Not Using Contracts? What Could Go Wrong?

Some key business challenges for freelance creatives include overcoming recurring problems and ensuring that daily practices are aligned with long-term strategy and purpose. We often resort to applying quick fixes which can be superficial rather than working to discover why the problems recur.  Alvalyn Lundgren discusses the differences between tips, tactics, and strategies in growing a freelance business, and shares her experience of transforming her freelance business from serving low-value clients to high-value clients. She emphasizes that while tips provide quick fixes, they are superficial and short-term, whereas tactics are planned actions based on a strategic plan to achieve long-term goals. She highlights the importance of addressing foundational issues in business, such as mindset, mission, mechanics, and messaging, stressing the need for consistent, strategic actions to build a thriving creative business. The podcast encourages listeners to implement long-term, deep-dive strategies and focused tactics rather than rely on quick fixes, and to build consistent systems and practices to support their overall business mission.    

How do you create high-value perception with a skeptical client? Why do so many clients think creative work is worth so little, or that we're charging too much? It seems they tend to look for the cheapest option. Attracting high value clients you can work with over the long term requires a change in focus and approach. While platforms like Canva and tech like AI are impacting opportunities for new projects, what we creatives need to focus on is how clients perceive our craft and our roles. In this episode Alvalyn tackles ways freelancers can position and differentiate in order to attract and keep high value clients.

Q & A episode in which I answer questions submitted by freelancers about client relationships, health insurance alternatives, transitioning from employment to self-employment, and how to begin freelancing.

Self-promotion is the practice of telling potential clients about what you do. With it you build your brand, engage prospects, and attract clients. As a freelancer, you should include self promotion strategies in your regular marketing activities. In this episode I share four essential components of your self promotion strategy. 

You can't run your freelance business on creative talent or skills. You have to develop business skills, which aren't taught in design school. The focus of degree and certificate programs is on creative expertise and portfolio development for the purposes of obtaining a job as a creative. Even those programs that do offer business courses only skim the surface of what's necessary, leaving the entrepreneurial creative out in the cold when it comes to building their businesses. In this episode I present 12 things they don't teach in design school but that you need to know if you want to build a business from your creative work.

How can you integrate your professional with your personal life to reduce stress and enjoy flexibility? How is it possible to fine-tune your productivity to gain time for non-work pursuits? Productivity is the measurable outcome of one's effort, and  to be truly productive — not just busy — we need to distinguish between efficiency and effectiveness. If we're going to be effective at getting our goals done. and not just efficient, we need to pursue an integrated life. While it's important for freelance creatives to balance business activities with professional and personal creativity, we should do so within the context of our whole life. I talk about the need to set significant goals, and eschew the myths of work-life balance and multi-tasking. Integrating, rather than balancing, work and personal life consists of managing time proportionally rather than aiming for symmetry, and provides flexibility when life impacts business and vice versa. Intentional planning with flexibility is a key strategy for becoming effective in all aspects of your life.

A decades-old scam involving bogus high money design projects continues to target freelance creatives. Alvalyn shares how she first experienced the scam and almost became a victim. Through that, she learned the clues to watch out for. The tactics are varied, but the structure of the scam is the same. In this episode, she shares what to watch out for so you won't be deceived, and also describes some legitimate business services that can save you time but cost you double. Are they worth it?

Keeping accurate records is foundational to running a business. The kinds of records you keep depend on the kind of business you do. Freelance creatives need to keep all the standard records, and those that related specifically to managing projects and working with clients.

Freelancers often struggle with time management and task management, project management, and getting things on time. We don't get things done when we don't know what to do next or where to begin. And we don't know what to do next when there are so many urgent things we need to do. Most of us live cluttered lives. We have a lot going on. The best way to command the clutter is to put it all in order — to actually "design" your life. In this episode I share my own methods for overcoming a sense of overwhelm, including five steps to reclaim control of your tasks, projects, and calendar.

What makes the difference between working project by project or creating work that is significant, sustainable, and advances your clients' enterprises as well as your own? Do how you do business and how you conduct yourself in your business make a difference in the types of clients you attract and the caliber of your creative work? There is a basis. We address the practicalities of establishing a set of professional practices — a code of conduct — and what principles to consider in developing yours.