Time for a reality check for beginning graphic designers

Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 440

Chances are, I'm going to offend someone here, but it wouldn't be the first time.

Despite a very useful Search function here, the same questions get asked and answered over and over (copywriting and design for that matter.)

The top question seems to be "Is there work?" with pre-conceived notions as to what the answer is based on totally irrelevant information. The second is "Why don't more people post here?".

The fact that designers who are having success (or beginners) don't post here doesn't mean dinky-doo. I have a full background in writing, so I like to yap. So do the copywriters...that's what they do. Designers aren't necessarily like that. Few, if any, posts here doesn't mean anything about the viability of graphic design as a career, so don't equate the two.

Personally, as I've mentioned before, I post on my blog. I reach more people that way and I can say whatever the heck I want. My design friends simply feel there's nothing to be gained by them posting in this forum or any other. We talk directly to each other via e-mail.

As for work, here's a list of projects I'm involved with or will be starting soon. (Next 30 days.) I'll refer to them as Client A, B, etc.

1. A book for Client A.
2. A tutorial program for Client A.
3. A small monthly project for Client A.
4. A book for Client B
5. An upcoming book for Client B
6. A bottle label for Client B
7. Another bottle label for Client B
8. Yet another bottle label for Client B
9. A product catalog for Client B
10. Three bottle labels for Client C after he saw my work for Client B.
11. A two page flyer for Client C that I turned down over the weekend because I was too stinkin' busy. But as I was writing this note, he asked again, so I'll try to fit it in.
12. An 8-page brochure for Client D, a Washington D.C. company that told me Friday that they have plenty more work for me.
13. A single page form for Client D.
14. A postcard for Client E.
15. A sales letter for Client E.
16. A magazine ad for Client E.
17. A website for Client E.
18. An overwhelming amount of stuff that Client E told me over the weekend that he wants me to be involved with for other people in his organization.
19. A flyer for Client F.

That's it. Six clients. Do some research on how many businesses exist in the world. You only need about six of them...in fact, get greedy...go after 12. There's still enough work for everyone.

It wouldn't matter if AWAI came out today and said, "Graphic design is a bad career choice" (and they wouldn't because they know that's not true) because there's way more work out there than you could handle. And think outside "direct market design"...you may not be able to do Madison Avenue type of work (I know I can't, nor do I want to) but there's a load of people out there who just want some solid, basic layout work.

(As I wrote that last paragraph, Client C asked if I could do two more things for him by the end of the day. I accepted. Guess I better wrap this up.)

I'm telling you the work is out there. And as anyone who has read my posts before know, I started with no design background. So if I can do it...

For some of you, I don't know how many successful people you need to hear from before you believe that this is a solid career. For me, I just needed one person and that was Lori Haller. She is so light years ahead of me I'll probably be dead before I get close to her skill level. But just knowing that she did it (and still has clients wanting to get on her schedule all year-round) was all it took for me to know that I could make a career of this.

So, my advice is to start asking yourself more empowering questions like "What do I need to do today to take a step forward with my design career?" Because asking whether or not this is a viable career or why no one posts here isn't getting you anywhere. Those questions have been asked and answered...it's time to move on.

Back to work.

Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 19

Also, you can commit The Secret film/audio program to memory. It's about the Law of Attraction and suggests that one focus on the outcome that they do want, not what they don't want. Because inevitably, what you focus on expands. (smile).

Be Well,
k.hill

Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 7

Just wanted to thank both of you for your input, a little blunt for someone trying to understand the jist of things. I am new to the forum and was just wondering but I do thank you for your input and will say that it did help. When searching thru here I found only a few posts for this year, so don't think my question was out of line. So for people going thru the course and are confused to begin with I think maybe a little more tact might be used to set them straight Klassen. Have a busy day.

