Subscribe by RSS
Tips For Marketing Yourself as a Prime Freelancer
2/2/2012 3:39 PM By Artisan
So you’ve been searching for employment and you’ve just discovered your dream job. Maybe it’s a marketing position, a freelance writing project or a chance to draw snow cones — it doesn’t matter; this job speaks to you. The problem is, the project also speaks to 250 other freelancers, some of whom may be more qualified than you are. How do you make your voice heard? Here’s some self employment advice that will give you the upper hand.
First, we need to go back in time a bit. Before you started searching for employment, did you update your portfolio and resume? Let’s face it, for freelancers in particular, hiring is all about history. Every freelancer claims to have the most talent, be the best person for the job and be passionate about the work. However, it’s not about what a freelancer can say, but rather what he can show a potential employer in respect to his abilities. A good portfolio is a must. The best piece of self employment advice is to make sure that your best work, particularly your most recent best work, always finds its way into your portfolio.
Another trick to making yourself more attractive to potential employers is to stretch your limits and learn to do different things within your chosen field or related fields. Just because you’ve never written a press release before doesn’t mean you should assume you can’t write press releases. Give it a try — you might be good at it and even enjoy it. Then, when the employer advertises that a need for somebody to write a bio for the CEO for an event, you can say you are able to do that and a press release for the event, too.
Another word here about history and reputation — just as you can build a good reputation, you can build a nasty one even more easily. Any good marketing person knows that good news travels fast, but bad news travels faster so the mistakes you make and the bridges you burn can, and will, come back to haunt you. If you habitually miss deadlines, turn in low-quality work or generally don’t act like a professional, your reputation will precede you and you will find yourself being passed over for jobs.
There is one last simple piece of self employment advice you need when searching for employment as a freelancer. Be confident. If you don’t believe you’re the best person for the job, you will never convince anyone else. Besides, when you look at the portfolio you’ve prepared, you’ll see that you’ve accomplished a lot as a freelancer and you have every reason to believe that the job you apply for is yours for the taking. All that’s left to do is go get it!
Roger C is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Tags: creative freelancers, hiring, interview advice, portfolios, resumé, self employment advice
Posted in Design Resources | No Comments »
The Surprisingly Lucrative Career of a Freelancer
2/2/2012 3:39 PM By Artisan
When most people tell their friends that they are freelancers, the response is sometimes a thinly disguised concern that you aren’t making enough to support yourself. Then they often follow up with something about how great it is that you’re following your dreams and wish they had the freedom that you do. What they don’t know (and we should probably keep this just between us) is that “creative staffing” freelancers can make a very good living and that their gigs can be just as demanding as professionals with fulltime jobs.
“Creative staffing” is a pretty broad term that basically applies to anybody who gets paid to create something, from writing to web design to information architecture to anything in between. How much they get paid to create something varies based on their experience, level of skills, contacts and, most of all, what their client is willing to pay.
As you would imagine, with so many variables you can have some creative freelancers who are doing extremely well for themselves and others living paycheck to paycheck. In order to get the highest pay possible (and more consistent work), it would be advisable to get in touch with a freelance job agencies, as they can expose you to a wider group of clients.
In terms of an average salary for creative staffing, it is hard to calculate because of the range of jobs and level of experience involved, but there are some accepted ranges. For instance, according to the New Jersey Creatives Network, a person who writes advertising copy could make between $33 and $120 per hour. Clearly, the high end of that scale is nothing to sneeze at. The average, however, is in the $50 to $60 per hour range – a pretty well paying gig by anyone’s definition.
Roger C is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Tags: creative freelancers, creative staffing, freelance, hiring solutions, pay rate, writers
Posted in Career Resources | No Comments »
Staying Up on the Latest Trends: Production Management Software
2/1/2012 11:17 AM By Vince FontProduction management is about as complex and demanding a management job as you could ask for. Whether your title is Creative Director or you work in the development and design side of the industry, production management can be emotionally draining if you don’t have a system to keep everything in order.
Thankfully, there’s plenty of production management software to choose from and there are a lot of sites, services and products on the web that can keep you on your toes, improve your appeal to potential clients and help your business perform while reducing headaches. Here are three that no Production Manager, Interactive Art Director, Project Manager, Web Developer or Designer should go without.
EPICOR Production Management Software
If you want to stay on top of your game, EPICOR is the way to do it. This multi-tiered production management system offers solutions at every level and for every conceivable project. The interface allows production managers a lot of depth without sacrificing user friendliness. Give it a try and see if you’re not a devout user by the end of the week.
