Question for those of you that DO S4O

[Athenagwis]

Hi!!

I am looking to start getting into S4H work. I considered this with paper scrapping, but never got around to it, so I thought I might give it a go with digi. Anywho, I am looking to see how you structure your business if you do this. If you wouldn't mind answering the following questions, it would be greatly appreciated!!!

1. How did you initially get the word out about your S4H services? A friend? Word of mouth? Business cards?

2. What services do you provide? Cards? Single pages? Books?

3. What is your pricing structure for each of the services you provide? Flat fee? By the hour? Amounts?

4. Do you premake pages in advance and slide in clients pictures when possible? (of course only providing the flattened version to the client) or do you do everything from scratch? How do you combine quality with speed?

5. Did you market yourself in any unusual places? What were the results?

6. Do you have samples of your work? A website maybe?

7. How long have you been doing S4H? What is your volume of work currently?

I realize this is a lot to ask, but I figure these type of services are more local then anything so I really wouldn't be competing with anyone that is willing to share their secrets. Any other tips that you can provide for someone starting out would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks in Advance!!!
Rachel

[Just Plain Kristi]

I'm not all the way up and running yet but thought I'd share what I can of what I've got so far...for what it's worth...lol!

1. How did you initially get the word out about your S4H services? A friend? Word of mouth? Business cards?

Right now it's word of mouth and cross marketing. I wear a jacket my mom made and she carries a photo purse I gave her...and some digi art printed on canvas will go into my sister's new vet clinic. I'm getting into this at the urging of my friends and former hostesses (used to do close to my heart) so I think I've got a good base of potential clients already.

2. What services do you provide? Cards? Single pages? Books?

I plan to offer all of the above...would like to start with themed mini albums simply for the size/timeframe for those kinds of projects. I think the hardest part is getting clients/potential clients to just sit down and go through their photos! Once they get a small project down they'll be inspired to go larger, I hope!

3. What is your pricing structure for each of the services you provide? Flat fee? By the hour? Amounts?

My pricing is ultimately based on time...I have an hourly rate and won't work for less. But I average the pages-per-hour and set a flat rate for that size page and add it to printing/shipping/other expenses. The clients will get a written estimate...not the breakdown. It will look flat rate to them.

4. Do you premake pages in advance and slide in clients pictures when possible? (of course only providing the flattened version to the client) or do you do everything from scratch? How do you combine quality with speed?

My marketing strategy is to have their album custom made to fit the photos. I would even like to learn how to do handwriting fonts so that I can have the journaling in the client's own handwriting. So I don't see any need to premake anything...I do like to use templates though and can use those for the starting point on layout and customize the supplies used to coordinate with the photos. I'm scrapping much faster now with ACDSee's Photo Editor so I don't see the need to compromise on quality in the interest of speed. The only way I'd feel rushed would be by underpricing my services.

5. Did you market yourself in any unusual places? What were the results?

I'll have to let you know...lol!

6. Do you have samples of your work? A website maybe?

Not yet. I'm starting off local and do not want to get into website and webstore issues at this point in time.

7. How long have you been doing S4H? What is your volume of work currently?

I do have two clients lined up but like I said, the hard part is getting them to slow down long enough to get the pics together so I can start work! One is a trade with a friend who is a massage therapist and the other is a trade for part of the price of my new puppy.

HTH! Looking forward to seeing what others say in this thread...great questions!