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Cold-walking would bring a "web design student" encourage or discourage local business owners?

by unlimitedmarketing
12 replies
Hello fellow warriors,

I am planning on going to local businesses to introduce myself and get some offline business. Since I look fairly young and technically I am going to school for web design, I was wanting to have that in my pitch " I am a web design student looking to build my portfolio so my rates are very affordable" but I don't know if being a student would make me look like I know less and discourage clients instead of encouraging them.

I do have a portfolio of custom fan pages, twitter backgrounds as well as full sites I have designed. I also created a site named (my city) business reviews.com, I plan on offering to take a picture and write a short review or summary of their business regardless wether they buy anything from me.

I live in a city where there are a LOT of Hispanic people and it is a huge plus because I speak Spanish, but my main question is:

would introducing myself as a web design student looking to build my portfolio encourage or discourage people to work with me? I do look very young, so I was wondering if I should hire someone on craigslist to just go with me and have them there for sales support or something.

Suggestions or advice would be highly appreciated.
#bring #business #coldwalking #discourage #encourage #local #owners #web design student
  • Profile picture of the author sandalwood
    Originally Posted by unlimitedmarketing View Post

    Hello fellow warriors,

    I am planning on going to local businesses to introduce myself and get some offline business. Since I look fairly young and technically I am going to school for web design, I was wanting to have that in my pitch " I am a web design student looking to build my portfolio so my rates are very affordable" but I don't know if being a student would make me look like I know less and discourage clients instead of encouraging them.

    I do have a portfolio of custom fan pages, twitter backgrounds as well as full sites I have designed. I also created a site named (my city) business reviews.com, I plan on offering to take a picture and write a short review or summary of their business regardless wether they buy anything from me.

    I live in a city where there are a LOT of Hispanic people and it is a huge plus because I speak Spanish, but my main question is:

    would introducing myself as a web design student looking to build my portfolio encourage or discourage people to work with me? I do look very young, so I was wondering if I should hire someone on craigslist to just go with me and have them there for sales support or something.

    Suggestions or advice would be highly appreciated.
    I'm 66 and look it. But when I walk in I command a presence. Being young only means you are young. You can still walk in and command a presence. Take ownership of your age as if it were one of your biggest assets. In fact, make it your biggest asset by telling them "my protfolio speaks for me."

    Good luck. Keep smiling and the bastids won't know what you're really up to
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason X
    Ok I would defiantly not pay anyone to go with you.

    I think age should not affect you at all. It’s all in your confidence and how you present yourself to the business owners. I think your pitch about being in school is good. Most business owners will like the fact that you are in school and willing to give them an awesome deal because you are building your portfolio, instead of thinking how it might make you look less, think about it that it will make you look more.

    This is your pitch, Hi I am a graphic designer and web marketer, I go to school at " blank" and I am up to date with all the new trends like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and web sites, and I am actually looking to build my portfolio with comapaines just like yours and I would like to discuss how these new trends and technology can actually benefit your business. How does that sound?
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  • Profile picture of the author unlimitedmarketing
    Thanks Jason that sounds like great advice, I appreciate that. I am a little intimidated to go out and do this. This is my 2nd year in school, so I can build great designs, just the sales part is tough for me. Thanks!!
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    • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
      Originally Posted by unlimitedmarketing View Post

      Thanks Jason that sounds like great advice, I appreciate that. I am a little intimidated to go out and do this. This is my 2nd year in school, so I can build great designs, just the sales part is tough for me. Thanks!!
      You have to get over this fear. You are going to be scared as anything the first few times. Get right back into it tho. It is what sets successful people apart is this doing something despite your fear and never stopping because you screw up a few times.

      I will also give you a piece of advice or information you need to get out of your head now. Just because you can design a pretty webpage does not me it can get your client's new customers. Some of the most simple websites I have make my clients the most money. You would NEVER know to look at them. Some are pretty, yes, but pretty is a small component of sales. More important is on every page is there a headline, offer, call to action and scarcity? 99% of the sites out there cannot even answer yes to that and just providing that alone would make a sale. Also learn analytics and adwords (for testing) so you can offer something no other art student turned web-designer can...a sales feedback loop.
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  • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
    Most businesses I speak to are thoroughly disabused of using students to do their work as they already have done this and the student abandoned them when they found out how much work the owner really wants and how little they are going to pay.

