Don’t try doing it all yourself!
Thursday’s Management Tip for Graphic Designers
Most professionals will try and do everything themselves. After all, the logic is that you can’t afford to hire someone when you are first starting off.
As freelancers, we are supposed to wear many hats: you are a designer, a business person, a customer service representative, accountant, etc… Some try their hands at writing their own copy, answer the phone, handle all orders themselves, send out their weekly emails and set up their own autoresponders.
I admit, when I was starting out I did the exact same thing. I thought I can’t afford anyone so I had to do everything myself in order to get the maximum amount of profits
Why spend good money on someone else doing it if you can do it yourself, right? Or, more arrogantly, you may think “no one does it better anyway.”
GETTING STARTED
Keep a log of what you are doing during the say. Mark everything down and see where your time is going. Review what activities are the only ones you can do and which activities can be delegated.
What should you delegate?
- Things you hate doing.
- The most time consuming that doesn’t have to be done by you.
- What brings in the least profit to your business.
- Repetitive tasks that can be done without much instruction.
- What is your weakness that is someone else’s strength? (It may even be web design for the print designer!)
What should you keep for yourself
- Things you enjoy doing.
- What brings in the most to your business.
- Things that will help you expand your business.
Typical things you can delegate or get someone else to do:
- Customer service: Answering client emails and phone calls.
- Organizing, planning and time management: Meetings, travel arrangements, seminars and engagements
- Bookkeeping: Invoicing, taxes, and keeping records.
- Writing: Contract it out if you are not a good writer. Or, partially contract it out.
- Research: For articles or blog postings
- Sales: Orders and shipping physical products
- Advertising: Submitting and keeping track of ads and articles for your company.
- Design work: presentations, e-books, web design, … that you may not be good at.
- Updating the website: Posting new articles, events, etc…
- Maintenance: Maintain your email list database, autoresponders, …
C O N C L U S I O N :
It’s all a question of balance and using your time effectively. Your time, as a designer, is probably more wisely spent doing stuff that will enhance your business. It’s cheaper to hire a VA to do some of the work than to do it yourself.
And of course, the point is to do those things that you enjoy, are good at, and that brings you the most bang for your buck!
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