Читать книгу Start & Run a Creative Services Business - Susan Kirkland - Страница 20

Whether you work with the boss’s secretary or have access to the chief executive officer, don’t drop in unannounced or overstay your welcome. Make sure you only call your client when you really need to. Access to the key decision-maker is easily lost if you abuse your privilege.

Achieving success as a freelancer is easy if you put your mind to it. Computer technology has changed many fields, and you will be required to handle massive amounts of information. For instance, technology makes it possible for you to not only design but also do some data entry, check facts, and do your own proofreading. The scope of services you offer must be greater than ever before.

Turnkey jobs bring in more money because the more work you can do yourself, the more money you can make. How well you manage various aspects of a project will determine your success. As your relationships with your clients grow, clients will rely on you as their communication beacon and will expect more from you than they might have just a few months ago. You must be dependable and progressive, and you must maintain an active interest in your clients’ successes.

Create a sense of ease when doing business and provide cost-saving tips whenever possible. Get up to date on paper stock, trends in ink and varnish applications, or the latest industry catchphrases. Present copy and design solutions that overshadow both your competition and the client’s competition. Give sound advice gleaned from your own experience as well as the experiences shared by your peers at professional meetings. There are many mediocre designers. Once a client finds a reliable creative source with the right expertise and problem-solving ability, he or she will usually cling to you. But first you must earn his or her trust.