The awkward business of marketing ourselves
Creative freelancers may like to think they’re special. But we are just like accountants, lawyers and architects. You can be the most talented award-winning creative in Scotland and yet, like anyone else who provides a service for a living, you still need to market your business. And unlike widget manufacturers we can’t stack words, images or websites on a shelf and use in-store promotions to sell them. We have to market our business, which often means marketing ourselves. For those of us...
Why going to work is an alien concept
Colin is a photographer. I was helping him with a proposal for a contract. We were looking at his portfolio trying to shortlist over a decade’s work into just five pictures. Over a latte we tried to get into the client’s head – what were they after? A safe pair of hands, someone who could do the job? Or new talent, with the potential to be nurtured and grown. I would hope both. Freelancing isn’t like a normal job. People with normal day jobs have two separate lives – what they do in the...
World Cup – doing something less boring instead
I blame TV. 'Before television, you would not have seen the World Cup, but you would have followed your own local teams with intensity. You would have spent more time playing yourself' says White Dot, the campaign against television. I'm going to spend the 96 hours (or 4 very long days) of match coverage doing something else less boring instead. Such as: Brush up on my skills. No, I’m not going to even try to convince myself that I’ll be fluent in Japanese by the end of the World Cup. I know...
Crimes against the audience
I am not a big fan of Sex and the City. The anticipation surrounding the release of the second film is ridiculous. But what really gets my goat is this; my opinion doesn’t count. It’s a film with a ready made audience which will succeed despite the one and two star reviews. Because it has a loyal following of fans that will go and see it whatever any critic says. Well, as far as I’m concerned it’s a crime against the audience. Here are others that should be reported to the style police. And my...
No more excuses. Start and learn as you go
How many times have you heard someone say ‘one day I’ll write a book...’? Yes, yes, we all have a book inside us. And often that’s the best place for it to stay (says she with a first draft in a box beneath her bed). Something is holding us back from writing the Great British Novel, or starting any project, probably the fear of starting. But will we ever be ready? There’s always an excuse not to start – we need to do more research, find the right people, clear space in our diary. I’m a...
Why a rough draft is better than polished perfection
Sometimes it’s vital to nail a piece first time. Recently a client needed website content ahead of exhibiting at an important trade show. I managed to turn the piece around at short notice and in record time, and was extremely proud and satisfied when the client said they were happy with it, that it didn’t need further work. I’d nailed it first time, on time. But normally I prefer to produce a first draft which isn’t too polished. Here’s why: Easier to develop as you progress. Often it...
April = March + new budget to spend. How to hire the best people to work on your new campaign
April brings new beginnings. It brings the new financial year which in turn brings new budgets to spend, particularly in the public sector. With the prospect of new campaigns on the horizon, here are some points to consider if you’re thinking about commissioning a writer Budget. Do you have money for this project? Do you need to wait for the budget to settle down, for a clear picture of exactly who bid for what and got it, and whether budget has been freed up elsewhere and can be reallocated?...
Top o’ the mornin’…don’t be green…find out more with the help of your freelancer
One glance at the St Patrick’s Day revelry outside makes me wonder why anyone would equate a giant fluffy hat shaped like a pint of Guinness with a patron saint. Some things are perhaps less open to question. We all recognize the intrinsic value of research to our business. But have you thought about using your freelancer to conduct research? Here are some good reasons why: Freelancers provide a fresh pair of eyes. They can see the wider picture. Having a third party confirm your suspicions...
How to save time and money when hiring a freelancer
Who hasn’t had to bring in some external help to meet a tight deadline at one time or another? If you’ve never done it before it can be a daunting prospect. Here are my top tips for bringing a freelancer on board, painless and effortlessly Preparation. Before you make an approach, do your preparation. Do you have the authority to hire a freelancer and a budget, have you identified a specific need and what are your timescales? Get to know your freelancer. It’s reasonable to ask to meet your...
How turn a one night stand into a long term relationship
We’ve all been there. The first time it’s new and exciting, but before long it’s routine, pedestrian and you find yourself looking longingly elsewhere for distraction. It’s the same for everyone who has ever set up a newsletter, ezine or blog. It starts as a novelty, unpredictable and exciting, but once it becomes clear that we’ve committed to a relationship – even worse – a relationship which out of necessity is based on routine, we’re suddenly desperate for our freedom. So, what can you do...