Ah, the age old question for any business owner! And the one we will tackle today. One of the first questions people ask me when I tell them I own a graphic design business is “Where do you get your clients?”, and here is the three-fold short answer:  Networking, networking, networking!
 
1. Networking Group
We are members of a weekly breakfast group. This is a great way to meet people and drum up business, especially if you’re shy or brand new at owning your business and don’t really know where to start. Apart from meeting potential clients, it’s also a great place to gain experience with public speaking, to get tips on running a small business, and make new friends! Our group costs about $1200 a year, but includes a delicious breakfast every week, and although it is a bit costly, it’s worth it in the amount of business we see passed our way.
 
2. Social Networking / SEO
These days every business benefits from an online presence – and it’s never been so easy!  With so many free tools out there (FaceBook, Twitter, etc.) there is really no reason every business shouldn’t be on the social networking bandwagon.  The great thing is, the more you post blogs, work on Twitter feeds, etc., the more your Google ranking will climb, making your website more visible to potential clients looking for a graphic designer. And let’s face it, posting on FaceBook is fun!
 
3. Word of Mouth Networking
Grab a coffee with a friend at Starbucks and you’ll be surprised at how much business can be thrown your way. People love to refer people they know, so get out there and tell people what you do! It doesn’t have to be a pressurized sales call – it can be more like friends chatting about how they spend their days.  If I have a friend who’s a photographer and I know someone who needs a photographer, I’ll recommend them without hesitation. It feels nice to get someone else business, and that’s how your friends feel about recommending you too.
 
So get out there and network!