Selling yourself!

ayndi · **Selling yourself!**

This has always been the hardest thing for me. I'm young and kind of clueless on starting my own business, but I would like to get it going before my baby is born (early next year). While I am not sure what all I need to consider in starting my own business, I do know I need people that will buy from me!

Anyone have tips on how to get your name out there for a craft you do besides spamming your local Craigslist? Right now money isn't too much of an issue (although it isn't a nonissue either :P ), and I'd like to switch from working retail to being self employed in 6 months (or less). Have any of you managed to get a decent business going in that amount of time? Any advice at all would be appreciated.

Missystuy · 07-10-2008, 05:32 AM

I'm curios to what sort of business you have?? Joins some yahoo loops that are similar to your idea and you can start to sell yourself there. Also you ca sell on ebay. Take out small ads in the paper.

desertmom · 07-10-2008, 05:56 AM

And what are your talents and experience? You also mention that you are working in retail currently? What type of merchandise have you been working with and what duties have you had? What did you enjoy and dislike about it?

What type of product are you looking at doing this with?

ayndi · 07-10-2008, 04:17 PM

I've been doing photography for my own fun for about ten years. I just started hand painting illustration boards to mount my work on. I live in Seattle, so theres a lot of amateur photographers that sell their work all over the place, so standing out amidst that isn't exactly easy. Plus, the NW is a huge photography place in general, which is one reason why I moved here from CO.

I do have good equipment and enough experience for doing portraits, however I don't have a studio or the ability to set one up anywhere. Which would be a pretty big investment for something on the side.

As far as my 'professional' work experience, I've pretty much always worked some form of retail or as a receptionist in an office setting. Currently I work at Radioshack, I previously worked at Ritz Camera and Borders... typical big corporation retail =P Its really not my cup of tea at all, but I've moved around a lot, and these types of jobs are always the easiest to get.

newmom2006 · 07-10-2008, 05:44 PM

Could you just do 'on site' photography. Let the customer pick the place..their home, a park, or anywhere. That's convience for them and lots of people like that.

desertmom · 07-11-2008, 12:43 AM

If this is your cup of tea, the last poster had a great idea.

I recently realized that the pictures I had done of DS when he was a baby through 1 year old, where I had them done in my home, were the BEST ever. They used his toys and he was quite relaxed. I never did it with my diva, and I just told my dh the other day I may want to have them back out to do both. The studio pictures from the chain studios just don't measure up.

Have you also thought of networking with photogs from other areas to see what they do for success? I know we have even had a few stop in on this board.

Perhaps some others who are familiar w/your field will be able to pop in here.

ayndi · 07-12-2008, 05:16 PM

How did you find the photographer that took the pictures of your son? Did they come reccommended by someone else or did you find them in an ad somewhere?

desertmom · 07-12-2008, 06:16 PM

They were the photog company, First Foto, that were at the hospital he was born in. They have the hospital fotogs, and the outside ones. They are all independent agents. Their quality for the hospital ones aren't great, but the guy that came to our house was!

ssbeeners · 07-19-2008, 06:31 PM

There is something similar to ebay called etsy. It is geared more toward the homemade product and a lot more crafts. You should go on and see how it is. I have bought some stuff from there. Etsy.com. Good luck