FAQ OF FREELANCING
Some answers to the questions that I have heard throughout these years that you might find useful too.
EASE IN OR JUST LEAP?
1. What are the essential things to focus starting your own studio?
1. Telling the world you are here.
2. Improving your skills and producing work.
3. Repeat.
2. What advice would you give to your 10-years-ago self?
I would have said “Do it now, conditions are always impossible”.
3. Was this where you thought you would be 10 years ago?
Yes and no. This present is a combination of how I pictured the future back then with how I took opportunities as they presented.
4. Was it Berlin that allowed you to grow and find your voice?
Berlin was such radically different place to me (in terms of language, people, weather…) that it gave me the space to shape a new self. Also my mindset when coming here. I believe a lot on the power of decision making.
5. My biggest challenge is knowing when to go at it full time and leave the day job behind.
Conditions are rarely optimal and the moment never comes. My advice: decide that yourself. Set up a deadline (time deadline, or money-in-my-bank-account deadline) and work towards it.
6. Stability is a huge deal to me, it is hard to leap to uncertainty.
I hear you, being employed feels safer. But that is an illusion. The current context of COVID-19 is a proof of that. As a freelancer, the power is always in your hands.
7. How and where to start from? How to create opportunities for oneself?
For creating work you only need to invest your time. Start small: create a postcard for a friend, design your next birthday invitation, create a logotype for your business.
FINDING CLIENTS
1. My biggest challenge is how to find clients. I worked as a freelancer already for several years but I don’t know how it works.
Finding clients is always challenging. Just remember: this is not your one and only way to generate income.
2. I am never sure if I am “good enough” and is hard to find the right clients.
You are good enough. There are clients for each one of us. You need to both look for them and make yourself available.
3. I find it hard to communicate with clients. It was always hard for me to talk to people which I hardly knew.
Then start talking to the people that you already know! Family, friends, friends of friends. Gain confidence there, and then work your way up to other potential clients.
4. I am shy and an introvert person, networking events are a torture to me!
It used to be tough for me too! Social skills can be trained. The more you expose yourself to unusual situations, the easier it gets. Make your first mark and it will be easier every time after that.
5. I don’t know where to find people who need my work.
Make lists:
1. Who are the people you can help with your work?
2. Where do they hang out?
3. How can you gain their attention/start a conversation?
6. What do I tell the people that I want to work with?
Ask questions, listen. Show genuine interest in what they do, their challenges. Engage a good conversation. Step in if you can help them with what you do. Always follow up with a message (email, card, etc.)
7. I find it difficult to network during COVID-19 times. Do you have any suggestions?
Yes, we all do! But people is hanging out somewhere, find out where and join. For example, we have started a Youtube channel because of the pandemic situation. Perhaps this gives you some idea.
8. My areas of work are wide and I worry clients find it easier to understand a singular focus.
Give them a single focus so they understand, and describe your skills as features. For example “I am a project manager that is able to design and draw” instead of “I am an illustrator and designer that is able to approach projects of different kinds.”
DEVELOPING YOUR PORTFOLIO OF WORK
1. I have my own style but I can do another styles too. So I don’t know if it is better to show everything that I can do, or just what I want to do.
Having a style will make them hire you to do “your thing”. Not having a style will make them hire you because you are not attached to a specific style.
2. My biggest challenge is coming up with ideas for personal projects.
It doesn’t need to be anything trascendental. Doing something small and nice it is enough for a brief.
3. I am having too many good ideas, it is hard to stick to just one of them and give myself the time to grow.
Don’t stick to one idea. Try them all, try them small. Then decide which one you enjoy more or you want to develop further, and invest more time on it.
4. I have trouble understanding that improvement is part of the process. Sometimes I don’t feel completely satisfied.
Track your progress. Look at the pieces of your own work from a while ago, think if you would do that differently/better today. If you would. You will know you are moving in the right direction.
5. I find challenging to balance real paid work with personal projects I love.
Even better: let’s aim for projects that you love and that you are paid for.
6. I have recently worked on music posters combining lettering and illustration. I have had nice response from the musicians too.
Nice! Once you made your first mark, other similar assignments may follow.
7. I worry about how am I going to finish my personal projects.
Start with a tiny brief and a short deadline (for example, one hour deadline). And most importantly: show it!
That feedback will keep you motivated and going for the next one.
8. I want to know how to put together a portfolio and in which format.
1. Look at all the work you have done.
2. Select the projects that you want to have more of.
3. Put those online the fastest or easiest way possible.
9. I have recently made a logo for a Brunch&Cake delivery shop! It has been cool to make it with my hand lettering!
That is awesome! Use your expertise as often as you can. Use every possible excuse to put it in action / creating another piece of work that goes into your portfolio.