Ok, here we are with the third installment of this series. If you’re just getting on board and missed the previous posts you can check them out here Part 1 and Part 2.
3 – Invent a trend
“Family game night” most likely a trend started by one of the big “board game” manufacturers. Not only to tie into the growing movement over keeping families connected with each other, doing fun activities together and making game play a cornerstone of family activities, but to also increase board game sales in the process.
Ok, I know… you’re NOT a huge game manufacturer and you don’t have that kind of dough or that kind of influence.
I get that. Here’s the thing though, you don’t have to be. The trick is to take the basic concept of identifying a need and figuring out how you can apply it on a smaller scale that fits your particular market using your particular skills. It can be a simple as doing, offering, creating something slightly new/newer in your market, creating or identifying a need that others aren’t.
As you may recall, in part 1 of this series we talked about commenting and linking to various trends to promote your freelance business. Today we talk about part two.
2 – Aligning your business marketing message with prevalent psychological trends.
I would argue that the ideal person most likely to purchase your services are looking to satisfy other needs beyond the obvious service you provide that are actually more influential in their decision to buy from you. Be sure to communicate and market what you provide in a context important to your audience.
Prudent spending – businesses are still spending on creative services, they’re just spending more judiciously and looking for more value in where they invest their cash. Be sure to identify the REAL value in what you provide. If you are a designer, are you just selling pretty design? If you are a illustrator, are you just selling illustrations? If so, you are short changing yourself and your clients by not communicating fully your solution to their problem. Continue reading 3 Powerful Ways Freelancers Can Profit From Emerging Trends – Part 2 of 3
When it comes to marketing your creative services, the real challenge is always a matter of standing out, and making the right connection with your core audience.
We all strive and struggle with creating marketing messages that are relevant and new.
So the challenge really becomes holding the recipients attention long enough to give you a chance at making a connection. And nothing is more effective than meeting your customer where they are. Marketing and delivering a message that is relevant to your audience. In this case, where their attention and focus is already.
As a business owner, and that what “freelance professionals” are, you should always be asking “what’s next?”. What’s next in the evolution of your business. What’s next in the services you provide. What’s next in who your ideal clients are.
Licensing is one of those areas I believe many artist should be looking at closely in their “what’s next” scenario. While it’s not easy, and may not be for everyone, it can certainly be profitable and smart way to diversify your time, talent and creative business.
So, with that said, this interview is with the gracious and talented licensing expert Maria Brophy. She has a wealth of practical, real life experience and generously shares with us her years of experience representing and marketing her husband Drew Brophy’s surf and lifestyle art. She also shares many insights into finding the right partnerships, negotiating advances and royalties, as well as things to watch out for in structuring contracts.
Maria even candidly shares the finer details of her latest and largest licensing agreement to date with Converse, as they partner to bring you the Brophy Converse Chuck Collection
You can also find Maria on her consistently well written blog at MariaBrophy.com. Thanks Maria for your time and expertise : )
Have you licensing your work? Are you considering it? Feel free to share your comments. There’s plenty of room for us all to learn from each other and I would love to hear your thoughts.
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BARGAIN BASEMENT John Morefield is one of thousands of unemployed designers who are reinventing themselves. Last year, he put up a booth at a farmers’ market in Seattle, advertising his skills for a nickel, and ended up earning more than $50,000 in commissions. Recession And recovery
In today’s economic environment many creative freelancers are struggling as the once solid ground they stood on is quickly giving way to the shifting sands of economic change.
Once predictable markets are shrinking, if not disappearing altogether. Things are changing far faster today than ever before. However, there are also many new opportunities surfacing that weren’t available before. While there is much more competition today, there are also many more distribution channels, markets and opportunities that have opened up for your art services or products. Yet many creatives continue to plod along approaching markets and their business the exact same way they have in years past, using old models.
Take off the blinders.
In light of the massive changes happening in our market place, it’s a critical time to reevaluate the reasons for doing what you do, how you do it and possibly most important who you are doing it for.
I challenge you today to break beyond the comfortable models of the past and look at yourself not just as a freelancer or independent contractor, but a creative entrepreneur. Learn to see all the possibilities for your skills, knowledge, experience and passion available to you in this new economy.
So how can you do that?
1- Re-invention: The best tried and true method is to look beyond your own industry and discover how other companies are succeeding. Many times the further you look from your own industry the better. And figure out how you can apply those systems and models into your own business with the appropriate modifications.
2- Challenge industry norms: Stop following what everyone else in your industry is doing. Challenge the things that aren’t working for you. Everything from not being able to sign your work, waiting 30 to 90 days for payment for services rendered to work for hire contracts. Think about who established those rules, why are they in place and do they truly even exist? Learn to challenge your industry norms. Many established industry MO’s are being redefined as we speak.
3- Define your value: As a business, where is the true value in what you deliver? At the end of the day, what do you really DO for your clients? What are the results and benefits, the experience from working with you? What do they walk away with?
Your value in the market place is in direct correlation to the value/ or perceived value you deliver to your clients through your art. It is up to you to define it and make sure they know what that is.
How can you stand apart and create the most value for your time, knowledge and effort?
On my recent trip north to our summer cabin high atop the mountains of Piney creek, North Carolina, we took a southward detour to visit my long time pal and fellow humor illustrator Fian Arroyo in his new home in Asheville.
We then made a 3 hour drive to Winsten-Salem for a first time face-to-face meeting with another fellow illustrator I met on twitter, the talented Bob Ostrom.
This is a candid interview with the Bob Ostrom as he shares some great information on his career as a cartoonist, how he got started drawing children’s books, freelancing, marketing and chicks on motorcycles. Enjoy.
A musician playing violin in a Washington DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007.
He played six Bach pieces for about 60 minutes. During that time approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After:
3 minutes
A middle aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule.
Jim Rohn passed away yesterday. He was truly was one of the finest business philosophers of our time.
Such simple ideas, but So very powerful and life changing.
I was first introduced to his teachings 14 years ago, and the effect of his philosophies on my life have been dramatic.
If you don’t know his work, become become familiar with it. It’s never too late, but sooner is better.
If you know him, what a great time to be reminded of the work of this great teacher.
Share this with your friends and family. It just doesn’t get any better.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Mr. Rohn!
Here’s just one great video of the great Jim Rohn:
Have you ever stopped to think of the term “Freelancer” and what it means to you, your friends, family… your potential clients? More importantly, how it makes you feel about what you do and the value you deliver? Does it accurately describe the way you see your business, the true value of your expertise and your full potential as a business owner?
I very often get questions regarding syndication, marketing, illustration, pricing and everything in between from aspiring cartoonist and illustrators. A few days ago I had one such artist contact me with some questions about her online web comic.
We covered quite a bit of information so hopefully you’ll get something valuable out of our conversation.
Some of what we covered:
• My personal journey into syndication
• Submitting to syndicates, the process and things to watch for in the contracts
• Self-syndication and marketing
• Usage rights in magazine publications
• Building value into your work
• Yikes, the dreaded “Web vs. Print” business model (ooh… what a can of worms this’ll be. Just my two cents)
• Can I use trademark names of actual businesses and celebrities in my strip? Say, Starbuck’s vs. Star schmuck’s?
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