Here’s a piece by Ilise Benun explaining tips to make clients want to "bookmark" you for future projects.
Creative Freelancer Blog
Joe Duffy: It’s All About the Work
As Duffy & Partners celebrates 30 years in the design business, founder Joe Duffy shares some of his secrets to finding success in this "crazy business."
5 Ways to Avoid the Wrong Freelance Gigs
Avoid the wrong freelance gigs by identifying which clients and jobs are best for you.
Halloween Costume = Big Prizes from @FreshBooks
Here’s a good reason to dress up for Halloween — FreshBooks is having a contest and you could win: The gift of time: Get dinner delivered to your doorstep three times a week for a month to free up your evenings for rest and relaxation Cleaning, schmeaning: Take back your weekends by having a...
How to Turn Your Gorilla Client into a Monkey
Don’t get me wrong. I like gorillas and monkeys too, but when it comes to business, it’s smart to keep a close eye on how your gross profits are divided up amongst your client roster. Any client that is 20% or more of your gross profits (fee + mark up) is a gorilla client. A...
You can’t mess with policy
I think calling something a “policy” immediately makes it more official. A few of my unspoken policies include: I will not check my email before I make my bed. Ilise Benun is the only person I will agree to speak with before 9 AM. If you ignore our scheduled phone call twice, and don’t apologize,...
Your First Promotional Materials as a Freelancer
There’s so much you don’t know when you first start your own creative business, whether you dive in with a plan (or without) or are nudged by outside forces. Beyond the nuts and bolts of running a business, you don’t know whether you have hidden talents for managing others or whether dormant genes for...
10 Virtual Team Tools: Pros and Cons
From BaseCamp to Quickbooks, here's the scoop on 10 online tools to keep your virtual team running smoothly.
Want a rockin’ contact form? Here’s how…
photo from Shutterstock A good contact form can do so much more than get a prospect’s name and phone number. It can help determine if a client and project are a good fit—and reinforce your idealness for the job. On my contact page, I ask (and provide answer choices) for the following questions: What...
Saying No to “Monkey Mind”
In Tai Chi practice, there’s a concept called "monkey mind." It’s the little voice in the back of your head that nags you about your every flaw. Learn how to conquer it.

















