>I wouldn't just show up unnanounced and ask people for money, thats why I will offer it for free.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Do *not* do this. This devalues your work, and everyone will expect something for you either at an aggressively discounted rate, or for free.
You do a spec piece, or a "rip-o-matic." Come up with an idea for a video piece you'd make for them. Then go out and shoot some appropriate photos or video, maybe a photograph of their storefront, or you get a shot of a friend of yours walking into the store for you, or opening up one of their bags filled with products at home, or something like that. Fill in the gaps with stock footage or clips "borrowed" from somewhere else to demonstrate the kind of stuff you would show.
So let's say it's a hardware store, you take a shot of their storefront for an establishing shot, you insert a few clips borrowed from other hardware store commercials to show the inside, with a voiceover about how their smart and friendly staff can help you with any project, and get good deals, like "a Hillman DrivPro Hammer, for only $29.99," with a clip of someone driving a nail into wood with a card on the side showing a picture of the hammer from their website and the price. "Or a DeWalt 20-piece socket wrench kit, on sale this week only for $249.99," with a clip of someone pulling sockets out of a drawer and attaching it to a wrench.
It should look good, but it doesn't have to look super perfect. Just enough to give them an idea of what you *could* make for them, if they wanted to hire you. This demonstrates your creative ideas, and your interest in helping them. Have a few other ideas in your back pocket, about maybe making some videos for their website, where one of their staff can demonstrate what different kinds of hammers are good for, so they can buy the right one for their project, or why a [Stiletto](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stiletto-14-oz-TiBone-Milled-Face-Hammer-with-15-25-in-Curved-Handle-TBM14RMC/203527224) is worth $240.
That's what you do, you don't give them anything for free, you demonstrate ideas.
There's nothing wrong with asking people for money. It's a business, they know that. Ask people for money all the time. You'll be surprised who will give it to you for some work.
Don't do it for free. Maybe buy them a coffee and some of their time to pitch the power of branded video and the impact it could have on their bottom line. And charge a premium.
There are a lot of people here saying to charge money, but I’m curious how one can do that with zero projects in their portfolio? I mean, do you just charge $50? I agree that demonstrating ideas is what will lock the gig, though.
Edit: I just reread and saw that he’s a freelance editor, so perhaps he does have a portfolio... in which case YES. Don’t do this shit for free.
Because then they'll just expect more work for free. Plus this is hundreds and thousands of dollars worth of stuff that they'll be getting for free, forever. I can't just ring up Lumaforge and say "hey, you're new, lemme check out that Jellyfish thing." I can ask for a demo, but they get it back eventually. You can't do that with a video.
And it sets up expectation that the next time they "deserve" a freebie for someone to prove themselves, someone who maybe *does* have a portfolio.
No, you do the spec job to demonstrate what you could do if you were given the money. Offer some kind of deal where if they aren't happy maybe you discount them on the final product, or something like that. But you absolutely do not work for free.
The only work you should do for free is volunteer work. Maybe a spot for a food drive for a local pantry, or your church, or a thing for a community theater. But not for a company that's making money. If you're ever wondering, "should I take this free job," [consult this website](http://shouldiworkforfree.com/).
*She is a freelance editor. Not that its important really, but a potential client of mine told me that he almost rejected me when he saw Im a woman, and was surprised when he saw that I can do stuff! But thats another sad topic. Thanks for the input.
I really really hear what you all say, and Im really happy for this communication. Its just so weird to me to say: Hey I know you didnt ask for it, but I can do a branded video for you, for xyz amount of money. Thats why its easier for me to give it for free. But then Ill be one of the fiverrs ruining the industry. You are right. Ill work on my "asking for money" skill.
Don't think of it like that. You don't think of it as "I can do a branded video for this amount of money," that's like "you can buy a Snickers for 99¢." Great, whatever, it's a Snickers, I'm not going to rush out and buy one because it has a price. It's not even a sale price.
What you do is approach this as an opportunity for them. What does a branded video do for them? Does it increase sales? Increase engagement? Get people to come to more of their events? What is it they want?
Is this a band? Then how do your videos benefit the band? How are they making their money? Is it music track sales? Ticket sales to shows? Are they trying to drive people to specific events? How can your videos drive people to those efforts? Or enhance those efforts? If they're advertising on social media, can your videos drive people to those accounts? Or make their social media feeds more engaging and convince more people to follow them?
