Key Messages
How Creatives Can Build A Successful Business With Their Talents
Do you have amazing creative skills that you’re unable to turn into success? If so, don’t worry — Creative Inc.
has the answers for you.
In this book, you’ll learn how to take the things you’re good at and turn them into a thriving business.
You’ll be able to get tips on how to build a successful portfolio, understand tax laws, and even figure out when it’s worth it to give someone a cut of your profits.
All of these tips come together to create an easy-to-follow guide that helps creatives make their dreams a reality.
With Creative Inc., you can go from just having great ideas and talents to making those talents pay off in terms of financial rewards and professional growth!
How To Build A Strong Brand Identity As A Freelancer
To make sure your business stands out and reaches the right customers, you need to create a unique brand identity.
Part of that is selecting the right company name – something that will represent your business and last into the future.
Going with your own name might be convenient, but it could also bring up possible legal issues if there’s another established brand with a similar name.
So it’s important to make sure you thoroughly check that the name isn’t already in use first.
Your branding should accurately reflect what you want people to know about your business – from your logo to typeface and even your business cards.
A professional-looking logo can do wonders for creating an authentic, cohesive brand identity so consider investing in some help from a specialist if necessary.
Your communication style should also match as this will make an impression on customers too.
Freelance photographer Thayer Allyson Gowdy recommends having a clear, personal style when advertisement and interacting with clients so they have a better idea of who you are as they decide to take on services from you.
Ultimately, creating a unique brand requires careful thought into the way you present yourself and what kind of customer base do you want to attract to it but more importantly, it should be something that reflects you as well – something which should always make you feel comfortable with how your business is being portrayed.
Create An Up-To-Date, Relevant And Professional Portfolio To Showcase Your Talents
If you want to make the most of your talents and show the world what you and your business are capable of, it’s essential to have a professional portfolio.
After all, an impressive portfolio is one of the most powerful tools out there.
Your portfolio should be up-to-date and relevant – this will show clients that your skills are staying current.
Consider the client’s needs when presenting them with your portfolio and tailor it to target what they may want from you as a service provider.
You can also create different portfolios for different directions – for instance a photography company may have separate portfolios for professional portraits and family photos.
In terms of presentation, make sure that everything looks high quality and professional – opt for a size that is suitable for meetings with clients, making sure that it will not get damaged or covered in stains or fingerprints.
An up-to-date, relevant and professional looking portfolio gives you the best chance possible at gaining more business!
How To Succeed As A Freelance Artist: Seize The Opportunity And Be Prepared To Sacrifice
Creative, Inc.’s book shows that you can’t be a successful artist if you don’t know how to run your business.
It’s not enough to just have creative flair—you also need a strong business sense in order to make sure you’re making a profit.
Take it from illustrator Andrew Bannecker, who started his freelance career by moonlighting as an art director while he was working full-time.
He needed to take strategic measures, like cutting back on expenses and putting in long hours of work in order to make his freelancing career take off.
It’s also crucial for artists to stay on top of the legal requirements of running a business.
You’ll need a business license, insurance and registration for your company name and service mark as well as setting up a separate bank account for your business finances.
Doing all this will save time and money in the long run–so don’t be afraid to invest some resources into the administration side of things.
Overall, Creative, Inc.’s book shows us that having a strong sense of business is just as important as having creative flair when it comes to succeeding as an artist.
Spread The Word: 3 Effective Strategies For Advertising Your Business
Getting your brand the attention it deserves doesn’t have to be complicated.
Simple advertising tactics like business cards and websites can get the job done just as effectively!
Business cards are an easy and portable way to market your business, simply fill them with your name, contact details and a brief explanation of what you do, that should grab a customer’s attention.
A website is a great way to show off your talents in a professional space while remaining accessible 24/7.
Firstly, find an appropriate domain name keeping it short but meaningful.
Secondly, pay attention to the layout, keep things straightforward while still leaving room for creativity and make sure no fancy animations slow down computers or distract people from what you are offering.
Lastly, blogs offer even more of an intimate marketing approach as well as potential for tapping into different networks with personal touches like sketches or outtakes from photoshoots.
Photographer Matt Armendariz speaks positively about using his blog ‘Mattbites’ to share such snippets from his work.
Creative Incorporated has seen success stories of individuals using their blog cleverly to network further than could have been expected before – animator Ward Jenkins is an example; invited by one follower to join Drawn!’s global blogger team after building up a large following through his own blog.
So don’t underestimate the power of basic advertising – get your brand the recognition it deserves!
How To Choose The Right Projects As A Freelancer: Advice From Experienced Designers
When building a reputation in freelancing, one of the most important things to ensure is that you can meet your clients’ expectations.
When starting out, it is best to approach smaller companies and research them thoroughly to get an understanding of their needs.
Establishing personal connections can also be beneficial when taking on new projects.
It is essential to ask questions and discuss requirements with potential customers before agreeing to a job.
This will allow you to make sure the job is the right fit for your business.
Andrew Almeter of Almeter Design only works with those who fit this criteria; he carefully chooses projects that further his career and says no if he feels that he won’t enjoy the job.
If turning down a customer seems like too much of a risk, Almeter suggests politely explaining why you are not the right fit for the project – this way, they could even refer you to someone else who may need your services.
