Double-E Design

www.doubleedesign.com.au

1. Tell us about your business

I do freelance website and graphic design for a range of clients including small businesses, sporting clubs, schools and local government.

2. When and why did you start your business?

I started my business in October 2009 after some voluntary work I did resulted in some offers of paid work. It worked well because I was looking for experience and some pocket money while studying at TAFE, and part-time jobs in the industry are hard to come by - so I created one myself.

3. On a personal level, what have you achieved with your business?

I deal with a wide range of clients, which is making me better at dealing with a wide range of people with different needs and priorities.

4. What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?

Sometimes it's difficult to fit work around my educational commitments, especially when clients or potential clients want to meet with me as I have little spare time during business hours. It's quite a balancing act!

5. What activities have been successful in promoting your business?

Word of mouth has been very good to me. I find that if you do a good job for a few customers, they will generate a few more customers, and so on.

6. What activities were less successful for marketing your business?

I did try targeting specific industries through newsletters, but they weren't really interested in my offer.

7. Name your favourite thing about your business

I love the variety that comes with working with such a diverse range of clients, and being able to fit work into my life on my terms.

8. Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?

Other freelancers who do great work inspire me to keep improving my skills and make me believe my business can grow. I also gain inspiration from larger companies whose teams produce a wide range of fantastic works.

9. What are your plans for the future of your business?

I plan to keep running my business in my spare time while continuing to study. After I finish my education I hope to combine freelancing with other roles in the industry such as working for an agency. I believe the two different work styles will feed off each other - I'll learn things from the team environment present in a company as well as the processes of a larger business, and I'll be able to bring the skills and single-handed experience I have gotten from freelancing into that team environment.

10. Share your best business tip with our readers.

If you think there are no opportunities for you, then create some yourself.

Visit us at: www.doubleedesign.com.au