SOS!-How to find clients?
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- MySelf
Hi, everyone!
I wanted to say that this is my forst time here and I LOVE how we designers can interact with one another and learn from our real-life experiences.NOW, I run a one man design studio, out of my home office, all the work I do is for another small design studio (they deal with the client, I don't even have the chance of interacting with the client I'm doing the work for), and I would like to do more varied work (we only work for publishing houses and editorials. U know, lengthy proyects that take from months up to two years to make, and the money is not much). I want/need to get new clients, but since I spend all my time seating down in front of my monitor working alone, I don't know many people in the "real world" and I don't know where to start. I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP GUYS AND GIRLS.
Thanks a million everyone :-)
- shellie0
well i dont know where you are but..
im interested in the entertinament industry so i find myself going to bars, clubs, and concerts and making friends with the owners. that way you can get the down low on everyone important whos there and go in for the kill.
im loosing my touch though. i need to do that more.
- MySelf0
Thanks for answering so fast shellie :-)
I'm based in South Florida.
I found out through experience that if you ask nicelly for a project they turn away, it seems one has to become "friends" with people and then try to get a project. It's kind of reversed psychology.
- shellie0
thats the way it works. people will use someone they trust over some random dood/chick anyday.
it takes quiet a bit of socializing and getting your name out there without being annoying... because then they'll just want to shoot you.
i've got it a lot easier though because im of the female variety.
- 4cY0
my advice: a good relationship is important to earn trust..
But___
make goddamn sure you get your contracts/agreements in order, I experienced it today, sadly, someone tried to get away because of a non-written agreement that he denies all of a sudden__ but I am screwed since I had not made a solid document to sign before I started that job__
Make a portfolio(site) and let companies/institutions see the value in a site that communicates (is attractive but usable)__ show them the profits/advantages they will have after a good (re)design. Write it down, let them read, educate the client in a nice, modest way___
go out there, find clients, and do not forget the internet, which might sometimes be a good marketplace for new gigs___but BE CAREFUL!! Proteck ya Neck!
;)
- MySelf0
That also hapenned to me, 4cY.
I was involved in a project that would report around $250,000 (american dollars). The client was developing a maketing program for a huge company's website, and they had to show that they could do the job in Spanish, because for this huge company, the Spanish speaking market is very, very important. So I developed the whole thing in Spanish, they won the account (for millions of dollars) and they kicked me out of the project because they said that they found someone to do the job for a ridiculous amount of money. So they got the account thanks to my work (in big part) and then they only paid $2,500 of a balance of $8,500 that was due, because then they didn't like my work. I only made $6,500 out of a project that was meant to report me a quarter million dollars. All because I didn't have a fu#$@!g contract.Life in this field i tough...
- JazX0
you sound bad off like every other designer I know, good luck though
- Carty0
dont tell anyone i told you.
- shellie0
i made cards and mini autorun cds (mac and pc compatible) with my work on it w/ cool packaging tins. i keep a couple in my car and a couple in my purse at all times so if i run into someone i can be prepared.
- 4cY0
that sucks hard, Myself!
I am waiting for a confirmation for a gig that will bring 35.000$ (which i will split with another freelancer I will hire), my biggest job so far for a site____ i will drown the client in solid legal paperwork tho! ;) (i learned my lesson).
( i often hear about all these multigazillion dollar jobs by freelancers__how on earth do you get those? )
- MySelf0
I got it through a friend who was one of the partners in the firm. Then he left the company due to differences with the other two partners.