0Building Business This Year

2009 is here. The economy isn’t looking so hot. It’s time to kick it up a notch. To do that, you’ve really got to be paying attention to what you’re doing every day. Every activity needs to be focused on building your business. The best way to do that is pay attention to what you’re doing. Is every activity really building your business? Is it making you money? 

Every task needs to be labeled as business building or money making. Sometimes I find myself doing things that don’t really build my business. Other times, I just don’t really realize how important some activities are to my business. It’s important to focus on what makes money and on what attracts new customers. You should be pinpointing them. 

Money Making

This is the easy part. The obvious answer is any activity you are getting paid to do.  Whenever you are on the clock for a customer, you’re making money. Another way to count an activity as a money maker is if you can sell it to someone else. A couple of good questions to determine if an activity is a money maker are:

• Am I billing someone for my time?
• Can I sell this to someone else?

The obvious answer to “Am I billing someone for my time?” is if you’re working for a client. Another good money making activity is when you’re signing on a new client. Obviously, you’ll be making money from a new client. As for “Can I sell this to someone else?” those activities can be things like designing layout templates and/or programming simple web applications. Hint: They are also good ways to hone your skills.  

Business Building

These activities aren’t necessarily associated with a client paying you money or someone purchasing some product from you. They’re about showing off, promoting yourself and building your business/social network. These are the activities that will get your name known. So how do you tell if you’re building your business? Ask yourself these key questions:

• Am I building my reputation?
• Am I meeting new contacts? 

These are tall questions, some with short answers and others that can be more complicated. The first question “Am I building my reputation?” really is about whether or not you’re doing something that focuses market/industry attention on you. My contributions to this blog and a .Net coding blog are examples of building my reputation. Other examples are things like sending out newsletters with tips to clients. You can also do this through providing good customer service, and building quality example projects.  

The second question, “Am I meeting new contacts?” would include activities that force you to meet new people. Going to Chamber of Commerce meetings, giving business building speeches, and socializing with more people always count towards meeting new contacts. Of course, meeting people isn’t the be all and end all of the activity. It only works if you actually starting landing jobs. Keeping in contact with these new contacts would also count. Things like sending out emails, postcards etc. would count as business building activities. 

Keeping Track

All these things are great in theory. The question is, how do you know you’re being effective? I found the Printable CEO http://davidseah.com/blog/the-printable-ceo-series/  to have a great set of free printable documents to track your time and what you’re doing with it.  

Happy New Year
Des

0Why So Serious?

Picture the following conversation, taken from the comments at Web Worker Daily:

Them: What do you do?
Me: I am a web designer.
Them: Oh! My dentist also does web design. He/She is really good with Frontpage and stuff. He/She even has their own website. It has something to do with geocities…
Me: Yeah. I do dental work on the side, too. I even have my own drill and chair.
Them: Huh?

I don’t know about any of you other freelancers out there, but this about hits the nail on the head for me. Anytime someone asks me, “So what do you do?” I’m wondering whether I should tell them I build websites or just leave it at “I work with computers. You?”

Because the idea exists that “computers do the work for you”, folks everywhere who commute to an 8-to-5′er assume that us so-called “web designers” basically sit around surfing the web all day. Part of it’s laughable, and part of it’s somewhat angering, because we’re looked at as though we don’t have a “real job”. How many of you reading this got into the field because it was so darned easy? I didn’t think so. Building websites isn’t done in a pinch, and yet a large portion of the general public tend to see it that way.

I figure the only way to really get folks to take us seriously is to change the way we portray ourselves. Like telling someone what we accomplished with a certain project. Instead of saying “I design websites”, tell them “We had a client that was spending $500.00 a month on paper applications. By moving them online, we saved them 75% of that cost.”

Another good way is to jump the gun a bit and directly describe how you could help whatever company they work for. Get the name and description of their company and create your own solutions on the fly.

Them: What do you do?

Me: Well, who do you work for?

Them: XYZ Company. We build lamps.

Me: My company helps XYZ get to where they can sell lamps online and education the public about lamps. We also make it easier for Google to find them and get more folks to buy their lamps from XYZ.

Of course, these are just a couple of ways that we could change the face of freelancing in a way that leaves them thinking, “I’ve got to hire them!” Instead of “Pbbth. Slacker.” I’d love to hear some of yours. How can we make the public see what we’re really about?

1The Holiday Advantage.

