Starting up a new Graphic Design and Marketing business

[freshandrosy]

Hi there

I am just starting up my business and looking for any help or suggestions I can with growing and advertising my business, my target area is women in business, bloggers and mumpreneurs! I have my website which I am still working on www.fandrdesigns.co.uk, and the facebook and twitter accounts but anything that comes from Facebook they expect me to work for free?!

I am struggling a little! but hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance!

Charlotte

What are you asking exactly?

but anything that comes from Facebook they expect me to work for free?!

In the same way you're hoping for free advice...?

Absolutely not!! I am merely asking if there was any networking groups or business seminars that would be worth attending! Feel bad for asking now!

Don't feel bad for asking. The best advice I've had has usually been free!

There are loads of networking groups around. I hear about a lot via Linked In. The difficulty is finding which ones are valuable - either in the quality of seminars and speakers, or in the calibre and appropriateness of attendee.

Our local Women in Business group allows three members to do an "elevator pitch" at every meeting. There's a waiting list for slots. You have three minutes to sell your business to the audience. Women in your line often do some special offer "Half price logo redesign" "20% discount on 500 business cards" type thing.

I find quite a lot of useful stuff via Twitter re social media and marketing. (bit guilty of thinking I'll read it later and then never get round to it!)

Your target market is a difficult one. There is not likely to be heavy usage and it will be quite price conscious so you'll have to build quite a large customer base to make the business viable. You should schedule time every week to focus solely on sales.

I can't see any of the images in your portfolio. Is your website compatible with macs? I'd suggest as well that your twitter link opens in a separate page. The danger with using same page is that you are navigating the viewer away from your own site.

Good luck with the venture.

I would be very mindful of saying 'my husband suggested that..' on a website selling ideas to women. I mean that genuinely, helpfully. It would ruffle me a bit, as a potential customer.

Thanks for your comments! I have just built a twitter list of all the twitter hour/parties so I am going to focus on that this week! I have never thought about Linkden for networking but of course! My portfolio should open on all I have tried most browsers, I will look into this.

My about me page is still a work in progress, I am going to refine this week! I have re written it over and over!