Flexing Freelance Muscles

Even in tough times, freelancers can leverage their flexibility and low overhead to succeed

NOBODY said graphic design was a recession-proof business. Clients often cut their marketing budgets in times of economic crisis as they try to reduce expenditures to help weather the storm. As those budgets get trimmed, so too does the revenue of the design community as a whole. As some larger shops and internal departments reduce their staff, freelancing becomes a reality for more and more designers. Here’s how freelancers can not only survive but also thrive in difficult economic conditions.

The Slippery Slope of Spec

In tough economic times, don’t be tempted to work for free unless it’s for a good cause

WHILE speculative work has always been an area of concern in the design industry, you can expect to see a rise in these types of requests as the recession causes clients to cut costs, tighten budgets and expect more work for free.

Dollars and Sense

Don’t arbitrarily quote off the top of your head. Adopting a billing strategy makes more cents.

CONGRATULATIONS! That new prospect you’ve been chasing wants to work with you. They just have one final question: “How much will it cost?” Having an efficient estimating and billing procedure means you’ll be able to answer this question quickly and easily; it’s an essential practice to building a successful design business.