I love the holidays. The nippy weather, smells of all that great food and the general merriment in the atmosphere as everyone celebrates in his or her own way. If you can look past the consumerism that’s saturated the season, then the holidays can really be a great time.

I also love the holidays because it’s a great opportunity to give back to the clients that helped pull me through the year. One thing that has always come up is “How can I keep it from getting stale?” No, I’m not talking about  making sure the cookies are fresh; I’m saying how do I change it up? How do I keep from the client saying, Oh boy! Another batch of cookies?

First off, don’t give them cookies. If you must give candy, get something tailored to their profession. A great example of which can be found at The Chocolate Vault.

I might get some flack for this, but I would recommend not getting them something with your company’s name on it. Yes, I know that you want them to remember you, but there’s better ways to do that than to get them that coffee mug that has your logo emblazoned across it. That sort of thing gets put in the cubbard, along with the feeling that you are “all about the money”.

On that note, I’d also recommend against giving discounts to clients for more work around the holidays. First off, you might be too swamped to handle it, either through work or family stuff. Secondly, again, it just looks like you’re trying to get more work and it’s all you care about. Seems a bit hollow, to me. C’mon, folks! This is the time for celebration and being real with your giving. Put this on the same level as giving something to a long-time friend. You want it to be personal.

I would offer though, that you could give a client discounted work for the holidays if they’d really benefit from it. If they are just pouring work into you and have remained loyal for all these years, etc. Then cutting them some slack on pricing for the holidays might be just the gift they could use and really appreciate.

Be thoughtful. While planting a tree in their name or naming a star after them might be unique to an extent, are they really going to appreciate that? If they are an eco-green-type company, then probably. If they are a llama-wholesaler? Probably not.

Avoid the cliche gifts. Always get a card (and sign it by hand, please), but don’t get keychains, t-shirts, ball caps or coffee mugs. I liked the items listed at findgift.com Also, make sure that your gifts are useful as well as impressive. Do something that will really say to your client, “I appreciate you.”

Send your gift early. I’m already guilty of failing this one, but early November is probably the best time, because it will stand out from the crowd of meats and baked goods that they receive in between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Keep track of your responses. Were your gifts well-received or hardly noticed? Take note and shift things next year, if need be.

Don’t be stingy. Did you hear me, there? Do NOT be stingy. Don’t buy bulk keychains because you got a deal on them. Crack open that wallet and spend the money. If you do a good job, you’ll likely get a return on your investment. Additionally, you might opt to follow the practice of giving bigger gifts to clients who bring in bigger checks. I heard about someone who said if a client brings in $XXX.00, then they get an iPhone for Christmas. Gift cards could work, but get them a full meal at a restaurant, not $10.00 from Wal-Mart.

You might also consider going traditional. All your clients in your hometown? Send them something that represents the local football team. This lawyer talked about the amazing feedback he got from giving live wreaths. Plenty of other great gift-giving info in that post as well.

All in all, be sure to retain the idea that it needs to be personal, unique and would be the same as walking up to them, looking them right in the eye and telling them, “I really appreciate that you chose to do business with us. I hope this shows that.”

What are some successful or unsuccessful gifts you’ve given in the past? Let’s hear it in the comments.

11Advantages & Disadvantages of Niche Design Firms

I spent two years as the tech lead for a company focused on live auctions and it was a great experience to deal exclusively with one market and build so many interlinked connections. I’ve frequently considered opening up a design company focused only on a particular industry (but haven’t done so yet). Rather than give you my opinions, I’d thought I’d survey some of the experts in the field. Enjoy!
Continue Reading Advantages & Disadvantages of Niche Design Firms »

4Extra Revenue Source #1: Conversion Optimization

This is the first in what I hope to be a regular series focusing on additional revenue sources for design firms. I’m a huge believer in A/B testing, multivariate testing and conversion optimization.  Essentially, the art and science of improving the effectiveness of a website - whether the end goal be a purchase, sales lead or simply increased page views.

Just recently, we added an arrow to the signup form on Handbag Planet and increased conversion over 50%.  I also added an arrow on a client’s e-commerce site and increased conversion over 10%.  This is just an example of what one small element can do.

