We recently connected with Antoné Graham and have shared our conversation below.

Antoné, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?

In my view, I believe that those closest to us, such as friends and family, should share a genuine desire to support our endeavors. I consider myself fortunate because I have been lucky enough to experience the positive impact of my circle’s support. For years my family and friends were pushing me to “stop being scared” and start a business due to my many talents they’ve witnessed evolve over the years. It may also be because I’ve always surrounded myself with many other entrepreneurs and likeminded individuals. It’s safe to say at one point, they believed in me more than I believed in myself.

Of course there are some that would bypass my services and go to the next graphic designer, resume writer, etc,. because I wouldn’t give them a discount or “freebie”. However, I don’t dwell too much on it anymore because I feel like even though they’re a relative or an associate of mine, they may not be the client for me. It’s a hard pill to swallow at first but as a business owner you learn to get over small things like that. In retrospect: strangers will become your biggest supporters before those closest to you in most instances… and that’s okay!

Because of that, I do not ask anyone to support. They see my work. They see my posts. They see the traction and know what’s going on; it’s up to them to support me or not. Actions speak volumes! I always pay attention to who shares a post, or those that bring up my name in rooms I have yet to enter, or who comes to me first to see if whatever service they’re in need of is something I can do before looking elsewhere, or just whoever sends me words of encouragement and wishes me well on my endeavors. Those are the people that keep me going. Those are the clients I’d go the extra mile for. Support doesn’t equate to just spending money.

It is important to note that I also understand that circumstances can vary. While I appreciate the backing I have received, I recognize the need to build a broader support network beyond my immediate circle, reaching out to potential clients, partners, and mentors who can contribute to the growth and success of my business. I’ve joined a business mentor group called Crowning Queens Mentoring to network and surround myself with more entrepreneurs to start doing that. Overall, I believe that genuine support should stem from a shared belief in the value and potential of my business rather than solely relying on personal relationships.

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

My name is Antoné Graham and I am from Prince George’s County, MD. I bring years of experience creating one-of-a-kind prints for an assortment of projects across different industries. I’ve always had a passion for writing and creating unique concepts, themes, and visuals for myself and others. For years I would only demonstrate my exceptional skill sets within my close circle of friends. In October of 2021, I overcame the fear of failure and self-doubt and finally opened my long-awaited business—thus, birthing Her Ink Print.

Becoming a business owner while matriculating at Bowie State University and enrolling into separate online certification bootcamps mid-pandemic was no easy task! Yet, I was still able to double my clientele and services for Her Ink Print, graduate Magna Cum Laude with my B.S. in Psychology in 2022, gain a UX Writing certification, follow through with my duties as President of the Psi Chi International Honors Society-BSU Chapter, and much more! I truly believe Her Ink Print gave me that extra push I always needed.

Her Ink Print was launched with the intention of contributing my professional experience, diverse writing skills, and creativity to a variety of clients. We provide an array of services ranging from homework help, to resumes, to complete brand revamps, to websites and digital marketing! Soon we will also be offering printing services and custom merchandise. Essentially, we’re a one-stop-shop for many. As the owner, I strive to deliver top tier results for any service my clients may choose! i aim to build unwavering connections while helping clients uncover a newfound confidence that will bolster their personal and professional growth.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Many do not know this but I started Her Ink Print when I was without a job, I had lost my job months prior due to cutbacks that stemmed from the effects of covid and, thankfully, I had a nice severance and savings that got me through that tough time. I used a small portion of my savings to jumpstart it. I didn’t have much luck with my job searching and wanted something that would allow me to be creative. I just wanted to put a name to the services I offered so I could attract new clients until I landed on my feet and hadn’t necessarily thought of making it an LLC until last year, but I became so sure I needed to be my own boss for a while. I’m a spiritual person and soon after my birthday I had a conversation with God that led me to soft-launching HIP on October 1, 2021. I was literally afraid because, again, I had nothing and no one to fall back on should it fail. I still had bills of my own to account for However, he assured me everything would be okay and to stop sleeping on the gifts he gave me.

I’m glad I listened!

Originally, it was just writing services, then three months in I had expanded to design services as well. The bigger our name grew the more money we started to bring in which allowed us to strengthen our skill sets and invest more into our brand. With the expansion came more money needed for the monthly expenses, such as: marketing, cricut materials, design software, a plethora of subscriptions, and more. Each month I put aside 20% from the previous month’s gross income to use for expenses for the following month. Then, I landed a great job and while I still utilize the 20% rule, I also contribute from my 9-5’s paycheck as well.

I did have some financial support from loved ones but I had myself to support and now a business, which is pretty much like supporting a baby. Within the first 6 months, I had made close to triple the amount I had invested into it thanks to having a consistent social media presence, hosting raffles, passing out my business cards on campus, and networking. My close circle played a huge part in marketing in the earlier stages because they helped me reach so many different audiences.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media is… interesting. The main platform I frequent when it comes to my business is instagram, which is also attached to the Her ink Print official FB page. I had to learn the algorithm on IG because it switches every so often. My reels were gaining notice early on. Also, my friends and I would use our personal pages with thousands of followers to reach broader audiences and draw them to Her Ink Print’s IG page.

I hosted a sale probably once a month for the first 6 months and had heavy promotion. I optimized my profile and made it visually appealing–prior to our revamp. After our revamp we gained even more followers. I used hashtags strategically, making sure I attracted people interested in my industry/niche. I used to host live segments on the story to engage with the audience; for example: “Get to know the CEO”, “Ask me anything: Q&A”, “This or That?”, etc. These are things I still do to this day.

Currently, I’m trying to think of ways to elevate my social media presence. It’s extremely time consuming, but necessary! With me being a naturally shy person, having to show up on platforms like IG used to be intimidating but I’ve learned (through my mentoring group) there are ways to be present on social media without even having to show your face! Plus, your audience likes to feel personally connected so it’s okay to share your wins, losses, advice, day in the life, and other things you may feel like the next entrepreneur may benefit from. Posting quality content will help your audience grow tremendously!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.herinkprint.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herinkprint/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herinkprint/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/herinkprint