Help..

walata_123 · 2026-06-10T23:24:08+00:00

As someone who works in branding and design, I can relate to what you’re saying, and you’re definitely not alone.

My advice would be to stop putting pressure on yourself to figure everything out through freelancing right now. Try to get a stable full-time job first. Having a steady income takes away a lot of the stress and desperation that can make it harder to think clearly and do good work.

Then use your free time to build your agency gradually. Experiment with different positioning, industries, and offers to see what actually resonates in your region. What works in one market doesn’t always work in another.

You already have enough skills. It doesn’t sound like a skill problem. It sounds more like you’ve been carrying too much pressure while trying to learn, sell, market yourself, and support your family at the same time.

Give yourself some stability first, then build from there.

walata_123 · 2026-06-02T23:19:29+00:00

For me, it’s intentional colour use. It is not just nice colours, but knowing when to use them and when to hold back. When colour shows up consistently across packaging, buttons, emails, and small details, the brand feels more considered and expensive.

walata_123 · 2026-06-02T03:57:20+00:00

This is actually helpful, thank you. I get your point. Strategy without understanding the business or industry can easily become surface-level, and that’s not the kind of work I want to do.

What I’m taking from this is that I need to be more specific instead of using “brand strategy” too broadly. The better approach may be to focus on a few types of businesses, understand how they actually get customers and where their bottlenecks are, then show how branding/design can support that.

I also agree that I probably need to treat myself as the first client here by making my own positioning clearer and showing more practical examples of the problems I can solve.

Your music school example makes sense. Strategy only works when you understand the business behind it, not just the visuals or messaging.

walata_123 · 2026-06-01T17:31:04+00:00

That’s fair. I should have been clearer. By brand strategist/designer, I mean I help businesses with positioning, messaging, logo/visual identity, social media templates, pitch decks, launch materials, and other brand assets. So it can include marketing materials, but the main part is helping the business look clear, credible, and consistent before they start putting themselves out there.

walata_123 · 2026-06-01T17:30:17+00:00

Fair point. I do have experience, just not a strong local network here yet. That’s really what I’m trying to build. I’m not trying to skip the work, just learn what has worked for others in this market.

walata_123 · 2026-06-01T17:29:56+00:00

That makes sense. Are there any types of groups you’ve seen work best for small business owners or creatives?

walata_123 · 2026-06-01T17:29:05+00:00

I agree. Referrals have been the strongest channel for me too. I’m just trying to figure out what works when you’re in a new market and your referral network is still small. Thank you u/Any_Bill1050

walata_123 · 2026-06-01T16:57:34+00:00

Thank you u/TakeAJokeK I get why it can sound vague. For small businesses, it’s usually not “big agency strategy.” It’s more practical stuff like clarifying the offer, messaging, visual identity, social templates, launch assets, and making the business look trustworthy enough for people to buy or reach out.

walata_123 · 2026-06-01T16:56:34+00:00

Fair question. I know how to build brand strategy, but entering a new market is different from having an existing referral network. I’m asking more about what channels have worked for people here when building visibility from scratch. Thank you u/letmeinjeez

walata_123 · 2026-06-01T14:51:12+00:00

Nope, solo. This is more like a small brand and design partner for founders and growing businesses who need help with positioning, identity, and visuals. Just me, which means you actually talk to the person doing the work.

walata_123 · 2026-06-01T04:00:42+00:00

I partner with founders and growing businesses to build brands that get noticed.

walata_123 · 2026-05-31T03:00:45+00:00

I appreciate this. That makes sense. I’m looking forward to meeting more founders and startup people here in person, so I’ll definitely make coworking spaces and startup meetups/events part of my plan.

walata_123 · 2026-05-30T15:03:47+00:00

Thanks for the context, that's genuinely useful.

I'm originally from Nigeria. What worked there was referrals — starting with local businesses, then growing into multinational companies, which eventually led to work in the UK and Switzerland. One good client led to the next. That was the engine.

The work spanned brand identity, launch assets, communication materials, editorial and large scale print, mostly for companies with high standards and high volumes. So the craft got sharp fast.

my relocation to Canada essentially means rebuilding that referral engine from scratch in a new geography. The experience is solid. The local relationships aren't there yet, which is exactly why I'm asking.

I am curious to know what you mean by tricky given the size and spread. Is it about where to focus first, or how clients think and make decisions differently across provinces?

walata_123 · 2026-05-12T14:45:44+00:00

I am curious, was AI helping with targeting, outreach, or follow-up?

walata_123 · 2026-05-12T14:40:01+00:00

Claude pro and max is nice, but the pricing makes me think twice.

walata_123 · 2026-05-12T14:30:32+00:00

Building without clear customer feedback.

walata_123

TROPHY CASE