This is just a random rant brought on by someone I saw that made a few posts on here and got flamed, and essentially haven't been back.
I always try to know where I stand, skill level, design level, competition level, pricing level, on these forums, etc. For instance, if I had a company contact me about wrapping 10 cars, I would get them in touch with ProWraps whom I know of because of this forum and he is an hour away. Or I see that Jill is in CA and does hand painted signs etc. I would contact her if it came up. I pretty frequently sub out design stuff.. or website stuff that needs serious coding.
In other words, I know where I stand on everything and what I can easily accomplish by myself and that I do it well enough that I should be "SELLING" it as a service.
I knew about the sign business and large format printers from a buddy I grew up with. I bought my printer to service my other businesses (web and events) then I started doing banners and random decals, I bought a laminator and mastered that, now ive done a few wraps. Ive known how to do websites in one way or another since 2001, but Ive never felt qualified to sell it as a service until recently. I just rented a storefront and im trying to order channel letters now, but NOT ONE OF 4 CHANNEL LETTER SUPPLIERS HAS REPLIED TO MY EMAILS! but by going through the process for myself, ill learn and be more confident that I can SELL it.
The same goes for shirts, pop-up tents, feather flags, table skirts etc. I try and grow into things, learning for myself before I ever try to sell it to someone else. I dont do the absolute best work.. but damn I have and continue to see waaayyy worse being proudly sold.
I know my design level is probably a 5 compared to the average members Ive seen here, some of you are incredible, which I am very jealous of and some of you suck and I hope that you are sticking to running the business and subbing the graphics. My website knowledge seems to be a 7-8.. which was surprising to me and made me decide to polish my wordpress skills a little and sell it as a service. Thank you for that.
Now, about the point of this rant. Just because you can buy a 20k + printer, that doesnt mean you should rent a shop and go in business right this second... learn to design, and please please please for gods sake do not offer web design service to anyone if your site looks like it is optimized for netscape.
Im seriously so tired of seeing these garbage websites.. look people, less is more, simple is better, cleaner is better, SEO is not rocket science. Business names do not matter as much as you think they do.. unless you purposely spell them incorrectly. Pictures should be used little to none on wraps, even for large backgrounds.. ditch the trees, stick to vectors.
busy fonts are garbage, using LLC is dumb, too much text = people dont read anything..
These are all things that I make sure and relate to customers. Now I know I havent been here for awhile and im not a big shot on this forum, but I have learned alot and respect what alot of you say and the work that you do. With that being said.. im sick and tired of seeing garbage aZZ, non-designing "salespeople" coming around here and showing off their trash.
My website is "ok" to me, acceptable at best. what it lacks in coolness, it makes up very well in SEO. I average 3-5 unsolicited emails per week from people searching google. We translate 80% into immediate sales.
With that being said, I try to know where I stand, I would never bring myself to ask for a critique on here, or tell anyone in a bragging manner that Ive been doing websites for years. I have and will offer my help in any way possible, because even if you guys dont realize it, you all have helped me a ton.
I dont really know where this rant just went lol, but before anyone asks, here is my site.. www.wcsab.com I did it about a year and a half ago when I decided that I could actually design and sell website services. Yes there is a purpose to the vagueness and no number etc. Ive been operating out of my house for over 2 years, I just signed a lease on a storefront a few weeks ago. So the site will be updated all around and designed to drive people to call and stop by.
I guess im just saying that I wish everyone could take a step back and realize where you excel and where you dont. then hone yourselves from that point by learning, or subbing or simply not trying to sell your windows 95 services 20 years too late.
Did I mention that im jealous of people who can hand paint and im also jealous of people who do awesome monument signs (Ill buy a sandblaster and experiment one day)
I know this wont change anything, but at least its off my chest
(theres no beer cheers smiley on here?)
I know some of you have to feel the same, do you just ignore it?
Thomas
I always try to know where I stand, skill level, design level, competition level, pricing level, on these forums, etc. For instance, if I had a company contact me about wrapping 10 cars, I would get them in touch with ProWraps whom I know of because of this forum and he is an hour away. Or I see that Jill is in CA and does hand painted signs etc. I would contact her if it came up. I pretty frequently sub out design stuff.. or website stuff that needs serious coding.
In other words, I know where I stand on everything and what I can easily accomplish by myself and that I do it well enough that I should be "SELLING" it as a service.
I knew about the sign business and large format printers from a buddy I grew up with. I bought my printer to service my other businesses (web and events) then I started doing banners and random decals, I bought a laminator and mastered that, now ive done a few wraps. Ive known how to do websites in one way or another since 2001, but Ive never felt qualified to sell it as a service until recently. I just rented a storefront and im trying to order channel letters now, but NOT ONE OF 4 CHANNEL LETTER SUPPLIERS HAS REPLIED TO MY EMAILS! but by going through the process for myself, ill learn and be more confident that I can SELL it.
The same goes for shirts, pop-up tents, feather flags, table skirts etc. I try and grow into things, learning for myself before I ever try to sell it to someone else. I dont do the absolute best work.. but damn I have and continue to see waaayyy worse being proudly sold.
I know my design level is probably a 5 compared to the average members Ive seen here, some of you are incredible, which I am very jealous of and some of you suck and I hope that you are sticking to running the business and subbing the graphics. My website knowledge seems to be a 7-8.. which was surprising to me and made me decide to polish my wordpress skills a little and sell it as a service. Thank you for that.
Now, about the point of this rant. Just because you can buy a 20k + printer, that doesnt mean you should rent a shop and go in business right this second... learn to design, and please please please for gods sake do not offer web design service to anyone if your site looks like it is optimized for netscape.
Im seriously so tired of seeing these garbage websites.. look people, less is more, simple is better, cleaner is better, SEO is not rocket science. Business names do not matter as much as you think they do.. unless you purposely spell them incorrectly. Pictures should be used little to none on wraps, even for large backgrounds.. ditch the trees, stick to vectors.
busy fonts are garbage, using LLC is dumb, too much text = people dont read anything..
These are all things that I make sure and relate to customers. Now I know I havent been here for awhile and im not a big shot on this forum, but I have learned alot and respect what alot of you say and the work that you do. With that being said.. im sick and tired of seeing garbage aZZ, non-designing "salespeople" coming around here and showing off their trash.
My website is "ok" to me, acceptable at best. what it lacks in coolness, it makes up very well in SEO. I average 3-5 unsolicited emails per week from people searching google. We translate 80% into immediate sales.
With that being said, I try to know where I stand, I would never bring myself to ask for a critique on here, or tell anyone in a bragging manner that Ive been doing websites for years. I have and will offer my help in any way possible, because even if you guys dont realize it, you all have helped me a ton.
I dont really know where this rant just went lol, but before anyone asks, here is my site.. www.wcsab.com I did it about a year and a half ago when I decided that I could actually design and sell website services. Yes there is a purpose to the vagueness and no number etc. Ive been operating out of my house for over 2 years, I just signed a lease on a storefront a few weeks ago. So the site will be updated all around and designed to drive people to call and stop by.
I guess im just saying that I wish everyone could take a step back and realize where you excel and where you dont. then hone yourselves from that point by learning, or subbing or simply not trying to sell your windows 95 services 20 years too late.
Did I mention that im jealous of people who can hand paint and im also jealous of people who do awesome monument signs (Ill buy a sandblaster and experiment one day)
I know this wont change anything, but at least its off my chest
(theres no beer cheers smiley on here?)I know some of you have to feel the same, do you just ignore it?
Thomas
