{"id":20020,"date":"2022-09-21T14:53:27","date_gmt":"2022-09-21T18:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/?p=20020"},"modified":"2022-09-21T14:53:28","modified_gmt":"2022-09-21T18:53:28","slug":"avoid-these-freelance-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/originals\/avoid-these-freelance-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Freelance Design 101: Score More Work by Avoiding These 4 Mistakes"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<p>Back when Pentagram partner Eddie Opara scored his first major client project, he immediately realized there was a problem: \u201cI didn\u2019t know what a contract was,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.itsnicethat.com\/features\/eddie-opara-its-nice-that-podcast-180522\">he recounted<\/a>. Tasked with developing a brand identity for a new luxury building, he first had to figure out how, exactly, to put together a statement of work that proved he could take on the job (while also preventing the scope of work from getting out of hand).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A frantic call to his brother and a page of scribbled-down advice later, Opara got the resources together in a pinch, securing a serious payday and portfolio boost. Crisis averted, but it was a near-misstep that could\u2019ve derailed the entire project before any of the real design work had even begun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not just a lack of business acumen that can hold things up, though. Even industry veterans can make mistakes that leave a client second-guessing that contract. Passing the proverbial vibe check, after all, is the first step to a productive client-designer partnership.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So how can you keep potential clients from getting cold feet? We checked in with designers, project managers, and hiring execs to learn about the oversights that could make or break a deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Don\u2019t be afraid to talk the talk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before pen can hit paper, you need to walk the tightrope of defining the scope of work. That means taking stock of a client\u2019s vision and lining up your skillset with what\u2019s often a constantly-changing end goal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style='position: relative;width: auto;padding: 0 0 70.92%;height: 0;top: 0;left: 0;bottom: 0;right: 0;margin: 0;border: 0 none' id=\"experience-632b580fbc615\" data-aspectRatio=\"1.41011236\"><iframe allowfullscreen src='\/\/view.ceros.com\/ceros-marketing\/metaverse-digital-marketing-sidebar-2-1-1-2?heightOverride=890' style='position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;bottom: 0;right: 0;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0 none;height: 1px;width: 1px;min-height: 100%;min-width: 100%' frameborder='0' class='ceros-experience' title='Freelance Mistakes PQ1' scrolling='no'><\/iframe><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/view.ceros.com\/scroll-proxy.min.js\" data-ceros-origin-domains=\"view.ceros.com\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, this isn\u2019t the time to be overly humble. Getting passed over by a client is often due to an absence of confidence, not competence.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One designer recounted learning this lesson the hard way. \u201cI ended up putting the ball in their court,\u201d they described. \u201cI froze and told them I\u2019d understand if it made more sense to go with an illustrative design specialist\u2026 In hindsight, I was more than capable of delivering.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The burden of being the hype team doesn\u2019t fall solely on you, however. Use testimonials from past clients to your advantage, and don\u2019t shy away from a shining <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/originals\/boost-brand-linkedin\/\">LinkedIn<\/a> endorsement to provide extra social proof.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of the day, a client wants to know that hiring you will make their life easier. Don\u2019t keep them wondering if you can really do it (but of course, be realistic, and don\u2019t promise what you can\u2019t deliver).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Join the team (even if you\u2019re not \u201con\u201d the team)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/originals\/which-designer-path-is-right-for-you\/\">Freelancing<\/a> doesn\u2019t have to be a cold, lonely existence. Nor does it require awkward re-introductions\u2014yep, that plant in my Zoom background <em>is <\/em>still kicking, thanks\u2014with every check-in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a designer stepping into a new project, you get the benefit of a clean slate, but even if your work speaks for itself, reminding them that collaboration is baked into your process isn\u2019t quite as straightforward. So where should you begin?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step is to make it crystal clear that you want the project to succeed just as much as they do. Whether it\u2019s re-launching a website or re-working a brand\u2019s identity with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/originals\/state-of-motion-branding\/\">motion logo<\/a>, projects rarely come to a clean finish the moment you hit submit. That means you need to get invested in both the final product and the process. So how can you show that you\u2019re truly in it for the long haul? Freelancers might want to take a cue from a new trend among creative agencies: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ceros.com\/inspire\/originals\/creative-agency-investor-equity\/\">accepting equity<\/a> as payment. It\u2019s a move that helps establish a long-term partnership from the outset and provides an incentive that\u2019s potentially <em>much<\/em> bigger than a one-time project fee.