Freelance graphic designer - unsure what promotion to do

lawtz04

Hello all

I was hoping to get a few ideas from you who have a marketing type brain!

I have a small graphic design business (not website development, but more design for printed materials).

I have built up a little bit in savings now and want to do some marketing. I have looked into doing a leaflet drop domestically, but I am aware the return is low on these things. I have read that putting an offer on them can help boost return.

I am particularly looking for companies that have a regular publication like a monthly magazine or catalogue as it is great to have that regular work.

Any thoughts or ideas gratefully recieved. I was thinking along the lines of 'ill design the next edition of your company magazine / catalogue for free/x amount'. Then I wondered if that cheapens a brand - i dont want to be seen as cheap and cheerful!

Thanks!

asajj

I'd assume magazines would be really on the high end (technically) but I have no knowledge of graphic design so can't be sure. It would therefore require a bit more high-end marketing/promotions.

Perhaps you can offer a "consultation" rather than design itself? You can review and give them what you think of it/what you can offer.

Do you blog about your work? You can also use this with the help of social media and maybe a giveaway every month or so to increase your following. If you don't blog, you might find some bloggers where you can do some "work" for them in return for a review.

Do you use Upworks and Fiverr? Might help.

However, I'm unsure if those would be still in cheap and cheerful category for you!

lawtz04

Thank you for your suggestions - a free consultation may well help.

I dont tend to blog about my work - lack of time, but I am trying to increase my twitter / facebook usage as I have a few followers but again its finding time.

Fiverr and similar sites are terrible in mho. You get people with limited abilities who can charge next to nothing because of the geographical location and its like the old adage goes, you get what you pay for!

Ilona

Hi. I am no expert on this, but, I deliver newsletters for a Parish Council, it's only twice a year, but they have a lot of pages in A5 format. I also notice that the newsletters in my own village have changed from a simple piece of photocopied A4 to a glossy four page A4, so someone has found some money from somewhere.

Have you got a portfolio of your work? I think face to face selling would be best for you. Maybe make contact first on the phone, or email, try and get an appointment with the person in charge. Money and time spent on leaflet dropping would be wasted in my opinion. You need to target potential customers, weeding out the fluff.

Ilona

lawtz04

Thanks for the reply! Parish councils etc are okay but i suspect they might not have the budget I require - I will enquire though!

I am not the best at contacting potential clients - especially that initial approach. I am wondering about using referral fees - so contacting companies like design agencies and printers and saying any work I get from them referring someone to me, they get a small fee from -5% or something.

Thoughts?

DomRavioli

Hi OP,

Most of the larger companies do it in house, so try with SME first. You will need a good portfolio that you can either email or link to, along with either references from previous clients or reviews.

5% is a lot to give for a referral, considering you have ruled out a lot of smaller enterprises - churches can be lucrative because of their readership, so don't rule them out.

asajj

lawtz04 wrote: »

Fiverr and similar sites are terrible in mho. You get people with limited abilities who can charge next to nothing because of the geographical location and its like the old adage goes, you get what you pay for!

Yes agreed but I think also people nowadays are more aware of this and you will still find people who are willing to pay for quality!

With regards to your followings on Twitter, you might use something like Twittimer to schedule your tweets perhaps. So you can post more frequently.

Referral fee is good but 5% is high I assume.

Ilona

lawtz04 wrote: »

I am not the best at contacting potential clients - especially that initial approach.

Thoughts?

Why is this, are you shy, or nervous, or have little confidence? You need to give this a go, bite the bullet, you don't get anywhere in business hanging back. It might be a bit disastrous at first, you will get plenty of 'no thanks', but you have to keep on with it.

I took a job selling a charity to schools once, had to ring up and ask for the headmaster, it was hard work, rejection after rejection. I started later and later in the morning. Then I thought to myself I have a good work record up to now with previous jobs, let's not spoil it by packing this job in. So I forced myself to ring and ring. The trick is to make loads of notes, if they say ring back next week, you jolly well ring back next week. When I took the area over (300 schools), there was one booking, I turned it around and when I left I passed on 80 bookings to the next person.

If it's your business you are the top man (or woman), you are the one that potential customers need to speak to. It's about building relationships, they need to know you the person, what you offer, and how much you are charging. Now get off your bum and do it. Let us know how you get on.
Ilona

Ilona

How are you getting on OP, anything happening yet? Do you have a plan? Let us know how you get on, your experiences may be a help to others in a similar situation.
Ilona