Self-promotion is an often underestimated but crucial factor for the success of freelance web and graphic designers. Below you will receive a detailed guide that helps you calculate the costs for your own marketing so you can realistically assess your offers.
Key insights
Self-promotion is a significant cost factor for freelancers that should not be ignored. It is essential to include all incurred costs, including your own working time and media investments, in the calculation. A rough guideline for annual costs is about 5,000 euros. Create a list of your advertising measures and ensure that you estimate the costs realistically.
Step-by-step guide to calculating your self-promotion
To create an accurate calculation of your self-promotion, it's best to proceed in several steps. This way, you keep an overview of all relevant costs and can assess your services realistically.
1. Recording the basic advertising measures
Start by creating a list of the advertising measures you have used or want to use for your business. This includes, among other things, image brochures, advertisements, flyers, and the design of your website. Consider what materials already exist or what you will need in the future.
2. Questioning self-performance
Consider that the creation of these advertising materials is often done in-house. This sounds like a savings, but don’t forget that your working time also has a monetary value. Calculate how much time you have invested in creating these materials and multiply this by your hourly rate.
3. Estimating media costs
Additionally, media costs, such as placing advertisements or renting banner spaces on the internet, are a significant cost factor. Research the prices for placing advertisements or purchasing banner spaces to create a basis for comparison.
4. Creating a cost overview
Gather all the information and create an overview in which you list both your self-performance and the media costs. This overview should provide you with a transparent view of the total costs of your self-promotion. Be aware that an amount of around 5,000 euros per year is considered an ideal guideline here.
5. Reviewing and adjusting the calculation
Consider which measures you should implement more intensively or perhaps reduce. If your current self-promotion is not bringing the desired success, an adjustment may be necessary. Get feedback and analyze the success of your existing measures.
6. Utilizing resources
If you are unsure how to price specific materials or measures, review your course again. It lists numerous resources and tools that enable you to make a sound price assessment.
7. Integration into your calculation
Finally, enter the amounts you determined into your overall price calculation. These figures give you a benchmark for your projects and help you create realistic offers that appropriately account for your expenses.
Summary – Self-promotion for freelancers: Correctly calculate costs
Self-promotion plays an indispensable role in your business success. By recording, checking, and adjusting your advertising costs, you not only ensure a transparent calculation but also a sustainable optimization of your marketing strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the typical costs for self-promotion?A rough guideline is about 5,000 euros per year.
What advertising measures should I consider?Consider image brochures, advertisements, flyers, and your website.
How do I estimate my self-performance correctly?Calculate the invested time and multiply it by your hourly rate.
Where can I find price information for marketing measures?Your course lists numerous resources that provide helpful pricing information.
What to do if the current advertising is not working?Analyze past measures, get feedback, and adjust your strategy.