P.S. I guess you forget that people going thru this course have questions and you being a successful designer, should know you weren't always successful. I don't know how jobs are landed, but do know that for someone that lives four hours from a major city it raises some interesting questions. I, for one do not like to be talked down too by someone that forgets from which he came. So stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 440

> I guess you forget that people going thru this course have questions and you being a successful designer, should know you weren't always successful.

Oh, quite the opposite. I haven't forgotten because I get questions from people going through this course on a regular basis.

But the questions I addressed have nothing to do with the course or learning how to be a successful designer: "Why don't people post here?", and "Is there work?"

I think you might believe everything I said was directed specifically and only at you. It wasn't, although your note got the ball rolling. So it's understandable that you or anyone else feels my comments were only directed at people new to the forum.

But that's why I started a new thread instead of highjacking your thread and saying the same thing there and only talking directly to you. There are some people who have been on this forum for a couple of years who are still "dreaming" about beginning their design careers, but making excuses as to why they haven't gotten anywhere.

The "For some of you...." line in particular was directed at them. They know who they are, and in some cases I know who they are because I've met them. (And in two cases, I know they're still here and reading this because they've already written me privately.) They've read the success stories in IFD, they've been on the conference calls...they've even been to Bootcamp. They want it, but they hold back and sometimes focus on questions that they already know the answer to.

> I don't know how jobs are landed, but do know that for someone that lives four hours from a major city it raises some interesting questions.

It's only an issue if your goal is to work for people in that major city and you feel you need to meet with them face-to-face to get work. Direct market clients generally don't have a problem working with people in other cities or states. Quite a number of them actually get their stuff printed in other states because it's cheaper. So never meeting your client face-to-face is pretty common.

You're right...I could have used more tact. But I intentionally decided to take the approach I did knowing that some people would be offended (and said as much in the first sentence.) However, "offensive" to one person is "just what I needed to hear" to another whether they're brand new here or not.

You disagree with the approach and I'm sure others do, too. That's fine. I have lots of "tactful" notes on the forum so if anyone prefers that approach, they can search for my posts. But for some of those "long time" beginners, it hasn't done much to help them, so I'm game for a different approach. And even new folks can take something useful from it despite whatever negative tone they attach to it.

Those two people who wrote me privately?... For one person, they're back on track. He needed the kick in the pants. I'm thrilled because I know his background and the obstacles he's had to this point. He deserves some good things in his life right now. He now has a plan formulating, but it's up to him to stick to it this time. (He's been working on this off and on for about a year and a half.)

The other person...well, she's still kind of focusing on the wrong things, but understands she needs to change her mindset. (K...she appreciated your mention of The Secret. She had heard of it because of all the press it's received recently and feels it may be what she needs now.)

Frankly, if I didn't care about seeing people reach their design goals, and if I didn't believe there was a future for them in design, I wouldn't have bothered being here for the past few years or posting advice on my blog. I wouldn't have even tried to explain myself here for those who, like you, might not have appreciated my tone.

But I stand by what I said and the way I said it. For anyone who has trouble getting past the tone, I'll rephrase it this way: Yes, there's work out...more than you could ever handle by yourself. And it doesn't matter why more people don't post here. It has nothing to do with whether you can be successful as a designer or not.

Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 440

I just had a great idea while in the shower to get some activity going here.

If any others were bothered by my tone, please publicly take me to task right here. I don't smoke, but I do live near a lake, so if you want to tell me to go jump in it, go right ahead.

But...

After you get that off your chest, do everyone a favor and answer these questions:

1. Where are you in the course?
2. If applicable, why aren't you further along than you want to be?
3. What's your top question related to building or running a successful freelance graphic design business?
4. What's your biggest fear about becoming a freelancer?

I'll field as many questions as I can and anyone else with ideas should jump in to answer them, too.

If we cover enough ground, maybe this can be a Sticky note so it's easier for people to find answers in one spot.

So, who's first?

Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 7

Well Mr. Klassen, I started this couse in 2005, but thru no fault of my own I am now classified disabled. Now am back on track, handing in my first assignment and now working on my second. So before you start bashing people on here or "kicking them in the pants", as you call it I think finding out about a certain someone would deem to be in your best interest.

I have been to your web site and your blog and am glad that you are there for the many questions that you answer there, but ask yourself this, why are you helping in this capacity, is it because you just love the cudo's or is it a genuine desire to help the many people that you do help or is it that you just like the money you make off of your book. I for one think that making money off of people that desire help is no help at all. I have trouble making it from one month to the next right now. So for me there is no help out there. As far as a mentor, lol, that ain't gonna happen. People with enough experience to be mentors are way to busy to be mentors as in your case. So all of this is pretty redundant in any case.

But I do thank you for what you do, although I question your motives Mr. Klassen. Have a great day.

Richard Craig
aka ferngullyfarms

P.S. I for one will not be back to this forum, it too is no help.

Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 2101 Location: TN Smokies

Richard,
I'm not a graphic designer, but I do follow the posts closely here. While I'm sorry you're disabled, you might want to rethink the way you post. You're the one who sounds mean-spirited, not Mike.

Also as Mike pointed out, this thread of his was not directed only at you. Why should you take such offense at tough love? Maybe his words strike too close to home, for whatever reason.

Mike is a very giving and decent sounding guy, who has even e-mailed me to help with a Windows problem. I'm a travel writer and he helped even me.

I feel your harsh statements are totally off-base and unfair. And the question about if there is any work in graphic design has come up several times here. If you had done a search, which by the way, is at the top of the page, you would have had that question answered several times. I myself have posted the same answers over and over again in other parts of the forum. It gets tiring after awhile, especially when several versions of the same answer is just a search away. You can go through all the posts here and in archives if you don't want to use the search function above. And there are others who would have told you to just go search for your answer, without giving you anything else.

People who post here are students or former students, and it is NOT your right to demand of them as if they work for AWAI directly. Detailed posts take thought and time to post, time freely given. But if you grouch at the person giving, they won't want to put up with that and they just might quit being so helpful.

Hey, I think most of your attack was uncalled for and you ought to apologize. Do you think people should help all the time for free? What about their time that gets spent in helping? Should they NEVER be compensated?

I want to ask YOU something... are you using your disability in such a manner that you feel it's your right that EVERYTHING be handed to you for free AND on a silver platter? I'm sorry, bud, but being disabled doesn't give you the right to bash on and run over others with no thought to them but only thoughts of yourself. You, dude, are rude. There are others on this forum who are also disabled who do not act this way. They are appreciative and kind-hearted people.

Stuff just isn't going to fall in your lap. You search it out and seek for it. How do you know if you had politely asked, you wouldn't have found someone who would mentor you?

Did you want help when you signed up for the course? Should AWAI have given it to you for free since "making money off of people that desire help is no help at all?" Are they bad for wanting to make money by helping people with their courses?

Mike not only answered your two questions but he also gave you some tips on how to get started looking for work.

I for one appreciated his post, even though it made me cringe a tad too... I'm one of those slowpoke chicken marketers. I'm holding back, why, I'm not totally sure. And even being a chicken marketer is an excuse, a crutch that's holding me back... as also is my being afraid I WILL be successful (not totally sure of the why of that one.) And yes, I need a "kick in the pants." I was a student for almost 3 years. I'm getting out there, but I need to do so in a more timely fashion.

And I'm a travel writer, so I know he wasn't talking directly to me, but I still said "uh oh, he's talking to me here." And I took it as a tough love reminder to vamp things up considerably. His post was very informative. I'm shooting for the 12 clients or more. I have a ton of article ideas to refine, market search to do to find a home for my article ideas and a bunch of query letters to write. I've also got to find a way to seek those who need online articles written for them. I really want to break into that market. And I will find the way... I'm very resourceful. I definitely have a good future in travel writing, travel advertorials, real estate copy and online article writing ahead of me. And I'm seeking it head on now. And I will achieve these goals.

