I just get no more jobs...and now?

[Dreide]

Dear Community,

 

I´m a frequent visitor to cgarchitect but only as a reader so far.

Now my first post here and I hope not the last.

 

I just don´t know what goes wrong here with my job-situation and hope that you have some ideas, advices...perhaps someone was in a similar situation.

Last year the situation became worse and worse and it doesn´t seem to improve so at the moment I ask myself if I really should give up now?

I try to take it as short as possible:

In the last years since 2006 I got constantly archviz-orders. A big German architectural company was a main and permanent client and some smaller ones also provided me with jobs. There was enough to do and no need for further promotion.

In the spring of last year it suddenly stopped. I know that the situation of the main client got a little worse with the economical turbulences but the main reason was apparently that they just wanted to try it with another viz-studio(s) to get a "fresh wind" inside ( as told me in confidence by some people working in that company).

And like we say here: Misfortunes never come singly...The amount of orders from other studios also bacame smaller.

 

Since then I have been trying to get a grip on the job-situation again but it doesn´t happen.

It is so hard to win some new clients (I didn´t think it would be so difficult when I was well supplied with jobs). I focused on architects, as my work is more an illustrative one, more a competition-style than a realistic one for the real-estate-projects.

-I reworked some of my portfolio images (some competition works was finished under absolute pressure and needed some corrections).

-I freshed up my homepage.

-Then I sent hundreds of info-emails to optional customers (I know it is a kind of spamming and I didn´t really like it) with a small contact-flyer with some images. Every receiver was named personally to avoid the impression of mass-mailing. As I could see in google-analytics of the homepage the result was not very satisfactory. Approximately one of ten looked on my site. I know, they get hundreds of eMails like mine. The result was a singular job for a small office...they will need viz perhaps one time a year ):

-I started a personal non-commercial project to promote a little more my work.

-I designed a small info-brochure, printed it and sent it to multiple architectural offices. Result: again one(!) job.

-I asked different persons involved in architecture, who could know some optional clients.

-I asked some collegues for the case they have too much work...

-I created some accounts at flickr, facebook etc. to better promote my small studio.

...With no changes...I think all architects have already their favourite 3d-studio they work with...and no need for alternatives.

In the meantime I had to spend a big part of my last years´ savings. Yes, a young family with a 3-years old son realizes immediately that the times are getting harder ):

And now? I´m again without a paid project in view and I´ve not too much more ideas about what could be the next steps,...how should I promote my work,..how to get some jobs? I tried different ways with such a disappointing result...

Hmm...Should I really seriously think about giving up? My alternatives to archiviz sound not great but in the moment I just have no more ideas what I could do to get again jobs constantly ):

Hope for some honest opinion, tips, advice...

Thank you very much in advance!

Edited January 23, 2012 by Dreide

[Sketchrender]

One phrase comes to mind.

Word of mouth.

Start meeting people for coffee, old friends on the business .

Most work comes from friends and friends of friends.

Seriously try it .

[Jonathan]

Milan, why not post a link to your site?

[RyderSK]

Milan, why not post a link to your site?

 

I second this. I wasn't able to google you. I think it would greatly help to see your website ;- )

 

Also self-promotion never ends ! What all have you tried ? How about Behance

[Dreide]

Thank you very much for your answers!

Yes, ideed personal recommendations are so important: Perhaps I really should call and meet some people, for example my former colleagues from the architectural office I worked after the study...

Thank you also for your Behance-tip. I´ve probably to look for some more portals: architizer?

 

Homepage: Hmm, I think that in this situation it wouldn´t be very agreable for me to make this post too public....I mean, It wouldn´t make the situation easier when both the local competitors and possibly some of (former) clients know exact details about my current position I described here....even in a big city such news spread quickly...

I hope you understand...

[RyderSK]

Yes a bit later I figured that on my own :- ).

 

The great thing about Behance, is it draws people to you, you post your work, and everyone sees it on frontpage, or can search for it with "architecture" tag, category, which isn't too busy there. You don't need to do anything else by yourself, no need to spam. It does work and I already got few jobs from there that I didn't even expect, I merely made it first because I liked the idea.

 

I wouldn't overdo it though :- ). Anyway, if you want some outside critique, you can still message us your website, or portfolio. I would reply you in secret as well if you would wish.

 

It's hard when you already need steady income since you have family..you can't simply work on some promotional work. I wish you great luck !

[JonRashid]

Old contacts are often good as they may have changed firms giving you a good in. Also try to get people at source either by going direct to the smaller developers or target the estate agents, They are often in a position to persuade a smaller developer to use a nice marketing visual to help sell off plan. Often these smaller 1-2 day jobs can be more lucrative if you get enough and can be quick as the mutiple party design process is eliminated.