TAGS: PRODUCTIVITY, TIME MANAGEMENT
I notice with clients that it is difficult to make an hourly estimate for a design. How many hours will I spend on it and how much will I invoice? And usually they go over this estimate, which means that projects are not (or cannot be) profitable.
At what stage of the design process are you most frustrated? Rushing to meet a deadline, stressed because time is ticking away? Frustrated because after years of independent creative entrepreneurship, you still don't earn enough?
With I support creatives, I am an objective sounding board and ask difficult questions. Ready? Haha 😉 .
Where is the balance between quality, good quality, high-end and exceeded quality?
I asked a customer; can he make a design in the estimated time? If he is still not satisfied, see how much extra time he spends on it. What is the effective difference between the design of the estimable time and the final design. This experiment is still going on. But I would ask the same of you.
Of course, I am not suggesting that you sacrifice quality, but just reflect on the fact that you sometimes lose yourself in perfection.
Analyse your own processes. And improve them.
To discover them, think about what you never do, or always do.
What I can help you with is thinking about the following:
1/ Assessing your time better.
Have you ever thought about how many hours you bill and how many hours you actually work on it? Measure this for your next project so that you can see for yourself how much time you are spending. Are you always too optimistic in your estimation? If it is not in line with what you are billing, there are two things you can do: adjust your next invoice or try to shorten your creative process.
2/ Better estimate the time of your cLIENT.
Move faster with your first idea. And give limited designs, not 3 but rather 2, or even 1. Communicate the steps in between, and that way the process will move faster.
3/ Better estimate the time of the project.
What is included in your price, how many rounds of feedback? Indicate this clearly from the start. When you are at 80% of the estimated hours, you will indicate this. Then the customer can choose to finish or there is an additional charge if he is still not satisfied with the result.
4/ To better evaluate your own way of working.
Some of my clients find it difficult to work on several projects at the same time. Is this also the case for you? You can (if you have the luxury) go from one project to the next. To start with project 2, after the deadline of project 1. If you don't have the luxury of working that way, try to work full days on 1 project and cut yourself off from the other to do's. Accept your own blind spots and work around them.
Have you made an analysis? Well. What insights did you get? Now, try to do this again for the next project. Make some rules for yourself that from now on you will work this way and through repetition it will become routine. That way, it becomes your code of conduct.
Finally, don't forget, creative entrepreneur and freelancer, you are in control and you write your own rules. You can have less stress, you don't have to work crazy nights to meet a deadline or work through the weekend. And you can win profitable projects. Remember that.
Is I support creatives something for you? Time to ask for help to analyse and improve your process together?
Don't hesitate to schedule an introductory meeting! LINK