IFD10Chat 08 December 2010 I think I have everyone – let me know if I’ve missed anyone (and if you’d like to fill in the info I’m missing) @JacquelinPeters – Jacqueline Peters @CygnetUpdates – Vicky Soderberg (Montana) @toptomato – Rock Langston (Texas) @DaphneDrescher – Daphne Drescher (California) @GeorgeButters - George Butters (New Brunswick) @lpmccullough – Lauren McCullough (NYC) @larisaredins – Larisa Redins (Ontario) @HopeJoy – Hope @TheresePope – Therese Pope (California) @KCsez – Kate Carolus @bhas – Bhaskar Sarma (India) @SixFourWeb – Ray Mitchell @nightwriter – Barbara Chaney (Florida) @denicetex – Denice (Texas) @Litterate1 - @Shiny_Ideas – Phyl Good @AngieMangino – Angie Mangino @RedStepchild – Lynn Alpert (Missouri) @mepowell – Marie Powell @Shantiwallah – Marie @Jepkulot_01 – Jeff Pacamana @tiffsilverberg – Tiffany Silverberg @busyvee_VA – Nica Mandigma @jubaldo – Jennifer Ubaldo Decision was to find a more “private” format for exchanging information. A new LinkedIn group was created – Freelancer Chat. We probably need a new name for the chat itself – any suggestions? Also – topics for this week? TOPIC: HOW TO DEAL WITH PROJECTS/CLIENTS/FOLLOW UP DURING HOLIDAYS AND VACATIONS - WHAT DO YOU DO? IS IT EFFECTIVE?

• I don't have a plan in place for holidays/vacations. I'm sole prop so it's a problem - means I'm always on call

• Clients suddenly realizing it's almost 2011. Quick! Do something! because a lot of trade shows start in Feb/Mar.

• I don't have a plan either, but most of my clients are super busy. Although, I got

some last minute "oh my god" clients lol • Because there are 3 of us - we're taking holiday 'shifts' for any emergencies.

Clients know we're closing EOD 22 Dec/reopen Jan 4 • I just picked up an editing job so I know what you mean about clients looking

ahead. • I'm in the process of setting up a portable recording "studio". It should be done

by next week. So I'll be able to record out of the studio • Cool! Do you ever look for work on Guru? I see occasional VO RFPs. • Have you tried the collapsible mini-sound booth? Folds to about the size of a

big (but featherlight) laptop. • the smart clients are planning ahead. They have to if they want things

designed, printed, shipped on time. • Fortunately for me in my biz, my clients slow way down over the holidays too. • @Lauren - http://tinyurl.com/28s7zmm (portable recording studio) • Time is of the essence w/my client; I pushed for book launch asap before

holiday. So forging ahead w/promotion. • I seem to be staying busy and I'm getting all my contracts lined up this month

to start off with a bang when Jan. hits. • And love it when clients come back to me...by the way, I realized I do your help

after all lol • Does everyone let clients know when they're "closed" for the

holidays/vacations? What about those potentials out there you don't know about?

• We do, but it doesn't always work. • Yes I always send advanced notice to clients re absences. • As for potentials - my work email and work phone are always with me

(fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you view it) So I can respond to prospects who contact me if I choose to during "days off"

• Me too. My agency guys are family guys so I'm sure they will be taking some time off, but I'll be checking emails & Crackberry

• Hope to get some time off. I opt to reply/take calls or not. • I think it's important to take a breather during the holidays if you can - to

recharge. • i would think most businesses would treat the last week of december as a

vacation week. • think I'll just give them detailed updates before I leave and schedule for how

things will continue when I return - might work :) NEW QUESTION POPPED UP (and tangent #1 began) – Client gifts

• Seen any good client gift/thanks ideas out there? • I have a unique idea that I'm doing for my TX hospitality marketing agency. :)

Since I'm a foodie and I live in an area known for our mandarins and these guys are in hospitality/food, sending them California mandarins.

