Let’s face it, freelance design, by definition, can be a very insulated business. You don’t have co-workers there to encourage you and motivate you on a regular basis. And you don’t have others to help coach you with skills like improving your presentations and inter-personal skills.

Even when we don’t want it, the unsolicited advice from peers can bring into clarity aspects of ourselves we can’t see.

But no matter how creative you are, you need to hit deadlines, deliver to specifications and do the right things to run and grow your business. Perception and reality are both important. And you have to have a professional image to grow your freelance design business.

1. Get the tools to make a great

How you present yourself, from the first impression to the fifteenth client meeting, is critical. But, you say, your skills are with visuals, not with words. No matter what your great strengths are, oral communications are critical.

If you lack confidence in presentations—and you’ll know if you do—practice is the best remedy. A huge international organization, there are probably multiple Toastmasters clubs in your town. If you need presentation help, find the right one for you and it will be well worth the investment in time and cost. It’ll improve your comfort level in making both formal and impromptu presentations.

2. Follow cues

For a decision maker to choose to do business with you, she has to trust that you’re a fit for their organization. This means not only does she have to really like your work, but she also has to believe you’re a cultural fit. While this may be less important for small, quick-hit projects, it’s certainly true for the kind of long-term and ongoing work that pays the bills.

At the risk of reliving high school horror stories, this mans you have to fit in. Dress like the people you’re meeting with. Try to find common ground on casual conversation and professional dialogue, from who won last night’s game to where the CEO went to college. Follow their cues to show them you’re a fit for their needs.

This also means paying attention to the language they use and the types of discussions they have. It doesn’t means you need to pretend to have a potty mouth to keep up with clients who do. But it does mean you need to avoid strong language and crude examples if this is clearly not the kind of organization where that’s acceptable. I’ve been in so many situations, from client meetings to job interviews, where creatives and others have made comments that were inappropriate at best, grounds for lawsuits at the worst.

3. Talk about your experience

The more convincing you can make your arguments and statements, the greater the likelihood the prospect will believe in you and award you the business. One of the best ways to do this is to talk about your experience and what has worked for you. When you’re making a pitch, use phrases like, “In my experience,” and “What I’ve seen work for my clients has been…” This shows that you have been in the trenches and created results for organizations like theirs.

4. Ask a trusted friend

Do you have reason to believe you’re not being perceived as the professional you are? Have you been passed over for a number of jobs or are you having trouble selling into the size of organization you need to? There can be many reasons for this. But if you think your perception as less-than-professional, ask a trusted colleague for feedback. And ask someone who is “professional.”

They may or may not verify your concerns. If they do, they can give you greater insight into how you may be perceived by others. This may be difficult for you to hear, and even more difficult for your friend to tell you, but it can go a long way toward helping you establish the credibility you need to build your freelance design business.
----------------------------------------------
About the Author
Becky Sheetz-Runkle is a marketing strategist and copywriter, and an advocate for measurable marketing. She’s based in the Washington, D.C. metro area and can be reached at bsheetz@q2marketing.com

Source of this post:
DesignersCouch