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Getting Started on Social Media

By Freelance Tips

Getting Started on Social Media with Michael Janda with Arcui Usoara // Many people feel like they have to have their whole strategy figured out before they start a social media campaign. On the contrary, you just need to get started. Start sharing. Don’t worry about engagement. Don’t worry about…

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You Need a Rush Free Clause

By Freelance Tips

You Need a Rush Fee Clause. Michael Janda with G’day Frank // Whether you use it or not, your contract should include a “rush fee clause.” A rush fee clause will empower you to push back on a client who has an unnecessary rush project…or to charge more money if…

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Retainers and Buckets of Hours

By Freelance Tips

Retainers and Buckets of Hours // Traditional retainers are difficult to manage and require the right type of client if they are going to work. An alternative solution for clients who want a discounted rate by providing you with guaranteed work is to engage in a “bucket of hours” relationship….

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Managing Stress & Worry

By Freelance Tips

Managing Stress & Worry // This simple technique has helped me one million times during my creative career. It is easy to get burdened with stress and worry. Clients are frustrated. Deadlines are looming. Employees haven’t fulfilled assignments. Cashflow is tight. All of these worries can pile up and create…

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Line-Item Price Breakdowns

By Freelance Tips

Line-item Price Breakdowns. Michael Janda with G’Day Frank // Giving you client a proposal with line-items broken down by deliverable is giving them a menu of items they can pick apart to reduce the price to a budget they are comfortable with. But giving them line-items broken down based on…

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Handling Trade Requests

By Freelance Tips

When a Client Wants to Pay with Trade, Michael Janda and Cassi Nicole. // How to handle a client who wants to pay with a trade of services. // Clients offer to trade all kinds of crazy things for design services. I once had a client offer my agency a…

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Focus on Your Strengths

By Freelance Tips

Focus on Your Strengths, Michael Janda and Cassi Nicole. // It seems we breed self-judgement, comparison, and insecurity right from the first day in design school. “Ok, everybody put your designs on the wall for the rest of the class to see and critique. Now, go out into the world…

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Balanced Payment Structures

By Freelance Tips

Keeping your billings balanced with completed work is the best way to keep animosity from entering into the client relationship. This video is an excerpt from a coaching call with Bryan Jimenez, a super talented designer and agency owner based in Austin, Texas.

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Bad Logos and Good Branding

By Freelance Tips

Bad Logos & Good Branding. Michael Janda and G’day Frank // Branding takes time and distribution. There is evidence that anything can be effectively branded over time. Take a look at Goodle’s original logo…which they used for many years, effectively building a multi-hundred billion dollar company. The visual brand matters,…

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