February 9, 2016
- Viktoria Dekany
- Feb 9, 2016
- 3 min read
"SELL" MYSELF
A great event that teaching effective ways of being successful as a freelance designer.
As I also would work as a freelancer in the future, I thought it's very important to attend my university's one of the greatest event where I can learn about the best tricks how I can be a successful freelance designer in the industry. This event was a fantastic opportunity to learn about the Freelance and its prodecure.
The Art of Freelancing Event
It was only 30 places available and we had to write a supporting statement for our application. Fortunately, I have been selected to take a part in the event. The session took all day and they covered quite all important parts of Freelancing.
Dominic Martinez Welcoming and Overview
First, Isla Wilson presented her 5 top tips for Creative Entrepreneurs.
What I learned from her:
- To go for internships and learn as much as we can.
- It's always better to start our own practice in a part-time basis and moving slowly to full-time.
- Setting money for clients - we always have to think about covering the traveling and office costs
- Cheap clients are not good for our business
- We have to find people who value our work and time
- University staff helps for free (after graduate too)
- To have setting our Strategy & Operations
(Sales, Profit, Impact to Client, Sectors)
- Using softwares - Accounting, Social Media - blog
The next session was about Effective Networking with Elaine Simons. This was my favourite, this lady was absolutely georgeus and helped a lot in improving myself and my relations in Interior Design field.
I learnt that Networking is a PLATFORM to sell myself, not my product.
- There are several networking events where I can sign up.
- The name budget has to be always on my right hand side.
- To mention my conservation partner's name like 3-4 times (helps to remember the name and the person will think I am very interested in his).
- Guest list obtaining
- Setting goals for each event (how many cards I want to get)
- To go early for the events so I can start having chat
- To follow our commitments (phone the client in the right time as I promised)
- To take te effort to go the potential client's location to meet
- Ice breaker chats (Who, When, Where, How)
- Business card has to reflect my personality and creative field - Quality and Good value!
- Passion into my business
- Always ask for the client's b. card first
- Elevation Pitch ( Branding- Beliefs - Evidence - Why I'm the best - Experience)
Fiona Christie presented a session about Portfolio Career. This one a bit dry to me. All I remember that she was talking one hour about Resilience. :)
The last 3 hours we spent with Adrian Ashton who is a great business man.
He talked about Registration for Tax & Legal Forms; Planning for Creative Business; and Working out the Pricing strategy for our business.
What I learnt is there are 16 options of opening an own company:
Companies - Charity - Partnership - Trust - Sole Traders - Associate - Society
Business Plan:
- What I'm going to do
- How and why it's going to work
- Why I am a safe paid of hands and the best person to do this
MOTIVATION & PREPARATION & ASSESSMENT & TESTING IDEA & EXPLORATION & BUSINESS PLAN & STARTING
Pricing myself:
- Market rate (others rate)
- Customer value ( represents)
- Customer benefit ( worth)
- Accountants method (costs)
At the end of the event we received our Certification. It was a pleasuring day and I learnt a lot! I would reccommend to anyone this event.
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