For production management professionals who are looking for a cheaper alternative to production software, Celtx is a pretty great package for pre-production, offering storyboard, scheduling, screenwriting and everything else you could possibly want in a $10 package (with many free features, as well), Celtx is just the thing if you need to outfit a whole office with production management software on a budget.
If you’re not on Google+ yet, you need to get involved while you can still position yourself as a trend setter for jumping on the bandwagon. Google+ allows you to search by facial recognition, get +1′s (likes) from search engine results and it gives you precedence in Google searches if the searcher is following you on Google+. Get involved now while you can still be considered an early adopter in your field on Google+. This can also be a useful recruitment tool.
Production management is largely a number-crunching game, and it can get overwhelming if you don’t have the right tools. These three can help you stay on top of your assignment and on top of the field if you know how to use them.
Posted in Design Resources | No Comments »
The Importance of Project Deadlines and How to Avoid Missing Them
1/31/2012 2:57 PM By Artisan
As a freelancer, your reputation is all you have to draw and keep clients, and this reputation comes from two things: the quality of your work and your ability to adhere to deadlines so remember: deadlines are not just suggestions.
Every time you apply for a freelance job, you face a tremendous amount of competition. Freelancers Union, a New York-based group for independent workers, estimates that 30 percent of American workers are freelancers. With so much competition, you must do all you can to stand out. One of the best and most simpe pieces of advice for professional freelancers is to always meet your deadline.
When clients approaches you, they already have a timeline in mind for the project. If you fail to meet the deadline on your end, they will fail to meet their own, which can have a negative impact on their job. By putting your client in this position, you hurt your professional relationship.
How to Meet the Deadline Every Time
When it comes to deadlines, your goal should be to under promise and over deliver, as stated by veteran freelance writer Abhijeet Mukherjee of Freelance Folder. If you tell your client the project will take five days but deliver it in three, he’ll be impressed. If you tell your client the project will take three days but deliver it in four, he won’t be.
Keep a calendar that includes both personal and professional appointments and deadlines to help you visualize potential roadblocks to completing a project. Know how much you can realistically accomplish in a set period of time and avoid over-committing yourself.
Unexpected events are what often throw off deadlines. For instance, you may not be able to plan for illness, but it could happen. To give yourself a little leeway, FreelanceSwitch recommends building in a cushion when offering a project completion date.
At the end of the day, you need to keep your clients happy. No amount of advice on employment will protect you from the negative impact of repeated missed deadlines. It does not matter how well you do your job; if you cannot deliver on time, you are going to lose your clients to someone else who can. In a competitive field like freelancing, that is simply not a risk worth taking.
Nicole H is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Tags: advice for career
Posted in Design Resources | No Comments »
Hiring Solutions: Freelance Graphic Designers for Rapid-Fire Marketing Projects
1/30/2012 1:50 PM By Vince Font
Do you work for a marketing company that needs to hire Graphic Designers for projects with an incredibly rapid turnaround time? The mere thought has been known to send hardened career marketing experts into tailspins of panic, especially considering the time and effort needed to launch a search to find qualified job candidates. If this story is starting to sound all too familiar, take a deep breath and relax. It can be done.
First, consider all of your options. Finding a freelance Graphic Designer or Production Artist might just be a far better solution than making a permanent hire. But will bringing in a freelancer—or freelancers, if your project requires nothing short of a small army—into the mix be cost effective? In a word, yes. Think about the following things you won’t have to worry about if you opt to hire Graphic Designers from the freelance market.
- No legal requirement to provide healthcare benefits. And fortunately for you, Artisan offers that option for its talent.
- Far less overhead costs, especially if the Graphic Designer in question can work remotely.
- Less need to provide training unless it is project or software specific. Most professional freelance Graphic Designers for hire are highly experienced, having worked in a variety of environments.
And if you work with a talent staffer like Artisan, where we’ve already taken care of everything from background checks to prior work history, you’ll have even less on your plate. Get a jumpstart on your marketing project by contacting us today.
Tags: artisan, creative freelancers, graphic design, hiring solutions, short-term projects, smart design
Posted in Career Resources, Design Resources | No Comments »
Most Popular APIs Used By Freelance Coders
1/27/2012 4:19 PM By ArtisanApplication programming interfaces (APIs) are the tools that enable web coders to develop applications that function with existing services and websites. A perfect example is when a developer uses YouTube’s open API to embed videos onto the main page of a client’s website or when a website uses the Google Maps API to enable brick-and-mortar establishments to map their location so customers can easily find them.
