Like many (dare I even say most?) print graphic designers, I rely on Adobe Creative Suite software to make my living. I use the big 3 + 1 every day: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, plus Acrobat Pro. I sometimes use other programs in the suite such as Fireworks, Bridge, and Dreamweaver. I even offer one-on-one training […]
View PostDo you give free custom samples to potential clients?
One of my favorite websites for freelancers, freelanceswitch.com, published a blog post titled “Should You Create a Free Sample for New Clients” (April 30, 2012). That article was in turn based on a post on allfreelancewriting.com titled “Should You Provide a Free Sample to Potential Clients?” http://freelanceswitch.com/freelance-news/commentary-analysis/should-you-create-a-free-sample-for-new-clients/#more-28872 http://allfreelancewriting.com/2012/04/16/freelancing/general/should-you-provide-a-free-sample-to-potential-clients/ I was disappointed that the authors of both […]
View PostGet inspired at creative conferences
HOW Design Live – Boston 2012, a series of conferences put on by HOW magazine with other sponsors, is coming up fast. The extended early bird discount ends on April 30, so it’s a good day to sign up if you want to go. I’ll be there for the whole time, starting with the Creative […]
View PostTax day, plus a bonus for the self employed
It’s Tuesday, April 17, 2012. That’s tax day in the U.S. this year (because the 15th was a Sunday, and Monday was Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C.). For people with regular jobs, today is the last day to file your 2011 tax return unless you file for an extension. But you knew that. Bonus! It’s […]
View PostTime tracking technology
I’ve talked about why it is important to track your time. The next question is how. I’ve moved from low tech to a high tech solution. When I first started out, I used a paper day planner. I bill in 15 minute increments, so I bought a planner that had one week on 2 pages, […]
View PostTracking time keeps me on track
I’m always amazed when I talk to freelancers who tell me that they just estimate how much time they spent on a project, or have a time sheet that they fill in at the end of the day or end of the week. Or worse yet, who say, “I bill by the project, so I […]
View PostShould I charge a rush fee?
Q: I just had a call from a client: he needs an ad created and it’s due to the newspaper tomorrow! As it happens, I’m free. But should I charge a rush fee? And how much do other people charge? A: It’s reasonable to charge a rush fee for such a fast turnaround. I know […]
View PostHow much to set aside for taxes?
As freelancers, we don’t have taxes withheld from our paychecks by our bosses. Which is awesome, because it means we don’t have bosses. It does mean that, in the U.S. at least, we need to be responsible and pay our income and self employment taxes on time. For many freelancers, that means paying quarterly taxes. […]
View PostLogo design contest
I saw this last night, and it makes me … mad? annoyed? sad? A smallish city nearby is asking professional designers to submit logo designs (along with documentation showing that they are professionals). The top five get $200 plus a lot more work with only two weeks to adapt the logo for various uses. Then […]
View PostSneaky mistakes
I spent a few hours yesterday writing a proposal for a potential new client. I did some research. I figured out pricing based on my time tracking of previous projects and the brief from the potential client. I looked at the potential client’s current materials and thought about how possibilities for a redesign. I wrote […]
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