and how to say no to prospective clients, scope creep, and bad ideas.
    29 min
  • What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate
    Based on a true account of a miscommunication between me and one of my design students, I discuss the importance of being specific in what we communicate to clients, getting to the point, and diagnosing their needs accurately. It's also important that your client accurately receives what you're communicating. Both parties are responsible for communicating well. Good communication saves you time, builds trust, manages expectations, and reduces wrong assumptions.
    17 min
  • The Designer, the Infographic, and the Unhappy Client

    Don't have conversations on the back end of a project that you should have had on the front end. When things go south with a client because they were expecting one thing and you were expecting another, it can ruin your relationship but also your reputation with future clients. Using a true story as the basis, I share how and why we freelance creatives need to manage expectations.

    21 min
  • Mark-ups, Minimums, and Managing Money

    How do you create a budget when your freelance income isn't steady? Can you mark up project-related expenses without feeling guilty? In this episode I answere these and other money-related questions submitted by readers and listeners.

    21 min
  • How To Craft Your Professional Portfolio
    Your portfolio isn't just about getting you your next client. It's a springboard into your future. It's a primary means of attracting clients you're best suited to serve. I share specific how-tos for creating a high quality, consistent portfolio that best represents your expertise, and the critical thinking behind the tips. The episode includes an excerpt from my online course, Crafting Your Professional Portfolio, which I've taught at design schools and is available to members inside the Freelance Road Trip program.
    25 min
  • Make Your Portfolio A Marketing Tool
    If you're a self-employed professional creative, you offer solutions to business and life problems. Your portfolio then, isn't a showcase of art, design, or photography, but a collection of creative solutions. The most effective portfolios demonstrate how you solve clients' problems. I share some practical, professional tips to help you sharpen your portfolio to attract the kinds of clients and projects you're best suited for.
    17 min
  • Master the Client Discovery Call
    A prospective client discovery session allows you the opportunity to manage expectations before you enter a working relationship. By asking the right kinds of questions you communicate to your client your expertise and empathy, and your ability to solve their business problem with your creative solutions. In this episode I outline proven tactics for a successful discovery call and subsequent project.
    25 min
  • 10 Red Flag Warnings Freelancers Shouldn't Ignore
    It's no fun being trapped in a bad working relationship with a difficult client. We can put filters in place to screen out prospects who aren't a good fit for us, but what do we do when things begin well but go sour in the middle of a project? It's important to recognize the "red flags" and deal with them so that you can maintain a comfortable working relationship with your client. I break out 10 red flags that can pop up before and during a project. Why should you be aware of warning signs? Because these types of problems can impact you creatively and affect your ability to stay in business.
    20 min

About Freelance By Design

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The intersection of inspired creativity and common business sense. We talk about everything you didn't learn in design school, but should have if you want to build a career and a life as an…