Mike actually has a good post going here. I'm not offended, I'm thankful for him posting the way he did.

Richard, I hope you find your way and that things work out for you.

And Mike, I'm sorry for how you were treated here. You deserve much better than that. Thank you for the helpful posts... they help even me, the travel writer. And they're such gems too.

Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 2101 Location: TN Smokies

There are also books out of The Secret. Also another book may be helpful... it's Write it Down, Make it Happen by Henriette Anne Klauser. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And it does work. I may not have the five acres or four kids I wrote down as a high school Senior saying what I wanted in 10 years from graduation. It took longer to get my 2.39 acres, two kids and the four bedroom house. I wrote it down and forgot all about it, until I read that book.

You have to believe and have faith it will happen. Also you must take steps, little or big, to help make it happen. It's about both skill and mindset. And talk about what you do everywhere you go whenever you get the chance. You never know... the person you're talking with just might be looking for a graphic designer or know of others who are looking. Plus doing this gets you to start marketing yourself and in networking mode.

I hope this helps.

Joined: 12 Dec 2005 Posts: 19

hey guys & gals,

so that we don't loose focus in this thread, i'll go first to get us back on track by responding to mike's questions:

1. Where are you in the course?

i have completed the course. i received a good score on the last assignment but want to revise it based on the suggestions that the reviewer offered and use it as a portfolio piece.

just to give you some background of timelines, i bought the course in late '05 and was really enthusiastic for awhile. then it began to collect dust as i progressed in my professional career. once i became a manager and realized that the corporate route was not someting i wanted to pursue i remembered the GDS program, picked it up again (this march) and completed it.

lesson here...life happens. sometimes things get you off track but no worries, just pick up wherever you are and keep it moving.

2. If applicable, why aren't you further along than you want to be?

i think it's too early for this question to apply.

3. What's your top question related to building or running a successful freelance graphic design business?

how to make connections/form relationships with those in a position to hire out direct mail work. even, if not a big name or a $3000 sales letter (smile), at least landing clients directly related to this industry. i've been dessigning for some time now and most of my work is traditional GD. this is officially the beginning of my foray into the direct mail industry and i'm hungry to build up clientele in this market.

4. What's your biggest fear about becoming a freelancer?

the unpredictability of work. i've been on the coporate side of creative and the freelancers that i would hire and interact with always seemed scared. scared of not having jobs in the pipeline. you could smell the desperation as well as hear it in their voices. but this side of things (i.e. direct mail GD) seems much more relaxed and confident. i'd much rather live from the perspective of abundance than scarcity.

So, who's first? me:)

k.hill

Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 440

Way to step up to the plate, K.

Before I answer, I want anyone to feel they can put in their 2-cents. I have some experience, but it's limited. I can just pass along what I've learned or learned from others. Someone else may have a different view, so speak up.

So...finding DM clients. This is where you need to get your hands dirty and start doing some research. Who are these companies? There's tons of them out, but it's not like you'll find them in the phone book under "Direct Mailers". (Actually, I haven't looked. Maybe you would.)

I'm going to do something that may get me in trouble, but here goes:

http://www.awaionline.com/bootcamp/materials/

This is an old link I bookmarked after Bootcamp....2004! I guess AWAI forgot it's up there. Use that to generate your first list (if you don't have one started) of DM clients. Some of the assignments may even have contact info, although after all this time, the contact people may have changed.

If you have some extra money, you might consider the Who's Mailing What Archive. I may do that myself, since AWAI has a special price. They keep tabs on all the direct mail being sent out. My guess (since I haven't signed up myself) is that you'll be able to create your own list of potential clients to contact because you'll at least see the name of the company that sent the DM piece.

