Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello Everyone!
     Last October I decided to start up a website that offered my graphic
design services. I recently graduated with a degree in advertising and
photojournalism and I really want to grow my business. I am listed in most
of the search engines and I have ads appearing on Google`s Adwords but I
just can`t seem to get enough clientelle. Any suggestions on how to
advertise my services and get my name out there that is not going to cost
me an arm and a leg? Thanks! My site is
http://www.redefinedesignstudios.com

First of all, there are TONS of graphic designers in the world ... you are never going to win with Google (or AdWords).

Secondly, your site is nice, and shows a lot of talent and skill ... but really tells me nothing about you on the front page. You potential is there, but the marketing is lacking. (Your user interface is also having some usability issues like a lot of things looking like buttons/looking clickable but that are not ... but that`s another discussion.) I want to know your USP, your differentiation, why I need you more than I need AIR!

Have you gone through the 10 Steps to Open for Business and developed a business and marketing plan? I think you need to really define your niche, define your target market, and create a plan to go after that market.

I think you need to be more clear about what you do as well. You list a bunch of items there but don`t really define "design". Do you to the marketing campaigns and the copywriting? Or just the graphic arts? Did you do the Flash on the site - do you do any web graphics in general? (Do you realize that if you do, you don`t list it? And if you don`t, you should put the words PRINT on there somewhere.)

Who can you partner with to get more exposure? For example, can you find a web company that doesn`t do print work and needs help with that? Or one that doesn`t do logos, and you can help them? If you do the Flash, there`s companies (like mine) that don`t have the manpower for extensive Flash work, and maybe you can partner with those kinds of places to offer your services? Or a copywriter that needs someone to make print materials once the copy is made?

It is VERY important to remember that just opening your doors and putting yourself on Google does NOT mean business will come piling in! I`m all over Google, and not a single client of mine has randomly found my company site through Google. I have to work hard, daily, at marketing efforts - and I spread them over many channels to maximize my exposure.
Like you, I am in a very saturated and similar business, so I need to differentiate myself, find my niche, and then come up with a true marketing strategy for myself.

In any case, let me know if you have any questions, and welcome to StartupNation!

I was thinking about this the other day, and something my father said, long ago. I ran into the same concept recently.

• Anyone can play the piano. People who make it are the ones who know how to put on a show.

Back then, I got bent outta shape because NOT "anybody" can play the piano. But I was missing the point, as younger folks are wont to do. In the context of people who have the skill and talent to play the piano, any of them can play the piano.

So too with any other skill, talent, service, product, invention, or whatever constitutes a business exchange. Anybody can do that...but what matters is the show.

Think of yourself as playing a club, where every week a new graphic designer comes in and entertains the audience. How would anyone remember YOU, and want to make a note to come back to that club when you`re "playing?"

For a while,  offer to "give away" your graphics. Say for instance you design a logo or header for someone but you make a stipulation that the header or logo must be clickable and linked to your site. Good backlinks and potential visitors.Just something to think about.

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Get Out of Debt

I like your site. Did you use a template? I see the contact form is unavailable. If you have problems making the flash work, then either use the html static template and make the contact form work and privacy policy button etc. If you did get this as a template then maybe ask the template people to make sure all pages are working. They may charge you 50.00 to make your contact form to work etc... If someone is going to your site,they may been turned off by things not working, also I would maybe put up some more examples in your pertfolio. If you are just geting started and don`t have much, make up some new logos for viewing etc. Your prices are great. I agree about google, it can be costly and you want to converge those clicks into clients. So if you are getting looks at your site but no response from the site, then think about fixing the above. Locally i would suggest joining a business group...your services would be needed by these folks to help grow their business. Also, what about freelancing with another established company, to gain expeirience and build your portfolio. Your prices are very fair and i know a graphic design company that may be interested in using you as a freelancer. You have to "get out there" in your community and let folks know that you are in business and that you can fill a need of theirs. You have the talent, now just go get them!!!

 

Erin

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

While design and graphics can be done anywhere, a lot of business
owners want to meet someone face to face or at least get referred to
someone they know will do a good job.

So, you need a strategy for getting known as being good at what you do
as well as delivering as promised.

There are a lot of organizations who don`t have a lot of money, but their
executive director may be well connected. So, doing some gratis work
may pay off with referrals and increased visibility.

Think about Rotary or maybe the Kiwanis and local chambers of
commerce often have business to business networking events.

I think the hardest thing to overcome is the fact that business in general
doesn`t really understand what graphic design can do for them, except
when they`re told the ad someone did in-house won`t work for a national
publication or the do-it yourself to save money approach backfires when
the business image suffers.



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Vann Baker
President/Creative Director
Design-First.com
"Creative Marketing Strategy That Works"

Thanks everyone for their input, you all have a lot of great ideas that I will
definately put in effect.

You have the talent, you just have to let people know about it! Local marketing first, gain somemarket share and then go from there. Word of moth can be a great thing!

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

I have been looking into working with web designers and copywriters like
you suggested. A lot of people seem to be interested in working with me. My
question now is, what is a sensible way for both me and the other
companies to benefit each other. They are all very interested in refering
clients to me, but I don`t feel like I will have enough of my own business to
refer clients to them as well. Would it be better to just offer them a
commission for every client they refer, and if so, what is a fair amount for
my rates? Thank you guys so much!

Keep separate in your mind the ideas of Web development, and site layout. I think Nikole uses a graphics artist, and they have a partner-relationship of some kind. True, Nikole?

Anyway, developing a site is about coding and technology. But the big problem with a whole lot of sites is their layout. Graphics design isn`t at all the same as code development, but somehow, a lot of people think the layout is "oh...I`ll just toss that in later."