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HERE'S HOW TO GET CLIENTS AS A GRAPHIC DESIGNER (and have them pay good $$$) - A megathread
OK.
Just before we get into it, I'd like to ask you for a favor: if you enjoy this thread, could you drop a quick RT on it after you're done reading it?
Now... where to begin?
First stop: the prerequisites
Just before we get into it, I'd like to ask you for a favor: if you enjoy this thread, could you drop a quick RT on it after you're done reading it?
Now... where to begin?
First stop: the prerequisites
1.1; WHERE to get clients 
What is the biggest advantage you can have when selling hamburgers in your hamburger stand? A starving crowd!
Look for a community that is:
- coherent
- rich (in following or in $$$)
- as drama-free as possible
- HUNGRY for your work
What is the biggest advantage you can have when selling hamburgers in your hamburger stand? A starving crowd!
Look for a community that is:
- coherent
- rich (in following or in $$$)
- as drama-free as possible
- HUNGRY for your work
1.2; Why are you VALUABLE? 
You need to know this. How do you help your clients? What painpoint do you solve?
Pick ONE advantage you provide to your clients. For example:
- You earn them more money
- You get them more followers
- You save them time
etc.
You need to know this. How do you help your clients? What painpoint do you solve?
Pick ONE advantage you provide to your clients. For example:
- You earn them more money
- You get them more followers
- You save them time
etc.
1.3; How will you REACH your clients? 
Now that you've picked your community and set up your value statement, let's get some clients.
...but how will they find you?
You have two choices:
1. Reach out. Find people in your community and pitch.
2. Be well known. Get RT's.
Now that you've picked your community and set up your value statement, let's get some clients.
...but how will they find you?
You have two choices:
1. Reach out. Find people in your community and pitch.
2. Be well known. Get RT's.
1.4; Reaching out? 
If you reach out, you can use the Twitter search function to search for possible jobs. If you're going for influencers, make sure they have 2K+ followers.
First: GIVE something for free.
Then: TAKE something.
Give before you take.
If you reach out, you can use the Twitter search function to search for possible jobs. If you're going for influencers, make sure they have 2K+ followers.
First: GIVE something for free.
Then: TAKE something.
Give before you take.
1.5; Being famous? 
If you can get retweets to spread the word about your services and get you clients: great!
But make sure to be picky if you're going to have them come to you. You hold the power to choose what you work on. Make sure they pay well, and pay on time.
If you can get retweets to spread the word about your services and get you clients: great!
But make sure to be picky if you're going to have them come to you. You hold the power to choose what you work on. Make sure they pay well, and pay on time.
Second stop. Now: you've got a community picked out, you figured out a value proposal, you're famous or you're reaching out to potential clients.
...How the fuck do you handle clients?
I'll try to talk about some of the essentials:
...How the fuck do you handle clients?
I'll try to talk about some of the essentials:
2.1; MAKING SURE THEY'RE A GOOD FIT.
Great! You've got a potential client in your DM's. How do you make sure they'll be a great client?
Three criteria. They must:
1. have an idea of what they want;
2. Have $$$ and be willing to pay it upfront;
3. Be enthusiastic about YOUR work
Great! You've got a potential client in your DM's. How do you make sure they'll be a great client?
Three criteria. They must:
1. have an idea of what they want;
2. Have $$$ and be willing to pay it upfront;
3. Be enthusiastic about YOUR work
Continuing on that: 
1. If they don't know what they want, make sure they realize you will not run through a million concepts because they "can't decide"
2. Ask for their budget first. Then name your price confidently.
3. Your work needs to be good; their attitude great.
1. If they don't know what they want, make sure they realize you will not run through a million concepts because they "can't decide"
2. Ask for their budget first. Then name your price confidently.
3. Your work needs to be good; their attitude great.
2.2; HANDLING THE PROCESS: 
My best advice here is to check up on them regularly, giving them progress updates on their commission every 3-4 days minimum.
If they check up all the time, ask them to stay calm and wait until YOU check in (POLITELY!!!!)
My best advice here is to check up on them regularly, giving them progress updates on their commission every 3-4 days minimum.
If they check up all the time, ask them to stay calm and wait until YOU check in (POLITELY!!!!)
2.2; Continuing on that: 
Make sure you're honest about your situation. If your PC broke, and they NEEDED it before the 31st, and you can't get it done now? Just refund.
Let me be clear: it is NEVER worth a dispute! Move on. A failed job is something to learn from and accept.
Make sure you're honest about your situation. If your PC broke, and they NEEDED it before the 31st, and you can't get it done now? Just refund.
Let me be clear: it is NEVER worth a dispute! Move on. A failed job is something to learn from and accept.
2.3; I have had disputes about $200-$300 jobs. Clients might get a refund. 
Guess what? 90% of the time they come right back a month later with more money because they TRUST you now.
Refunds are a sign of mutual confidence in your work. Not the opposite.
Guess what? 90% of the time they come right back a month later with more money because they TRUST you now.
Refunds are a sign of mutual confidence in your work. Not the opposite.
2.4; WAIT UP... HANDLING PAYMENT?
I have TWO rules for charging the RIGHT WAY:
1. Always charge before you start (at least half).
2. Always offer a refund guarantee if they're not happy.
Uphold a certain quality standard!! You and your clients deserve this.
I have TWO rules for charging the RIGHT WAY:
1. Always charge before you start (at least half).
2. Always offer a refund guarantee if they're not happy.
Uphold a certain quality standard!! You and your clients deserve this.
2.4; WHERE DO THEY PAY? 
If you're just starting out, use the Paypal invoice feature.
If you're getting more and more payments, use a CRM/invoicing platform like http://Plutio.com . There they can pay via multiple gateways, and communication is also officialized there.
If you're just starting out, use the Paypal invoice feature.
If you're getting more and more payments, use a CRM/invoicing platform like http://Plutio.com . There they can pay via multiple gateways, and communication is also officialized there.
3; LAST WORDS:
I can't cover everything in here. I wish I could. There is so much more I can teach you. I have a short book coming out on all this. I hope I covered some important basics.
I would REALLY appreciate a retweet and a follow if this helped you at all. Pretty please?
I can't cover everything in here. I wish I could. There is so much more I can teach you. I have a short book coming out on all this. I hope I covered some important basics.
I would REALLY appreciate a retweet and a follow if this helped you at all. Pretty please?