Benefit #1: Numbers-Based Sell

One of the big benefits of conversion optimization is that it’s completely numbers based.  It’s an easy sell to clients and once you have proven success with a few clients, it gets even easier.  We’ve all run into those clients and potential clients who don’t understand why design is truly important.  You won’t have that problem with conversion optimization. Continue Reading Extra Revenue Source #1: Conversion Optimization »

3Defining this Blog: Web Design Business Help & Advice

Now that I’ve mostly completed my blog redesign, I’ve been putting a lot of thought into my goals for this blog (with a little help from Bryan Veloso too).

I want the blog to be a useful resource for designers and I’m really tired of the “1001 best resources for blank” regurgitation.  The blog also needs to fit into the rest of the site and the directory.

To that end, I’ll be focusing solely on meeting the unique needs of web design firms and freelancers from a business perspective, not a “design tips” perspective.  My future posts will address client relations, management, outsourcing, marketing and more.  I will also do frequent interviews with and profiles of leading design firms. If you have any suggestions or requests, please leave a comment.

Two posts I’m working on right now include E-mail Marketing for Web Designers and Advantages & Disadvantages of Niche Design Firms.  If this sounds interesting to you, please be sure to subscribe!

06 Killer Smarty Features You Need to Know

Smarty is by far my favorite PHP template engine. I’ll debate the pros and cons of using a template engine in another post, but I wanted to share some of the Smarty features that I didn’t know existed until I dug through the manual.

1. {cycle}

{cycle} is definitely my favorite Smarty command. You pass it a string of comma-separated values and it cycles through them. I mostly use this, as the manual demonstrates, for zebra striping tables or comments or any sort of list.

{section name=rows loop=$data}
<tr bgcolor="{cycle values="#eeeeee,#d0d0d0"}">
   <td>{$data[rows]}</td>
</tr>
{/section}

Continue Reading 6 Killer Smarty Features You Need to Know »

7New Blog Design

The urge for good design is the same as the urge to go on living. - Harry Bertoia

I’ve been working on an upgrade to the web design company directory and this design was intended to launch with the upgrade, but it’s been taking too long to complete the development and the blog was really hurting in the previous design.  So for now, this design will only be on the blog and I’ll get the directory upgraded as soon as I can.

The design was created by the extremely talented Evan Agee of Agee Design.  Evan was an employee of mine at Auction Floor, Inc. (which we both left last summer) and I’m extremely happy to have collaborated with him on this design.  I really look forward to having it up on the directory as well.

It’s not a 100% complete yet, but I’ve got some client work I’ve got to get done this weekend.  The sidebar in particular needs a little focus.  That said, what do you think so far?  What’s good?  What needs work?

610 Tips for Choosing the Right Design Company – Part 1

Last week, I wrote a post titled Top 7 Reasons Why It’s Better to Hire a Large Design Company Than a Freelance Designer or Small Design Firm in response to a great post from Calvin Cox of StyleApple on Top 7 Reasons Why It’s Better to Hire a Freelance Designer or Small Design Firm Than a Large Design Company. Both posts generated some fiery debate.

The point of our posts was not that a large company or a freelancer is better or worse because of their size, but that there are some advantages and disadvantages that generally come with size. I think we both wrote our posts focusing on the average large design company or small design company. We were not trying to stay that this is what ALL large or small design firms are like.

The real key is the quality of the company and people who work there, not the size. With that in mind, Calvin and I have co-written this post with 10 little tips, 5 from each of us, on ways to select a great design company. Continue Reading 10 Tips for Choosing the Right Design Company – Part 1 »

3TechCrunch Redesign Review

TechCrunch launched a new design today.  As one the of the few blogs I actually read every day, I’m extremely glad to see this new design.  The old design was too cluttered, slow-to-load and too bright.

The new design is a pleasant change to a much more minimalist look with a clean interface.   The navigation is more logical and well-placed.  The site’s HTML isn’t valid, but I don’t really care. Continue Reading TechCrunch Redesign Review »

28Top 7 Reasons to Hire a Large Design Company

This post is in response to Calvin Cox’s Top 7 Reasons Why It’s Better to Hire a Freelance Designer or Small Design Firm Than a Large Design Company. Let me state up front that I agree with everything Calvin said. This post is not a rebuttal, just an attempt to keep things balanced. Continue Reading Top 7 Reasons to Hire a Large Design Company »

4Republican & Democratic Convention Website Review

Update: Read the comments below.  I totally blew it and reviewed the wrong Democratic Convention website!

Personally, I’m sick and tired of the convention coverage already so I thought I’d put my own twist on it and take a detailed look at the convention’s websites. Continue Reading Republican & Democratic Convention Website Review »