Freelancing & Setting Up Your Own Business
As
part of this brief we had a lecture about setting up your own business.
This fit in well with designing a website which is what our brief is
because if you have your own business you will more than likely have
your own website to go with it.
These are some points that I took notes of in the lecture.
-The earlier you start freelancing the better chance you have when you graduate.
-Its a business not a hobby.
-It isn't just about talent.
-Be nice but not too nice.
-Do you want to be successful?
-You will have to work late nights, early mornings and all weekend.
Sole Trader- Owned business and run on own.
Partnership- Two people in business together.
Limited Company ect.- Personal assets protected if company runs into financial difficulties.
-You have to register with HM revenue & customs.
Flat Rate Scheme- Only pay for what you get.
-You will have to set up a business bank account.
-Find an accountant you can trust.
-Overheads need to be as low as possible.
-Do you need to buy a studio or rent one?
-Indemnity insurance.
-Have good time management, not just including projects but calls, emails, reply to most important emails first then others throughout the day.
-Keep on top of everything.
-Perceptions- how you portray yourself, and how other people see you.
-Set targets-financially and production.
-How long will it take for the business to make a profit?
These are some points that I took notes of in the lecture.
-The earlier you start freelancing the better chance you have when you graduate.
-Its a business not a hobby.
-It isn't just about talent.
-Be nice but not too nice.
-Do you want to be successful?
-You will have to work late nights, early mornings and all weekend.
Sole Trader- Owned business and run on own.
Partnership- Two people in business together.
Limited Company ect.- Personal assets protected if company runs into financial difficulties.
-You have to register with HM revenue & customs.
Flat Rate Scheme- Only pay for what you get.
-You will have to set up a business bank account.
-Find an accountant you can trust.
-Overheads need to be as low as possible.
-Do you need to buy a studio or rent one?
-Indemnity insurance.
-Have good time management, not just including projects but calls, emails, reply to most important emails first then others throughout the day.
-Keep on top of everything.
-Perceptions- how you portray yourself, and how other people see you.
-Set targets-financially and production.
-How long will it take for the business to make a profit?
Brand Identity-Create a strong brand (not just logo) the more your active the more people will remember you (twitter, facebook).
-Make people remember you!
-What can you get for free? Get everything you can for free.
-Don't use a hotmail email, it's not professional.
-Mention what you do on your website.
-Do you want a timeline of your work on your website? Where you started at to where you are now.
-Do you want a quote on your website? Something you've said or something that's inspired you.
-Infographics- displaying info visually, not just text.
-In your contact page show personality.
(bestaboutpages.com)
-Networking, everyone has at least 200 links somehow.
-Social networking (twitter, facebook).
-Referrals, cold calling-selling stuff, direct mail- database of emails, send people newsletters?
-PR people- newspapers, press releases, do you need one?
-Freelance for companies, they may take you on full time, get to no other inside studios.
-Tenders-Against people to get the job, Pitches-Get the job or don't (already seen work).
-Experience!!
-Are you cheaper, determined, fresh?
-Go to placements, free live, seminars, go online, face to face, have variety of work, a lot of work, follow the right people on twitter and facebook.
-If people don't reply about a job, email asking them.
ExposureProduce a website.
1. Celeb > Impressive to everyone.
2. Active Networker > Refer you if you do the job well.
3. Active Social Networker > Someone with 500,000 followers, good advertising.
4. Big Brand > Impressive, Respect.
-Brand awareness.
- Your product/service is amazing- always say and think this.
-Networking is important.
-SEO- Search Engine Optimization.
-Portfolio- Work experience, attach work to the email, 50% of people make mistakes in emails, check spelling, check emails! catch the persons attention, have your web link or digital PDF.
-Time management.
-Print your material or digital or both.
(newspaperclub.com)
Pricing1. Day Rate.
2. Hourly Rate > More than day rate.
3. Discount Per Job > Set a discount (20%).
4. Family Discount.
5. Referral Fee's > (10%)
6. Licence's, Expenses, Prints.
Is it worth it??
Invoicing
Professional
Consistant
Use a system (digital, printed?)
Colour Coded
Credit Note- Balance Books
Contracts
Deposit payment
Amendments
Deadlines
Payment Terms
Later Payment Terms
Contract in place and use when necessary.
Interview
Think positive (they like your work).
Show you can handle the job and show your personality.
Research them and the job before going.
If you don't no an answer to a question, start talking about something relevant and they will forget they asked it you.
Talk about yourself to start off the interview.
Show examples of your work and show them prints while talking.
Ask them questions.
Communication
Keep talking to clients.
Reassure clients your doing the work for them (send email updates).
Finished a job for someone, email them asking how it is and how its going.
Next level- Always try to improve on what you do.
Continue learning all the time- Read blogs, books twitter ect.
Don't be put off if you don't get a job or pitch.
-Make people remember you!
-What can you get for free? Get everything you can for free.
-Don't use a hotmail email, it's not professional.
-Mention what you do on your website.
-Do you want a timeline of your work on your website? Where you started at to where you are now.
-Do you want a quote on your website? Something you've said or something that's inspired you.
-Infographics- displaying info visually, not just text.
-In your contact page show personality.
(bestaboutpages.com)
-Networking, everyone has at least 200 links somehow.
-Social networking (twitter, facebook).
-Referrals, cold calling-selling stuff, direct mail- database of emails, send people newsletters?
-PR people- newspapers, press releases, do you need one?
-Freelance for companies, they may take you on full time, get to no other inside studios.
-Tenders-Against people to get the job, Pitches-Get the job or don't (already seen work).
-Experience!!
-Are you cheaper, determined, fresh?
-Go to placements, free live, seminars, go online, face to face, have variety of work, a lot of work, follow the right people on twitter and facebook.
-If people don't reply about a job, email asking them.
ExposureProduce a website.
1. Celeb > Impressive to everyone.
2. Active Networker > Refer you if you do the job well.
3. Active Social Networker > Someone with 500,000 followers, good advertising.
4. Big Brand > Impressive, Respect.
-Brand awareness.
- Your product/service is amazing- always say and think this.
-Networking is important.
-SEO- Search Engine Optimization.
-Portfolio- Work experience, attach work to the email, 50% of people make mistakes in emails, check spelling, check emails! catch the persons attention, have your web link or digital PDF.
-Time management.
-Print your material or digital or both.
(newspaperclub.com)
Pricing1. Day Rate.
2. Hourly Rate > More than day rate.
3. Discount Per Job > Set a discount (20%).
4. Family Discount.
5. Referral Fee's > (10%)
6. Licence's, Expenses, Prints.
Is it worth it??
Invoicing
Professional
Consistant
Use a system (digital, printed?)
Colour Coded
Credit Note- Balance Books
Contracts
Deposit payment
Amendments
Deadlines
Payment Terms
Later Payment Terms
Contract in place and use when necessary.
Interview
Think positive (they like your work).
Show you can handle the job and show your personality.
Research them and the job before going.
If you don't no an answer to a question, start talking about something relevant and they will forget they asked it you.
Talk about yourself to start off the interview.
Show examples of your work and show them prints while talking.
Ask them questions.
Communication
Keep talking to clients.
Reassure clients your doing the work for them (send email updates).
Finished a job for someone, email them asking how it is and how its going.
Next level- Always try to improve on what you do.
Continue learning all the time- Read blogs, books twitter ect.
Don't be put off if you don't get a job or pitch.
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