As a freelancer, creative, or small business owner, few things are as foundational to building a consistent and thriving business as knowing who your ideal client is.
Why? Because if each client pitch is an arrow and you have a limited amount of them due to time, energy, and ability, you want to make sure as many of them land on your target defined by budget, project scope, and personal values.
So how do you decide what client projects to go after?
Start by answering these three questions:
Is the budget for this project a viable use of my time? Saying YES to this client means saying NO to something else (a different client, time outside or with family, energy to build your business). Is the money you'll make in exchange for the time, energy, and effort worth it?
Is this a worthwhile creative opportunity? It's important that each project serve a purpose in your business in addition to making you money. Is this a portfolio piece? Is this going to make you learn a new skill? What's the benefit to you?
Will this lead to more work? Every new client is a new network and new referral opportunity, but not all are created equal. Can more work come from this one client? Who can they recommend you to?
The next step is to come up with a list of factors to consider when determining potential clients, then to rate potential clients in each factor.
Curious? One of the six free worksheets in my Gear Library starts you down this exercise!