Don't Be Afraid - Freelance Business Contracts

With all of the calligraphy jobs that I did this summer, I came across one client who requested a contract. I freaked a little, but calmed down and drew one up. Since then, I've used them for every client.



Never be afraid to ask someone to sign a contract: you are providing quality work and deserve to get paid for it. Many individuals would be happy to provide you a signature. In fact, it may make them rest a little easier as well; in my case, brides were handing over their wedding envelopes for their invitations, and having a contract made them reassured that I would not make off with their invitations. All the contract represents is that you will do the work, and that they will pay you for it. Everybody wins.



Also, this will avoid headaches about pricing and pieces completed in the long run. If any changes are made during your meeting, NOTE THEM and be sure to charge accordingly.



If the thought of contracts still makes you cry out in the night, here's a sample for you. I'm in love with the simplicity of the format, and I provided myself with a revisions section. Also, all contact information for both parties is present. Just break it down to understand it better, and to create your own contract.

Ashley Osgood – Calligraphy Services SERVICE TERMS CONTRACT

Professional Artist

000 Sumner Street

Weymouth, MA 02188

Phone #: 781-555-6861

Email: aosgood123@yahoo.com

Client Name: Andrea Tewburrn

Email address: andrea.tewburn@gmail.com

Job Description:

Calligraphy job for outer envelopes for wedding, and an estimated 130 invitations must be completed. The total job cost is estimated to be $130. Anticipating to send out invites at the end of August. One week is given to complete the job – the $15 rush fee is waived due to referral.

Meeting and Contract Date: August 13^th, 2009

Upon viewing and discussion of sample work, the undersigned is clearly informed of creative nature of artist and knowingly accepts the style in which the work will be completed. Payment method requires a deposit of half of the total job amount upon receipt of materials (invitations). Amount outstanding is due upon completion of job.

Any additional names/addresses not originally supplied and factored under original cost will be charged the standard price of $1.00 accordingly – this includes misspellings and wrong addresses that must be redone. Conversely, if the artist makes a mistake on any piece, it will be redone free of charge. The undersigned must provide additional envelopes upon initial meeting to address either situation.

Tipping is not necessary but appreciated.

Estimate:

130 Outer Envelopes @ $1.00 each (130 Pieces) $130.00

Deposit Due $65.00

Meeting Revisions:

Total Pieces $

Deposit Due $

Ideal Date of Completion:

I, the undersigned, accept these terms and promise to pay for services rendered.

Client Name & Date

I, the undersigned, accept these terms and promise complete services expected of me within the time agreed upon.

Artist Name & Date

(Good luck! Hope this helps :) go get 'em!)

Buon Journo from Firenze!

Hey guys,

This is officially my first post from Florence, Italy!! Very exciting. Soon the vacation-esque euphoria will dissipate, and I will be but a busy art student yet again. Aww, poor me. I'm taking Intermediate Drawing, Serigraphy, Photography, Museology, and Beginning Graphic Design. I'm still not completely sold on Serigraphy, which is like printmaking, but I really do want to try something new. That, and I didn't get into Jewelry Design. Oh, well. I still have one semester left when I return! (W.O.W.)

Classes start on Monday, and until then I'm going to continue exploring and maybe do some shopping? For some reason, I brought NO summer clothes, except like 3 tank tops, and no flip flops, because they were too American. Well, my feet can't breathe. And I'm hot. That's enough of an excuse to shop, I believe. This week was hard on my Euros, though (1 Euro is currently 1.50 Dollars!) I had to pay roughly 100E to exist (Insurance and extended permit of stay) but I think I'm legal at the moment. I have an adorable little apartment right next to the open markets. I've recently seen more leather then I have ever seen before in my life, and am so excited about it. The shoes are gorgeous. I must have them. Please stay tuned for further Florentine adventures, such as me getting lost and getting gelato to figure myself out.

Pictured here is my tour around Il Duomo and the surrounding Piazzas. The giant archway houses the Post Office and International Bank, as well as a strip of open market vendors and art supply places :) Enjoy!

Social Media Overload: What it is and how to use it

Online social media applications for mainstream consumer use are becoming more and more popular. Entrepreneurs and small businesses have started to accept and utilize social media to their advantage. But what can social media do for you? What should it be used for? What shouldn’t you do with it?

The ambiguous term “online social media” is an online platform by which individuals communicate. Website tools that fall under the umbrella of this definition are Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, and blogs. All these online resources require a large and consistent investment of time, and an increasing number of companies are investing in job positions intended to only manage all of their accounts. But the most appealing attribute of online social media is its low cost, immediate response capabilities, and the equal opportunity of large and small businesses to compete.

The basic concept of social media is that it, like your business, is all about relationships and accessibility. You want to generate and retain relationships online just as you in-person. When it comes to your online profiles, however, it is important to note that these are NOT venues to market your business by publishing content-related information. Content, sales, and promotions should all be reserved for your advertising and website. No one likes a salesman when one is browsing these social sites on their personal time. Think of it this way: if you had a Twitter account, would you follow someone who is constantly promoting themselves, or someone with a sense of humor with their status updates?

The purpose of profiles like Twitter and your blog are to give a face to your company. Social media implies an “interaction” with your customer, or informational “sharing”, not a one-way channel for just slamming them with content. With applications like Facebook, you can go to where your customers already are, and catch their interest with your personality and dedication. People also find value in articles or blog postings that are relevant to your shop or industry, but have a more universal appeal for browsers that may turn into customers. For example, if you have a chain of bakeries, you could post an informative article to your blog “10 Easy and Unique Cookie Recipes”.

As a business owner, you can also gain a more thorough insight into your customers. You can learn from their questions or concerns and what is really important to your customer. The most successful companies are usually identified as those who respond quickest to market changes. Through appropriate use of social media you can always have a finger on the pulse of your customer base.

To conclude, social media shows your customers how much you care. The passion that you have for your company and doing what you love will shine through. This will make you stand out among your competitors.

Some take-away tips:

• Make sure to stay committed to your blog and update it at least 2-3 times a week.
  


• Twitter at different times of the day to catch different customers in multiple locations.
  


• With the rich mix of users now on Facebook, it’s a great time to create a fan page for customers to search, read, and follow you.

And lastly, if you haven’t already, be sure to create a profile on LinkedIn, which is an excellent networking resource for small business owners.