Freelancing offers us the chance to use our specialist skills and interests to succeed in business, but it can also be one of the toughest ways in which to be a small business owner. We’re relying on ourselves to handle every aspect of business from creating content and products to marketing and promotions. Finding clients is one thing, but finding the best clients to work for, and build your small business around, is a whole other challenge. What’s the best way to zero in on these top clients?

In this episode of your favourite small business podcast, we’re going to be speaking with illustrator and art-director, Ben Tallon. Since leaving university, Ben has built an incredibly successful freelance business and has worked with a wide range of prestigious clients in a number of disciplines. He is now internationally renowned for his work in the art, music, film, TV and print worlds. He’s been through the ups and downs of freelancing so his expertise and advice are certainly valuable to any of us looking to go down the freelancing route.

Issue Challenged in this Small Business Podcast

How can we get the desired clients for our businesses?

About Ben

Ben is an illustrator and art-director who has worked with such illustrious clients as the BBC, WWE, The Premier League, Universal, The Guardian, Channel 4, The Rugby Football League, Arsenal F.C. and many more.

He is also the author of Champagne and Wax Crayons: Riding the Madness of the Creative Industry, an honest look at the many ups and downs of working as a freelancer in the creative industries.

Actionable Tips

* Don’t overlook the things you do for pleasure. Our hobbies and interests are important and you can always look for ways to incorporate them into your work.

* Focussed promotions go a long way. If you want to work with a client, ask yourself what you can do that will make their life a little bit easier and then let them know. Take some time to personalize your approach.

* Listen to everyone. Keep your mind open to advice and ideas from those around you. Everyone can offer a different perspective that you might not be able to see.

Top Quotes

* “There are some rare full-time positions for illustrators, but you tend to be a tool for someone else’s ideas and that’s not why I got into this business.”

* “It’s sink or swim, to a degree. But, I realized what I could offer clients and I just knocked on doors to let them know that I existed.”

* “To some creatives, the word ‘business’ can come across as salt to a slug, but I never felt that way. I knew that being a ‘one man band’ was how it was going to work for me.”

* “After getting the first commission, I realized that I needed to use what I knew and things started to fall into place.”

* “You have to trust that it’s going to happen because what else are you going to do?”

* “It’s as much about what you turn down as what you take on.”

* “When, and more importantly, how, to say no is an important lesson for everyone to learn.”

* “You have to listen to people who surround you and are willing to give advice and share experiences.”

* “Taking a genuine interest in people is the best marketing you can do.”

* “You can reach out to pretty much anyone and as long as you are genuine and decent, people will want to get involved.”

Ben’s Links

* Twitter: (https://twitter.com/bentallon)

* Website: (http://bentallon.com/)

* Champagne and Wax Crayons: Riding the Madness of the Creative Industry

Key Timestamps

* 00:35 Challenged Issue

* 01:25 Ben’s Introduction