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briljant oranje · 15-08-2005, 15:20

We've been freelancing for a few months and have had some decent work to say we've only been running a short time, and started up with fuck all execpt our student overdrafts and credit cards.

We feel we need to give ourselves a kick up the arse by getting more work in, but don't really have funds to promote and advertise through the same means that established agencies do.

What's the most effective way you've found to get new clients without having to shell out loads for direct mail or expensive Ad's ?

serguei24 · 15-08-2005, 15:31

the network, man, all is network…just talk about around you, create a portfolio online, in fact SHOW YOURSELF. I think thats the best way.

serguei24 · 15-08-2005, 15:32

by the way, how many months are u freelancing?

briljant oranje · 15-08-2005, 15:38

we've been going for 2 months. we both did bits before that, but decided to have a crack at it full time in january, so it took us a few months to get a website up and sort out bank accounts and all that.

Brown · 15-08-2005, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by briljant oranje

we've been going for 2 months. we both did bits before that, but decided to have a crack at it full time in january, so it took us a few months to get a website up and sort out bank accounts and all that.

write a business plan, a realistic one, and stick to it.

maybe you'd both benefit from some experience in an 'established agency'. most small companies are developed from agency nurtured experience.

briljant oranje · 15-08-2005, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brown

write a business plan, a realistic one, and stick to it.

maybe you'd both benefit from some experience in an 'established agency'. most small companies are developed from agency nurtured experience.

We'd love some agency experience, but thats easier than it sounds.

Unless you've got 3+ years exp. no decent agency round here (and there aren't many) will touch you.

Thats kind of why we're going it alone. Neither of us want to be stuck working for some shit agency or printers retouching images and making tea for the next 3 years, and we can't afford to re-locate to do placements down in london.

Alexanda · 15-08-2005, 18:18

Thats what motivated me orange. I can't be arsed working for anyone unless I felt I could really develop, and to be fair there isn't a pentagram, north or A2 Graphics in Manchester.

briljant oranje · 15-08-2005, 18:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by cantona

Thats what motivated me orange. I can't be arsed working for anyone unless I felt I could really develop, and to be fair there isn't a pentagram, north or A2 Graphics in Manchester.

Do you freelance exclusively or alongside another job ?

how long have you been going and how long did it take until you were earning a decent living (if you are ?!?)

Alexanda · 15-08-2005, 18:55

I just work under the name the like, I only work for myself. As regards earning a living it took a while but now i'm doing well, I have a v.cool penthouse office in Manchester City Centre with parking and I turn over enough to pay for holidays, my apartment and car etc. I have never advertised, infact nobody knows of the like except on here I get all work through word of mouth and recommendations.

briljant oranje · 15-08-2005, 19:12

coolio. thats kind of what we are after - we figure it'll take a good 6mnths to a year until we can get a decent gaff and be 'established' - we've had a fair few enquires, but alot fizzle out to nothing, we've done 3 sites, some flyers and branding etc, but keep getting pissed off with clients making enquiries, we give them a fee, they agree then when it comes time to sign off the brief, we hear nowt.

did you get this shit when you first started, was work pretty flaky for the first few months ?

Prole · 16-08-2005, 03:17

like the others said, it's all about networking. don't bother taking out large adverts in the paper as it's of little use.

treat your existing clients well. you'll find a lot of new business will come from them.

a guy at work did what you're doing and went freelance first, which was a bad idea and he didn't have the customer base to survive. you'd be better off working at an agency first in a junior role. once you build up a rapport with the customers there you'll find freelance business will come in quite nicely.

best of luck

Prole · 16-08-2005, 03:26

btw, if money's a problem at first, it may be worth getting a part time job to keep the funds coming in.

Narate · 16-08-2005, 04:36

I started freelancing a few months ago, but once you do a few good jobs then the work soon starts rolling in. Since then I have always had more then 4 job offers at any one time to stay busy.

The only thing I miss a little is not having a group of people to talk over projects with.

Prole · 16-08-2005, 05:16

so you came here instead

Transmogrify · 16-08-2005, 05:51

This is what I'm planning on doing when I get back so all the advice anyone who freelances exclusively can give is all very welcome. I'll probably just get a job in a pub or something for a few hours a week so I know I can at least eat something but I really want to do this.. I've had enough of working for "the man".

pgo · 16-08-2005, 08:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yer Dad

In the beginning it's WHO you know, not what you know... although obviously having some talent does help matters somewhat!

Words of wisdom.

Being that my father is a marketing communications guy with all sorts of contacts, I'm sure once I break out of my current job (ugh) I'll be able to get a fairly decent amount of work.

top_buzz · 17-08-2005, 09:57

Its not WHO you know.... Its WHO you BLOW!

I got lucky with a mate getting a job for a big clubbing site and giving me some work. Ever since then i've been doing similar stuff and its going F.A.B.

I've been freelancing since end of Jan this year when my old place of work went tits up, one month after getting my first mortgage. Shittin bricks at first but now im making more than I was back at the old place

Alexanda · 17-08-2005, 09:59

Its not WHO you know.... Its WHO you BLOW!

I got lucky with a mate getting a job

top_buzz · 17-08-2005, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by cantona

Its not WHO you know.... Its WHO you BLOW!

