₦airaland Forum

Good day fellow Landers. I hope your day is moving smoothly.
I have a problem that I need your input on.

Recently, I and a friend of mine want to run a Startup.
Now, we're almost launching but, there's this problem we unto. Monetizing it.

I suggested we allow the users book for the services on the website. Then, we ask
the listed businesses to pay a commission on every customer sent.
And, also allow businesses to pay for the featured spots on the homepage.

My partner was suggesting that we allow businesses to register(maybe the first 100) for free.
Then, after a period of time, we add a subscription box on our business registration page.
This makes it mandatory for businesses subscribe to a package before getting their services listed and open to visitors.
And, also with the featured spots.

We're stuck here. And, your input will mean a lot.
Thank you.

Ganoderma:
Alright I have decided to make this even more fun.

Instead of just writing stories, I'm going to make this interactive. In other words, I say and you do.

Lets see how many of you would really make money from what I'm going to tell you here.

Comprende? Good.

Now the first thing I want you guys to do is register for an account on Teespring. There are many other platforms out there. You can register there too. The principles you will learn here still applies.

So head over to teespring and sign up for a free account.

After signing up for your account, next thing you want to do is pick a niche.

Now there are many ways to pick your niche. Remember I said your two best type of niche are niches that address a passion or a niche that rides on a buzz or trending topic. And since our main focus is on the US and European market we need to know what they like the most.

One of the tools I use is the Facebook Audience Insight tool. That tool is like the holy grail of teespring. It literally tells me what designs I should be making.

So, you want to head over to Facebook and then check out the ads manager and find audience insight. I think I should make a video for this one.

I guess it'll be cool.

Adenugay:
well not really, we just feel that we might be able to communicate better and for the person to "fall in" to our ideas and do things inline with our vision.

I understand. But, if you wouldn't mind, let's talk then.

Email: xchipgraphics@gmail.com

BrAkingNews:
We are an upcoming and vibrant internet entrepreneurs, we need a young and dynamic graphic designer to help us in designing logos, graphics and ads banners for our sites and applications. Only serious minded person should email us on lovednation@gmail.com. The only condition is that the person must be good using photoshop

And, must be based in Illorin?

Nice job. Keep working.
Your shadow's are bad.

Still work on your color matching/blending.
Your compositing needs to step up.
But, to be frank, I love 'em.

No No.

or3gon:
no, just used a phone app, youcam makeup

Lol. It got rid-off some textures of the photo.
And whitened it.

or3gon:
how is this?

Did you use a plugin for that?

jaydee87:
smiles hope u av eaten now sha.....

I have. Thank you.

tollysmart:
THIS IS GREAT BRO, KEEP IT UP

Thanks man.

jaydee87:
am not into graphics but am a photographer and I appreciate a good picture...
u trying but u can still do better dot forget practice makes you better . love the picture of the black girl but
why did u pick color purple for the eye shadow...

Well, didn't want to add the shaddow initially. Just put it to know what it'll look like. Purple on black? I wasn't thinking.

I must have been hungry.

or3gon:
how is this?

Achieved?

sukkot:
good. i like that confidence. i will call you up when that time comes. so hold tight. send me your email

Alright. Thank you.

Email: xchipgraphics@gmail.com

sukkot:
ok. thats cool. so do you think you are ready to handle a huge corporate project ? these people dont want to hear stories about how you are a learner when you are called up. can you deliver ? answer those questions

:Yeah. I'm ready to handle a huge corporate project.
:I have, can and will always deliver.

or3gon:
CS what?

CS 6 Extended.

or3gon:
nice 1, would like to know which software program u used to create this?

Photoshop.

These ones follow:

And these:

I'm practicing and taking tutorials on Photo manipulation and Creative Retouching.

Well, it's not been long. But, it's not been bad.
I said let me put some of 'em here so that the Gurus in the house will correct me. And dash me advice.

Here:

Guy, calm down.
Number one: The first Logo, Blissful something something is a NO-NO.

