Know what you are asking the work to change.
Hiring a creative partner should make the next decision clearer. Before you compare proposals, write down what is getting in the way: an unclear offer, a website that is hard to use, or a repetitive task that eats the working day.
What we work on
PlainBlack works across websites, brand, marketing strategy and AI tools. Those jobs can connect, but you do not have to buy all of them to address one problem. Our services page explains the current options.
If the offer is confusing, a new layout may not resolve it. If the enquiry form is broken, a brand exercise will not make the message arrive. The work needs to match the problem.
Look at the work
Browse our work. Look for choices that make sense for the business involved. Then ask what experience is relevant to your own brief.
A portfolio can show what was made. Revenue, time saved and other business results need their own evidence. Ask for that evidence when an outcome claim is part of the pitch.
Bring the useful information
- What the business offers and who buys it.
- The problem you want to resolve.
- What already exists, including content and systems worth keeping.
- Your budget range and any real deadline.
- Who will approve the work and use it afterwards.
You do not need a polished brief. A specific example of something going wrong is often more useful than a long list of features.
Make the agreement understandable
Before work begins, the scope should explain what is being made, what you need to supply, and what happens when the request changes. Domain, hosting and third-party subscription costs depend on that agreed scope. Ongoing responsibilities belong in the conversation too.
Our position on billing is simple: Approve every invoice. Ask questions while the work and costs are being agreed.
Is there a fit?
Start with the job. We can discuss how our services apply to it and what information is needed to scope it. A useful first conversation should leave you better able to decide.