Even more websites are turning to social media platform APIs like Facebook and Twitter as a way of integrating their websites with their social media accounts. This is something that YouTube, Google, Twitter and others encourage, as it is mutually beneficial by creating an interactive, integrated user experience while promoting further use of the API provider’s services.
The following is a list of some of the most popular APIs that are commonly used by freelance coders and website designers for integration with client websites. It’s by no means a comprehensive list of all of the APIs that you can find; therefore, it should only be used as a starting point for your continuing education as a web designer:
If you’re a freelance coder eager to get your name listed in a prominent position on a heavily trafficked web designers directory, learning to be fluent in some or all of the above listed APIs can help you accomplish that. Having a dozen or more websites to your credit that utilize these APIs to drive traffic can also infuse your portfolio with the kind of pizzazz and diversity that potential employers looking to hire freelance coders will sit up and take notice of.
Yet another effective way of increasing your profile in the ever-competitive world of freelance developers and web coders is by allying yourself with a creative talent agency like Artisan, where you’ll be listed alongside other in-demand professionals. To get started, sign up with Artisan today.
Vince F is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Tags: APIs, artisan, freelance coders, job search, web coders, web designers directory, web development
Posted in Career Resources | No Comments »
5 Important Marketing Shifts of 2011
1/26/2012 12:17 PM By Artisan
During 2011, the marketing software industry experienced several new developments that inspired changes among freelance marketing professionals. One of these developments involved the creation of new Facebook features, such as Timeline. Though Timeline is not yet available for businesses, its existence signals a shift from text-based content to a more visual interactive experience. To stay on top of this trend, social marketing managers should keep the new appearance of Facebook in mind when creating marketing tools for use on the platform.
Another shift that occurred in 2011 involved the launching of Google+, a new social network. Within just a few weeks of its launch, Google+ boasted 18 million users. In light of this development, many businesses created profiles on the platform in hopes of reaching millions of potential customers. As Google+ continues to grow, it is likely that more businesses will utilize its services. Staying ahead of the game requires an active profile on Google+ with marketing tools in place before the trend goes global.
To keep up with the changes at Google and Facebook, Twitter created new apps for computer desktops and mobile devices. These applications allow Twitter users to access the platform more easily, which translates to more tweets. Businesses who are active on Twitter can utilize this new trend to spread the news about products, services and promotions. Businesses that attract savvy Twitter users are more likely to benefit from this technique, so be sure you consider this trend when developing marketing strategies for 2012.
Collective-deal services was another trend that took off during 2011. Using companies like Groupon, businesses can offer promotions to entice new customers to try out their products or services. If new customers are satisfied with their experiences, they are likely to return and pay full price. This translates to more traffic and revenue for the business in question.
The fifth revolutionary development that occurred during 2011 was the rise of iAds, advertisements that target tablet and iPad users. Though iAds didn’t experience as much success as originally anticipated, it is likely that the trend will grow and transform during 2012. Getting the most out of iAds will require staying on top of Apple’s announcements, monitoring revenue and tailoring your marketing strategies accordingly.
Amanda M is a freelance writer available on WriterAccess, a marketplace where clients and expert writers connect for assignments.
Tags: freelance marketing, marketing managers
Posted in Design Resources | No Comments »
Artisan, Proud Sponsor of AIGA Chicago
1/25/2012 2:01 PM By Julia Shiplett
As one of the most influential design associations in the country, AIGA brings thousands of creative professionals, industry insiders and students together to learn, share and grow. It’s for this reason Artisan is thrilled to be the only creative staffing sponsor of AIGA’s Chicago chapter in 2012!We have a lot of exciting opportunities in store with AIGA this year, and here are a few upcoming events we want to get on your radar:
New Member Mixer
Thursday, January 26, 6pm – 8:30pm
Old Town Social
FREE
Winter Portfolio Review
Wednesday, February 1, 6pm – 9:30pm
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Student: $10
Small Talk I – Pitchfork
Tuesday, February 7, 6:30pm
Rational Park, Chicago
Member: $20
Non-Members: $40
Student: $10
We’re sure to be there so please don’t hesitate to come up and introduce yourselves! We look forward to meeting you and partnering with such a great organization.
