Regardless of the kind of business that you have- be it online or conventional, there are some fundamentals of starting a business. First of all is the idea on which the foundation of business is built. We don’t want to engage you in anything that is not relevant to our topic so going straight to the limits, Image Editing Business.
First of all, Image Editing in some places is not considered as full time profession. Our article today will help those independent professionals that have been taking work from bigger firms. This niche business does not require any rocket science. It is a simple form business that only requires few things and a very little amount of money.
These days, there are various mediums that allow you to build a website. Image editing is a service. It is not a product that you can promote on social media websites and not necessarily need a website. When we offer a service, the fundamental requirement is of a website. For this, you don’t have to hire high-end professionals because these days, the CMS portals give you the liberty to create website on your own.
This may need you to put in extra efforts like you have to study about the CMS platforms, how to use them, and related material. They usually require themes and you have to purchase them first and then edit them for further tasking. But if you don’t have time for all of this then it is best to hire a CMS professional. They are lot cheaper than other software developers and the turnaround time is the quickest.
So as I mentioned, you first need to hire a professional. Below is the process of hiring a CMS professional to outsource the work-
Create & Post a Job– Well, in a well versed manner, you need to create a job where you mention all the key details about your project. But before that, you need to assimilate if you want to give the job to a professional or a firm. A freelancer could be economical as they take individual projects and also they act more responsibly. But that’s your call completely. With whatever option you go, first you need to create notes of your needs and post them online.
P.S you can post these jobs at different professionals hiring websites where you will be able to find professionals from all over the world. But before you do any such thing, it is essential to have a clear idea of the money that you wish to spend on the website, the kind of design you require, and all other details. This will speed up the process of finding the right individual.
Shortlist the Candidates- Well, the freelancers are sitting like hawks on the internet and as soon as a new job appears, there first action is to apply on them. You need to go through all the CVs and shortlist a few that you think were better than others.
Communicate– Now its time to communicate with the shortlisted candidates in person. You can call them or send them an email and take a concise interview. In this, you need to ask them of their professional exposure, fees, time that they will take, the specimen work, etc. Most of the professionals are more than willing to talk to you and discuss the project. This stage is very important as you have to make a decision.
Finalize– Once you are done talking, it is best to make a decision as early as possible. You have to finalize a candidate that you have selected for the job. Make sure you and the candidate has mutually agreed to all the terms and conditions of the job. Also, whatever your requirements are, it is best to mention them before hand to avoid future conflicts.
If you are well versed and have done some home work before commencing the subject of hiring, it will be beneficial for you. Now let’s go to the next phase of our article, shall we?
Whatever work has to be done by the foreign parties will be done but what you have to do is to polish your skills and get ready for the show. You got the website work done, now you have to upload best of your designs to the website as your portfolio. Whoever visits your website must know that you are a professional.
You need to take them in your spell and convince them that you have the needed skills and that you can prove to them that you are one of a kind. For basics, these are some of the key pointers that you must keep in check-
Complete Knowledge of Image Editing Software
You don’t only have to know the image editing software but also its loop holes and the kind of craft that you can create with them. It is not advisable to anyone who doesn’t know about these software to think about the business online. Also, you must have the purchased versions of these software available with you. A thorough knowledge of the presets and other features of the software is must to work on it seamlessly and create some unique. The photographers or the firms are not hiring you to waste their time. That is why it is important to possess all the needed skills before you make a decision to launch your website.
Develop a System
It is important to show the clients that you are professionals. If you make one wrong move, you may not hear from that client again in the future. During the process of convincing the clients and getting work, you have to follow a format in which you will ask your customers to send you the files, make payments for the work delivered, give them expected turnaround time, and so much more. What you need to do is to create a format on your website and share it in writing. The steps to follow can include-
- Sending a request through email
- Mentioning of all the requirements by client
- Every mail will be addressed in certain amount of time
- The turnaround time for the task will be specified in it
- Charges for each image or a task has to be mentioned
- A formal agreement will be made between the client and the business firm
- Whether or not you want any upfront payment from the client
The list of questions goes on and on. It is essential for you to mention the process online so that the clients know how to work with you. It will save time of both the parties.
Means of Communication–
Every client wishes to be in constant touch with the professionals they hire. The business of image editing is a business of quick turnaround time. It is difficult for the professionals to disappear because clients are constantly trying to reach you, and for a good reason. Email is a good way to communicate with the clients but I personally believe is that you need to assure the clients that you won’t dishonour them and for that, it is best to share a personal source of communication with them. To me, Skype goes the distance. This way, you give them a reason to trust you as they can reach you anytime and also, this makes sharing more instructions easier than ever. As much interactive you will be with your clients, they will have the faith in you and give you better business.
Follow Different Styles– Every client brings different instructions for you. You have to be prompt enough to go through those instructions and follow them. If you understand your software then following different instructions won’t be very challenging for you. However, the ecommerce owners mostly share same kinds of instructions with the professionals. You have to be comfortable in entertaining customers with versatile needs. Also, it is important to be challenging in your profession. Google has got solution to all your problems. If anytime you feel that you are stuck in the middle then you can take help from the internet and get done with the edits. So be sure of taking variable assignments and prove the clients that you are a “jack of all trades”.
Every Day is not a Good Day– In a business, every day is not a good day. It means that some clients will also criticise or be dissatisfied with the way you work. This doesn’t mean that you are a bad editor but perhaps their requirements are different. It is best to keep the spirits high all the time. If some people will appreciate your work then surely some will discourage it. You need to keep working on and prove that you are the best editor ever.
Also, it is essential to take criticism in a positive way. As much as you will sink your teeth in proving that you can get through any cut-throat requirement, you will keep prospering.
To be in online business, there will be a lot of challenging. This vertical can open you to various professional opportunities but it has its downside as well. So if you have decided to go with the idea of online business then make a plan and go for it.