Ultimately, being able to properly evaluate a client’s requirements and pick and choose which jobs you take on is one of the main advantages of freelance work.
So make sure that each time you take on a project, it fits your criteria as well as your client’s expectations!
The Key To Successful Client Communication: Be Clear, Professional, Open And Receptive
Effective client relationships stem from open communication.
To set clients up for success, make sure their expectations are clear at the start of the job and sign a contract that protects both parties.
Additionally, provide them with a timeline that includes deadlines.
If the timeline is tight, ensure they are aware of this and possible additional charges.
When it comes to communication strategy itself, create an approach based on your client’s preferences.
Some clients like to have face-to-face contact or video calls, while other will prefer emails or phone calls; just make sure to remain open and stay in touch between major milestones with quick messages.
Audience feedback is essential throughout the project; provide clients with a few options at each stage so that they can be involved — this way you’ll be more likely to produce something they love.
Your task is to bring together elements from these different options if a particular option doesn’t work out – capture elements your customer likes (such as a certain font or layout) and try incorporating them into another design solution.
By initiating dialogue throughout the creative process their desired outcome is more achievable.
The Key To Success: Knowing How Much To Charge For Your Design Work
No matter how hard you work, if you don’t know what your work is worth you can’t be successful.
That’s why it’s so important to take the time to sit down and plan out your finances.
The more experience you have in a particular field, the higher your rate should be.
This is because you are more efficient and specialized than others in the market thus making your skills worth more.
When starting out, it may make sense to undercut the competition, as it will help build your portfolio and reputation.
As you get more experienced, an annual pay raise is only fair – as well as updated skill sets and certifications!
It also goes without saying that your overhead costs may increase over time, like renting a bigger office or hiring an agent.
For this reason, its imperative to list all of your expenses each month – from business expenses like travel, marketing, etc., to personal expenses such as rent, recreation and clothing.
Finally don’t forget about taxes – they may claim anywhere from 25 to 48 percent of net business income!
This knowledge will help inform the baseline hourly fee for whatever project are working on.
In the end it’s a balancing act between what makes financial sense, getting hired for projects and knowing what your talents are worth!
Working With A Talent Agent: A Tradeoff Between Money And Creativity
Agents are great for a growing business, although they may not be for everyone.
They can help you save time by taking care of the administrative tasks and negotiations so that you can focus on being creative.
Agencies are well-connected, allowing you to get opportunities that you may have otherwise struggled to find.
They will provide extensive marketing as well, presenting options and attending trade shows where your work is exhibited.
Agents also negotiate contracts on your behalf and manage ongoing relationships with clients.
However, bear in mind that agents take a chunk of the profits so if money is a concern having an agent may not be the best option for you.
By approaching potential clients yourself, negotiating fees and managing relations yourself, your profits stay intact though it could take more time than if you had an agent working on it.
The final decision then boils down to whether having an agent is worth it or not – which depends on your individual needs!
Finding The Right Balance Between Work And Life To Achieve Success
It’s easy to get caught up the day-to-day of managing your career, but it’s important to maintain a healthy work/life balance.
One way to do this is by setting boundaries that help you strike the right balance.
First, recognize any signs that you’re becoming a workaholic and adjust accordingly – less time with family and friends or trouble sleeping are likely signs that you need to take a step back.
Set both business and personal goals so you can keep track of progress while reminding yourself of priorities.
Also set physical and time boundaries in order to properly separate your home life and workspace.
For example, try setting office hours for yourself so you can have designated break times each day where you take part in activities completely unrelated to work such as yoga, lunch with friends or just “me time”.
Creative Inc.’s approach is key for managing a successful creative career while maintaining balance in life!
It’S Time To Re-Evaluate: Should You Expand Your Freelancing Business Or Return To Full-Time Work?
As a freelancer it’s important to keep reviewing your progress and evaluating your goals.
By reflecting on how your business is doing, you can make informed decisions about the future.
If things are not going well and you aren’t getting the salary or time with family that you had hoped for, don’t be afraid to consider returning to a full-time job as an employee — this doesn’t have to mean failure.
In fact, it may even benefit you — since you have already gained plenty of experience in running your own business, your abilities will be more attractive than ever before!
However, if demand for your services is high and you’re too busy for any more work, it might be time to up the ante.
Investing in more office space can allow for larger operations and expanding into the mass-market can open doors with national brands.
You may even need to take on staff or bring on a partner — although this means splitting some of the power and profits, a partner could grant valuable connections and access to customers that would have otherwise been unavailable to you as an individual freelancer.
Wrap Up
Creative, Inc.
is an invaluable resource for anyone who wishes to be their own boss and embark on the adventure of becoming a freelancer.
The key message in this book is that by taking a considered approach to branding and business when you balance clients’ needs with your own, you’ll create the perfect conditions for a business that showcases your creative talent.
Freelancing may be challenging, but with the right tools and mindset, it will be possible to carve out a successful niche!
The actionable advice contained within this book centres around being prepared before taking the plunge into freelancing.
Gather facts about the industry you plan to work in, seek out companies that may be interested in your offering and start networking with others in the same field.
These steps are essential in order to set yourself up for success.