Posted in Design Resources | No Comments »
Three Myths About Interactive Design and Web Development
1/19/2012 2:52 PM By Vince Font
Being a full-time Interactive Designer doesn’t mean you know all there is to know about building the perfect website. Believe it or not, there are tons of professional ecommerce Web Developers out there operating on totally false principles, completely obliviously. The real trouble with this is that buying into certain myths can turn a potentially fabulous designer into a mediocre one. Here are three common myths that Web Developers all too often take as gospel.
Too much white space makes a website look empty.
Wrong. While we’ll admit that too much white space can be a bad thing, it all depends on what your definition of too much is. Some people’s idea of the ideal website design is one that doesn’t waste a single solitary pixel. But as you might imagine, taking this approach can result in an incredibly unattractive and cluttered site. When used properly, white space can make a web page more digestable and leave a user with a far more positive impression of a brand or product.
Quality content isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Occasionally, you’ll hear someone ranting about how unimportant online content is by pointing to a popular website with zero content as a perfect example. The only thing is, situations like these are total anomalies and ecommerce Web Developers have to understand this. Effective interactive design balances quality content with quality layout and visuals. If one or the other falls out of balance, the whole site’s integrity is shot. Well-developed content may not be the only determining factor that gets someone to come to your website, but it can play a huge role in keeping them there long enough to make a purchase and often ensures they’ll come back again.
Copying a proven model will work every time.
This isn’t really a dangerous myth as much as it is a time-wasting one. Far too many people believe that they can take shortcuts to website preeminence by blindly following the example put forth by far more visible websites. The only problem is, that’s breaking one of the very basic tenets of organic interactive design. The most successful websites got to be that way as a result of trial and error, and years of making tweaks that not only took user feedback into account but that also anticipated the wants and needs of future users. Copying someone else’s model is like copying someone else’s Bingo sheet pattern. It just doesn’t work.
If you’re having trouble finding work as a full-time Interactive Designer, take heart. Even though companies hiring Interactive Designers and ecommerce Web Developers may seem few and far between, there are still ways to make money on the full-time or freelance market. Artisan is a creative staffing company that has established clients who are regularly seeking developers and designers for full-time and lucrative freelance projects.
Tags: artisan, career guidance, creative freelancers, interactive design, web designer, web development
Posted in Career Resources, Design Resources, industry news | Comments Off
The Mobile App Quandary – iPhone or Android?
1/18/2012 3:09 PM By Vince Font
One of the biggest myths about the development of smartphone apps is that there’s more money to be made on the Apple market than on the Android market. If you’re an aspiring smartphone App Developer, this sort of thing can muddle your decision on whether to focus your efforts on becoming an iPhone App Developer or an Android App Developer. Before you make that choice, it’s important to take a few things into consideration.
1. Android has quite a bit of catching up to do. No question about it, ever since the release of the first iPhone, the rest of the tech world has been busy playing catch-up with Apple. The trouble is, it’s tough to catch up with a trailblazer and Androids are still engaged in a high-speed pursuit. What’s encouraging, though, is that the Android market has something that Apple lacks: diversity. There are far more Android handsets available than there are iPhones, and at far more affordable prices to boot. What this means is that the demand for quality apps is much higher on the Android market, which could impact your earnings significantly.
2. First movers don’t always win the race. In other words, don’t declare iPhone the winning platform yet. For a perfect example of how this can work out, just look at the space race between the ex-Soviet Union and the United States. The Soviets were the first to launch satellites, monkeys and eventually men into space— but with a lot of ingenuity and even more cash backing, the US emerged victorious in that regard. If you want a more earthbound example, take a look at Google and Facebook. Neither were the first to move into their respective fields, but having seen the diminishment of Yahoo and MySpace, there’s proof that being first is no guarantee of longevity. If you’re a smartphone App Developer considering focusing your efforts solely on the Apple market, you’d do well to remember this.
3. There’s always a dark horse. In the future, the competition will expand far beyond the iPhone and Android markets. So apart from hopping into a time machine and traveling a few years into the future to see what newfangled platforms and operating systems are headed our way, what’s a smartphone App Developer to do? Keep your eyes and ears open, because if there’s one thing in this world that you can count on every time, it’s change.
If you’re a Mobile App Developer, the best thing you can do is pursue as many opportunities as you can while building your resume and gaining valuable experience. You can accomplish this handily by getting registered with Artisan, a staffing agency that focuses on matching up talented freelancers with companies hiring for freelance projects. To crack open a new chapter on your earnings potential, visit our job board today.
Tags: freelancers, Industry Trends, iPhone vs Android, mobile app developer, mobile applications, smartphone, smartphone apps
Posted in Career Resources, industry news | Comments Off
