Be remarkable: A freelancer's guide to working less and earning more

Matt Essam helps businesses earn more and 'Be Remarkable'.

He studied New Media at university which led him to build websites. When he finished university, he went straight into work and into a company that has a range of well-known clients/companies and started creating websites for them.

A few months after working at a company he decided to be a freelancer. But even then, he felt as though he was lacking the creative aspect of his work and all he was doing was purely creating websites for clients.

He then decided to travel the world and run his business with nothing but his laptop in hopes of finding inspiration. He thought that travelling the world would make him happier but he realised that he was sacrificing his values and lifestyle back at home.

When he got back to the UK, he realised that he needed to recognise his values and put them into his work in order to find his purpose.

Matt's tips on finding your value

• Ask yourself why
• What problem are you uniquely positioned to share?
• What are you solving for? (this would be your niche)
• Be clear and polarise.

People are afraid to be specific because it is a minor audience rather than a mass audience. Identify your niche so that you can solve a problem.

Strategy

To do the work - you must win the work.

• Define your aspirational client
• Add value
• Get in the mind of your consumer

Three reasons why you hate sales

• You haven't unpacked your real values
• You haven't understood the problem that you're trying to solve
• You haven't connected with your why - be confident in why you want to help someone

The buying cycle

Are you taking your customer on the journey? Don't tell them, show them.

Delivery

Some designers do not offer a full solution. People are paying for a solution to a problem, not for your time. It is a product not a service.

Selling a result

What is the process that you take your clients through?

The difference between a being a workers vs. designer/partner is about being part of their business - component.

 Retained clients

• Partners in their business
• Building relationships and partnerships with good clients

1. Define your values
2. Impact your story-find your USP
3. Define your ideal client
4. Add value and create a LNS and (logical next step)
5. Deliver a remarkable solution

On your website, describe how you can help the client.

Phantasm

To celebrate Colours May Vary's 5th birthday, they asked the Lord Whitney studio to design and showcase an exclusive exhibition around the theme of magic. The exhibition featured designs and prints from different designers, illustrators and studio work.

After visiting the Lord Whitney studio in 1st year and listening to their inspiring design journey, it made me want to visit and see their work in real life. The exhibition and theme was very colourful, engaging and witchy. It was an interesting as the theme was unique but fascinating and insightful.