Next, start making some contact with copywriters. This year, for the first time, I've started getting referrals from copywriters...one I knew well and one who somehow stumbled across my name and sent a client my way. It's not always a given that copywriter is going to be able to send jobs your way, but if a client asks, a copywriter likes to be helpful and pass along a name.

Next (part 2), sign-up for AWAI's Direct Response Jobs board, but don't look for graphic design jobs. Well, you can, but here's another idea...look for jobs being offered to copywriters. They get more job postings. Isn't it likely that if someone is looking for a copywriter there's a slight chance they might need a designer?

Remember, you don't need to hit a home run with every person you contact. Just a client or two will get the job rolling.

Next (part 3...I should really have just numbered these.) Go through back issues of AWAI's The Golden Thread. It's the free weekly newsletter for writers. Look carefully at everything...sometimes they interview DM folks or at least list jobs for writers. (See Next part 2)

Next (part 4...I should start a novel.) Start bugging everyone in your family to pass along their junk mail. These are people (the mailers, not your family) that have already proven they use a designer. Sure, some may use an in-house designer, but you don't know until you contact them.

Next (part 5...maybe I'll turn this into a made-for-TV mini-series) Find someone in multi-level marketing. Put aside whatever thoughts you have about MLM. I just got an MLM'er as a client. Now if you get someone at the bottom of the MLM food-chain, there might not be enough work to keep you busy, but this client of mine certainly has grand plans. So if you get someone with a good downline (MLM lingo there) it usually means they've built a fairly solid business. My point here is to not overlook something that you may not have pictured as a traditional DM client.

Ok...so you've generated this list of names. Now what. That's up to you. If you're comfortable, start making calls. If not, at least call to get the name of the marketing person and send them a postcard. They don't know you're out there until you tell them.

But if they're the least bit interested, they're going to want to see samples. Do you have something to send or a website to point them to? (A topic worthy of its own discussion.)

Don't worry if they say they're happy with their current designer. It may not last. I've benefited when another designer pushed a client too far and suddenly that great relationship they had ended with the snap of a finger. When they're desperate (or is that desparate...dang I wish forums had built-in spell checkers) they're either going to talk to friends for a referral or call the person who has stayed in contact.

If money is no object (I know, it's rare, but humor me) find conferences target toward marketers and go meet them face-to-face.

Ok...that's what immediately comes to mind about finding clients.

Now, unpredictability. It's a valid concern and there's nothing I can guarantee because everyone's situation is different. That's why you want to have as many of your ducks lined up as possible before making that leap This is actually a good career to start part-time while you have another job. (Speaking to people in general here.)

In our 9-5 jobs, most of us got used to different people handling different tasks. When I worked in radio, I handled the news department. I didn't worry about sales, that was the sales staff's job. I didn't worry about book-keeping because....well, you get the idea.

Now, it's all yours to handle. So part of your job everyday is not just to design, but to be in contact with new people. I think the biggest failing most beginners have is that they fear and fight marketing themselves. So, yeah, I bet they're scared. But I don't think the issue is a lack of jobs, it's them getting past the fear of speaking up.

It's going to be different for everyone. One person will land a great client right from the start and never look back. Another may take up to a year or more before getting to that comfort zone. For me, it was about 2 years, but I'm a lazy marketer.

I can tell you this...I've got about three or four clients now who seem to have no end of work. And I know, beyond any doubt, there's more out there. I'm not saying it's easy to find them, but if someone has time to be scared, they have time to make another call until that pipeline is filled.

Ok, I rambled a bit. If you want clarity on something I rambled through, just ask. I kind of took your comments on the fly without pondering it for a few days.

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:56 pm

Hi, Mike and others.

I’d like to throw in my two cents, even though some time has gone by. I visit the forum only about every two weeks or so, and then I usually just “lurk” – but occasionally I throw in some responses, too.