Or is this a hardware store? Do they want to just sell more widgets, or do they make more money on tool rentals? Or do they want more people to attend their classes and seminars? Do they have trouble even letting people know they exist?
Figure out your client, what is it they need? If you can't figure it out, or develop an educated guess, then I'd say take /u/Plazm's approach and offer to take them out to coffee and talk about what kinds of things they're trying to do. Where are they trying to drive people? Make an offer: "I'm going to try and come up with a proposal to help you drive customers where you want them, all I ask is another sit down over coffee and let me show you what I've come up with, on me."
Now, that is work, and it is being done for free, so it might sound contradictory to "don't work for free," but they aren't getting anything off you they can use. It's a "demo." Make it clear that this is just a very rough first draft of your idea, be open to feedback, or even a complete rewrite. Work with them to develop the idea. However if they see a future in this, and they bite on your offer, that's when you start thinking about a contract. If they decide "this is a project," that's when you start working on paperwork.
Now, maybe cut them a *discount* on the first project, to convince them to take it on, but make it unambiguously clear this is a *one-time discount* to convince them to take a chance on you. Cut your rate to break-even, or a smidge below that. But pull no punches in telling them how deeply you're discounting this, and how much you'll charge next time. Give them no false expectations.
I never do any media creation for free. In broadcasting school we had a speaker make a very good analogy. You don’t start as a $20 hooker and work your way up to being $1000 a night escort. Once you’ve devalued your work then that is what it’s worth.
I agree with the "no, no, no...." comment and would add extra 'nos'
Do you know anyone in your area who owns a small business? If so, do a video for them and use it for your demo.
Remember what the Joker said "if you're good at something, never do it for free"
No, I made a list of businesses and services I used before and that I like (tattoo shop, nutritionist etc) that already have presence in social media but I think they would stand out even more with a video in the local community.
>I wouldn't just show up unnanounced and ask people for money, thats why I will offer it for free. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Do *not* do this. This devalues your work, and everyone will expect something for you either at an aggressively discounted rate, or for free. You do a spec piece, or a "rip-o-matic." Come up with an idea for a video piece you'd make for them. Then go out and shoot some appropriate photos or video, maybe a photograph of their storefront, or you get a shot of a friend of yours walking into the store for you, or opening up one of their bags filled with products at home, or something like that. Fill in the gaps with stock footage or clips "borrowed" from somewhere else to demonstrate the kind of stuff you would show. So let's say it's a hardware store, you take a shot of their storefront for an establishing shot, you insert a few clips borrowed from other hardware store commercials to show the inside, with a voiceover about how their smart and friendly staff can help you with any project, and get good deals, like "a Hillman DrivPro Hammer, for only $29.99," with a clip of someone driving a nail into wood with a card on the side showing a picture of the hammer from their website and the price. "Or a DeWalt 20-piece socket wrench kit, on sale this week only for $249.99," with a clip of someone pulling sockets out of a drawer and attaching it to a wrench. It should look good, but it doesn't have to look super perfect. Just enough to give them an idea of what you *could* make for them, if they wanted to hire you. This demonstrates your creative ideas, and your interest in helping them. Have a few other ideas in your back pocket, about maybe making some videos for their website, where one of their staff can demonstrate what different kinds of hammers are good for, so they can buy the right one for their project, or why a [Stiletto](https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stiletto-14-oz-TiBone-Milled-Face-Hammer-with-15-25-in-Curved-Handle-TBM14RMC/203527224) is worth $240. That's what you do, you don't give them anything for free, you demonstrate ideas.
Correct. Do not do this.
There's nothing wrong with asking people for money. It's a business, they know that. Ask people for money all the time. You'll be surprised who will give it to you for some work.
Ahahaha ask people for money all the time! I imagine me going down the street yelling "Give me money! "No you give me money"! Thanks for the tips!
Don't do it for free. Maybe buy them a coffee and some of their time to pitch the power of branded video and the impact it could have on their bottom line. And charge a premium.
Maybe volunteer at a non profit?
