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How to market Graphic Design services

by hf1664
9 replies
Hey guys,

One of my friends is a graphic designer and he wants to know the best way to market his services. He can do the whole thing: logos, print, web, video, etc.

He wants to know how to advertise his services with the cheapest medium possible because he is just starting and has minimal capital.

Would ads on Craigslist, or similar sites, be good to find the first few clients? And should the ads focus on one angle in particular (i.e: write copy about logos only OR include every service he can do in the copy)?

And, what about classified newspaper ads? I heard it's quite cheap, but I'm not sure.

Thanks in advance!
#design #graphic #market #services
  • Profile picture of the author designson
    I would tell him not to focus on marketing his services.

    He should find someone in a popular industry such as fitness, nutrition, dating etc....

    Tell him to look at their design. If he can design something better, design it and send it over to them.

    Industry leaders are always looking to 'look better'. If he can make them look better, they won't mind paying if his price is right.

    It's how I got my start.

    If he does great work for one industry leader, he'll never have to look for work again. Most people will contact him from seeing his work or by referral of the original guy/gal he did work for. It's all referral based from there!
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  • Profile picture of the author ewenmack
    Hook up with a trade only online printer and sell business cards at your cost price.

    Then offer to do logo design, whole business look upgrade, brochure designs.

    Professional service firms want to look sharp.

    Use the business cards as your cheap foot in the door
    to sell higher priced design as it's much easier once you have
    that initial low priced job.

    Will also be able to do their printing
    which is a matter of a few clicks to profit
    with online trade printers.

    Best,
    Ewen
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    • Profile picture of the author Ron Lafuddy
      Originally Posted by ewenmack View Post

      Hook up with a trade only online printer and sell business cards at your cost price.

      Then offer to do logo design, whole business look upgrade, brochure designs.

      Professional service firms want to look sharp.

      Use the business cards as your cheap foot in the door
      to sell higher priced design as it's much easier once you have
      that initial low priced job.

      Will also be able to do their printing
      which is a matter of a few clicks to profit
      with online trade printers.

      Best,
      Ewen
      You have been Rock Steady, offering excellent advice in this forum and others, for several years.

      This post was another fine example.

      A couple of years ago, I met with a women who was let go by a printer.
      He was closing his business. She handled all of his graphics work.

      I gave her similar advice to yours. She was not afraid to go out and
      talk to business owners, and picked up work immediately.

      Nuff said.

      Ron
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  • Profile picture of the author sazid hassan
    If he is targeting clients in his local area it is very helpful to list his mailing address and his phone number. Even if the potential client does not use these methods to contact him, listing his address and phone number can give added credibility, especially to local clients.I am also a graphic designer.I am following the tricks.I am also using twitter to advertise my services.Last day i got an offer in fiverr.
    Thank you
    sazid
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  • Profile picture of the author hf1664
    Thanks for the replies guys.

    My friend said he wanted to try something on a bigger scale than just contacting businesses one by one.

    And I told him about the business card thing and that getting one first sale will lead to more and more. But he said that he needs to put the logo on the business cards... so that means that he would give the client hundreds of cards with the current logo and then ask them if they want to change their whole identity, which will require the printing of new cards.

    Should he offer a "FREE examination of the company's current branding"?

    Do you know if he should save some money and try direct mail? Or maybe facebook ads? I was thinking about this, and again, if this is a good idea, would you write a sales letter/ad directed at different segments.

    Would you rather:

    a) Write 20 letters to companies that have a poor logo/identity (copywriting based on that)
    Write 20 letters to companies that have a poor website (copywriting based on that)
    Write 20 letters to companies that have a poor flyer/post card (copywriting based on that)
    And so on...

    b) Write the same letter to all of those companies. (copywriting based on all the services)

    I think option "a)" would be better, since the copy would be focusing on one thing only, and not everything at the same time. Then, once they accept that first service, he can offer them his other services (in person, by mail, email, etc.)

    What do you think? Focus on the benefits of one service in the letter OR focus on the benefits of everything in the letter?

    Thanks again.
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    • Profile picture of the author Ron Lafuddy
      Originally Posted by hf1664 View Post

      Thanks for the replies guys.

      My friend said he wanted to try something on a bigger scale than just contacting businesses one by one.

      And I told him about the business card thing and that getting one first sale will lead to more and more. But he said that he needs to put the logo on the business cards... so that means that he would give the client hundreds of cards with the current logo and then ask them if they want to change their whole identity, which will require the printing of new cards.

      Should he offer a "FREE examination of the company's current branding"?

      Do you know if he should save some money and try direct mail? Or maybe facebook ads? I was thinking about this, and again, if this is a good idea, would you write a sales letter/ad directed at different segments.

      Would you rather:

      a) Write 20 letters to companies that have a poor logo/identity (copywriting based on that)
      Write 20 letters to companies that have a poor website (copywriting based on that)
      Write 20 letters to companies that have a poor flyer/post card (copywriting based on that)
      And so on...

      b) Write the same letter to all of those companies. (copywriting based on all the services)

      I think option "a)" would be better, since the copy would be focusing on one thing only, and not everything at the same time. Then, once they accept that first service, he can offer them his other services (in person, by mail, email, etc.)

      What do you think? Focus on the benefits of one service in the letter OR focus on the benefits of everything in the letter?

      Thanks again.
      So, you and "your friend" didn't do anything with the advice offered?

      You wasted an entire month??

      Maybe you and "Your friend" should should go and WORK some of the suggestions.

      You know, actually DO SOMETHING and see what happens.

      Then, come back and report on your RESULTS.

      Lack of ACTION, not ideas, is your problem.

      Ron
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  • Profile picture of the author ankur88
    1 make a good portfolio and upload it on behance

    2 buy a domain,create an attractive website and share it on social media

    3 get works from marketplace like upwork and fiverr
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    • Profile picture of the author Ron Lafuddy
      Originally Posted by ankur88 View Post

      1 make a good portfolio and upload it on behance

      2 buy a domain,create an attractive website and share it on social media

      3 get works from marketplace like upwork and fiverr
      "contact me for drawings, color illustrations and caricature."

      Why don't you take your own advice?

      Ron
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  • Profile picture of the author robinaraoz
    Hi hf1664,

    I have been heavily involved with Graphic Design (Not so much anymore) and this is what I did:

    1) I contacted some known Internet/Affiliate Marketers and offered to barter my services. I asked if they would be interested in getting free graphic design from me in exchange of getting the word out about my services.

    2) I Created a graphic package bundle, I sold it both here on the WSO section and on a website, creating a one page salesletter for that specific product. Offered %100 commison upfront and on the backend.

    I inserted links to my graphic design services inside the product, this helped promote my services and it worked like charm.

    In my case this helped me get the word out and eventually this created a snowball effect where clients started recommending my services.

    Warm regards,
    Robin
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