Whether it’s a short-term gig out of your typical 9–5, a part-time opportunity while in college, or a long-term “work from home” project, freelance contracts are a useful addition to our portfolios and wallets. :)
Being a freelance designer in Africa for a little over a year has taught me loads, and I’m all for passing knowledge along. From pricing to setting expectations, and not burning bridges, some lessons have had to be learned the hard way. And now, with 7 freelance projects successfully completed in under a year, I’m here to spill all the tea and share some special gems with you!
Here are 7 tips that will set you up to ace your next freelance gig.
1. Listen & Repeat
Understanding the scope of a project goes beyond reading the initial project brief or asking the right questions. Sometimes, what we think we understand can be far from accurate. A trick to curb this lies in the art of asking follow up questions and repeating what we’ve heard our client say back to them. If the project is a remote one, setting up an initial video-call with the client can help ensure that you are both on the same page. Spending sufficient time getting the project clarified also reduces the amount of wasted effort and disappointments.
2. Set clear expectations
A client would not know what you’re thinking until you clearly express it to them. It’s important that this step is taken before the project commences to ensure expectations are aligned across board. Everything from the frequency of communication, to payment installments, the number of iterations, and the project scope are important elements to establish from the get-go. A great tool to use as a guide when setting expectations is the SMART framework:
- (S) Specific: The “Who?”, “What?”, “Where?”, “When?”, “Why?”, and “How?” questions need to be answered as they relate to the project/project brief.
- (M) Measurable: A quantitative criteria for success should be defined for the project. When this is done, tracking progress and measuring success becomes straightforward.
- (A) Achievable: When all factors are considered including the time available, the project budget, and the skills required, the feasibility of the project should be challenging but attainable.
- (R) Relevant: Questioning the relevance of each goal set can help filter out the unnecessary ones. Some proposed targets may be great, but are they within the project scope?
- (T) Timely: A clearly defined timeline is extremely important in getting a sense of the urgency of tasks and deliverables. The project timeline, its milestones, and its deadlines should be determined from the start. Once this is established, the prioritization of tasks becomes easier and straightforward.
3. Price according to your worth
For the longest time, the significance of design has been undervalued on the continent and this has led us, designers, to shy away from quoting a holistic price for the value of our work. When you think about quoting a price to your client, factor in all aspects of your work: client calls, brainstorm sessions, sketch sessions and all design iteration processes should not be left out.
4. Communicate effectively and regularly
Yes. An oldie but a goldie. Communication skills are just as important as design skills when working on a project. Having an amazing solution concept is one thing, but being able to communicate this to a client in a way that lets them see the vision can be the determining factor in how the rest of the project plays out. Since a client would not know as much about design as you do, it’s important to bring them along the journey with you. The little details count, and when it comes to communication, less is NOT more. Whether it’s weekly update emails, daily texts, or a video chat every 3–4 days, setting up regular check-ins with clients is a good way to keep both sides accountable and updated.
5. Be confident, but don’t overpromise
Finding the right balance can sometimes be tricky. On one hand, you need the client to trust that you’re a skilled designer capable of meeting their requirements. On the flip side, however, you don’t want to set unrealistic expectations by overpromising. When you don’t over-promise but still produce excellent work, a client is bound to remember you when a new project arises.
6. Don’t burn bridges
Building connections is key. I mean, to be a successful freelancer, you’d definitely need to have some clients. Every project you work on is a great opportunity to build a meaningful relationship with your client. Aside from being able to get the job done, the experience you create, your passion for the job, and how you make them feel will always be worth more than a thousand words. I’ve found that ALL of my freelance projects have come from referrals of friends, colleagues, and former clients.
7. Learn to say “No”
Not all project opportunities are worth pursuing and knowing when to say no is just as important as knowing when to say yes. I sometimes turn down paid opportunities that are out of my interest area for unpaid projects where I know I can add tremendous value. Ultimately, the decision to accept or decline a project opportunity should not always be based on immediate gratification. Babar Suleman shares some amazing qualitative questions you can use to assess a new opportunity:
- ‘Is this a client I’d want to build a long-term relationship with?’
- ‘Would my portfolio benefit from that client or that particular project?’
- ‘Is the work going to be more or less interesting than the other things on my table?’
- ‘Are there ways I’d be accommodated that would make it more worthwhile (such as the option to work remotely, or a looser deadline)?’
We’re equally curious to hear your top tips for acing freelance work. Join the conversation by following our design community @designish.AF on Instagram.
