[winwintoo]

I'm beginning to understand why I've never been comfortable in sales - in fact I'm not even comfortable in any situation where I'm being sold to.

I'm just starting my business. I've only had a few paying customers so far, but I've had lots of interest and the more interest, the more business down the road.

Scrapbooking is one of my hobbies, so I joined a scrapbooking group and am using the time there to make a protfolio album for my business. The members of the group are intrigued as I add more photos every week.

I'm also working on an ethnic/family history and have had some contact with a geneology group - good suggestion to become more involved.

Doug, I like your advice about not becoming so overwhelmed with work that you lose the love of what you're doing.

I find myself in the enviable position of being retired from my former job/life and with enough cash to buy a few toys of the business and not feeling behind the 8-ball when it comes to drumming up business.

When retirement was approaching I knew I would still need to find something to keep me occupied - I'm glad I found PhotoShop and soon after that I found this group.

Maraget

[Ed_L]

Margaret,

You might not realize it, but your scrapbook group could bring you business as well as the genealogy groups. I think just about any group is worth joining, simply to get to know people. When they find out what you're doing, and they see you fairly often, things have a way of moving from there.

Ed

[Lampy]

Hi all

I just started reading this thread and thought I'd give my point of view.

Margaret, I agree with Ed you've got two great sources of clients there. I've provided preservation information to the writer of a scrapbooking magazine for a preservation section....and I've had many many geneologists that either want something scanned, digitally restored or conservation done. One recent one that comes to mind is a document that was faded and needed the hand written parts enhanced to be readable.

My thoughts on website advertising. This is certainly not going to be the bread and butter of your business but it is a nice addition. I surf the web all the time but I have to say there are very few web businesses that I've dealt with straight from their web site, without knowing more first....I like to read a recommendation or hear from someone else that that's what they use and so on. I think most people are the same way, they like to have a connection and feel like this is the right place to take their most treasured photos to be repaired (etc.) not just any Joe-blow off the internet (no offense to anyone... I'm a Joe-blow myself! ).

This said a web-site is a great way for people to get to know you a little better.

For example a frame shop recommends me to a client and hands them my business card. They can go home and look me up on-line and see what I do, some examples and maybe learn something they didn't know. In the end they feel more comfortable and give me a call. (this happens all the time)

The key is trying to make the potential client feel as comfortable working with you from an on-line store front as they would if they walked into your real store front.

For example: When someone walks in off the street into your business. You want to make a good first impression. You want to make them feel comfortable about leaving their photographs with you and having you do the work. You do this by a clean/tidy business appearance, answering their questions, and speaking with them and handling their work appropriately.

The same goes for a web-site. The layout and images should be clean and tidy, and the format simple and easy to navigate. You need to know what their questions are (this can be tricky but think about what people normally ask you on the phone) and answer the most common ones (through words and examples). Provide a way for them to get more information if the answer isn't there... phone, e-mail, in person. Make them feel comfortable.

I think examples and free advice are essential to on-line business. This is the internet after all and that's what people use it for...to learn more. That's why we're all on Retouch-Pro!

I get turned off by the one-page web-sites that give me little information other than an address and phone number. I can get that in the yellow pages and their local (no mailing hassals). How do I choose a business to patronise from twenty web-sites?? I'd pick the one that gives me more, that shows me that they know what they are talking about and doing. One that proves to me that they are going to do what I want.

My point is you are going to get a lot more busines from word of mouth, other businesses refering you, and groups like the geneology and scrapbookers than cold calls off the internet....but you will get a few and in addition the web-site can be a good tool for those that want to learn a bit more and for those that want to feel more comfortable before making that call. In addition I like to give back and educate so I love the fact I have a question and answer section. I've had many people e-mail thanks for having the information they were looking for.....and yes, Vikki I believe that if you give them something for free they will come back or at minimum suggest you to someone else.

Ok well that's just my opinion, I'm not saying it's right but it works for me!

Cheers to all! Have a great day.

--Heather
www.tudhope.net

[CJ Swartz]

Heather,

Much of what you say relates to the way I choose a service vendor even in my own locality. After obtaining a list of potential businesses from the Better Business Bureau's website (preferably no complaints and at least 3-5 years in business), I look at those companies who have a business website first. I won't make a final judgement as to which I'll hire from this process, but I often reduce my list of businesses to contact for estimates by determining from their websites whether they "appear" to be proficient, efficient, and at least a bit "friendly".

[emarts]

I don't use my websites to sell retouching services. I have 4 sites now. One is the site that represents my major source of income which is graphic design and multimedia services. Another sells artwork, which I do on the side. Another sells printing services and gives free marketing advice and articles for self-publishing artists which grew out of my graphic design company. And the last, which I am working on now will be a forum for immersive photography that focuses on the business aspect of that medium.

Interestingly enough, although I have order forms on my sites, none of these sites generate much business directly. All of my work comes from my selling my services face-to-face. I use my sites mainly to service my existing customers and associates (ftp service, newsletters and articles, forum, portfolio, review works-in-progress).

My retouching work comes form being in the business for 14 years and people just seem to know to call me. I cater mostly to advertising agencies and graphic design firms and printers that I've been working with for years.

It takes a while, but if your persistant and consistant, you'll do well.

[Bryan L]

One of the other posters mentioned the age group. This is a huge point. I own two businesses. I have a computer sales/repair company and another company that works with video creation. (biographies, weddings, anniversaries, etc). I also do a lot of photo restoration through the latter company.

I live in a rural area in Maine. When I started my computer business a few years ago as a one man operation I strived to bring quality service to the commerical and especially the residential sector. This brought me to a age group that I had never had to deal with on a technical level before. . .the elderly.

I volunteered for a year to help a 75 year old woman to do email (yes, just email). I went once a week and I learned much more than she did. I learned how to make technology less scary for those that have not grown up with a mouse in their hand. This was the best thing I ever did for my company.

I deal a lot with funeral homes with my video company. Some funeral directors are in the same 'technologically challenged' category. As a company we deal very well with them because of those lessons I learned early on and have passed on to my employees.

Its important to remember our target market for photo restoration. On a whole we are probably dealing with people that are not your computer geeks. The elderly are going to be a huge market. The majority of the elderly do not surf the web. (This statement is true in rural Maine, it may not apply to NYC). Those people that are fairly computer savy will often try to do photo touchups themselves.

This said, the advantage of meeting with someone face to face (what we call 'in-your-face advertising') is that you have the ability to soothe somebodys nerves. Our customers hear "Don't worry, we'll take care of you" all the time.

-B