I'm sure there's a way!

theshoefairy

Hi all,

I am currently looking for full time work which isn't going too well, and I am looking at completing my Graphics Degree online towards the end of this year.

I have done a lot of work for sites like logodesignguru which basically run design contests. It's great if you win... but with so many people on there, competition is tough.

I have thought about contacting small businesses to offer my design services and maybe designing a business card for myselfto put out there. The trouble is, I don't really know where to look for these new/small businesses or where to advertise.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

steve1980

Get yourself on sites such as people per hour etc.

oldtoolie

Pop down to the library or look online for Guerrilla Marketing There's tons of books and articles on the subject. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_marketing

Google 'starting graphic design business' and you will see much advice.

Make that business card but figure out how you are going to get it into the hands of potential customers first.

theshoefairy

Thank you for the advice Much Appreciated!

BryanSmallBiz

Try going to local networking event: BNI, 4N, FSB - and make sure you have your own card done before attending your first one - ( use Vistaprint to get them printed).
You're pretty much bound to find useful advice there - as well as other people in your position, starting up, who may be in need of your services.

theshoefairy

Thank you, I will definitely try that. I have 250 on order

theshoefairy

Thank you, I will definitely try that. I have 250 on order

oldoakey

I would decide my trading name get the cards etc printed then start and add your company to the free business listings and social media sites that are out there. Another avenue could be ebay sell your service for 99p I think others do the same - don't know if it will work but its worth a try.

On top of that I would get out and cold call, meeting people face to face showing some of your work and getting a contact name, and if they cannot use you ask them if they know of anyone that could.

Good luck

property.advert

I have in the past needed graphic design logo work done for change of business names and each time I have been underwhelmed by the ease at which I could find someone online who I could easily communicate with and potentially meet in person before signing a contract.

Compete with thousands of professionals with opaque pricing structures and weird business practices and I will never find you. Call yourself AAAArdvaaark Logo and I will not use you. Make yourself a good website and clear pricing structure together with perhaps Skype video conferencing to "meet" and I will probably give you some test business.

JuniorDesigner

I currently do the exact same thing and getting started can be quite slow, thats not to say I'm inundated with loads of work because I'm not, I have a full time job doing something different so for what I do towards Graphic Design it's enough.

Get yourself on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook etc as your Business or yourself. Really try and follow a lot of the design web blogs and connect with bloggers and artists also.

Getting work, I would say look at Free Ad sites as small business' don't have MASSIVE budgets most of the time so like to post adverts for this type of thing on those types of sites.

And finally, get yourself a good website with some good testimonials from previous clients, this really does do wonders when people come looking!

Oh and 'peopleperhour' is garbage, there are a LOT of designers there from foreign climates who will work for £1!!!

Stick with what you're doing at the moment in that sense!