13 Jun Sharpening the focus
I’ve been thinking lately. I had a good talk with a friend who said that Advokate is a necessary service to the community; that I’d be selfish not to give the business its best shot. I’ve been caught up in doing client work a lot lately, and working on Advokate itself has been on the back burner.
I’m fortunate to have my temp Hannah Joy back in town, and with her help I have a tiny bit more time to sharpen the focus of Advokate.
I sometimes feel small when I compare myself to other graphic design, PR and web design companies. After talking with that friend, I realized that Advokate isn’t just a company that does websites, press releases and business cards.
It’s so much more than that.
It’s the confidant who helps cheerlead new ventures. The one stop shop for marketing needs; not just a website but the content, photos, text, design, business advice and guidance that goes into the website. It’s a megaphone for small businesses to use when they’re tired of tooting their own horn. It’s the synapse that connects people who ought to know each other. It’s a stepstool for an independent business to stand on to get nearer to where big business is towering high. It’s the relief that Advokate clients feel when they can count on someone to get it done.
I’ve spent my four years in business… listening. I know that a lot of my clients are frustrated when they have to pay for something they don’t understand. When somebody they hired goes over their estimate. When their kid/sister/aunt/cousin said they would do the design work but then got busy. When their previous designer moves away and stops answering their calls. When they’re trying to do it themselves but spend hours banging their head against the wall. When they have a vision in mind that they just can’t create themselves. When they just want to hand something off. When they want to do something themselves but need some help getting there.
Advokate adapts to its clients. Within reason, I’m just about whatever you need me to be. I teach you how, or I’ll do it for you. I’ll make referrals, I’ll explain things that are hard to understand, I’ll get things done for you. I’ll listen to what you didn’t like about your past experiences and do my best to go in a new direction for you.
I love all my clients, but I really get excited when I’m the person that a new business is calling on to get things rolling. I enjoy meeting people who are new to Glens Falls, or new to their own entrepreneurial ideas, and I love learning about what their dreams are, showing them around what I know, connecting them with resources and working together to get them pointed in the right direction. It’s always nice to end up with a website and branding contract after that conversation, but it’s the conversation that is my favorite part of Advokate.
Advokate offers $25 consultations to new and prospective clients. We’ll just comfortably meet for coffee to talk about your business, and we will walk out of the meeting with a plan, completely based on your budget and needs.
