First Contact
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- 32 Responses
- Paralell0
I don't want to read all this thread
- cannonball0
Press a big plastic foot with your resume tattooed on it and jam it between someone's office door.
- effort0
great thread. glad you're having some success scotch. i'm taking notes meanwhile.
- Scotch_Roman0
Yeah... once I have my foot in the door, I almost always do well. I've been on so many freaking interviews in my life, I can sell my work in my sleep. But you're right, I think with time the cold calls will get easier.
Good idea about staying on people's radar. Thanks for the input :)
- designbot0
You could dance around in a chicken costume on the side of a major road (make sure it's during rush hour) with the url to your new site :)
- Hmm. Maybe I should return those assless leather chaps.Scotch_Roman
- hahah!designbot
- boobs0
Once you've done a few cold calls, it will get much much easier. Once you've met with a couple people in person, that will get much, much easier too.
And following up with an email that has a link to your site will make you look golden. Your site looks really good.
Another great thing to do: when you finish a project you like, it gives you an excuse to call these same people up, and go show it to them.
- Scotch_Roman0
Took boobs' advice. Made a few phone calls... got one meeting for next wk so far, seems promising. I feel a bit better about doing this cold call thing moving forward. It would help to have a print promo to send as a follow-up to phone calls, but I can't wait for that... and I can't give away my design samples. That's why I need a mini printed portfolio.
You guys are totally right, I simply can't rely on the warm introductions, even though that's been my best ally to date.
- Andrew_D0
Sorry to hijack this thread, Scotch, but tesmith, would you be willing to do some self promotion involving illustration, as well? You cut me some slack(within reason) on my prints and I'll let you use them for promo?
I can bring some other work your way as well, currently designing an 150 page report for the Ministry of Health that'll need printing and bounding.
- Scotch_Roman0
^ Sounds awesome tesmith. You've got mail.
- tesmith0
I would consider helping out with printing a mailer as you offered constructive advice on our website. Within reason and as long as you take care of shipping. At the same time we may be able to use the piece as a sample for our own self promotion (with your permission of course)
- johndiggity0
yeah, if you don't have the cash for a proper self promo mailer, at least start thinking about it and maybe it exists in pdf form until you can afford to print. but another way to go about showing off would be mailing a sample of a job that you are proud of and is relevant to the client's industry along with a letter about how you wanted to share this with them and detail some of the challenges you overcame on the project and how you feel you could help them do the same.
- let them know you'll be following up with a call or want to meet to show them more.johndiggity
- Corvo20
"OK so I want to get my foot in the door at certain companies."
Do a sticker for this.
- fyoucher10
Find a rep, someone that specializes in that kind of thing.
...or...
Just start appearing everywhere the people in the creative dept appears (like at their homes, the mall, and shit). If someone catches eyes with you, bolt as fast as you can the other way. Continue to do this for like 12 months.
- ahahahaaaa find a rep ooooor just be a super creep.nicole_marie
- PonyBoy0
prayer?
- tesmith0
Boobs is right, you do great work and it is unlikely that your targets are on QBN or Krop. I tend to entertain suppliers that take the effort to call on me. As a printer, I find that most designers and agencies find it a refreshing change that we come to them with appropriate brand, literature and presentation.
- Scotch_Roman0
I guess you're right, boobs (heh, I chuckle a bit every time I write your screen name in a serious post). I don't know why I'm so afraid of cold calling. I have no problem getting out and meeting people, in fact I tend to make a very favorable first impression. Something about picking up the phone and calling a total stranger without any sort of pre-existing bridge is harrowing to me.
- still think you should try a buffer to call for you. But I hear you.harlequino
- designbot0
You might also consider places you frequent (coffee shops, local eateries etc.) I know the places I frequent people eventually start recognizing me and calling me by name....this then leads into small talk as well. If you build up these sorts of relationships I think it would be quite easy to talk to them about advertising/design, especially if what they have is sub-par. Just a though, I know this isn't exactly a quick method to obtain clients. Good luck with everything gramme!
- This works. Ive gotten a couple clients at my barbershop. (including the shop itself)baseline_shift
- And since the barber loved the work, she recommends people all the time, and keeps a stack of my cards at her desk.baseline_shift
- awesome, nice work.designbot
- yup! thanks. i wonder if this isnt exactly the echelon of client Scotch is lookin for though.baseline_shift
- doesnotexist0
ask for the creative department and talk to them about their work