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At best, the client-designer relationship is one that benefits each party\u2014even when success doesn\u2019t always follow a linear path. You don\u2019t have to be a mind reader to integrate into a new workflow, but you should be willing to adapt within reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One more thing: most designers know that the phrase \u201c<em>this is a great opportunity for exposure<\/em>\u201d is a bad omen. But it\u2019s not a one-way street; clients don\u2019t want to feel like they\u2019re just another paycheck or entry to the portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Don\u2019t expect a client to hold your hand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although the creative and corporate worlds don\u2019t always overlap, designers still deal with their fair share of \u201csynergy sync\u201d calendar invites and \u201ccircling back\u201d Slack messages. Nobody likes being inundated with unnecessary notifications, and going totally silent is a recipe for disaster. So where does the balance between autonomy and assurance lie?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe biggest part of your job is offsetting a client\u2019s workload\u2014and that includes saving them the trouble of spelling everything out,\u201d a motion graphics specialist outlined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy advice is to avoid walking through every last detail,\u201d they continued. \u201cInstead, use that time to ask clarifying questions and provide status updates while clearing up murky expectations that may slow things down later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a client hands off the baton and a set of brand guidelines, it just might be on purpose. As an agency executive told me, \u201cThere\u2019s good, there\u2019s cheap, and there\u2019s easy to work with. If you don\u2019t have at least two of the three, nobody will want to contract with you.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rest assured, strong communication isn\u2019t rocket science. Maintain professional boundaries (frantic midnight messages aren\u2019t always the best way to showcase commitment to the project), gather as much information as you can, and keep the dialogue productive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>The customer isn\u2019t always right. Neither are you<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s more expensive than a few lost hours of work? An ego that\u2019s too big to course correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When embarking on a new project, it\u2019s easy to get carried away and lay out a grandiose vision\u2014but sometimes, this excitement translates to stubbornness or an inability to follow the client\u2019s guidelines.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style='position: relative;width: auto;padding: 0 0 70.92%;height: 0;top: 0;left: 0;bottom: 0;right: 0;margin: 0;border: 0 none' id=\"experience-632b5d8175e22\" data-aspectRatio=\"1.41011236\"><iframe allowfullscreen src='\/\/view.ceros.com\/ceros-marketing\/metaverse-digital-marketing-sidebar-2-1-1-2-1?heightOverride=890' style='position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;bottom: 0;right: 0;margin: 0;padding: 0;border: 0 none;height: 1px;width: 1px;min-height: 100%;min-width: 100%' frameborder='0' class='ceros-experience' title='Freelance Mistakes PQ2' scrolling='no'><\/iframe><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/view.ceros.com\/scroll-proxy.min.js\" data-ceros-origin-domains=\"view.ceros.com\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>As one project manager said, \u201cA good indicator of a designer\u2019s effectiveness comes down to a simple question: Do they understand the client\u2019s appetite for risk?\u201d Pushing a brand forward while ensuring clients are happy is a challenge unto itself; when in doubt, don\u2019t stop listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then there\u2019s the danger of biting off more than you can chew.&nbsp; Another designer explained how \u201coverpromising early on and committing to an idea that\u2019s right for you\u2014not them\u2014backfires quickly. Sometimes, it\u2019s worth taking a step back to remember what you\u2019re really being asked to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the coolest clients still have deadlines to hit. Overrating your preferences can put things behind schedule and, in turn, cause budget-induced headaches for everyone. <a href=\"https:\/\/wellingtone.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/The-State-of-Project-Management-Report-2020-Wellingtone.pdf\">Polling on project management<\/a> from UK-based consultancy Wellingtone showed that only 43% of companies report regularly finishing projects within the agreed budget.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t be the designer whose pride holds things up or adds huge surprises to the receipt. You\u2019ll thank yourself later.<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"myclass\">How can you keep potential clients from getting cold feet? 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