Starting my own business was something that grew out of necessity for me as a Navy wife, working for others was hard to do with my new-found lifestyle. Turning to bookbinding, I was happy at first but soon the cost to stay in business and having to rent large apartments for a studio space took away from that joy. Eventually, I had to move on to something more versatile that had low overhead so I turned to my graphic design skills. I had been consulting to a start up company for a couple of years at that point I decided to freelancing for my full-time job. Specializing in brand design for small businesses was the best decision I ever made!
Freelancing has been just as fun as bookbinding but its not at all what I had expected. There were way more hours, more customer service, more tutorials, more legal involvement, and more emailing than actual design work. I think keeping up with the latest marketing trends, reading niche-related blogs, connecting with peers, and really tuning into what my clients wanted has really helped me grow as a business owner.
I would highly recommend that business owners dive into more customer service related articles, courses, or conference sessions if you don't have strong retail background for you to fall back on. Keeping my clients happy over time now means that their referrals alone drives more than 60% of my business- with my calendar booked several months out. More than advertising, more than the latest social media site or techy gadget. Communicating in a professional manner, making myself approachable, being patient, admitting mistakes so I could correct the issue quickly, and just being available online was crucial for me to create a strong relationship with my clients. I not only adore my clients, but I really value them. Without them, I wouldn't have the motivation to challenge myself to learn new things beyond my current skills and I wouldn't have the precious chance to look at things from a fresh perspective.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
For more information about Kristen and Ahoy Graphics visit the website here. You can also follow Kristen via Twitter @ahoygraphics. You may have just met your graphic design match!