I started with AWAI’s Copywriting Course at the beginning of 2004. By the end of that year on the installment plan, I had gotten as far as finishing my research on an alternate form of Assignment #2. Partway through I learned about the Graphic Design course and began receiving installments without a breather after the last CW lesson in early 2005. But I wouldn’t let myself actually study the GD course until I had finished CW, which I procrastinated on completing – partly for legitimate reasons and partly for “manufactured” ones. I did go to Bootcamp in 2005, and got fired up again. But I still didn’t complete the CW course, because by then I’d heard Mike’s story of switching to GD, and decided to do the same in early 2006. Although my “real job” was as a technical writer in the computer world, my first career was as a designer in the Fine and Performing Arts – I actually was an assistant professor – and I found I really related well to the GD course material.

My motivation for signing up for AWAI courses in the first place aren’t really those you see advertised. I don’t dream of making $100K per year and having a star-studded client list. I DO want to work from a home office and stop commuting an hour each way into the city to a job I really don’t like. But my dream is to simply replace the income I previously made, and do so while working only part-time rather than full-time. In my case, my husband was forced to retire early due to some health concerns, and his dream has always been to write a novel. He’s attracted the attention of two established authors and a publishing house. I want to be available to be his line editor and typist and help him shepherd his manuscript through the process – while also having my own GD career.

So this past fall, I returned to Bootcamp, but this time as a GD student with renewed drive. I met two other GD students in particular with whom I’ve continued an online relationship. All three of us are in the same place in the course now (almost ready to turn in Assignment #3), and we are each other’s support system. We all have at-home obligations, so our progress isn’t as speedy as we’d like, but it’s steady, and we compare notes and information a couple of times a week. If you don’t have a mentor, that’s the next best thing. One of the two actually lives only an hour away on a different side of the same metro area, and I’ve visited her for brainstorming sessions a couple of times.

Life got in the way in December when I lost the job I had come to dislike (company reorg), and I chose to look at the event as a blessing in disguise. I had planned to quit in the following 3 months, anyway, but this was a surprise, and I was happy to be eligible for unemployment. In the last 6 months, I’ve put up a new web site with portfolio samples (yes, some are class assignments or specs, but many are real), registered my new business name, joined my local Chamber of Commerce, completed two web sites for new clients, one with accompanying business cards and several updates since then, completed a logo and business cards for another, (all small business owners), completed a flyer for the local baseball team, and completed two projects for a client that needed artistic templates for PowerPoint slides. I also have updated a web site I originally created in 2001 and for whom I continue to produce posters and flyers. Is it graphic design for Direct Mail? No. Is it steady? Not yet. Am I charging what I feel I’m really worth? Not yet. In fact, the baseball team’s brochure was for free in return for including my own ad on the back – now seen by anyone who attends the games. But these baby steps are a start. And I’m also lending my design services as VP of PR for my local Toastmaster’s Club, which will help me make media contacts. Best of all, I can choose my own hours as I go. Right now I’m in the process of unpacking boxes stored for 14 years to create a new office out of an unused bedroom, and I don’t have to feel guilty about taking the time to do this. I am fortunate that my money situation allowed me breathing room to start out. If I can be making a steady income by the end of the year, I will consider my first year at this a success, regardless of how little (or how much) I might make. I am well aware that ramping up to a new career does not happen instantly. And by the way – the PowerPoint client? That was a lead I got from a job-hunting friend from Toastmasters who attended a networking function, met the company rep, thought of me, and gave me her contact info. I pursued the rep (nicely) every 8-10 days for two months before landing a project with her. Networking really does work, so don’t dismiss those opportunities lightly – and cultivate them for repeat business.

I’d say I’m not too far behind where I want to be at this point, although the picture today is not as I envisioned it back in 2004 when I first signed up with AWAI. My answers to questions 3 & 4 are similar to K Hill’s. But I would like to say to Mike that the listing of your 19 projects as you did at the beginning of this thread may be the single most helpful post I’ve seen on this forum. Not understanding how various clients blend together in a timetable has been a point of fear and anxiety for me. Now I have a better sense of how it’s done. And I also realize how much more aggressive I must be in attracting steady clients than I have been so far.