I got lucky with a mate getting a job

You found me out. I nosh massive dicks for work

jase1000 · 29-08-2005, 15:02

Been fully freelance for about a month and before that a couple of months doing freelance in my spare time. I think it's important to have a couple of good 'bread and butter' clients who you can rely on to provide a steady stream of work.

I was lucky with one of mine - I'd employed his web design firm from my previous position and knew he had good web servers. I phoned him up to find out how much he would charge to host my site and the next thing I'm doing all of his design work and he's thrown the hosting in for free!

15-08-2005, 15:20	#1 (permalink)
briljant oranje Keep it foolish yeah? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Not Leeds Posts: 573	Drumming Up Business We've been freelancing for a few months and have had some decent work to say we've only been running a short time, and started up with fuck all execpt our student overdrafts and credit cards. We feel we need to give ourselves a kick up the arse by getting more work in, but don't really have funds to promote and advertise through the same means that established agencies do. What's the most effective way you've found to get new clients without having to shell out loads for direct mail or expensive Ad's ?

16-08-2005, 03:17	#11 (permalink)
Prole Right turn, Clyde Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 377	like the others said, it's all about networking. don't bother taking out large adverts in the paper as it's of little use. treat your existing clients well. you'll find a lot of new business will come from them. a guy at work did what you're doing and went freelance first, which was a bad idea and he didn't have the customer base to survive. you'd be better off working at an agency first in a junior role. once you build up a rapport with the customers there you'll find freelance business will come in quite nicely. best of luck __________________ everything was great til i got here

16-08-2005, 03:26	#12 (permalink)
Prole Right turn, Clyde Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 377	btw, if money's a problem at first, it may be worth getting a part time job to keep the funds coming in. __________________ everything was great til i got here

16-08-2005, 05:16	#14 (permalink)
Prole Right turn, Clyde Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 377	so you came here instead __________________ everything was great til i got here

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15-08-2005, 15:31	#2 (permalink)
serguei24 Freelance designer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Paris, France Posts: 32	the network, man, all is network…just talk about around you, create a portfolio online, in fact SHOW YOURSELF. I think thats the best way.

15-08-2005, 15:32	#3 (permalink)
serguei24 Freelance designer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Paris, France Posts: 32	by the way, how many months are u freelancing?

15-08-2005, 15:38	#4 (permalink)
briljant oranje Keep it foolish yeah? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Not Leeds Posts: 573	we've been going for 2 months. we both did bits before that, but decided to have a crack at it full time in january, so it took us a few months to get a website up and sort out bank accounts and all that.

15-08-2005, 18:18	#7 (permalink)
Alexanda European Champions 2008 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,280	Thats what motivated me orange. I can't be arsed working for anyone unless I felt I could really develop, and to be fair there isn't a pentagram, north or A2 Graphics in Manchester.

15-08-2005, 18:55	#9 (permalink)
Alexanda European Champions 2008 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,280	I just work under the name the like, I only work for myself. As regards earning a living it took a while but now i'm doing well, I have a v.cool penthouse office in Manchester City Centre with parking and I turn over enough to pay for holidays, my apartment and car etc. I have never advertised, infact nobody knows of the like except on here I get all work through word of mouth and recommendations.

15-08-2005, 19:12	#10 (permalink)
briljant oranje Keep it foolish yeah? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Not Leeds Posts: 573	coolio. thats kind of what we are after - we figure it'll take a good 6mnths to a year until we can get a decent gaff and be 'established' - we've had a fair few enquires, but alot fizzle out to nothing, we've done 3 sites, some flyers and branding etc, but keep getting pissed off with clients making enquiries, we give them a fee, they agree then when it comes time to sign off the brief, we hear nowt. did you get this shit when you first started, was work pretty flaky for the first few months ?

16-08-2005, 04:36	#13 (permalink)
Narate Royalty™ Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester (UK) Posts: 3,211	I started freelancing a few months ago, but once you do a few good jobs then the work soon starts rolling in. Since then I have always had more then 4 job offers at any one time to stay busy. The only thing I miss a little is not having a group of people to talk over projects with.

16-08-2005, 05:51	#15 (permalink)
Transmogrify Rough Creep Arse™ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 1,894	This is what I'm planning on doing when I get back so all the advice anyone who freelances exclusively can give is all very welcome. I'll probably just get a job in a pub or something for a few hours a week so I know I can at least eat something but I really want to do this.. I've had enough of working for "the man".

17-08-2005, 09:57	#17 (permalink)
top_buzz For your health! Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,398	Its not WHO you know.... Its WHO you BLOW! I got lucky with a mate getting a job for a big clubbing site and giving me some work. Ever since then i've been doing similar stuff and its going F.A.B. I've been freelancing since end of Jan this year when my old place of work went tits up, one month after getting my first mortgage. Shittin bricks at first but now im making more than I was back at the old place

17-08-2005, 09:59	#18 (permalink)
Alexanda European Champions 2008 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 2,280	Its not WHO you know.... Its WHO you BLOW! I got lucky with a mate getting a job

29-08-2005, 15:02	#20 (permalink)
jase1000 turd 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Right on your tit end Posts: 1,166	Been fully freelance for about a month and before that a couple of months doing freelance in my spare time. I think it's important to have a couple of good 'bread and butter' clients who you can rely on to provide a steady stream of work. I was lucky with one of mine - I'd employed his web design firm from my previous position and knew he had good web servers. I phoned him up to find out how much he would charge to host my site and the next thing I'm doing all of his design work and he's thrown the hosting in for free!

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