Full disclosure: I’d never designed an eBook before this project.
Full disclosure #2: I’ve still never designed an eBook.
Now, before you label me a fraud and unsubscribe from my emails and content and never work with me again, I want to say right off the bat that the client was very pleased with the final product. Despite the fact I’d never designed an eBook and I still haven’t today, we got it there somehow! In some cases, the ends justify the means. And in this case, the means by which I justified my ends was simply this: delegation.
Project Scope
Model Technology Solutions is a St. Louis based company that helps mid- to large-sized companies to manage their digital endpoints (e.g. computers, servers, phones, data centers, etc.). They provide services like data backup, Windows migration and upgrade, and systems automation to save companies sometimes millions of dollars.
Model is located in St. Louis, MO, but don’t let that fool you. They have a truly national scope of big-ticket clients such as Energizer Batteries and Charter Communications. They’re not small potatoes, even if they sometimes delegate their media to the tater-tot that is People Project Media.
And my uncle is their VP of Sales and Marketing. Small world, right?
Model approached me with a need to take a Google Doc and convert it into an in-brand and creative eBook design to use in sales and on their website. The subject matter was strategies for managing your Windows 10 patch. Steve wanted it creative, but he also wanted it to be in-brand and keep the professional quality of the media that had been created before.
Problem
First off, I’m personally not that skilled with InDesign. I can definitely muddle my way around the basics, but actually being creative in the context of the program is slightly above my current proficiency level. 90% of the software and equipment I currently use is self-taught, and InDesign is the Adobe product I’ve used the least.
That being said, I wanted to give Steve a slightly more polished, experienced look than I thought I would be able to provide if I was learning on the fly.
Solution
Enter Katie Pendell. Katie is my editor from a time past at Brent Clapp Media Services and a good friend. She’s a whiz for designing and editing. Far beyond my capabilities.
One of my business goals in 2019 was to delegate certain tasks to other media professionals. I want my business to be a means by which other artists can get work doing what it is that they love. And so with a quick whistle and a call, Katie was on the line and interested in the project.
Results
The end result was a well-designed, creative and professional eBook that was far more polished and creative than I would have every conceptualized on my own.
I’m glad that I hired Katie to make this project a reality instead of muddling through it on my own. There are a time and a place for muddling, and I’ve certainly done a lot of it as a small business owner. But this wasn’t time for that, and I know that Model is happy with the end product. It’s posted on their website here:
https://model-technology.com/unified-endpoint-management/
Or you can download the entire strategy guide by clicking this link.
What I learned
Delegation is tough, but it’s often worth it. It’s really hard on your nerves, especially as a young business owner. You feel out of control, and working with people is sometimes way more difficult than working with a computer and doing it yourself. But delegation often equals better quality. And the satisfaction of a customer is much more valuable than a little extra cash and the absence of a need to develop breathing exercises to reduce your stress.