Keeping a
blog and having a website is not quite enough…
One of
the key important things towards successful self-promotion is building a
network of relevant people. Establishing and growing an accessible network of
people online will be massively beneficial. These vital people in your network
are those who are fans of and love your work, and will inevitably go out of
their way to spread the word about you and your work, have worked with you in
the past; share the same interests, respect and admire what you do and are your
prospects themselves.
Those who respect your brand and admire what you are doing will do the same,
as well as provide referrals for you and will support you. Your network,
particularly a substantial one, will contain prospective clients.
I
have therefore decided to get myself and work out there more by creating a
Behance (online portfolio) here ‘fans’ can follow my work and appreciate it,
and what more I can follow others work, appreciate it and gather inspiration.
Towards
building a network of people I have worked with in the past and currently work with,
I have begun using my LinkedIn a little more. Connecting with colleagues, tutors
and people I have worked for in the past and now. The great thing about
LinkedIn is people you have worked with can leave you a reference. Prior to
starting university I completed a placement in the graphic design department at
Lindstrand Balloons. I connecting with the managing director and he kindly left
me a recommendation.
“In her all too brief time at Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons, Nichola displayed the quiet determination to succeed that unsurprisingly has resulted in her achieving a First Class Honours degree. It’s no surprise to see she is already making her mark in the Graphic Design Industry, with a level of recognition that would no doubt be the envy of a more experienced professional. We were impressed by Nichola’s ability to understand the many peculiarities of our products and by the professional, creative and considerate way she worked within our very close knit Marketing and Graphic departments. I would certainly welcome the opportunity of working with Nichola again, not just for her creative abilities, but because Nichola is one of the most polite, calm and well-mannered people I have had the pleasure of knowing.”
“In her all too brief time at Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons, Nichola displayed the quiet determination to succeed that unsurprisingly has resulted in her achieving a First Class Honours degree. It’s no surprise to see she is already making her mark in the Graphic Design Industry, with a level of recognition that would no doubt be the envy of a more experienced professional. We were impressed by Nichola’s ability to understand the many peculiarities of our products and by the professional, creative and considerate way she worked within our very close knit Marketing and Graphic departments. I would certainly welcome the opportunity of working with Nichola again, not just for her creative abilities, but because Nichola is one of the most polite, calm and well-mannered people I have had the pleasure of knowing.”
Towards sharing things that interest me and inspire me, I
have started a Pinterest. Here I connect with people who share the same
interests as me, and collect inspiration for myself and others to see.