So, I know a lot of you have your own business you run out of your own home, or maybe you don't. But, anyways, I have opened my own, and I have a lot of ideas that I am already going to get advice from a professional business consultant from but I thought it wouldn't also hurt to get input from seasoned twisters who have been in the game for a long time and been getting paid for doing for a long time. I used to be a party clown when I was in high school from my sophomore to junior year, so between the ages of 17 to 16 but I never had a business license, or insurance. I lived in picture perfect small town USA and got booked so much for balloon jobs and parties because literally the person who booked for my next gig was at the party I was at. Everyone knew everybody, my graduating class had 90 people in it, the town over had 490 in theirs to show you a contrast. I never took pictures of my work, I only did it on the weekends, and I really only charged enough to cover my gas, supplies, food, and a extra $40 because I was saving up for my prom dress and spring beach week lol. I did it for college applications and because of my love of balloons. This time, it's a much different ballgame. I have invested my nest egg which was for our car down payment, around $1000 american dollars, to follow my dream. I've always wanted to own my own business, and I've always wanted to make people smile and spread joy and, haha, I've always LOVED balloons so I'm I can really say every morning that I LOVE my job. And if in a year, like I told my husband and family, it all turns out to be a joke and has added up to nothing, at least I can say I tried and actually cashed my dream which a lot of people never get to say in their lifetime. See, here was the deal: Graduate college, get married, and then Husband got to quit his job for a year and go on tour across the country with his punk band, his dream. Not make a career, just go on tour. 1 Tour. He came back and I got to quit my job for 1 year and do whatever I wanted for 1 year then we buy a house and start having kids and being adults. I've never been one to have unstructured fun though, lol.
Now that we are all caught up on back stories, business questionssss:
-Like I said, I don't have a business license yet, I know most of you are from the UK but even there, do most of you? If any of you are from the USA, do you?
-Ok, so, I am waiting to make business cards and my website until I have my professional photoshoot (there will be over 200 balloon animals crammed into the frame with me, the photographers idea that I think ROCKS!) so I just make a facebook page, but, well there are subparts to this, but is that ok?
a.) I offered a promotion on my facebook to get likes and my word out about my business to spread that was if you liked my page, you got 10% your first order, and if you liked AND shared the status stating all of this on your personal facebook page you got 20% off your first order. The problem with this is Facebook is glitching and not giving me all the names of everyone that likes the page. I am waiting on them to get back to me, but was this a good idea in the first place?
b.)I paid for facebook to promote my little mini ad on the side for my state and i live right on the border of another state, so for that state too. It is showing that a lot of people are viewing a lot things on my page but not liking it, which I find hard to believe that they would go through 120 foils but not hit a like button. Has anyone else had problems with faulty results with facebook paid promotions?
c.)I had been posting as many samples of balloons that I make, items we offer, foils we have in stock and can order, and notes about our values, what a sample picture quote looks like, ect. but it's really hard to keep up with and get it all out there and I can't afford a employee to do it for me, even though I wish I could, if not just to put up this first stock online. Is it even necessary? Will it get me clients? Should I save it for my website?
d.)I was going to do a giveaway at 100 likes. Should I do one sooner since we are close to 50 or will that not motivate people to share the status to get more people to like the page?
-I have been getting in contact with all of the local "professional" photographers (it seems like there is a new one in the area everyday - or at least everyday someone goes to WalMart and buys a camera!) and offering them 50% discount for balloon orders to use them as photo props. Has anyone else ever done this? Do you consider this a good business opportunity or should I not go so low with the discount? Should I ask that they feature my logo on their website if they agree to use my balloons in any pictures?
-I am looking for someone to make me a custom design logo. Should I go to a graphic designer and pay a premium price or go to a website like Etsy where someone else could have the same logo as me but it will cost less? Does it really matter?
-Should I have a custom designed website or would a free would be fine as long as I pay monthly for the ads to be removed?
-Should I set up a twitter and a email for my business?
-I really want to have a grand opening at the end of the month but how could I have one when I don't have a store and operate out of my home?

Hi Meeboo

wow that is the longest forum post I have ever seen, ha ha

Right I can help you with a couple of things you mention (I may hinder more than help tho)

I have been a photographer for as long as I have been a balloon twister, probably longer actually, I have had my fair share of weddings, corporate events, architectural firms, entertainers and families to photograph over the last 25 years.
 
You mention getting business cards made with 200 balloon sculptures crammed into the frame with you, That is a great idea IF you can make it work, its very difficult to photograph a large collection of balloons without it looking like a mess, you need to think about the colours and shape of the balloons otherwise it will just look like a photo full of unrecognizable objects. as I say if you can make it work then that is great, both you and the photographer needs to think about it a LOT. I have come to the conclusion recently that simple, clean and basic is the way forward for advertising, choose 1 or 2 of your best sculptures and display those, people will get the idea that your good by the quality of the sculpture.  

I always think twice about Facebook promotions, I did one a while ago to try and get more business in my local area, I picked out the few towns and cities around my home town and sent the ad off to work, I only got 3 new likes in Turkmenistan (or somewhere like that), Thanks facebook.

I like the idea of doing a competition on facebook to get more likes, do a like and share competition to get you to 100, "Like and share my page", if you do then when you get to 100 likes you will pick one lucky winner to win something, then when you get to 100  pop a load of names into a hat and pick one out.

As for a Logo, have you tried fiverr?
This is the US site - //https://www.fiverr.com/
And the UK site for anyone in the UK - //https://uk.fiverr.com/

If you don't know what it is it is an online marketplace offering tasks and services, beginning at a cost of $5 per job performed, there are LOADS of Logo designers on there, it might take you a couple of attempts to get one you really like but for $5 for a basic logo I think it is worth it, if you eventually get one you like you may then pay a bit more to get it in a variety of colours or with a few changes to the design.

As for Twitter, yes, use every tool available to help your business, Twitter, Instagram, facebook, reddit, linkedin, pinterest, google+, tumblr and flickr and all ones I have used to further my business.

Hope this helps with some of your questions

Rob

You should subscribe to kidsentertainer podcast and The Business of Magic podcast. They have lots of advice on Facebook advertising, marketing, and other things of interest to balloon modellers. Don't be put off by the word Magic it is for all entertainers.

Quote from: "lowemagic"You should subscribe to kidsentertainer podcast and The Business of Magic podcast. They have lots of advice on Facebook advertising, marketing, and other things of interest to balloon modellers. Don't be put off by the word Magic it is for all entertainers.

Will check them out too. Are they just on iTunes?

They are here - //http://kidsentertainerhub.com/

Ta

The episode with Barmy Bella is particularly useful I think

I'm only really doing this as a weekend job but I found her advice useful

I had a logo designed on fiver then set up a facebook group. I did things like asking people to name my Fox character, Shared facts about balloons anything to create interactions with my followers, this means your content gets ranked higher in their feed.


Good luck. I do envy those brave enough to make entertaining and creativity their career.

magirob, yours the second longest forum post  :lol:
anyway, very good advice