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Testimonials
"Thank you so much for your lightning quick response. I really appreciate that. We love your program ... it has been a life saver in terms of our agency management. Again, thanks a bunch!"
Eric Vickrey
EyeSpeak
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"Our accounting department (well, person) is thrilled with the product in general and has been able to run all the reports she wants, compare the time to billings, all the things we wanted to do are now possible and easy."
Bob Lodi
Inside Out Communications
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"We're increasingly in love with your tools. We are starting to live within CEO Desktop, with three or four tabs of TimeFox screens going at once. We're in the midst of our biggest profitability and efficiency push in the history of the company and TimeFox is what's making it possible."
Seth Murphy
iocreative
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FunctionFox is committed to helping smaller creative companies improve their business. TimeFox, our web-based time and project-tracking tool, is designed to help smaller advertising, design, marketing and PR firms manage their business, and do more with their valuable time.
Is giving back to the community part of your New Year's resolution? This month, we provide tips to help designers and clients alike handle pro bono work and build a strong, mutually beneficial relationship. Make sure to check out our Creativity Spotlight Section and let it inspire you.
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Feature Article: Get What You (Don't) Pay For
Advertising and Design News
Creativity Spotlight
Talk to the Fox: How to set up varying rates
Contact FunctionFox
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Get What You (Don't) Pay For
By Sheree Clark
Pro bono work is a two-way street. Here's how to get the most out of your partnership, no matter which side you're on.
Many, if not all, non profit organizations have suffered in recent years. During these uncertain times, charities must find effective, yet affordable ways to promote themselves and their causes. This is one reason why many designers take on projects from nonprofit clients. They recognize the opportunity to help an organization in need and create great design in the process.
Because of the scarcity of resources in the nonprofit arena, it is especially important that projects are managed effectively by both the designer and the client. The nonprofit project often requires special handling to ensure objectives are achieved. Here are a few issues and cautions to explore when developing a pro bono relationship.
For designers
Pick your clients ... carefully. Before you agree to provide services to an organization, take the time to understand the philosophy of the group. You'll do better work for organizations whose beliefs are in line with your own. Many designers find that it is more satisfying to them—and more effective for the client—to choose one organization and focus on it, rather than being involved in one-time projects for a variety of groups. This gives the design firm a larger body of work—a campaign or series of materials— while also providing the nonprofit an integrated brand identity.
Work ahead. Because so much nonprofit work is done on a pro bono basis, it is typically scheduled for completion between paying projects, or is worked into the schedule on an "as we have time" basis. This may mean anticipating needs and starting projects earlier than in a typical client situation. Take time early in the relationship to develop a comprehensive list of what will be needed and when.
Collaborate. Put together a team of vendors to work on the project. Approach your service providers with a proposal for getting the project done that will allow them to say "yes" to your request for help. Pick partners with capabilities that are compatible with the projects you need help on. And remember that many of your vendors have a line-item in their budgets for charitable contributions, meaning that when the money is gone, it's gone. Plan accordingly!
Promote yourself and your client. If appropriate, put a credit line on work you do on a free or reduced-fee basis. Send media releases about the collaboration, and include visuals you have produced. Try to get media attention for both of you. Don't forget to enter your non profit work into design competitions— after all, one of the reasons you do the work is because the relationship allows you to stretch your creativity!
Make your value known. Some public service clients have never worked with a professional designer before. They may not know what your fee structure is, and thus do not understand the monetary value of the services you are providing. Consider issuing a statement for the time and expenses you incur so your pro bono clients understand the true worth of your contributions.
More...
Reprinted with permission of Dynamic Graphics magazine, February/March 2005, V10N1, ©2005,
www.dynamicgraphics.com
If you have an article that you would like to share, please contact us at 1.866.369.8463 or email
info@functionfox.com.
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FunctionFox shares Tips and Tricks on Running a Profitable Design Business, Chicago, February 2006
How can you maximize the value of our time in a digital world? Creative professionals in today's world need appropriate tools to record the time they spend on behalf of clients. Computer-aided tasks are only as good as the business savvy that backs them up.
Join us on February 16 at the Portage Park Center for the Arts as Mary-Lynn Bellamy-Willms shares tips and tricks on running a profitable design business. Topics we'll cover include:
- Is your business as profitable as it should be?
- How much overhead is reasonable?
- How much should you charge for your services?
- How can you tell if your clients are paying what you're worth?
- Do you have the right mix of clients?
Mary-Lynn Bellamy-Willms, founder and president of Suburbia Advertising and FunctionFox Systems Inc., takes a practical look at the business
side of design and shares tips and tricks to help you achieve greater financial success. Suburbia Advertising is recognized as one of Canada's leading retail advertising and design agencies.
Read More...
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This month we'd like to highlight an inspiring design experiment known as The1000JournalsProject.
The 1000 Journals Project is an ongoing, collaborative experiment attempting to follow 1000 journals throughout their travels.
The project took form when Graphic Designer and Artist Brian Singer began circulating journals in August of 2000. Designed to provide a method for interaction and shared creativity, this ongoing design experiment is meant to inspire others to share the creativity often reserved for a more personal journal.
Presently there are journals in over 35 countries, and every US State! You can learn more, view the journals, and see the progress at
http://www.1000journals.com.
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Q. I have varying rates for different clients. How do I go about this in TimeFox?
A. Because TimeFox is so customizable, you are able to change the rates of your task based on the client you are working on. You can simply select the task under setup> task, find the client you want to apply a different rate on, edit, then input the appropriate rate. Once you have done so, TimeFox will track that specific client's project at the rate you set up while keeping other projects tracking at their specified rate.
It's a great idea to track your time even if you are doing pro-bono work. Not only will you know how much time you actually spent giving back to the community, you can also use that information for future estimating.
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Do you have a question, comment or feedback?
Stop scratching your head, and give us a call instead at our toll-free number 1.866.369.8463 or you can e-mail us at
info@functionfox.com.
You can opt out of the About Time Newsletter at:
www.functionfox.com/newsletter/no_thanks.asp
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