Why We Should Be Working Together

Some time ago I was trying get records and warranty information straightened out with a large department store where I had bought home appliances. The details would make your eyes glaze over, so I’ll spare you all that except to say that getting through to a human who actually had the authority to do something was an extreme test of human patience and endurance.

Somewhat related is how other freelancers present themselves or make themselves available to potential clients. Some use “we” a lot on their website when there’s only one person. (That’s so you’ll think they’re bigger than they are and more worthy of big projects.)

Others don’t provide a phone number or even an address. You just get an e-mail form with, if you’re lucky, a “We’ll be in touch!” message after you click Send. I’ve even run across more than a few freelancers who don’t provide their own name on their site.

Some designers outsource your project which isn’t a bad thing if they’re upfront about it. And frankly, some projects are so big it takes extra help. It’s when they’re not telling you about it and secretly sticking in a “project management fee” that it can be more than a little annoying.

One of the first design jobs I landed came from a guy who found my website and gave me a call. He liked my portfolio, but the reason he wanted to hire me was partially because I had my full contact information on my site. He said something along the lines of, “I want to have a sense of who the freelancer is before I contact him. And if it’s easy to contact him before I’m a client, I’m pretty confident that he’ll be there for me when I am a client.”

That really stuck with me. Talent and ability are important, but so is the personality of the freelancer you hire and their general beliefs about how they run their business.

So here’s what you get when you work with me:

1. I’m easy to contact. My name, phone number, address and e-mail are on the bottom of my homepage and on my Contact page.
2. I answer my e-mail. If you don’t hear from me within a day, my response either fell into your spam folder or didn’t get through at all. That’s rare, but it happens. Don’t feel guilty sending me another note if you think your first one didn’t get through. The direct marketing world is usually on a fast schedule, so let’s not wait around if immediate contact is important.
3. I answer my own phone. Frankly, most clients and potential clients prefer to e-mail me, but the phone is right here next to my computer. If I’m not around, or on the phone with another client, you can leave a voice message and I’ll return the call, usually within 24 hours during the week if not the same day.
4. When you hire me, you’re working directly with me. I don’t outsource projects to other designers so that I can take on more projects. I’m a solo operation and like to personally handle client projects from beginning to end. If your project requires a skill I don’t have or is too large for one person to handle, I’ll be upfront about it. From there, I may be able to find someone to assist, or you may have someone else in mind. Whatever the solution is, we deal with it honestly and above-board.
5. I charge by the project, not by the hour. That means there are no surprises when you get the final bill. Obviously, project scope can change because of unforeseen circumstances. If that happens, we discuss how that might affect the billing. But again, it’s something that won’t surprise you when you see that final invoice.
6. I don’t disappear during projects. Ever worked with a freelancer whom you couldn’t get a hold of for a number of days in the middle of a project only to find out he or she took a vacation without letting you know? Believe me, it happens. Like anyone else, I do take vacations. But if they’re going to occur in the middle of long projects, my clients know ahead of time.
7. I’m not a Prima Donna. It’s a sad fact that a lot of creative people have a bit of an attitude and look down their noses at clients who have no design background. As someone who had years of experience in traditional business environments – from radio to Microsoft – I understand that projects aren’t about showing off what I can do in Photoshop. In fact, it’s not about me at all. It’s about making sales or generating leads.
8. I’m not an agency. This isn’t meant to be a slam on agencies. In fact, for some projects, an agency has far more resources than I, or any other solo freelancer, have. And I don’t believe agencies are bad, just different in some cases. For example, some agencies have more overhead, so they charge you more. It doesn’t mean an agency is bad, but they have their own business realities to deal with. I’ve taken on enough projects for clients to know that some don’t like dealing with an agency.

You’ll notice I haven’t touched on the actual layout work. (I do have samples of my work on my homepage if you’re interested in seeing what I’ve done for other clients.) Expecting a designer to do a good job on your project is a given. The fact that I generally have a pretty full schedule and primarily work with repeat clients is a testament to what I bring to the table in that regard.

Instead, my goal here is to focus on some on the personality and “behind-the-scenes” business stuff that is likely equally important to you.

And by the way, despite being know as The Magalog Guy, I actually do far more than magalogs… books, sales letters, training material and more. Here’s a bit more about other layout services I offer.

“So what’s next?“, you may be asking. If the characteristics above are important to you – in addition to professional layout skills – it’s worth your time to contact me. I offer a free project consultation by phone so we can talk about your magalog, slim jim, issuelog or bookalog. No pressure. No heavy-handed sales techniques. That’s not needed because after our conversation we’ll both have a pretty good idea whether or not we’re a good fit for each other.

Contact me via phone or e-mail today to setup a time to talk about your next project.

Thanks.

Mike Klassen – The MagalogGuy