A .com makes all the difference

When I was in high school & the internet was still very new, having a .Com website was a big deal.  Not just anyone could have one.  I had a lot of small Angelfire websites (i'm dating myself) They were fun, and cool projects.  Back then we had to do all of our web design using HTML coding only.  Now technology has made it so creating a website is so simple, anyone could do it.

I had another one of those long URL websites for my new freelance graphic design business.  I felt like I was in High School again, passing out my business card with http://paulcmartin2012.wix.com/superfungeektime.  It's kind of hard to be taken seriously.  However my small business isn't seeing a lot of customer influx yet.  It's still just a lot of word of mouth & a few online referrals.  Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for every single customer.  But I wanted my business to be taken seriously.

As of today I announced on my businesses Facebook page....I have a Dot Com website.  My first one ever!  I'm so glad my first website is a really important thing to me.  Not like some of my other sites, for a blast from the past visit http://www.angelfire.com/co2/V8stang90 (my first website I ever finished)  Now compare that to my new www.DesignBeyondStyle.com.  The difference is night & day.

I'm so glad that there are so many small business articles online with people who have gone through the same upward struggle I am right now, and they are gracious enough to share there secrets.  The web has some great people, who like to share knowledge.  Suddenly the big scary world isn't so terrifying.  The piece I made below kind of shows what I was feeling at the time that I started this adventure.....I'm the little guy.

The start of something big....

Several weeks ago I tried to apply within my company for a higher paying position, I took the tests & went through the interviews.  I was then told that my business had found someone who could do the same job for cheaper.  Instead of going with someone that they could rely on & trust, they went with the more economical route.  Who can blame them?  I would probably make the same choice if the company was mine.  It's a dog eat dog job market.  The strange things is, at that moment when I was told I didn't get the job.  A strange calm fell over me.  I wasn't agitated or disgruntled.  Everything got very clear for me, I thanked the manager for the chance and went back to my old desk.  A thought began racing in my head...why couldn't I start my own small business?

I began to read everything on the subject of small business ownership.  I decided to play on my strengths which is graphic design.  After doing a little bit of minimal (free) advertising, I found my phone & email began to come alive with freelance job opportunities.  Small here and there work, then something amazing happened.  I acquired two contracts with legitimate businesses.  I was so happy.  Of course, I couldn't become complacent just yet, I am still a long way from this small business paying my bills.  I have to continue to think of new innovative ways to market my skill set to my niche customer base.

I began by making a webpage, a very colorful yet simple design to let people know what I do and how to contact me.  I then came up with the name...something that screams awesome,  Design Beyond Style.  I reserved the name through the state and it's mine.  I am days away from making my webpage a .com, so much is happening so fast.  Of course I want it all & I want it now.  But I have to remember to take it slow.  A lot of small businesses suffer and perish before they are ever discovered.  I need to play it smart right now and continue to acquire projects from customers.

I still have that job that wouldn't promote me, but a certain calm comes over me when I go to work now.  Because I know that when I leave that job & go to MY job, I will be treated and paid exactly what I deserve.  Because I'm the boss, it feels so good to say....the boss.

Design Beyond Style Website

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