Chrome Short Loop

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Designer of the Month Winners for Sept. 2011

View the winners of the September Designer of the Month Contest:

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CHROME — Free Music Loop

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How to Sue a Client for Non-Payment

Before you decide to sue a client for non-payment, you have to determine whether doing so is a smart business move. There are a number of reasons why you may decide to not pursue the matter in court. One primary reason to consider is if it’s worth the legal expense that you will incur to file and sustain a legal battle. A secondary reason is the potential bad publicity that you’ll get, even though you have a legitimate claim. It can be difficult with some clients to remain objective and make your decision without anger or emotions running high. You should consider the ramifications before you go after a client and deny any impulse to take immediate legal action. If you’re satisfied with your decision to sue them, here’s how to do it:

Demand Payment First

Ask your attorney to draft a demand letter on your behalf and have the attorney send it to the client. If the amount is too low and if it costs more to have your attorney draft the letter, then you’ll have to do it yourself. There are several sample demand letters online. The gist of the letter is that you’re asking the client to pay within a specified time of receipt of the letter, and in the letter you document the monies owed and the facts that back up that payment is owed. You should serve the letter on your client by sending it by certified receipt through the post office, and you should require a signature upon receipt. The letter will be included in your evidence when you pursue the matter in court.

Write Your Complaint

If the client is non-responsive, you’ll have to write your complaint to file in small claims court. Whether you file a complaint in small claims court or superior court in your area depends on the amount owed. Call the court clerk if you’re not sure where you need to file your complaint. The information should be available on the court’s website as well. The complaint should state the facts which prove the basis for your legal claim, such as the services you provided, the dates when you notified the client about the payment or sent an invoice, and any agreement made between you and the client for services and payment. Your job is to prove that the client breached the contract, whether it was written, verbal or implied.

File Your Complaint and Serve the Client

Any small claims court will require proof that you served the client with a complaint and summon. The exception is when you can obtain a waiver of service, where the client agrees to waive his rights to be served. You can serve the client by certified mail or have an authorized court official do it for you. The best thing to do is find out what the court in your jurisdiction requires for a proper serve. Your client could ask the court to dismiss the case if you don’t get this right.

Present Your Case at the Hearing

The court will schedule a hearing for your case. Before the hearing, you may have to respond to your client’s Answer and motions in writing. You may also have opportunities, or at least look for them, to settle with your client. It’s important to prove your case at the trial, by illustrating to the judge why you should be awarded damages for breach of contract. If the court rules in your favor, then you can proceed to collect the court judgment.

It’s important to determine up front whether you can collect a judgment before you sue a client. You may win in court, but if the client has no assets or money, then you’ll have wasted your time.

5 Tips for Running a Web Design Business

You may have dreams of launching and running a web design business, but you’re not sure whether you have what it takes to make it work. It involves hard work, perseverance and a solid business plan to be success in this industry. As long as you’re willing to put in some sweat equity and follow sound tips and strategies, you could be well on your way to creating your own steady paycheck. Here are 5 tips to add to your list:

Tip #1 – Keep Current

It’s impossible to run a web design business based solely on the use of outdated tools, software and equipment. You are responsible for constant learning when you’re running a web design business. Clients will look to you to make their business, organization or life run quicker and easier. They will depend on you for your know-how of the latest technology and resources, and lean heavily on your recommendations. Enroll in online or offline training or do a lot of self-study to make sure that you’re current and ahead of your customers on all issues and technology related to your web design business.

Tip #2 – Understand Copyright Issues

Your work involves the use of copyrighted materials, and you need to understand copyright laws. Some of the key points of law to learn are:

• Copyright infringement as it relates to use of images
• Use of text and content published on the web
• Proper copyright notices to include on websites
• Materials that have entered the public domain

There are many free resources on the web that are available to you to learn copyright basics for running a web design business. You can get a great overview of copyright law at http://smallbusiness.findlaw.com/copyright/.

Tip #3 – Excel at Project Management

Many web designers go out of business because of their failure to meet deadlines. Clients are unwilling to pay for late work, and if they do, they don’t often return as repeat customers. Your delivery of services on time is a key component of customer service. You’ll have to excel at managing projects to do well in this area. Decide on a method of keeping track of your deadlines for multiple projects, and consider using project management software to help you with that.

Tip #4 – Niche Is Important

Most marketing experts advise you to concentrate on serving a niche market, and the same is true for running a web design business. You’ll have a much better outcome when you decide on your target audience, tailor your marketing strategies based on their needs and demographics, and assess your competitors who are delivering services to your niche.

Tip #5 – Find a Web Great Hosting Company

You and your clients can benefit from partnering with a great web hosting company. A great hosting service will have many methods of offering support to customers and user friendly control panels and tools that are easy to work with. Don’t get bogged down by a hosting company that takes too long to respond to support tickets and has hard-to-understand technology, even if it’s inexpensive.

These tips for running a web design business have been proven to work. You should ensure that you incorporate them into your business.

What Clients Look for in Graphic Designers

Clients look for certain things in graphic designers, and unless you know what those are you’ll have trouble closing sales. The main objective of any selling you do to prospective clients needs to be to meet their needs. You can persuade them that you are willing and able to help them overcome their problems and accomplish their goals by showing them that you’ve got what they’re looking for.

Membership in Design Associations

Some of your clients won’t care about your memberships, but others will. You have to make a decision as to the type of clients you want to target. If joining certain organizations will make you more marketable to your target audience, then it’s something that you need to take into consideration. For example, a solo entrepreneur may have little interest in what association you’re a member of. That person’s primary concern is likely going to be costs. A large corporate manager may only hire graphic designers who are members of design associations that he finds credible or prestigious.

Expertise in Certain Areas

Graphic designers who hold themselves out as experts in limited areas will appeal to many prospective clients. Some examples of specialties include animators, logo designers and illustrators. A client who wants high quality work will often not gravitate towards a graphic designer who is a generalist. For example, a software development company will try to hire someone with experience and expertise in designing for digital assets. If you need additional training to become an expert, then find the time and earn extra money to do so. Research the Internet for free or low-cost tutorials so that you can teach yourself some of the skills that you’ll need to not only be an expert, but also to gain a competitive advantage.

Price Does Matter

Some clients are not impressed with low priced designers. The opposite is true and can give some prospective clients the wrong idea about the services that you offer. Clients who want great work may be suspicious of a graphic designer who promises to do the work for below market rates. They are looking for a good balance between price and quality, but if you lowball your services, many of them will go to a higher priced competitor. At the same time, you don’t want to price yourself out of the market. Research your competitors and your target market and try to figure out what price will best represent the value that you can deliver.

Communication Makes the Difference

The worst mistake that many graphic designers make is to stop communicating with clients once they’ve been hired.  Clients want you to communicate with them along the way and not just at the beginning or end of the project. Don’t just wait to speak with your clients when problems or questions arise. Notify them of your progress, when you reach specific milestones in the project and after you complete the project. You’ll build a great reputation and attract more clients.

Strengthen these areas and you’ll be in a better position to compete against other graphic designers. If you don’t, then clients will look to others who can give them what they want.

Free Music Loop – Sparks Will Fly

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Free Music Loop – Combination

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“Medal of Honor” [ Marines Dedication Series – Part 1 ]… In memmory of those who have died.

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“The Few The Proud” [ Marines Dedication Series – Part 2 ]… Hail to the Victorious!

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