TL;DR - 21-year-old entrepreneur, ran semi-successful business, faced burnout, got diagnosed with ADHD, seeking advice on a 'service as a product' design business, and need to validate it so I don't waste money that my father wants to lend me to run ads.
I’m 21yo entrepreneur with a bit of an unusual journey and I need advice.Long story short, traditional education system didn’t suit me, so I was always learning stuff on my own. Even thought I come from lower working class, I was always into entrepreneurship, literally selling YouTube banners for 0.5$ when I was 12.
After huge success with my Discord development agency last year, my journey took a turn for worse is when I experienced severe burnout, leading to a year of inactivity. There wasn’t a single day where I didn’t think about how I’m wasting time. Few days ago, I got diagnosed with ADHD. I decided to take meds and it was like putting glasses on for the first time, so without missing a beat I jumped right back.
Now I’m at a crossroad. I have an idea for a “service as a product” design business, I made the MVP on the freelancing site I ran my last business on, since I have a bit of past clients to try to contact there. Problem is, all the money I’ve earned is gone and I literally had to ask my dad to lend me some money to run ads from his saving budget. He agreed to lend me a bit to get started, but I need to validate my idea to him. I definitely feel bad asking him for money and would feel even worse if I at least can't get assurance this is something that could work.
This is where I need your opinion and advice if this is something viable (of course any advice in general would make my day):
- General idea is that a client can make unlimited design requests for a flat monthly fee, instead of having to work with multiple freelancers or pay in-house designer (which can be costly, especially at times when they don't have work for them)
- Do you think this is something viable?
- Do you think there is a market out there for this?
- What would be the best way to promote this?
- What would we the best way to communicate the value to potential clients?
I always try my best to give advice to people when they need it, so I really hope you guys can give me guidance this time 🫶
It's not the idea, that idea has been done. It's the quality of the service and filtering out bottom-feeders. All you'll validate is how many people are willing to cheat a designer out to screw themselves.
Although there are exceptions, design has painted itself into a corner for the most part.
The vast majority of designers are the ultimate wantrepreneur. Out to pretty the shit out of business without any knowledge or regard to pragmatic business effectiveness. And much like any wantrepreneur who thinks pronouncing the word is the hardest part of entrepreneurship -- anything these guys don't know just isn't important.
Right now a business owner can clear out a room asking designers "Should I use a carousel?" Within just a few similar questions designers prove they can't support business. There are a million 'pretty' templates, many are free, so there really an economic argument to be made. Other than most designers are in a race to the bottom and zero is a very possible destination point.
Don't even get me started on the people who think seeing a commercial they like makes them an advertising expert.
Design-by-the-ton is the natural progression and not new. However, you could take the next step and you offer to pay clients. Might as well get where the industry is headed that much sooner.
Carousels Are Killing Your Conversion Rate: Here’s How to Fix That apparently blurting out "It's good for User Experience" doesn't work as well as it once did.
Is Your Designer Killing Your Conversions? Is "I can help. Mom said I could" a convincing argument?
7 Signs This Person Isn’t Actually A UX Designer With point eight being these people should own the customer, yet they keep getting paid a pittance and deserve even less.
I completely agree that it’s not just about the idea but the quality of the service. And I completely agree most young people these days jump right into the pit of “wantapreneurs”.
In my case, I bring much more than just design to the table. I’ve ran successful marketing campaigns, built communities, and, since I don’t want to go to school and become a doctor, I definitely used my Mensa-level IQ to learn a bunch of things and always will.
Aesthetic alone don’t make a design effective, but it sure can help if you know what you’re doing.I'm not here to just 'pretty up' businesses, but I’m here to help them stand out from the rest, and convey their messages the best.
Doesn’t mean that they’ll look most aesthetically pleasing, it means that they’ll get designs that will attract their target audience and customers.
Again, I very much understand the concerns about design-by-the-ton and the prevalence of wantrepreneurs, I still believe in the value of design when done right. It's about solving problems, not just making things look nice.I know this, now you know it, but what would be the best way to communicate this to potential clients?
Detailing the measures you undertake to insure value is provided would have been nice to have.
One does hope communication skill will top that list, sooner rather than later. Which brings us to the inevitable end of this discussion.
I know one thing, plenty more want to claim knowledge than demonstrate it. That may not qualify me for Mensa. But the way to demonstrate design done right is filthy money, increased conversions. Anybody claiming the knowledge you do should understand the phrase "I beat client controls."
Now for everybody else reading this who is warming up a keyboard to write "Wut?" One of the best techniques to use when you don't have a reputation is some form of performance-based offer. "Don't pay me for my claims. You do not have to take my word. Pay only for results."
A test is customary. And split-run testing is fairly well known.
Filling in those details -- without screwing yourselves -- I leave to Mensa level IQs.