We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Trandon Welch a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Trandon, appreciate you joining us today. Do you have any advice regarding quality control and maintaining quality as your brand grows?
In my line of work, quality is vital for growth and longevity.
Digital creation and creative marketing is a very competitive field and it’s always changing.
Some people in this space quickly realize how easy it is to find a client and they usually allow that knowledge to stunt their growth.
Because there’s no “certification” needed to enter into this field or any kind of credentials that have to be obtained, anyone with a camera and a computer can start working.
Usually, people start out with great ambition and purpose to create great art but because art is subjective… Who can really say what is or isn’t great art?
As a novice, you’ll usually have cheap prices and be willing to land every potential client that inquires.
At some point, you should get better and not only your prices but your clientele should start to change as well.
Some people never get to this point. They get comfortable with overworking themselves with multiple bookings a day for very little profit.
They are afraid to raise their prices and also against investing in a higher grade of equipment and knowledge to scale their business.
I will always seek knowledge and upgrade my tools to stay competitive and profitable.
I’m not interested in being “over-booked” as my company grows… I don’t necessarily want more clients, just a higher quality booking and with that you must not maintain but continuously upgrade in quality.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
“Success is not measured by how far your gift takes you, more so, how close your gift draws you to The Giver.”
This is something I live by and also my personal explanation of success.
Although my first name is Trandon, most people call me “WELCH”. I was born in West Monroe, La and raised in the southern districts of Monroe, La.
After graduating high school, I served my country in the United States Navy.
Upon completing my duties, I became the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at WELCHinc LLC, where I strive to serve every client through love and truth and lead my team with a standard of excellence.
I started this company from the ground up and I often state that the company was created the day I was born.
With this mentality, I don’t need much motivation outside of believing I was born to do this very thing.
From consulting with some of your favorite entertainers to being the brains & creativity behind your favorite brands, ministries, and even politicians…
I guess I am considered a “Jack of all trades” although I believe I have the drive to leave none unmastered.
I recently began focusing more in the lanes of creative consulting via photography and cinematography.
Whether I am giving back to the community or inspiring the next generation to go beyond the norm, I’ll aways be an advocate of change and truth.
I feel like there’s so much I can say and multiple directions I could take this answer, but I’ll just say that working and having a job is not the same thing in my book.
As an entrepreneur I’ve had many jobs… but through it all I stayed focused on the work I believe I was purposed to do while I’m on this earth.
This work on surface level could look like me mentoring youth, taking photos, teaching a conference, creating a film, revamping someone’s brand or assisting someones professional career but there has to be a deeper meaning with everything you do.
That deeper meaning will propel you to operate freely with a standard not from a client but from within and you will always produce excellence.
Is there a mission driving your creative journey?
Absolutely.
Everything I do, I do unto God.
You wouldn’t present a King some trash as a gift.
In the same way… When I utilize my gifts and talents, I do so to the highest level possible.
I don’t take for granted what I have been given. I understand not everyone has what I have, so I take pride in that.
I’m constantly seeking knowledge and upgrading my quality of work.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
My product.
Simple.
Many people search for marketing strategies and schemes to gain customers and clientele and yes that definitely works.
Usually, when you’re starting out, you don’t necessarily have the resources to obtain those services.
When this is the case, your product will always be your best marketing strategy.
Until you get to the point where you can hire services for marketing or spend money on ads, focus on making your product the best possible.
Focus on customer service.
If what you offer has a “turnaround time”, get that time to be as quick as possible while still maintaining a high level of quality.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.welchinc.me
- Instagram: welchinc / welchincphotography
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welchinc.me
- Twitter: welchinc
- Youtube: Trandon Welch
Image Credits
all images captured by: WELCHinc