Hang in there, everybody.

Joined: 22 Dec 2004 Posts: 440

Thankfully, that list of 19 has dropped a bit as projects have finished up. For the first time in a while, I'm all caught up and have the weekend without any jobs I need to work on. (I'm in the middle of projects, but they're in the clients' courts now.)

If I remember correctly, we met briefly at the 2005 Bootcamp when you were there as a writer. (And I obviously remember you were there in 2006 as a designer.) Good to hear you're still out there.

I will toss in this caution to anyone: As appropriate, and in the nicest way possible, remind your clients that as a freelancer, you have multiple clients. I get some clients from time to time who must think all I have to do is their project, thus I should be getting it done pretty quick as I have nothing else to do.

It's natural for clients to forget this because they're so caught up in their own business, they forget that freelancers (at least successful ones) rarely work for only one person at a time.

To drop a subtle hint from the get-go, when a new client calls and asks about schedules, I causally work into the conversation that while I'm working on projects for other clients, it looks like their project will fit into my schedule. (If, in fact, that's actually true.)

That's not to make it sound to the client that I'm so good, I barely have time for his or her project...it's just a way of letting them know right from the start that I work with more than one client at a time.

Joined: 23 Dec 2004 Posts: 364 Location: California

Hey Mike,

I don't think your tone was too blunt. I didn't find anything offensive in what you wrote. But then again, I'm a writer not a designer.

I think you must have hit a nerve with Richard. Apparently he doesn't want to hear that you have built a successful business and it's available to anyone willing to grab the opportunity by the horns.

As far as making money by selling information, there is certainly nothing wrong with that. Amazon sells quite a few books every day. So does Barnes and Noble. Very Happy

Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for continuing to come back here and help others long after most other AWAI trainees have moved on to bigger and better things, or just moved on.

And if I ever get less busy, like that'll happen, I'll email you just to catch up. I should do it anyway, right?

Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 2 Location: Houston, Texas

Mike,

I loved your post. I've been in the freelance writing and design business now for two years after leaving my life as a writer and editor for daily newspapers.

You're right that there is way more work out there than any of us could ever handle. The key is actually to be selective about the type of work you take on so that you're doing work you really enjoy rather than just taking whatever comes your way. Yes, I did that too when I first started but it's valuable to learn to be selective as early as you can.

I've found that for me, the perfect combination of writing and design work that is closest to what I loved about the newspaper business is to handle the production of newsletters for corporations and small businesses. So that's pretty much all I'm doing now: concepting story ideas, writing them, editing article submissions, designing the publications and overseeing printing and distribution. It's turned out to be a great niche for my business.

And I've also found that the most important thing that separates those who are successful from those who are not is a willingness to just get out there and sell your services. Yes, there are more talented designers and writers in my city. But most of them don't do a very good job of meeting prospects and really getting to know their wants and needs. That's how you really separate yourself from the competition and make a name for yourself in a very specialized niche.

Just my two cents.

- Stephen

Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 71 Location: Snoqualmie, WA

Mike,
I think your tone and your follow up notes were outrageously wonderful! I smiled the whole way through. NO OFFENSE whatsoever.
Richard -- your tone put me off. I am sorry for your disability, but do knwo what will make you most successful going forward is a positive, helpful and kind attitude.

Folks, it is totally true. Focusing on what we WANT and asking ourselves what steps we need to take to get more of what we DO want is how we can get there. It might be marketing. It might be follow up, It might be finding good prospects. It might be patience. I don't know because I'm still studying.

What I do know from past experience is that a negative, angry attitude gets me NO WHERE...and I don't do much business with negative, angry people either.

Mike is write Smile

--- What often separates the wheat from the chaff is those who are williing to step outside themselves or away from their computers and do the marketing. If you aren't selling, then you can't close the deal!

Nancy