Feel I've hade a HUGE mistake!

lday77

Hi

I set up in business about 6 months ago after ten years in my field of graphic design, as I took voluntary redundancy when it was offered to me, but so far I have only been making about £350 a month profit.

I had some savings which are just about gone now and I am really panicking that I am going to fail, as being a self-employed designer has always been my goal.

Yesterday I spent all day on the phone trying to get new customers (which I absolutely hate doing as I am rubbish at it) after 50 calls I got 2 possible customers but one of them doesn't have an office, and as I work from home he wants to meet at a hotel which I am a bit worried about. The second possible customer sounds fine but now I am worrying that if I get business I am not going to be good enough.

I would like to join a networking club like BNI but my local chapters all have designers/printers I also doubt I could afford to join. I am waiting to see if my business plan has been accepted by the Prince's Trust - if it is will that help?

I think I might have made a huge mistake

MORPH3US

Iday77,

Where abouts are you based?

My advice:

- Sales calls, you might not be any good, but you better get good and SOON. Seriously though, don't worry about them. Just call up, make sure you are speaking to the right person and just tell them what you are about.

- worrying you aren't good enough - STOP THAT RIGHT NOW! Stop feeling sorry for yourself, I can tell from your post that you feel a bit down and are worried and maybe lacking a bit of confidence in yourself now it all looks bad but worrying that your work won't be good enough won't get you anywhere. Pull your socks up, get your !!!!!! in gear and get working. If you don't think you are good enough, you NEVER will be!!

M

skippy64

Just a few ideas off the top of my head
Can you freelance for other established printers/design studios for a short term period? They may currently have heavy workloads and could possibly need extra design staff.
Look at how you are currently marketing your design skills, is it costing you more than you expected.
Hitting the telephone cold calling or going out on the 'hoof' showing your wares will pay off in the end, its just a case of accepting the low conversion rate of winning new accounts.
The clients that you currently have done work for see if there is anything new that they need doing and also consider contacting past clients from where you were employed, obviously taking into account any confidentialty contracts you may have been under when you were employed.
Keep at it and I'm sure there are others on here who will give advice.

Encantador

The portfolio on your website does not inspire confidence. It looks like you have only just started and not got much work yet.

Spend some of your time getting lots of examples of what you can do on it.
Maybe offer to do some work cheap or even free for local schools/charities.

Network at every opportunity, are you on Shell and or ecademy?

Does your local chamber of commerce and/or business link have networking meetings?

Good luck.

lday77

Hi and thanks,

I know I need to get good at sales calls, I just hate it, I think my problem is I had about four jobs lined up for this week and didn't get any of them, due to quotes being too high, it's not that I am expensive (the opposite in fact - that could be part of my problem) I think I have been targetting small new businesses as they seem easier but they don't have any money to spend either.

I have contacted people I used to work for and they have put me on a list for when they are busy, and a couple of printers have said they'll use me in their busier times but I've had nothing yet.

I am based in Northants

lday77

Encantador wrote:

The portfolio on your website does not inspire confidence. It looks like you have only just started and not got much work yet.

I know my web site is a bit !!!!!! and I am not going to make excuses for it, I have no money to invest in more than three pages and didn't want it to look overcrowded I know it needs updating and thanks for pointing that out, I know it's really important. The links on the portfolio page do work so you can see the actual items (you probably worked that out though)

I haven't heard of Shell or ecademy what do they do, do they operate all over the country?

rharper83

Shell Livewire is a great small business site. They have forums, and I've seen loads of people getting work on there - offering to help out the other businesses - might be worth a look?

If you register, they offer a lot of services for free (and it's free to register too!)

I can't remember the URL, but if you can't find it using google, pm me and I'll dig it out (although i suspect it may be https://www.shelllivewire.com or www.shell-livewire.com! or .co.uk!)

Richard.

lday77

Excellent I'll have a look, that sounds great!

gonzo10

Give this forum a go aswell - https://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk

Very nice and helpful bunch of folk.

bridiej

Hang in there, six months isnt that long when you've got a new business.

I know how you feel about sales calls, I havent done them myself but I used to hate using the phone - but once you've got confidence in yourself it's dead easy.

You've got to put all your negative feelings to one side and keep telling yourself how good you are. Dont worry about losing out on jobs as they said the quotes were too high, there's no point undervaluing yourself just to get the work as you'll only end up resenting it.

You say you cant afford a decent website, but I think you should consider investing if it makes it look more professional as websites are an excellent marketing tool (I've got the majority of my clients from my site)

Good luck

raddy59

Shell live wire - try:
https://www.shell-livewire.org