How do I get more clients??

[KimberleyCreative]

I have struck a problem. Firstly I have been having problems finding clients, secondly I 'm having problems keeping them.

Marketing
I have been around all the shops in my area giving out flyers, one reply. I rang some up, but they stopped me before I could say anything and said that they didn't need anything at the moment. I try to convince people that I can help them get more customers, but they seem stubborn and recon that they know what they need. I have also been posting on forums. I've got a few jobs out of forums, but people don't pay much on forums. I have been e-mailing people about their websites, but haven’t got any replies. Though I have been choosing the small businesses, who probably can't afford it. Though I think it's a good investment to get more clients. I invested in a domain name and software, even though I don't have much money.

I need some advise on how I get some more clients

Keeping Clients
This has only happened with one client. I designed a banner for him. Now he wants another banner designed. Instead of coming to me for it. He has created a competition out of it. This shop owner called me to have a talk about a design idea. I was disappointed, because she said that she was talking to other Graphic Designer about it too.

Do anyone else have this problem? Clients making projects into a competition.

[LeadMagnet]

Don't make yourself cheaper or bow down to threats of "other designers". That's a very sneaky, underhanded thing for him to do and i would tell him so if he tried it on me.

There's a chance there is no other designer at all. Either way, don't do any work for him without a contract so you'll at least get paid for the work you do, even if it doesn't reach the completed stage.

[D856C]

You can convince some business people your service is going to make them money, but you have to meet them half way and offer proof.

Otherwise it's the opinion of one designer. And there are five thousand saying the same thing. Know what the value of an opinion is? That's right, it hovers right around zero. The market for design opinions is, as you are finding out, overcrowded.

Develop a bias for testing. Test their version, test yours. Make a case history out of the results. That's the first step in differentiating yourself from the thundering herd of graphic designers.

Next, look at it from the other side of the table.

One site had a beautiful flash banner with the theme of balance. This was a business consultancy and nothing else on the site used the promising theme in the header. They could have explained what in business was out of balance, and how their unique business philosophy restores balance. Except they didn't. Which reduced what could have been a branding opportunity to a superficial gimmick.

Another site, for a web developer, used a single tree on a grassy plain. Why? Why not.

When you see how graphics are used, is it really any wonder people don't take graphic design seriously? As marketed, it is a frivolous superficial triviality. And you don't spend serious money on frivolity, it's an impulse buy.

Sorry to say, but the vast majority of designers are selling eye candy as an impulse buy, then wondering why they can't make good money. It's not enough to feel indignant. Hosting a gripe session in a forum does nothing to change the situation -- if anything it relieves just enough steam to perpetuate the situation.

A few people get the luxury of being paid to give their opinion, everyone else has to offer proof. That means evidence. That means testing. Testing means disabusing yourself of charished myths about what's effective and seeing what makes the cash register ring. Then you're going to find business people pay for your advice.

[katie roos]

Originally Posted by KimberleyCreative

I designed a banner for him. Now he wants another banner designed.

Maybe it wasn't good enough and they feel they can get better else where

[Cwilk]

Definitely you need to have a strong portfolio. Also when you're starting out, don't lower your costs, increase your customer support. This helps you not only get a new client, but keep them too.

Another graphic designer who was going out on their own for the first time asked me how much we charge for phone calls, emails and faxing stuff. I pretty much laughed and told them if they want to keep clients, they're better off not charging for these items. They should be considered part of what you do because they are a client. It keeps them happy.

Otherwise you'll be sitting around doing billing and trying to figure out how many times you called someone for a client or emailed something....it's just not worth your time. It should already be a perk for them using you as their designer. You'll find that more clients will recommend you too.

The rule is always that there will be someone better than you, but they may not work well with the client. So if you work well with them, patronage is everything.

That's how to keep a client.

Getting a client is always harder to me. But if you go into obtaining a new client, educate them about what you do. Most designers will lie about how something is done because they don't want the client to know (it's a fear of them losing that client). Use that to your advantage....teach the client about process color, take them on press with you, show them on computer what it is you do to make their project get from point A to B. This makes them feel important. Just because you're teaching them doesn't mean they'll be able do it so you'll be fired. It means if they go to another designer who isn't like you, they'll come back because they might know how to do something that the other designer doesn't know.

This makes you much more valuable.

[Arkady]

I've just taken a quick look at your website and there are two things that struck me immediately. Firstly; is that you're landing page doesn't exactly shout graphic design, but more important I think is the absense of C.V.
If you are going to work as a freelance anything then that's the first thing any new prospective client is going to look for.

[Cwilk]

I didn't think about looking at your website. Arkady is right though.....it needs a more creative look overall.

[SatanicPenguins]

CV? = what? Creative vision? iunno lol

[KimberleyCreative]

Originally Posted by katie roos

Maybe it wasn't good enough and they feel they can get better else where

I designed the banner for him, and he said that he liked it. He is using it on his website, if he didn't like it, he would of said so, and I would of designed another one.

[LeadMagnet]

Originally Posted by SatanicPenguins

CV? = what? Creative vision? iunno lol

Curriculum Vitae