Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Andrea Butler. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Andrea thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Well, before I became a graphic designer, I was providing support within IT. There was only one thing missing, and that was to be creative. My world was missing color. I took what I learned from the technical side of computers and applied it to the creative side of computers. So all I’d learned was to stay focused on what I wanted from the day I started this career path. And what I know now, I would have gone to school just for the knowledge of different techniques within graphic design to pinpoint what I am missing today because I have so many different sides of operating computers, both technical and software and graphic designing, that sometimes it’s hard to focus on one area of technology. But because of my love for art, I focus on the creative side of technology which works for me to deliver what my clients are requesting, leaving them as satisfied customers.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Let me start by saying that I didn’t start in this line of business as a business. It started as a discipline of thinking about what I could do with my skills. Discipline, to me, involves the consistent and continuous exercise of your best thinking, doing, and being in the pursuit of higher standards and goals. My goal was to make a change from what I was doing because I didn’t want to go back to doing what I was doing before. I had decided to put it to use within the entertainment industry providing graphics to assist with marketing those who were entertainers. I had decided to become a promoter at the same time I was teaching myself more about graphics. It was then I became a media specialist at the start of starting a business for myself. It allowed me to discipline myself into becoming a graphic designer which I had already gotten my Associate degree in visual communication. So it taught me to help those to fully market themselves, and promote to their audience their comings and goings around the city. Providing an image to want to be seen. I then started to do graphics for event planners and other businesses. What I am most proud of was being able to market myself, changing my title from a media specialist to a graphic designer, not only to those in the entertainment industry but to others offering them the service they needed to advertise their business whether it’s a business card, banner, logo, book cover, cd cover or a flier. Which led me to be creative in other areas of designing marketing materials and other interactive designs.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Let me explain about having a social media presence. Having a social media presence for a business should only be used if you’re going to use the business tools it offers. As you connect with people you know will not build your business. They are only there to watch and maybe show support. Over the years I have learned the habits of those I know and those I don’t know. People love to follow trends and are very opinionated about what they read and see on social media. Social media is supposed to be used to generate brand awareness, promote content, engage with customers, generate leads, perform market research, analyze competitors, gain insights from your audiences, or collaborate with influencers. Now as far as collaborating with influencers, they come the more you promote what you’re offering. But is it something an influencer can use? Are they going to support your business? As far as my business within social media has only grown because of my presence not that it has helped my business grow. The only thing I use social media for is to stay connected with those I know and don’t know. I asked them why they were following me. I then realize they may follow me just to see what I am doing. But why? That is still the question. So my advice for using social media, if you’re going to use it to build your business, use the sponsored tools they offer to attract the customers you want. When the acronyms are set, those who are interested or are looking for what you have to offer, your business is then shown to them. I just have not needed to use it but I do keep a presence on social media so people will know I am there if needed.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

The consistent and continuous thinking and disciplining of my skills and word of mouth have built my reputation within my business. As each year went by I would learn a new skill or technique within my career choice. The more I did, the more people saw. And the more they knew the more the word spread about me and what I can do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.illdesigns.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illmaginabledesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IllmaginableDesigns
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreabutlerarnold/