Freelance Animation : Building Your Brand - Print Peppermint

Freelance Animation : Building Your Brand


Source: Fudge Animation
Whichever creative field you work in, starting out on your own can be a daunting task. No less so for all you freelance animators out there striving to get your business launched alone. Getting it right from the beginning can save you a lot of confusion and legwork later and will make sure that you create a brand that works for you. Check out my top tips for building your brand below.

Source: pixelsmithstudios
Whichever creative field you work in, starting out on your own can be a daunting task. No less so for all you freelance animators out there striving to get your business launched alone. Getting it right from the beginning can save you a lot of confusion and legwork later and will make sure that you create a brand that works for you. Check out my top tips for building your brand below.
Know Yourself
Firstly, you need to take a good hard look at yourself and what you do in order to know how to best market what you are selling. Ask yourself what you love about animation, what you love about working for yourself, and which part of this job you want to make the main focus of your business. Prospective clients respond best to brands that have a clear aim, so make sure you know what it is you want to sell before you begin trying to sell it. It has long been said that for freelance business people, selling your brand means selling yourself. Know what makes you unique as a person and where your strengths and weaknesses lie, and then play to these with your business plan. “Alongside this, you’ll need to know what stands out about the particular way in which you animate, and what kind of jobs your style is suitable for. If you are struggling to pinpoint the answers to any of these questions when analyzing yourself, reach out to friends in the business and previous clients who can provide personal feedback” says Leann Grady, a communication manager at Writinity and Last minute writing.

Source: Online Animation Magazine
Know Your Clientele
Next, up you need to know your clients. There is no point in building a brand around your animation skills that does not connect on the right level with the kind of target audience that you are aiming to attract. If you can succeed in appealing to the niche in the animation market that fits you properly, you’ll garner far more business for your marketing efforts by limiting the amount of competition you are up against. Initially it will be hard work to build a client base and you will have to reach out to them personally.

Source: Bunny Studio

Source: The Power Moves
Names And Logos
Once you know your aims as an animator, it will be far easier to design your brand. Coming up with a unique, memorable name and logo is one of the most exciting and important parts of starting up your own company, and it is crucial to get this right. Obviously, it needs to be a name that isn't already taken, that should be easy to spell and convey the personality that you want it to. You can of course use your own name, or if this doesn't appeal, come up with a business moniker. In terms of creating a logo to go with your brand name, now is your time to show off your skills in design but be careful not to overcomplicate things. Consider the colour, font and scale of your logo for ease of use across many different media types, ensuring that you can maintain a sense of unity throughout all of the different channels that you will be using to promote yourself.

Source: Animated Video

Source: Logo Maker

Source: 99designs
Last But Not Least

Source: Animated Video
In terms of self-promotion once you have set up these fundamentals, you need to consider how to focus your energies best as a one (wo)man-band. “You will need to commit time each day to advertising your animation packages, so try to work this into projects you already have on the go. Choose your channels wisely around which ones work best for your type of animation, and which ones engage best with your target audience” comments Emory Tremblay, a marketing manager at Draft Beyond and Researchpapersuk. For example, Facebook might have an older demographic than Instagram, or sites like Twitter might suit your writing style better than places like Tumblr which are more image based. Consider also setting up more in-depth channels for promotional content such as podcasts or email newsletters that forge a real connection with your clientele. You need to tell a story about your personal journey with animation and give clients a reason to be interested in your business above others.

Source: Top Resume
Alex Dubinski is a an online marketing strategist at Lucky Assignments and Gum Essays. He have a five-year experience of working in marketing industry. He has a great passion for reading and writing, enjoys good food and loves to travel.
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