• Coolest gift we gave a client - from the oohs and aahs - cake with their project

design printed on it using edible paper. • Got custom luggage tag from vendor called Creative Suitcase one year. it was

really cute. Shaped like a little suitcase. • I also make scarves and sent some scarves to colleagues which they loved. I'm

pretty much making as many gifts as I can this season. • lol...gifts this week included fake sushi dropped off at local clients • luggage tag is good idea - what did you put on it? your logo? • Let's hear it for handmade gifts. I'm getting ready to launch my biscotti

production. Always a hit. • I try to support my local Farmers and businesses and if I do send presents, they

are regional - like the mandarins. • Fake sushi includes choco sprinkles, gummi snakes, twizzlers and sashimi with

blue sharks wrapped in fruit leather • sushi - made with rice crispies and marshmallows - people did double takes /

lilliput is great - we use it for our inhouse chat room • Other quick suggestion for client gift is Heifer. Gifts that give back. • http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.183217/ Rock - my sis gave us all

Heifer international animals last year - loved it • or as a former non-profiteer, you can make donations in someone's honor :) like

cancer survivors • We've done some gifting with Kiva - they make microloans • These types of gifts get people thinking good thoughts. Kiva also excellent

idea! • As for Heifer - we do it every year - also Kiva (especially for families with kids)

Tangent #2 begins – QR Codes

• Here's a thought - do something with a QR code. You can make one for free and connect it to any url. Cutting edge right now

• QR codes are those checkerboard like things that you take a pic with a smart phone app and it takes you to the linked site/webpage

• I did one for my twitter profile page. Try it. Go to bit.ly - type your homepage or whatever as the shorten link. Add .qr to the short link

• when you type the short link.qr it will take you to a QR code that provides a link to the page

• It's all the rage on marketing materials too for trade shows, etc. • I did one for my Google places. I am going to use it on my custom postage

stamps. • Thanks Therese. I see Real Estate companies are using QR codes a lot. • Cool, I'll do some more research on implementing QR codes. • Designers should be thinking about ways to incorporate QRcodes - it's going to

become like adding a url • Unfamiliar w/QR codes, so any info is beneficial. • Here's a white paper on QR Codes by John Foley: http://bit.ly/dmH2Gh • And this has some other useful links: http://bit.ly/cXBWxm

• Check out this transcript from #tourismchat about QRcodes http://wthashtag.com/transcript.php?page_id=8343&start_date=2010-10-28&end_date=2010-10-28&export_type=HTML

Tangent #3 begins – mini monitor

• Gift to crew and contractors this year: http://tinyurl.com/yfvuluk • I want one. Will go on my EOY shopping list. • @GB that's a fabulous gift...i'll be sending that link to my production friends • great idea - Santa could give me one of these • went looking for the little monitor after going crazy doing a live video stream

off my laptop • Just tweeted the little monitor. Can you hear the panting and salivating? • cheapest price I found was @ http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-

gadgets/c609/ Mfr URL: lilliputweb.net Tangent #4 begins – holiday cards

• Okay, designers - any cool ideas for holiday cards etc? • I use Dymo stamps and it's easy to create your own custom stamps. • Personally-made cards or mass produced? • I'm thinking more personal - don't have a ton to send out this year. • I keep thinking about making, how to describe, origami fortune tellers.

Remember those? • Middle school memories, but cool marketing tool - could be very upscale • It would lead to ideas/solutions at final fold. • I might use my mom's photo cards. She's a freelance photog on the side. • This is our 'card' from last year that went out to all of our clients:

http://newmediadrive.com/2009/seasons-greetings/ • Phew. Glad others remember those. Beautiful paper, fun graphics, clever text. • love those. All the cool kids play with origami fortune tellers =) • love to see a photo of one – • I've also heard them call fly catchers, but that's not the "feel" I want! • Any recommendations on ecard theme for prospective clients? • Year of the Rabbit coming up. I like using Chinese calendar references. • Actually, the biggest gift of the year would be this - a new web site for

Christmas: http://childfind.sk.ca/dev/index.php/site/ Tangent #5 – 2011 business plans

