Business Plan To Go

I recently started reading a great new book: My So-Called Freelance Life by Michelle Goodman. I'm only 2 chapters in, and I already know that it is going to be a great resource for me.

One of the first things she suggests doing is to create a "Business Plan To Go". Now I've been freelancing full-time for over a year and a half. I've been told that business plans are a good idea, but it never seemed to be necessary for me. Well, I've now been convinced that the "To Go" version is a good idea. And if I make it public, I think I'll hold myself more accountable.

The rules:
1. Create a list of 3 realistic goals for the next year
2. Outline a game plan for each
3. Give each item a start date and a deadline

So here it goes!

Call Me Amy Design Business Plan To Go:

1. Get out and self-promote.
Start date: NOW! Deadline: March '09
- Attend more Biznik Events, and create relationships with people I meet
- Send self-promo postcards/emails out to potential clients
- Develop a good "elevator speech"

2. Gain new clients in: Green businesses, non-profits, brides (wedding invites)
Start date: NOW! Deadline: April '09
- Network with these types of people (duh!) at Biznik, WBO, etc.
- Tell my existing clients that I am looking for these things
- Find unique ways to promote myself in these industries

3. Become financially independent
Start date: NOW! Deadline: May '09
- Follow goals 1 & 2
- Keep careful track of how I spend everything
- Create a realistic budget

So there it is. Now I need to look at this often and make sure I do these things!

What a year its been!

Well, its officially been a year since I started this great adventure. I am so thankful to all of my clients who have supported me and referred me to others! Things are going pretty well. My client base keeps expanding all the time, which keeps me pretty busy!

Thank you to all those who have helped me succeed!

Some of my Favorite sites

Its hard to remember what the world was like without internet! I use many different sites for help, whether it be color, fonts, or general ideas. Here are some of my favorites:

iStockPhoto
I use this one almost daily! Its a great source for low-cost images. Hopefully I will be posting my own photography there soon.

Kuler
A very cool tool for color inspiration. It also automatically generates color combinations.

Simply the Best Fonts
Simply the best has their fonts organized by categories which makes it easier to find what you are looking for.

What the Font?
Another great resource... You can upload an image and it tells you what font it is. I have gotten exact matches with it!

Portfolio Update

I have just uploaded a major revision of my portfolio (added descriptions). Check it out!

Next up is updating the samples, I have tons to add! Looks like this website will NEVER be over :) (at least not until I decide to redesign the entire thing...)

New Things!

I have just updated and reformatted my new website! There are still some kinks to be worked out, and new things to add, but its definitely show-able now :)

Here are some things that I hope to do with this blog (wow, my third now...):
* Post updates on the company
* Show what I've been working on
* Show links to good design and design tools

It will eventually post on callmeamy.com and look like that site from the blogger end too. It just all takes time :)

new!

something will be here eventually :)