    Saying that, you can use this as an advantage. You know that is going to be in their head when you walk in to any business that is likely to hire you. So put their mind at ease however you can by presenting in force. Say that there are three people working on this business. We also have 3 other part-time designers ready to activate your changes (can be outsourcers even) We can handle your changes in x amount of time...anything that leads them to believe they are beginning a long term relationship with you where others abandoned them. Then deliver that. If you do this, you will always have business...you just have to charge enough to make it worth your time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    This is the same problem encountered in job hunting: some people are going to discriminate against you because of your age. I had this problem when I was in my early 20s and encountered it even in my early 30s. Many people experience it as they get older, past 50. The secret is to shrug it off when it happens--I know it's not fun or easy but it's the best choice to make--and move on to the next prospect. You will find people who will give you a chance and don't care about age, just what you can do. Those are the people to value; the rest, dismiss.
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  • Profile picture of the author unlimitedmarketing
    Thanks RentItNow,
    I see where you are coming from. I don't just do web design though, I know SEO, Link building, Google Places, Mobile Web Design, Flyer Design, Social Media Marketing, and other services. I know pretty pages will not get them new customers. I am doing a lot of networking on linkedin and at meetup events. Thanks!

    I am currently taking a web analytics class and learning about A/B testing as well as how to create wordpress sites. This is something I am really involved in, and I am learning new skills every day. I do have other students in my class that are available and willing to help if I get a lot of customers, so that puts me at ease.
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    Announcing that you are a student, in the eyes of a business owner, means that you are inexperienced and are not capable of giving out quality work.

    I have quite a few clients who had websites done by students, and some were actually pretty good, but the perception of their website being done by someone still in school, sticks with them. Leave that detail out.
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  • Profile picture of the author unlimitedmarketing
    I suppose I could "split test" this and talk to say half of the people and let them know I am a student and then not tell the other 1/2. I can try both and see what happens. I just want to prepare myself as much as possible. Different areas / markets / people react differently to each approach.
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    • Profile picture of the author RentItNow
      Originally Posted by unlimitedmarketing View Post

      I suppose I could "split test" this and talk to say half of the people and let them know I am a student and then not tell the other 1/2. I can try both and see what happens. I just want to prepare myself as much as possible. Different areas / markets / people react differently to each approach.
      Very good thinking. It is how I refined my pitch REALLY fast. Very good above on the ab and analytics. It is the one thing I can most offer my client results with. It is a FAST feedback loop and can (although I would not promise an owner this), double their income in a very short time. It is my USP from all the other "webguys" in my city, but just as you will likely find, an almost impossible initial "offer" to get the client. For that, yes, use the prettiness of the site.

      Also, don't just offer online services to them. Some need a sign designed, a headline tested, a flyer done. It gives you the in for bigger services. Talk with them and see what they are getting results from and strengthen that with online services. They will sell themselves in that case.
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      • Profile picture of the author DebbieB
        As a business owner, the first question I'm going to ask is "Why should I use YOU?" Not anyone else. You.

        What do you bring to the table that others do not? Figure out the answer to that question and you'll have a much easier time of it.

        It's not about age. It's not always about ability even. It's about selling me something that you've got and I want.

        So tell me. Why should I hire YOU?

        Once you have the answer, getting new business isn't going to be nearly as scary for you.

        Debbie
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        • Profile picture of the author midasman09
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          "I am a web design student looking to build my portfolio so my rates are very affordable"

          You are a "smart" kid! PUT yourself in your prspects shoes for a minute; YOU have a business to run. You are VERY interested in HOW to keep it going or even INCREASE IT. You WILL spend your TIME...listening to any NEW IDEAS that might help!"

          Business owners are bombarded daily by "Requests for Handouts"! You come off as a "Charity-Case"!

          So what if you look like you're 10yrs old....for all your prospects know, you've been doing "Internet Stuff" since you were 4!

          Biz owners could care less...WHAT you look like or anything else. ALL they are interested in is...WCYDFM! WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME! Or...HCYHM! HOW CAN YOU HELP ME!

          Also....WSISTWY! WHY SHOULD I SPEND TIME WITH YOU!

          If you go into this thing thinking you are "INFERIOR"...you'll NEVER succeed!

          However....if you attack this as....YOU know HOW to HELP this biz owner! You WILL succeed! So....ACT like you can HELP them!

          Think of yourself as a young Bill Gates!

          Don Alm....we've ALL been where you are! We ALL had to start somewhere!
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