Whether personal or professional, relationships are a two-way street that will successfully thrive on one key quality: reciprocity. Here at ConceptDrop, we use advanced matching technology that matches you with your perfect freelancer, rather than having to find one on your own. But even in this (typically highly successful) professional relationship, there are strategies that both parties can put into practice in order to ensure a positive experience. Below is a list of a few things both you and your freelancer can do to effectively complete a project.
What can clients do?
- Provide branding guidelines
Providing Style and Branding Guidelines allow your creative professional to better understand your company’s brand story, as well as important information like hex codes, logo usage, etc. This ensures the designer can create materials that will match your company’s brand, and ultimately, any other materials already in use as well. If you’re using ConceptDrop to create a flyer for an upcoming conference, wouldn’t it make sense for the design to match the PowerPoint deck you will be using at the event as well? Branding assets are an essential resource for your designer to produce the best possible end product for you to use.
- Give context
Just like the idea of including branding guidelines, providing additional information and context for the project is useful to the designer as well. Answering questions such as “Where will these materials be used?” “What is the purpose of the presentation, flyer, etc.?” “Will it be printed or used digitally?” Providing contextual information like this will help the designer understand the purpose of this project to create an effective and useful end product.
- Establish important requirements from the start
This strategy may involve looking ahead but again will result in fewer rounds of edits later on. Think about if the design file needs to be editable after the final product is made. Do you have access to Adobe programs? Does someone on staff have the ability to make small edits later on? In what kind of formats should the final files be delivered? Not sure what you need? Ask your designer! This is their expertise.
What can freelancers do?
- Ask! Ask! Ask!
If you have a question, ask it. It’s beneficial to both parties if you ask as many necessary questions as possible before beginning the project. It not only shows you’re thinking critically and paying attention to detail but will also reduce the number of edits needed later on. Don’t hesitate to ask questions throughout the project as well as any concerns that may come up. We all know what assuming does…
- Doing homework doesn’t end in school
Freelancers should thoroughly read through any materials provided before approaching their computer screens or sketch pads. Diving into the company’s goals, branding guidelines, and other miscellaneous materials will prepare you to create a final product that is specific to the needs and desires of the client and their company. Ask “What is the company’s motto?” “Who is their targeted audience?” “Where will this project be used?” Take the time to research the client’s company via their website and social media accounts to better understand their brand and voice. Going beyond what a company sends in the project brief allows you to be fully prepared, while also showing the client you’re committed to creating the best possible product to meet their needs.
- Provide Drafts
Rather than just being presented the final design, clients typically appreciate seeing drafts along the way. This will give the client a glimpse into the progress. On the other side of the spectrum, feedback on these drafts from the client can help the designer know if they’re aligned with the direction and idea the client had in mind for the project. By providing drafts, a collaborative space is established for the client and designer to create a perfect final design.
Here at ConceptDrop we like to consider ourselves an extension of your team. Therefore, we want your team and your business to flourish which is why we’ve made finding a freelancer easy and painless. By remembering these simple tips when working together, we also can make the what happens after you find a freelancer easy and painless.
