Spec Work and Crowdsourcing: Gambles that Don’t Pay Off
The economy’s in the toilet and you’re hungry for jobs, so you’re working on spec or posting designs to sites like CrowdSpring. It’s understandable. The problem is, spec and crowdsourcing can lower your value and hourly rates so far that minimum wage looks like a fat paycheck. Here’s what to do instead.
Written by Pamela Pfiffner on April 27, 2009
Finding meaningful work that pays well has always been a challenge for designers. You hustle to attract prospective clients, produce thorough proposals highlighting your suitability for the assignment; pitch possible design solutions; submit a bid for a budget; and hopefully get the job.
If you do, you work to develop a good relationship with the client that includes constant and thoughtful communication about objectives, goals, and branding. Based on feedback, designs evolve over time until the client is satisfied. Then you cash your well-deserved check.
But increasingly, this process is being undermined by two client initiatives, one old and one new: spec work and crowdsourcing.
NOSPEC.COM
Paragon Marketing Communications
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