your opininon
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- brodster
if i see a company's website that needs improvement, do I. a) design a mock-up and show them the results or b) just introduce myself first and tell them what i can do? what works best?
anybody have experience with this?
- mikotondria30
b then a
- mikotondria30
Hang on, who's this for ??
- a company, chiropractor they have multiple offices.brodster
- It's not one of my clients, is it ?
IS IT ?! They've been mentioning something like this..mikotondria3 - ; )mikotondria3
- where do you livebrodster
- only kidding :)mikotondria3
- voiceof0
Don't go with A all that will do is lower the amount they are willing to pay. If they see you have already put the work in then they will assume you will are desperate to sell. Also it cheapens the strategic value of the design. They will see your work as a template and reinforce the idea that design is just a pretty picture to slap their logo on. In other words go with B
- you got a point there... it reminds me of those stupid sites like genius rocket...brodster
- abettertomorrow0
A = spec work
- honestIy0
do not waste your time making something for them without talking to them. though your idea is likely well thought out, it does not relate to their problems as they see them, on the way you do.
i have plenty of unsold comps from early on in my career that i still love, but i have found that comps created on conversations between you and your client will mean more to your client than a pretty picture they don't understand or weren't expecting.
- how would i introduce myself, send a intro or write a proposal? proposal to me sounds weird since i haven't asked them Q'sbrodster
- this guy is talking about designing before a conversation or even a meeting these peopledoublespaced
- hence my first line " do not waste your time making something for them without talking to them"honestIy
- if he hasn't the balls to approach them, designing for them shouldn't even be a thoughthonestIy
- my plan is to talk to them first, not sure how to approach.brodster
- dbloc0
Introduce yourself first. They might already have someone working on something
- brodster0
I think I know what you mean I designed a wireframe for a potog and after he picked me, he then said he's going to look at other proposals for a cheaper offer.
- sigh, why the hell did you work without getting paid!?doublespaced
- doublespaced0
Are you talking about unsolicited design proposals? Don't waste your time until they are a client.
- do they know you exist?
doublespaced - no, how do I introduce myself? get a sexy receptionist?brodster
- no, go find a client who wants work done insteaddoublespaced
- any good places? I'm currently on freelance switch.brodster
- do they know you exist?
- brodster0
anybody have a good proposal that hits the spot?
- ^doublespaced
- you're a student with an idealistic view of design and who wants to design everything, aren't you?doublespaced
- how did you know?brodster
- well, because you aren't acting like you are worth anything. Your strategy is totally backwards.doublespaced
- wrong, totally the oppositebrodster
- yeah, don't listen to us, we don't do this for a living or anythingdoublespaced
- you are wrong abut mebrodster
- utopian0
B then A
- so @doublespaced people keep telling me A them B??brodster
- people are saying b, but never a. And b is a touchy subject.doublespaced
- doublespaced0
I just don't think you should do any work, of any kind (writing a proposal or creating a comp), before they have agreed to spend money on updating a site. Walking up to complete strangers and, essentially, saying, "Hey, your site is terrible, it looks like it's from the 90s. I'd like to update it. Pay me," is a not a good strategy.
Just get to know them. Find out how many customers use their site and what kind of revenue it brings them. Most likely they care as much about how the site looks as you do.
- Most likely they [DON'T] care...doublespaced
- agreed.honestIy
- well the only way i get so see them is if i brake a leg or somethingbrodster
- brodster0
they are a well know chiropractic co. in town been here for a while..
- brodster0
@doublespaced so you are telling me all this advice about cold calling is bad?
- autoflavour0
you know what they say about opinions ..
- they are like assholes.. every body has oneautoflavour
- several ways to spell it?honestIy
- And they all smell.kgvs72
- brodster0
well if you know Ilise benun her advice is to cold call, just saying. but I agree cold calling sucks.
- brodster0
@doublespaced since you are an expert what books do you recommend for marketing?