I've been thinking about ways in which I can make some extra cash. Since I'm 13 I can't just go out and get a part time job in a café for a little extra cash or whatever. I spend a lot of time on my computer and have developed the ability to type pretty fast. So I thought, how about I offer a service based on this ability. I can type about 1,800 words in an hour and I could say "1,200 words per hour guaranteed or your money back" (just to be on the safe side). I plan on putting flyers through doors offering the service. Here's what the flyer would look like: http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/6381/typistforhirels7.png Any thoughts? Is this a good idea? Where can I improve it? Thanks in advance, Andy
Hi Andy - I think your flyer is great! I hope some day you come back here and say "I am Rich" !!! Really I think if someone your age is this creative then nothing will hold you back on down the road - wishing you the best.
You got a mind for business. In my opinion i don't think many people would need a typist. try doing research on local businesses that would find your skill useful
Frankly speaking,typist job is very hard to find nowadays. But from what i can see from the flyer designed by you. You have a lot of potential in designing,so why don't you leverage on the skill and offer design service. It pay much better than typist.
Hehe, I was actually just about to suggest that; I have quite a lot of photoshop experience. But I'm still not sure if I'm good enough. I know it's never good to doubt yourself but still. What do you think? Here's one of my first web template designs: http://dreamwarez.co.uk/images/template.png Here's some more stuff I've done in the past: http://tutorialforums.freeforums.org/web-2-0-buttons-t230.html http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1361/websitebuildingicongh3.png http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/3438/htmliconey5.png What do you think? Am I good enough?
Wow, I'm impressed with your initiative. When I was 13 I wasn't even thinking about making money, haha. You definitely have a good idea. Small businesses may go for your work. Make sure to hit them up.
I admire your initiative but businesses looking for a typist will want something in excess of 50 wpm, and people not in business don't have much use for a typist. I agre that you might do better designing flyers and posters for local clubs, youth groups, playgroups etc.
I was planning on putting up the flyers on notice boards in near by colleges; I know lots of students wouldn't mind having their essays typed out
To be 100% honest with you, I don't think your design skills are good enough yet for you to make anything from them. But you have good potential, and if you continue to develop them there's definitely hope for the future! As for the typist idea, why not try it? Worst that can happen is no one contacts you, and you move on and try something new. But if it does work out, it could be a nice little earner! Good initiative imo.
Hate to break it to you bro but you are targeting the wrong people for your service. College students are very computer savy and can type really well. Also, college students are poor so they prob wouldn't spend their money in that way anyways. And also, i'm in college and I can honestly say that I don't know anyone that hand writes their rough drafts anymore. If you still want to pursue this type of business, I would recommend targeting really old people or maybe handicap people. They will pay better and have a much more lenient deadline. HOWEVER, you have a real skill for your age in graphic design. I would recommend focusing in on that and building up a portfolio. You can also pick up some jobs on this site and prob make more money then you would being a typist. Hope this helps. Good Luck.
Ok, I'd MUCH rather do design anyway . I mean a college with adults in. There's a place near me where my mom goes (She's learning to be a teaching assistant) and they all write it out on paper. I know, I'll put up flyers there and just hope that I get some work. That can just be a side job if the chance arises. And I'll work on design when there's no typing jobs.
Here's some resources for web designers: The best sites i use are "boxes and arrows" and webdevelopershandbook. For photoshop tutorials i use goodtutorials and webdesignerswall. Try to practice your skills in the contest section of the forum...
Another word of advice: try to avoid puting your phone number, real name, email, or any other personal informaion on the internet. There are some creepy people out there.
I don't think Real Name or Email is a worry. I obviously won't provide my phone number though [Edit] Oh wait.. I just did in the flyer... xD Oh well, I don't think my phone number being in one thread in one forum will be too bad hehe... Thanks free lancer. There's deffo more of a sense of achievement when I do design. Typing isn't very rewarding and it doesn't allow me to better myself. ^^
Andy, I say go for the typing biz... test it out for the next month. Make a journal of your progress. Then, test out your web design biz for another month, do a journal for that as well. Keep this cycle going by trying everything you want to. At your age, it's all about experiementing, finding that perfect middle of Loving what you do & Having successful outcomes from your work. Just from this thread, I can make a fairly accurate assumption that your a little ahead of your age. Whatever you do, don't get discouraged. If you fail, it's OK... even the best have failed. If you start working honestly and hard at this career journey, and start looking online to see what's successful, you will find success before you can even have your first legal beer Good luck Andy
Thanks, I'll do that. Actually, couldn't I do them both at the same time and see which yields the most results? Yeah, most kids my age don't think the same way I do. I try to learn more everyday. Although there might be more design jobs out there that pay better and what not, I don't know where to look for them. I guess I could do stuff for people in the forum for free until I build rep and skill then start charging for my design work and in the mean time do typing stuff.
No problem Here's my 2cents: - Take each job/project one at a time. If you can dedicate a set number of days for Typing and then for Designing, then you can do an analysis. If you attempt both together, you may give favor towards one venture then the otehr. - Be patient, hone your skills, and strike hard when the time is right. To make sense of this: build your portfolio, reputation, and skills each day. Push yourself to do add something, do something faster, be slightly better at a skill than yesterday. Even if it's just an second faster or .01% more accurate, it's still a progress. Again, you're 13... keep growing and building everything for 5 years. At 5 years, you'll be successful at something, which is then the time to strike. - Ask questions, especially dumb ones. Dumb questions will bring answers that will lead to more specific topics/ideas... that then leads to more Q's and more A's. I wish I would have done some asking and research at 13... for there's so much great things to learn and master in this world. Whatever you do, DON'T hesitate or wait! That will be your biggest regret and failure.