The Free Creatives

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Crystal

When we read articles on productivity here or elsewhere, we think of those freelancers that always have a few clients on their plate at any given time. We think of those freelancers that always have too much to do and too many clients to please. For many of us, of course, we wish that was our biggest problem.

The truth is though that many freelancers, no matter how successful, have slow times. These slow times may consist of only one or two clients for awhile, leaving them with far too much free time, or no clients at all for months on end. In these slow times, it can be difficult to stay on track, and to stay productive.

Posted on July 15, 2010 by Crystal

The great power of freelancing in this industry is that we can do it completely online. This is great for the many of us that like to work in our PJ’s, sleep in, and work when we want to. For others, online interaction can be a lot less stressful than face-to-face interaction.

So if we’re able to, why not base our entire business online? Seems like a valid choice, but this can be how many freelancers fail. It can also be the one cause as to why many freelance web designers don’t ever really get a good start in the first place. In this post, let’s discuss the pros and cons of offline clients, and of online clients.

Posted on April 26, 2010 by Crystal

We see a lot of web design portfolios around, and obviously, some better than others. Beyond our own designer eyes though, there are many that are better in the eyes of a client as well. How can one go from good to great in terms of their portfolio, and win over more clients?

Whether you’re just starting out and don’t know where to begin, or if you already do have a portfolio, this guide can help. Here is some insight to what does and doesn’t work for gaining clients, as well as some more tips to get you recognized in the design community.

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Crystal

The holidays are great times for web designers to do some side work and get some errands done that have been put off for the past year. While having a probable lull in clients, this time of year can be a great time to analyze your portfolio and renew it. By doing so, you can gain a whole new, upgraded breed of client and enhance your career.

The main show of a portfolio is, of course, the set of portfolio pieces you show off. It’s one thing getting new clients to your portfolio; it’s another thing winning them over. To do so, you must create great pieces and even more importantly, present them in a great way.