There are a lot of people here saying to charge money, but I’m curious how one can do that with zero projects in their portfolio? I mean, do you just charge $50? I agree that demonstrating ideas is what will lock the gig, though. Edit: I just reread and saw that he’s a freelance editor, so perhaps he does have a portfolio... in which case YES. Don’t do this shit for free.
Because then they'll just expect more work for free. Plus this is hundreds and thousands of dollars worth of stuff that they'll be getting for free, forever. I can't just ring up Lumaforge and say "hey, you're new, lemme check out that Jellyfish thing." I can ask for a demo, but they get it back eventually. You can't do that with a video. And it sets up expectation that the next time they "deserve" a freebie for someone to prove themselves, someone who maybe *does* have a portfolio. No, you do the spec job to demonstrate what you could do if you were given the money. Offer some kind of deal where if they aren't happy maybe you discount them on the final product, or something like that. But you absolutely do not work for free. The only work you should do for free is volunteer work. Maybe a spot for a food drive for a local pantry, or your church, or a thing for a community theater. But not for a company that's making money. If you're ever wondering, "should I take this free job," [consult this website](http://shouldiworkforfree.com/).
*She is a freelance editor. Not that its important really, but a potential client of mine told me that he almost rejected me when he saw Im a woman, and was surprised when he saw that I can do stuff! But thats another sad topic. Thanks for the input.
I really really hear what you all say, and Im really happy for this communication. Its just so weird to me to say: Hey I know you didnt ask for it, but I can do a branded video for you, for xyz amount of money. Thats why its easier for me to give it for free. But then Ill be one of the fiverrs ruining the industry. You are right. Ill work on my "asking for money" skill.
Don't think of it like that. You don't think of it as "I can do a branded video for this amount of money," that's like "you can buy a Snickers for 99¢." Great, whatever, it's a Snickers, I'm not going to rush out and buy one because it has a price. It's not even a sale price. What you do is approach this as an opportunity for them. What does a branded video do for them? Does it increase sales? Increase engagement? Get people to come to more of their events? What is it they want? Is this a band? Then how do your videos benefit the band? How are they making their money? Is it music track sales? Ticket sales to shows? Are they trying to drive people to specific events? How can your videos drive people to those efforts? Or enhance those efforts? If they're advertising on social media, can your videos drive people to those accounts? Or make their social media feeds more engaging and convince more people to follow them? Or is this a hardware store? Do they want to just sell more widgets, or do they make more money on tool rentals? Or do they want more people to attend their classes and seminars? Do they have trouble even letting people know they exist? Figure out your client, what is it they need? If you can't figure it out, or develop an educated guess, then I'd say take /u/Plazm's approach and offer to take them out to coffee and talk about what kinds of things they're trying to do. Where are they trying to drive people? Make an offer: "I'm going to try and come up with a proposal to help you drive customers where you want them, all I ask is another sit down over coffee and let me show you what I've come up with, on me." Now, that is work, and it is being done for free, so it might sound contradictory to "don't work for free," but they aren't getting anything off you they can use. It's a "demo." Make it clear that this is just a very rough first draft of your idea, be open to feedback, or even a complete rewrite. Work with them to develop the idea. However if they see a future in this, and they bite on your offer, that's when you start thinking about a contract. If they decide "this is a project," that's when you start working on paperwork. Now, maybe cut them a *discount* on the first project, to convince them to take it on, but make it unambiguously clear this is a *one-time discount* to convince them to take a chance on you. Cut your rate to break-even, or a smidge below that. But pull no punches in telling them how deeply you're discounting this, and how much you'll charge next time. Give them no false expectations.
I never do any media creation for free. In broadcasting school we had a speaker make a very good analogy. You don’t start as a $20 hooker and work your way up to being $1000 a night escort. Once you’ve devalued your work then that is what it’s worth.
I agree with the "no, no, no...." comment and would add extra 'nos' Do you know anyone in your area who owns a small business? If so, do a video for them and use it for your demo. Remember what the Joker said "if you're good at something, never do it for free"
I actually do and I made a list of businesses that would like a video. Thats why I suggested offering for free. But I wont in the end :)
These are friends of your's?
No, I made a list of businesses and services I used before and that I like (tattoo shop, nutritionist etc) that already have presence in social media but I think they would stand out even more with a video in the local community.
Wow! Thank you for taking the time to write so many useful tips!