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A Proven Strategy For Getting Design Referrals - RD067

A Proven Strategy For Getting Design Referrals - RD067

FromResourceful Designer: Strategies for running a graphic design business


A Proven Strategy For Getting Design Referrals - RD067

FromResourceful Designer: Strategies for running a graphic design business

ratings:
Length:
59 minutes
Released:
Apr 6, 2017
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Can you use more design referrals? We are graphic designers. We have the know-how and creative ability to promote our own business like no other businesses can. We can tweak our websites to get the absolute most out of them. We can go out and network until the cows come home, (whatever that means). And yet, even with all of our know-how and ability to promote ourselves, nothing feels better than getting a call from someone looking for a designer and hearing that you were referred to them by a satisfied client. I don’t know the actual statistics, but I can almost guarantee that when it comes to freelance and home-based designers acquiring new work, referrals is the number one way by far. Maybe you’ve been in business for several years like I have and have an established client base. Or maybe you're just starting your graphic design business. You chose the perfect name for it. You’ve designed a bunch of marketing material to help you promote it, including a stunning website with a great About Page. You’ve even figured out what your pricing strategy will be. Then you go out into the world, or more likely your local area and land yourself those first few elusive clients.  After creating some stunning designs for them you sit back and keep your fingers crossed that they'll spread the word about your amazing talents and start sending referrals your way. In this episode of the Resourceful Designer podcast, I discuss one strategy to get people referring you. A strategy that I’ve used recently for getting design referrals with great success. How to improve your chances of getting design referrals. This strategy works best if you are part a niche you want to work in. Preferably something you know a lot about. A hobby, group or interest of yours. It’s not absolutely necessary. However, it will work better if you are. Go to where like-minded people in your niche hang out. It may be in person or it could be online like in Facebook Groups or on Reddit. The first thing you want to do is make friends and start creating relationships with them. Then offer help the people in that space by sharing your knowledge. Try to solve people's problems by answering questions about design and websites you come across. Over time this will create social proof that you are an expert in your field and people will start to recognize you. Then, when they require someone with your skills they’ll know who to turn to. What I did to expedite this strategy. Here’s the strategy that has been a game changer for me and the reason I’m getting so much work in the podcasting space, my niche of choice. Offer design work at no charge. No, I am not suggesting you should work for free. If someone contacts you asking for free work turn them away quickly unless there’s a very valid reason why you should work for free. What I’m saying is offer a completed design to someone who could use it even though they never asked for it. Let me explain. As graphic designers, we are constantly learning new things, expanding our skills, and exploring our creativity. Whenever you decide to test out some new technique or tutorial, try out some new Photoshop plugins or actions you just acquired or play around with a new font. Instead of just fooling around with them, try designing something for someone who needs it and offer it to them at no obligation to use it. Don’t tell them their current design is bad. Simply tell them you were trying out a new technique or such and decided to use their “brand” as a gunnie pig. Since you can't use the design for anything yourself, they might as well have it. Here’s the payback. The person you offer it to will either love it and tell everyone about it. Or they will thank you but decide not to use it, but they will still be grateful nonetheless that you thought of them and tell everyone about it. The next time they hear of someone who is looking for a designer you can almost guarantee they will mention you. The bonus thing is you didn't waste your time design
Released:
Apr 6, 2017
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Offering resources to help streamline your home based graphic design and web design business so you can get back to what you do best… Designing!