• Does everyone have a 2011 business plan? • working on revising mine slowly but surely for 2011 :) • I'm trying a CRM/Proj Mgmt service - Source360. Looks promising, gotta get

over the monthly fee angst • Only intentions of doing one. I'm still cleaning up after my accouting debacles

of '10. On 3rd one this year. • We treat our business plan like sourdough - keep checking it, keep feeding it,

keep following it. • I have reservations about online mgmt services. I prefer holding my info here. • Acctg is my downfall - gotta get more organized. 2 drum sets currently stored

in my office - can't get near my desk – • I like my program (AccountEdge) but not a lot of people use it. Think I can

finally get caught up. • Love the sourdough image of a plan. Reminds us it's not fixed, but to be

reworked as needed. • Any tips for this newbie over here? My business plan has consisted of an

outline...but I know it should be more detailed than that. • That's my major end of the year goal is to have a working, thorough business

plan • Lauren, ton of templates online - go with simple so you don't feel

overwhelmed. • @LP - nothing wrong with an outline - I usually work from our exec summary

anyway • I just read a great article yesterday on the One Paragraph Biz Plan - I don't think

it has to be as long as a book • Biz plan links tend to be country specific - US and Canadian rules and regs are

often quite different • I also have a unique system I use and can send along the template to Vicky for

more of us creative souls. • I think the business plan should include a profit plan- how much you want to

make for the year. • I like the profit concept Jacqueline :) • i think that's key. it's all about projecting what you want so the universe gives it

back • Good idea, Jacqueline - we definitely have financial goals - quarterly and

annual • I'm back after getting bumped out again - here is a link the one 1 paragraph biz

plan article http://bit.ly/hI3KhE • I think we overlook the importance of our income. After all that is why we do

what we do. • Yeah I'm moving in the direction of virtual PR agency - with my new title as

"buzz-icist" :) • We're in essence a virtual agency - it works - given the right team

Random stuff - what? Us? Random?

• Anyone know how @Bhas can set up a directory on the FB page for listing contact info (whatever you want) for those who'd like it?

• I recently revamped my website. @GB has already given me feedback but I'd

love more if u are up for it! http://www.laurenmccullough.com/

• 4 my VA biz @friendlycomser; luv you all to follow and 'like'. Blog article up soon!

• Rock’s dog: http://twitpic.com/xp7li

GOALS for the week:

• Get podcast project uploaded & market it. Finish portable studio. Begin 2011 biz plan.

• do accounting entries. • get this new contract signed, jump into new editing project, wrap up details

with TX agency campaigns I'm working on, etc. • Trying to get organized, contracts signed for NY and organized AND work on

biz plan for 2011 - new directions and focus • Goals: LinkedIn biz page (still!), blog posts, holiday projects • Goal: keep grinding away till the 22nd - get as much done and ready for

invoicing as possible. Meet our year-end $ objective. • 1) generate more biz 2) promote the heck out of current client 3) add monitor

to wish list • Goals: get FB group/whatever, be patient while waiting to hear on 9 RFPs I have

out, biz plan outline, website, blog editorial calendar • Goals: Invoice for work done. Design contract. Really need help with this. • Goals: Work on biz plan 2011. Work on new niche.

A small tangent – LinkedIN

• (Therese) my friend is coming out with an awesome LinkedIn ebook. I just edited it for her. the ebook is kick butt! She goes into biz pages, etc.

• We now have LI biz pages? Separate from the usual one? Customizable • Connect with me Therese Pope, LinkedIn if interested in LI ebook - and it's free

and awesome! • i went to a LI seminar that discussed it. It's pretty straight forward. same way

you would create you profile on LI Request for contract help (from Kate)

• please - have trouble with writing out contract terms - keep procrastinating cos i think it's complicated

• Contract info resource: Graphic Arts Guild handbook. also AIGA site. • Kate, check out those 2 resources. I love GAG for contract building. • (Therese) I'm good at contracts - former event planner here lol and write them

all the time for clients

Special Note: Mandarins are yummyyy and good for allergies.