I was consulting a client the other day and we where talking about her website and how she could make it better. What I didn’t know was she was checking my website while we were talking and then she said something like:
Yeah, but what about your website? How come some buttons don’t work?
I knew which buttons she was referring to. If you click the websites section in my website, there’s a slider. It looks pretty and colorful, but go ahead and click one of the buttons…nothing will happen.
HA! BUSTED! You don’t practice what you preach! At least that’s what I think she must have said in her mind. Or maybe that thought is going through your head right now. Or maybe I’m wrong and all you’re thinking is “I should stop reading this crap and go get a pizza”.
But I am actually practicing what I preach. Actually, the fact that some stuff in my site is not working yet is proof of that.
When I started Arcka, I knew I wanted to be different. Different is important if you want to stand out.
The problem was that I didn’t know HOW I was going to be different.
Being the cheapest wasn’t an option, because I would fail before I began. I couldn’t say I was a better designer, because I believe that is subjective.
So in the end I pretty much did what all books and others did. I even used the same slogan “we help you stand out”. Cute.
But I wasn’t happy with that. So I started looking somewhere else for inspiration….INSIDE!
People usually say: let’s create a brand your business. So they usually create this character that feels so fictional and strange, that ends up scaring people away. That’s what I was doing.
I didn’t really want to start from scratch, because it wasn’t necessary. But this time, instead of creating a brand for my business…I decided to DISCOVER THE BRAND THAT GAVE BIRTH TO MY BUSINESS.
Take a look at some of the most successful brands out there and they are a reflection of it’s leader’s beliefs, values, and personality.
Take a look at Zappos’ world famous customer service and you’ll see Tony Hsieh’s values all over it.
Apple is now a reflection of Steve Jobs design tastes.
This is easy to say out of the words generator in your face, but the truth is it is not that easy to practice.
What I did to find myself as a business in the design industry (and what I urge you to do), was to separate my search in four categories:
Your experience
Where do you come from? What experiences and lessons do you have to bring to the table that shape the way you work, think, and feel?
In my case I studied software engineering. I didn’t love it at first, but then I finally learned to mix my love for art with my studies on technology. Which is great because, not only can I design and code, as an engineer I think about solving problems and how to make stuff more efficient. So, right now I am not about making a website or a poster, but helping you solve the biggest challenges your brand faces: anonymity, trust, and getting the right clients.
Your personality
I love teaching, especially topics I care about to people who really want to learn about them.
That’s why I like to share the stuff I learn. Also that’s why I want to make consulting a bigger part of my business. Actually, that’s the reason some of the buttons in my site don’t work. Because I took down some of my old pages to plan offers and services where consulting takes a bigger role.
I love doing things my self, or at least learn how they are done. I want to do the same for people who like to know stuff and feel in control, even if they end up delegating these tasks.
What aspect of your personality can you incorporate in your business?
What people do you enjoy working with
Usually people tag along people like themselves. So it is not a surprise that I find my self excited to work with people that are making things happen and start new ventures and ideas. I like people whose business leaves some sort of legacy in others. I like people with deadlines, because that means they are acting on their ideas. And finally, I like people with money, because I like to eat and I enjoy living in my house.
Who do you like to work with? Who pumps you up? Who do you think will benefit greatly from what you do?
Your view of things inside and outside the industry
The way you perceive your industry is very important. If you don’t have an opinion about the industry you are working on, you need to find one ASAP. You can’t change anything if you don’t think anything.
The first thing I think about my industry is that the word FREELANCING makes more damage than good to freelancers. People seem to think freelancers are people trying to do what they can to get some cash while they find a stable job. The problem is clients think that, and many freelancers feed that belief with their attitude and lack of professionalism.
The other thing I didn’t like in my industry is that professionals are seen as photoshop tools that work as voiced controlled machines. I say I am not just a guy that knows Photoshop so you can move crap around senselessly. I am an engineer. I will ask why you want something. I want to know what you want to achieve and make better. If I believe that what you’re asking for is irrelevant and unnecessary…I’ll tell you.
Also I understand not everybody can afford a designer. That’s great, and that’s why tools like Wix, Canva, and Squarespace are so cool. But what you REALLY CANNOT afford is tossing a useless website, logo, or a flyer that leads you nowhere just to save a buck, because you’ll end up losing more in the long run. That’s why I want to provide more affordable packages, but I WANT people to at least know what they are doing. If you are not interested in my consulting to learn how to properly use a website or a brand, then I’m not interested in designing your logo or having anything to do with your website.