Category: Freelancing

Girls

Those who follow me on Facebook may know that I try and celebrate amazing women who have set-up their own businesses. When I started Gold Design & Comms, I realised how many people are self employed and what an  entrepreneurial generation we are.

For that reason I set-up #FabulousFriday. A way to regularly (at least I try to make it regular) promote someone I admire. People who are driven, independent and determined.

Women

It’s not just my clients I’m talking about but friends and family too. Women from all walks of life, different ages and different industries who have not only started on their own, but really flourished and built – in a relatively short space of time – a really successful business.

Some of these women and/or their ventures include: Jo from @HomeAssistant, Daniella from SilverPhysio, Sarah from Gifts by Sarah, Tash form Fingers & Toes by Tasha and Steph from Tzefira.

Mums

Some people have always wanted to work for themselves, some – like me – have taken the step after redundancy and others after having children.

I don’t want to make this blog about finding the balance between careers and motherhood etc. What I want to highlight however, is the abundance of support available to us. There’s a real community out their, specifically for mums.

A few amazing women have dedicated their business and time to help mums. Some are actual recruitment agencies helping women find part time or flexible work (note there’s a difference between the two). And then there are these amazing online support groups for women trying to find their mojo back after maternity leave, or a place where people can ask questions about childcare vouchers, tax or maternity leave rights.

Not all these groups are for mums only but many just happen to be (because you know… girls!) Here’s a list of Facebook groups I urge you to check out:

• Flexible Working for Mum Like Me
• Wonderful Working Mums
• Careering into Motherhood
• Doing It for the Kids
• Mums in Business Association
• Wonder Women: Working Mums

I truly believe some of these groups and women I admire have helped me take the plunge and then along the way of my new career.

So… who runs the world?!

 

Bx

 

 

Networking is my thing…

While speaking to a friend recently about my new(-ish) business, she asked me a question that I get a lot: How do you get your clients? It still comes as a surprise to a lot of people when I say social networks, mainly Facebook. I might have said this before but I think about 70-80% of my business so far has come through Facebook. About 10% through Linked In and the rest mainly through word of mouth (friends and family etc). Basically most of my work comes through (online) recommendations and referrals.

Millennial networking?

My father in law, who’s been running a successful accountancy business for many years, got most of his work through networking too. He refers to it as “old fashioned networking” however, rather than “next generation” networking. For years, he attended his local BNI group and generated a significant amount of revenue through it.  BNI and other referral marketing groups are all over the country and extremely popular.  I believe them to be a very useful business tool especially for small businesses, sole traders and start-ups.

At the moment I don’t feel the need to join such a group yet, but if business would slow down (*frantically touching wood*) it’s definitely something I’d consider. I don’t think it’s old fashioned at all actually, it’s just that currently for me Facebook or online networking is my saviour. I’ve joined many industry appropriate groups like Freelance Heroes and Creative Networking but also parenting groups or more recruitment focused groups like Doing It For The Kids and Flexible Working For Mums Like Me.

I guess the only downside with groups like BNI (that’s my personal opinion of course) is when the lines between on- and offline get a little blurry. While I’m all for recommendations (as I’ve been banging on about, thats how I get most of my business), I find it unnecessary for members of such groups  to recommend professionals from any industry – from plumbers and make-up artist to personal trainers and accountants – at any opportunity without actually having used them personally. Admittedly, a lot of people have recommended me without having used me. I’m a graphic designer however, so have a portfolio to showcase so people can make their own informed decision  eventually (hopefully).

Do what it takes.

Having said all of the above, it all boils down to networking, whether it’s on- or offline: Meeting new people, forming relationships, helping each other out etc. I’ve recently started working from a business club (you may have seen my Facebook post about it) and it’s definitely given me a lot of opportunities to network from too.

But funnily enough, my latest client who I’m currently designing a website for, was gained by a ‘direct sale’. Not sure what the exact term is, but I was out shopping with a friend and started chatting to the manager of the store. The next day, the store owner called for a meeting and now they are one of my biggest clients to date. I felt so proud of this face-to-face interaction. I basically sold my services, with no recommendations and truly believe this is one of my biggest achievement so far.

To make your business successful you have to do what works for you. Do what it takes, but within reason of course – there’s values and principles even the biggest companies adhere by. But if I can give you one piece of advice (without sounding patronising), networking is key.

“To build a long-term, successful enterprise, when you don’t close a sale, open a relationship.”
Patricia Fripp

Freelance Life

So far, I’m loving the freelance life.

I love how I can literally pick and choose when and where I work. I love the flexibility it offers around childcare. And I love that I don’t have to sit in endless meetings. I’m sure I don’t have to remind anyone of the luxuries freelancers enjoy.

Whatever you like to call it – owning your own business, being your own boss, doing it alone, managing your own agency – ultimately, you’re all. by. yourself. And while having no-one to report into has many advantages, it comes with its downsides too.

First of all there’s the loneliness. Don’t get me wrong, I often relish the times I’m alone at home, in complete quiet or sometimes with my own ‘grown-up’ tunes (i.e. no disney nor Little Mix), allowing me to concentrate and just get on with my work.  But do I miss the office atmosphere? Hell yes! I miss the clichés: water cooler  gossip, birthday cakes, office banter, team lunches etc.

What I miss the most however, is talking to my peers and being able to ask for help.

Help, I need somebody!

Some freelancers work from offices where they contract and some business owners have a team. But as I work from home and for myself, my business conversations are with my clients. Asking for help isn’t really appropriate.

This week, for the first time since I became a freelancer, I experienced a real feeling of loneliness.

While I’m a graphic and web designer, I’m not super technical. I design websites only on WordPress as my coding skills are quite basic. So while I was building a website for a new client, I ran into technical difficulties and got completely stuck. I couldn’t see how I would finish this project and felt stressed. And I haven’t felt stressed since I left my job nearly a year ago.

So I decided to think about any other time I got stuck when I started navigating my new career. There have been phone calls with fellow designers, e-mails to old colleagues, online research and most of all social media. There’re groups on Facebook and online forums who have truly helped me out (even saved my a*rse) multiple times.

Just ask

So, I did exactly that. Rather than go to freelance or even dedicated WordPress communities, I joined the ones for a specific theme (or even plug-in if you are familiar with those) and they were great! There were so many dedicated forums, groups, help & FAQ pages.

I didn’t just get all the answers to my questions and thus managed to finish the website, but I realised that I wasn’t alone. Say what you want about social media and this digital world our generation is obsessed with, this new world we live in is amazing. You realise you aren’t alone and you realise there’s always people to talk and ask questions to.

My advice this Pesach and Easter is to never be afraid to ask for help.

Love,
Bx