Number two: the Logo is heavy. The thing get weight well well. E fit tear Letter head commot. You didn't take proportion into consideration while you were working on it. Whatever purpose the Logo is meant for is not a reason to have a bad design. Simplify it am make it appear sleek.

Number three: I assume it's not a Logo. But, if it is, then, I'm telling you it's not.
You wanted to cover it up with colours. Strip it off those colors, and you'll have a "design mistake."

The Call Card: I understand that the client provided too many information. Maybe he forgot it's a Call Card and though it was an Invitation or a Magazine advert that he can provide a two page write-up.

But, you're suppose to properly place the typos. They're almost falling off. That's an error that'll get to you once it's printed.

I know say you dey Beer Parlor, tell them make dem pass me one bo' of Orijin.

willbob:
Thanks for the lectures, boss xchip

Thank you for checking it out, Boss.

As designers, we are always ready to tell clients how good we are and how we helped Mr. A get over his search for an awesome Logo, website or whatever service we offer. And then expect to hear them ask you to send them an your proposal.

Days after sending your proposal and you 're yet to hear from your prospect, you'll be wondering if he actually wanted your service or he just wanted to know how much your services are worth.
Have you ever wondered why most of the prospects who speak to you never get to get back to you?

You don't listen to their need(s)
You don't bother to ask what problem(s) their businesses 're facing
You keep telling how good you are


Clients are human just like you. And, giving them a listening ear may be all you need to lock on that project.


Allow your Clients state their problems
Prospects already know that you're a designer. But, what they're not of sure of is if you can provide a solution to their problem(s). And when you keep telling them how good you're at what you do and why they should not batter with you over prices and the cost of your service, they come to a conclusion that they were wrong after all. You can't solve their problem.

Why?
If actually you can provide a solution to a problem, then you should know what the problem is. If you took your car to a mechanic and he looks at it and tells you that it'll cost you $4000 to fix it. What will be your reaction? You should diagnose the car to know what the fault is before telling me it'll cost.
Even if as you were driving in, he heard the sound of the vehicle and knew what was wrong with it, you won't be comfortable having him fix it. You'll assume he's just after your money.

That's the same way you make your prospects feel when you fail to listen to them. They say to themselves

"if actually he's a professional as he claims, why don't he ask me what I actually need."

Clients are human and need to be given a listening ear. If you're paid 10,000$ to design a Logo with just the business name being provided, you'll still be on that project for the next 2 months. Why? You didn't ask the client what he wanted. They may just need you to make a monogram. Instead of running your head 24/7 trying to make an iconic and wonderful Logo.
Final thoughts:
Listening to your prospects could save you some stress. And help win new clients. As a designer, what you proffer is solutions. And there can't be solutions without first understanding the problem being faced by your client. Listening and understanding their needs and what they expect you to provide will not just give them the assurance that you can handle the project, but also help speed up the delivery time.

It doesn't mean you should go dumb while conversing with your clients, but, just utter agreeing words like: Ok.
All right.
Go ahead.
Make them understand that you're listening and has taken down all that they passed across. And, when they're done, repeat the key points they made to assure them that you got 'em. And bet me, when you bill 'em, they'll have little or no issue with your pricing.

http://www.cgminds.com/2015/06/listen-more-than-you-speak.html

suxes2005:
Thanks a lot. I think tech rules Naija

I appreciate

~ Sheyi

Well, there happen to be few Blogs that discuss design.

Here's my list:

http://cgminds.com
http://layrz.
http://brandng.net

The photographers that caught those moments are awesome. But, I'd say some of 'em were accidental.

Whichever way, they're cool.

sukkot:
please send me links. i dont frequent the graphic section. if you are as good as you sound I know someone that can use your service for several projects.

Alright. Will keep you posted.

sukkot:
Lets see your work. post pics.

Eeh?
Just keep an eye on the Graphics Section.
I'll have them up soon.

obejoseph10:
How I wish I was d statue touching dat girl in her ass

What would you have done?

prof800:
Statues so "heartless".!

If they were heartless, those guys will testify.

Caracta:
OP, so funny.

Can't stop laughing.

And the last two.