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See your name in lights: Maddy Osman and building your bylines

Maddy Osman knows how to sell herself and her services. That's because she started out in sales before becoming a full-time freelance copywriter and SEO specialist! In this week's episode, she tells Kyle how she built her business by doing (gasp!) free work, and why sometimes it's worth it for building that byline. 

Today's links: 

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Want to support the show?

This episode is brought to you by Easel.ly, an infographic design service that transforms raw data into clear, interesting images. You can see their work on Clients From Hell! 

Think you'd be a great fit for the show? Let me know at twitter.com/KCarCFH

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or recommend us to a friend. It helps immensely.

 

Download here!

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I work as an in-house designer at a small-business and the owner is of the mindset that the more information (read: words) you cram in a design the more effective it is yet she constantly complains all of my designs are “too wordy” and that "no one will read that.“

She even complains about designs featuring copy she gave me verbatim. I’ve made more minimalistic and clean designs for her which she initially likes but then slowly has me add more and more information. 

In a last-ditch effort to show her the light, I showed her a poster another company had dropped off to display in the window - minimalistic, stylish, and eye-catching with all the pertinent information and a link to a more detailed website.

Client: I really like it but you can’t even tell what it’s for

Me: …Well the large text at the top tells you what the event is and the writing underneath gives time and date and a short description with a link.

Client: Oh, well I didn’t read it, too much to read.

Me: …

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Client: Could you create my new website? 

Me: What kind of budget do you have? 

Client: Well, my friend did this one.

He pointed at his early 2000s site.

Client: He charged me a beer, so I guess I could give you 20 euros?

Me: Ok, for 20 euros I can tell you all the things you have to learn to create it on your own.

Client: Wow, you’ll teach me?

Me: No. I’ll tell you what you’d have to learn. That’s worth 20 euros.

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I work as a freelance writer part-time to help pay bills since my boyfriend is living with me. I do editing for both fiction and nonfiction.

I got an email from a prospective client last Wednesday, who sent me a small part of their story to look over and see if I could edit it. I require this from pretty much everyone unless I know them.

This was an Eldritch Abomination in written form.

The spelling and grammar were atrocious. The name was spelled wrong. There was shitty clipart everywhere.

Me: I’m sorry, but given the scope of this job I won’t be able to complete it for what you’re offering.

Client: (furious) You’re being unfair! Fine. Be a snobby bitch. Your work is probably shitty anyway.

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I am about to quit my job as a volunteer graphic designer at a non-profit yoga institute for several reasons, and each day I am reminded of a new one.

Here is a snippet of the conversation I just had with our guru (who I have been working with for seven weeks on a 26 page photo biography booklet) about the 14th revision of the cover design:

Client: I am so glad you are doing this for free! We had to pay thousands of dollars for our old designer.

Me: …

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I recently quoted a client for a promo video to be shown on their website.

Client: We’ve decided to go in a different direction.

They eventually came back and hired me. I got the truth out of them later:

Client: I was going to shoot this on my phone but I couldn’t record my voice at the same time.

This was a multi-million dollar company whose smallest contract is still six figures.

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Client: Can you, like, convert a JPG to HTML? 

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Add over 2950 beautifully illustrated elements to your toolkit for just $9!

This week's deal is on a massive bundle from popular design studio Julia Dreams!

> Take a look. There's so much here, and you could easily use all of it. 

Julia Dreams is known for their deft touch and their light, pastel approach to fantastic design. You could conceivably build a decent design career using just the 2950 elements in this bundle - not that you would. Still, this kind of excellent craftsmanship can save you time and money by making it easy to turn around professional designs for your clients FAST - especially if that client is looking for the feminine, bohemian look that Julia Dreams specializes in. 

The full price tag on every element in this bundle is $3872, which is frankly insane. However, for the next few days you can get all 2950+ elements for just $9. That's a GREAT price for elements of this quality. 

> Check out the deal now! 

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Freelance Forgiveness: Mike Tanner and the relationships in our heads

It's a familiar feeling for most of us. You overpromised a client on deliverables and got overwhelmed with work, or family stuff came up, or you hit a wall in the project that you just couldn't overcome. You put it off for a day, then two days, then a week... All of a sudden you're way overdue and you haven't talked to the client in that entire time. Clearly they're furious with you, fuming behind your back.

Or are they? Mike Tanner talks with Kyle Carpenter about the ways we create imaginary relationships with our clients, especially since freelancers don't usually get to talk to them one on one on a regular basis. It's never as bad as you think, for real. Find out how forgiveness is the way to move forward! 

Let us know on twitter @clientsfh - do you create imaginary relationships with your clients? Or are you strictly business, with nothing personal riding on your performance? How did you arrive where you are?

Today's links: 

Want to support the show?

Order a custom infographic from Easel.ly! Use this link (https://www.easel.ly/infographicdesign/) for a great price! 

Think you'd be a great fit for the show? Let me know at twitter.com/KCarCFH

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or recommend us to a friend. It helps immensely.

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Give a gift to the designer in your life — The Designer’s Deck for 20% off!

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This week’s deal is on a deck of cards that will make you a better designer! It was a smash hit last year, and it's back again this year for your gift-giving needs! 

> The Design Deck: the fun way to learn design!

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Flashcards are a proven way to learn new concepts fast, and poker is a proven way to have fun and MAYBE win some money. That’s win/win/win(?)! This high-quality deck of playing cards features 56 cards, each with a succinct summary of a different design concept, philosophy, or idea so that you can up your game while playing a game. Buy it as a gift for your designer friends, or, and this is shady, give it to your annoying clients so maybe they'll stop second-guessing you all the freaking time. 

For a limited time, you can save 20% on this beautiful collectable that will make the perfect gift for the designer/s in your life — .or for yourself! Order now in time for the holidays! 

> Check out the deal here.

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