Hi Karen,
Well, it seems to me you have two options.
These days, many clients, particularly large businesses, have their own in-house graphic designers or have worked with contractors for other projects, such as ads, brochures etc. So, in this case, you can avoid the hassle of arranging layouts and coordinating jobs by working with the client’s internal staff or regular freelancers. I do this quite often, and I find it’s usually a pretty smooth transaction because the other parties are already familiar with the way the client works. It also saves a lot of time in coordinating all elements of a project. (Admittedly, I still like to manage the project and ensure all parties are fulfilling their commitments. I think this is one of the value-adds we should bring to every marketing project).
The second option you have is to team up with one or more like-minded freelancers – a graphic designer, photographer and any other providers you may need on a job.
Like you, they are experts at what they do. So, it makes sense to sub-contract work out to them, while you manage the overall project for your client. Again, this will save you time and the hassle of doing it yourself. And, because you are sub-contracting, you can add a percentage on their price for the time you have spent coordinating the work.
When I first started in business 10 years ago, I used to do everything – copy writing, photographs and layout and design. I was fortunate in that I knew how to frame a shot and had spent years as a sub-editor, so I knew how to design newsletters and magazines for clients.
But my forté and love has and always will be writing. I found in those early days that, while I was retaining all of the profit, I was spending too much time on tasks I didn’t really enjoy. And, from an economic viewpoint, I worked out that my business could make more money if I ‘stuck to my knitting’ – writing – and ‘farmed out’ other tasks to other professionals
So that’s what I did, and I have reaped the rewards ever since – making more money, working less and enjoying the whole business experience so much more.
You can do the same. Your business and your life will be better the day you stop thinking like a freelancer and begin thinking like your clients. That’s what works for me.
I hope this helps.
Regards
Michael
--------------------------------------------------------
Michael Meanwell
michael@meanwellstore.com
Author of the e-books
~ 'The Enterprising Writer'
~ 'Writers on Writing'
~ 'Quote Unquote'
Download my ebooks at:
http://www.meanwellstore.com
Visit my new freelance writers resource:
http://www.enterprisingwriter.com
Visit my online eWriter and ePublisher Forum:
http://network54.com/Hide/Forum/72583