graphic artist would like advise on business
dav...@pitt.edu
I am a graphic artist/desktop publisher and want to start my own graphic
design business. Does anyone have any advise for a new business owner?
Prices? How to get clientele? Contracts with printers? Any advice on
anything dealing with this, pleas let me know.
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Nathan Tyson
wannabes...stick to a firm pricing guideline, take advantage of every
free advertising opportunity, keep impeccable records, contact
management, receipts, etc...don't get discouraged, without someone
pulling some strings, you probably won't get rich
overnight...MARKET,MARKET,MARKET...specialize, don't spread yourself out
to thin, as it seems I am right now...accumulate a professional
portfolio...stay in touch if you might want to form a semi-partnership
or just maintain a line of communication...I have beaucoups computer,
sign, printing, desktop publishing knowledge and "tools"...I am
currently working on an internationally distributed video cover, a logo
and one of two websites...Best of luck, I'm out here swimming up the
same stream...http://www.iag.net/~tysonian
Scott Buckner
In article <8540319...@dejanews.com> dav...@pitt.edu writes:
>Date: Thu, 23 Jan 1997 09:26:38 -0600
>From: dav...@pitt.edu
>Subject: graphic artist would like advise on business
>I am a graphic artist/desktop publisher and want to start my own graphic
>design business. Does anyone have any advise for a new business owner?
>Prices? How to get clientele? Contracts with printers? Any advice on
>anything dealing with this, pleas let me know.
Not to be really, really picky or mean, but my first bit of advice is to
purchase a good dictionary and learn to spell correctly. Or at least how to
proofread.
Call the world crazy, but clients appreciate things like that.
Scott
------------
Artists shouldn't have to wait until they're dead to make some money.
Sample my freelance ad, graphic and web page design work at: http://homepage.interaccess.com/~dsisbuk/sbc.htm
TRoarty
Now-a-days starting your own graphic design business is really tough! I
started one back in 1991 but there has been a sevear change in what
clients will pay for. You see with every graduating class of design
students our profession is worth less. This is because of price
undercutting by the less experienced designers in order to get there shot
at a job. It is unfurturnate but it happens all the time.
It is my belief that we should set up pricing standards for services and
educate new designiers to this structure. I know that in some circles this
is frowned upon because of the price fixing legal issues but I would
rather help give advice to a newbie than to watch my profession crumble
any more than it already has.
If you need to get a client base as a graphic designer try and hitting up
printers, many of them farm out work on a regular basis. In many cases if
you establish a relationship with a printer they will allow you to work
directly with the client which usually leads not only to more work but to
references as well. This is a super place to start!
Most of the time printer relationships take a long time to establish
because they have been burned so maney times. Don't be offended if they
make you pay COD for a while. Here in NY the norm is COD for 6 months
before they open an account for you. This is another reason why it is good
get work from a printer, It will establish the relationship a little
quicker.
Finally the pricing issue... once again the markett price sure has come
down a lot but I believe you should be asking for $20 - $40 per hour
depending on the job. Printers tend to pay closer to the $20 side, but
they will eventually supply you with more work than any of your other
clients.
The last piece of advice I have for you is before you even start, make
sure you have a strong promotional package discribing your services in
detail. Don't list any prices in the piece thats what face to face
meetings are for. Every thing you do in this business is based on the
presentation.
If there is any thing else feel free to e-mail me directly at this
address.
Good Luck!
Tom Roarty
Scott Buckner
In article <19970123190...@ladder01.news.aol.com> tro...@aol.com (TRoarty) writes:
>From: tro...@aol.com (TRoarty)
>Subject: Re: graphic artist would like advise on business
>Date: 23 Jan 1997 19:02:00 GMT
>Now-a-days starting your own graphic design business is really tough! I
>started one back in 1991 but there has been a sevear change in what
>clients will pay for. You see with every graduating class of design
>students our profession is worth less. This is because of price
>undercutting by the less experienced designers in order to get there shot
>at a job. It is unfurturnate but it happens all the time.
Tom:
When you think about it, price undercutting is fine. Blaspemy, you say? Nope.
Let the inexperienced people undercut people like you and me all week long. In
very short time, they will find that they aren't making a living because the
pissant return totally outstrips the time investment, and the clients discover
they're getting work that doesn't fit their needs whatsoever (and we all know
how word of mouth spreads like wildfire in the client world). Eventually,
these clients wise up and in the end gladly pay a fair price for great work.
And then best of all, the time does come when those cut-rate designers are
told to take a hike when they try to justify raising their prices to a level
that *will* provide a living.
Those of us who charge a fair market rate for our work survive in the long run
because we've got satisfied clients and we're making a decent living by
providing good design work and good service for several quality clients
instead of scurrying around like madmen looking for *hundreds* of one-shot
"fifty-dollar special" clients (who tend to be more trouble than they're worth
anyway).
