We’ll keep this one short and sweet—but don’t skip it, because design studios could end up being instrumental in your success!
As a new copywriter, once you land your first few local clients, it’s time to branch out. Sure, you’ll start expanding your prospecting, you’ll start engaging with remote potential clients, and you’ll get listed with recruiters. But if you’re ignoring design studios, you’re missing a major opportunity for a steady stream of work.
So, what is a design studio? A design studio is a small group of designers that operate as kind of a mini-agency. As you know, graphic designers can be freelancers just like copywriters can. But sometimes, as graphic designers begin to build their businesses and take on more and more clients, they hire other graphic designers to help them.
Then, as the business grows, this pair or group of designers becomes more like an agency, except that they’re missing something.
Any guesses? Exactly—they’re missing copywriters. And there are going to be very few jobs these design studios take on that don’t require copywriting.
Getting regular work with a design studio can be just as much about personality as it can about your copywriting skill. For a design studio to want to work with you regularly, they’ll want to be sure that they enjoy collaborating with you!
Start looking for design studios by doing a little online searching. Look for “design studios” of course, but also just do some searching for freelance designers whose business seems to be booming—they may have a design studio or they may be just on the cusp of starting one.
And remember, once you’re working with a design studio, one of the best ways to maintain a good relationship is to help them find business, too. When you talk to a potential client who needs design help, be sure to connect them with your studio. Your copywriting skill makes you valuable, but your networking and referrals can make you priceless.
Your turn! Where does finding design studios fall on your list of priorities for the coming year? Let us know in the comments below!
Why don’t I get the business and subcontract the design to them? Rather than refer the customer directly to them?
Hi Renee,
You definitely could, that just makes you responsible for their output and their relationship with the client. If they don’t produce to the level the client wants or if they’re bad about communication or they miss a deadline or anything like that, then it’s your problem, too. Obviously, you would hope/expect that things like this wouldn’t happen…but you never know. Personally, I don’t like to take that kind of a risk with my professional reputation. But you definitely could do it if it’s a writer or designer you trust a great deal. There are also some tax implications with subcontracting work, so be sure to talk to an accountant or licensed tax preparation professional if you decide to do it.
Thanks for commenting!
Nicki
I wholeheartedly agree with this, Nicki. This is why it’s so important to treat every interaction with a designer with the utmost importance. You both could be referring a lot of work for each other down the road if you like collaborating and your personalities mesh.
Hi Spenser,
Exactly! And, really, if you can remember too, it’s great to treat every interaction like that — you never know who could end up being a client or referring you to one.
Thanks for commenting!
Nicki