I do tend to agree with your thoughts about a name change, which is why I haven’t changed my firm’s name in 10 years. I think if I were doing a better job with self-promotion, prospects would not be calling into question if I am 1 person or more.

Thanks again,
Julia

I am tallying votes for a name change, and so far there’s a lot of readers in support of doing this (I originally wrote this post for my own blog). However, I remember way back when-in a similar discussion with Ilise Benun and a bunch of designers-and all the designers were in favor of a name change, while Ilise adamantly was opposed, feeling that a small firm’s position could and should be adequately conveyed via self-promotion and marketing. I should let her weigh in in her own words (Ilise: note relevant future topic), but I definitely see her point. They didn’t ask for it, but what if I had included a page in the proposal of my ‘creative team’, with headshots and short blurbs describing education & experience? I bet that would’ve helped. In fact, I just finished a new proposal where I have done exactly that. Keep you posted on whether I win *this* one…

Julia

I am sorry to hear that you didn’t get that job. It looks like you are analyzing it from the right perspective. My biggest issue is presenting our firm (my one man band) as a team. I would say that including bios in the proposal helps. I like having a name that sounds larger than one person, but with the word “group” in the name, usually the first question I am asked is, “How many people work there,” which is not the question I want them to ask. So that’s the other side of the coin.

Howard Adam Levy

By the way, would you mind listing NPbrandit.com in your blogroll?

As you know, our company is really made up of individual contractors working exclusively all over the U.S. None of us are salaried employees. But the way I worded that proposal didn’t specify that. I focused the proposal language on our team collaboration abilities and expertise and how our unique business set up actually allowed us to recruit the best illustrators in the U.S. and North America. Sort of turning it into a positive if you will. No need for them to know how we are paid in great detail or what exactly our working partnership entails in the proposal. They didn’t ask so we didn’t offer the information other than that we are cost effective in how we are set up. Again, if they want to know in the interview stage then we will cross that bridge. I wanted to sell them instead on how we can accomplish their goals. That’s what my emphasis was. I guess what I’m saying is don’t offer up too much information.

I DO think Julia Reich Design sounds like one person but I don’t see that as bad at all. Reich Design or Reich Creative sounds bigger!! When I rebranded my one-man firm’s name I went from Jacks River Communications (sounds big) to Karpovage Creative. I didn’t so much consider whether it sounded one-man, small or not. I simply wanted to start branding my name. Plus, it’s catchy. So, rather than changing your already established name to sound bigger I would think about the brand you’ve already created for yourself. There are LOTS of firms using the one-person full name and I just don’t ever really consider whether they are small or not. I look at their work. I think of what that name means (the branding, the quality, the relationship, the accomplishments inherent in that brand name).

Okay, sorry for the long email. Hope it helps.

I really do appreciate your support and advice.

Julia