referring to clients

[infinity]

when regarding to clients in a summary/company statement for a company/individual. if the target market for that (for sake of my fingers we will say 'company') company is specifically laid out in the summary, will clients whom possibly view themselves outside of that market tend to stray from that company? or is it best to just refer to the market it as a "whole" i guess?

[PanToshi]

Originally Posted by infinity

when regarding to clients in a summary/company statement for a company/individual. if the target market for that (for sake of my fingers we will say 'company') company is specifically laid out in the summary, will clients whom possibly view themselves outside of that market tend to stray from that company? or is it best to just refer to the market it as a "whole" i guess?

You want to try that in English, grasshopper?

Is this what you are trying to say?

In my company statement, should I say I work with a specific genre of client, e.g. youth/local bands/start-ups/etc. or should I keep it more general? Will being too specific turn away potential clients who fall outside of the category named in my company statement?

[infinity]

ha, yea, thats what i meant.

[PrintDriver]

Why do you need to identify your client genre.
Be more intent on identifying what you do.

[KitchWitch]

Broad terms for clients in general, but you could add specifics when/if referring to individual companies.

ABC Bakery
123 Youth Center
MNOP Production Company

[infinity]

ok, so keep it general then. I wasnt exactly trying to identify the client genre, just the wording I had, put it that way, but ive changed the wording around a bit so it doesnt lean that way anymore.

@PD after reading your comment i realized that it doesnt actually identify what I do yet specifically, ill have to go back and fix that. I cant believe i didnt have that in there.

[KitchWitch]

I should have added 'that's what *I* would do.' I'm proven wrong more than I'm accidentally right, so go with what works best for you.

[infinity]

so now that the statement is finish, i want to double check one more thing.

there is a part in there where i refer to what i do as was suggested above. but i refer to things in more of a wider general area. for examples "everything from business cards and branding packages to signs for a family reunion...." but now that i look at it again, i feel maybe it should be summarized in three words or less? (which is possible, it would be the main things i specialize in). i kept it general though as to not push anyone away that would feel as if their project doesnt fit the criteria. I would much rather have the client talk to me, and find out i cant do it allowing me to either try or point them in the right direction, than them disregard me all together thinking its not something i could do for them

[PrintDriver]

When people refer to a range of things they offer, it usually is from A to B, with A being small and B being large.
You shoot yourself in the foot.
By saying Business cards to Branding Packages that makes people think, Hey he does little things like business cards and big things like full branding packages (maybe for big corporate clients). But then you go back to A by saying signs for family reunions. Kind of makes people wonder if those branding packages fall somewhere in between business cards and family reunion signage, which isn't saying much for your skill level...

You need to look at everything you write on a website as though through the eyes of your clients. Don't mislead, but also don't misdirect. That extrapolates to when building branding for your clients, you have to look at all you do through the eyes of THEIR clients.

I guess I don't understand the need to pigeon-hole yourself. If you want to specialize in business cards and <small> branding packages, have at it. But if you want to spread out into more areas of design, you may want to be a little less specific. If I remember right, you are relatively new at this, going into freelancing without benefit of much mentored experience. It will be tough to convince people you can do something without evidence that you have done it successfully (ie your portfolio).

You are asking if people will move on. It isn't really about what you say in your website, at least not to me. I don't read designers' site blogs, nor do I really care about their introduction. The portfolio is the initial deciding factor; followed by references. If the skillz aren't readily apparent, it really doesn't matter what you say you can do.

[infinity]

I see what your saying. i never really thought about it till you mentioned, but i dont really read their "about me" or their little intro paragraphs on their pages either. i usually go strait to their services, or to look at their work they have already done.