So let the dogs snatch the crumbs -- they're welcome to the headaches. I'll
take a client who knows and appreciates the marketing work that produces
good design and creative over a miser *any* day.
dav...@pitt.edu
In article <dsisbuk.16...@interaccess.com>,
So, are you saying its not even worth trying anymore? I am just starting out
but I think even if people at first go for the lowest price they will learn from
their mistakes, or should I say the mistakes of the not-so-good designers who
charge less for the work just to get the job, and will go to someone who will do
an excellent job even if it costs more. Anyway, with the prices in mind, how do
I know what the "going" price is? And jobs? Where exactly do I get the jobs?
I've done some freelance work and I know you can go by word of mouth but how
else can I do it outside of advertising my business and just sitting and waiting
for clients....which I know won't get me too far.
Sue
Ppbbbbt
>So, are you saying its not even worth trying anymore? I am just starting
out
>but I think even if people at first go for the lowest price they will
learn from
>their mistakes, or should I say the mistakes of the not-so-good designers
who
>charge less for the work just to get the job, and will go to someone who
will do
>an excellent job even if it costs more. Anyway, with the prices in mind,
how do
>I know what the "going" price is? And jobs? Where exactly do I get the
jobs?
I don't understand, you want to freelance without having worked in the
business before? I've been freelancing for 7 years, but I went to college
to study design and production, I worked for a studio for a few years when
I got out. I worked for someone who was there to catch my mistakes, advise
me on how to prevent them, and show me the ropes on dealing with clients,
figuring your costs etc. It is an invaluable experience. I had established
my reputation with him and when I went freelance, most of my clients were
people I had met while working there. If you live in an area where there
are no studios or agencies, then you are at a disadvantage but if you can
show your portfolio to the some local agencies, you may find freelance
work from them.
Mary
dav...@pitt.edu
In article <19970125152...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
ppb...@aol.com (Ppbbbbt) wrote:
> >
> I don't understand, you want to freelance without having worked in the
> business before? I've been freelancing for 7 years, but I went to college
> to study design and production, I worked for a studio for a few years when
> I got out. I worked for someone who was there to catch my mistakes, advise
> me on how to prevent them, and show me the ropes on dealing with clients,
> figuring your costs etc. It is an invaluable experience. I had established
> my reputation with him and when I went freelance, most of my clients were
> people I had met while working there. If you live in an area where there
> are no studios or agencies, then you are at a disadvantage but if you can
> show your portfolio to the some local agencies, you may find freelance
> work from them.
>
> Mary
I just got out of school about 6 months ago. I got a promotion where I work
doing imaging however its not exactly working for a studio or anything like
that...its in medical research. I live near the city but there are not a lot of
jobs around for graphic design. I want to start this on the side continuing
with my full-time position.
***Your Name goes here***
> I am a graphic artist/desktop publisher and want to start my own graphic
> design business. Does anyone have any advise for a new business owner?
> Prices? How to get clientele? Contracts with printers? Any advice on
> anything dealing with this, pleas let me know.
>
Well, there have been some good points made, and some not so good points
so far on this question. I think we all believe it is a very valid
question. As far as spotting mistakes like "advise", sure, it's great if
you can catch mistakes. On the other hand, if you want to be a designer
there are more important things to deal with.
First and foremost. Get you pricing down, and this depends on the market
you are in. I work for $25 right now, but that's work through an agency,
who is probably charging $50 for me. But they find work for me. If you get
work on your own, you charge either by the job, or by the hour, depending
o what it is. For instance, if you are going to write copy, design a logo,
create imagery and write HTML for a website, each part costs. There is a
book (I suggest all of you buy) called "The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook
to Pricing and Ethical Guidelines". It comes out yearly, but with advances
in technology, it still can't cover all the bases. I still suggest you use
it ase a guide.
Second. Be a pro. Do good work. Word of mouth is the best ad.
Third. Be a pro. Do good work. Word of mouth is the best ad.
Four. Be consistent. (Let's see who catches that).
Fifth. Market yourself. Mailing postcards is a good start. Go through the
phonebook and pick out agencies. Do mailings as much as you can afford,
and build a mailing list.
That's about it. Hope I helped.
Perry Sponseller
You may want to get into inteactive designing. It is low overhead and the
hassle of dealing with the printing house is non exisitint. Therer are
many interactive programs out there such as icon author and director 5.0.
Doing print design is nice, but dealing with customers and the
printing house is a hassle. Doing print design is great if you understand
the whole printing process. And if you get big enough of a account with a
client to make it worhwhile.
psp...@usit.net
Amadeo
> Doing print design is nice, but dealing with customers and the
> printing house is a hassle.
Yeah, those pesky customers are such a pain in the ass!!!!!! Ah
hahahahahhahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!
--
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Amadeo Design & Illustration
"http://www.cris.com/~ovation/buxton.htm"
"http://www.cris.com/~ovation/amadeo.htm"
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