"Create a document explaining why bakeries need websites". Jeez, that's just really bad advice.
If you start a new design firm (and particularly if you're inexperienced), you need to go where the money and the work is already, not try to create new markets.
Though it's not a great example, I think the assumption is that bakeries ARE an existing market for web design. Replace by "car sales" if it makes more sense to you. In my opinion there is something to getting to know specific small business markets and going after them with tailored info. Verticalising your offer if you like.
Then again, even bakeries can be fun. This UK design agency actually built a piece of countertop hardware for a bakery which, by the press of a button, would tweet that fresh bagels are ready.
Sure, niche is good. But if you want to start a new design firm, this is just not very good advice. I would say that 99% of new design firms that succeed go where the work is, not try to convince a bakery they need a 100$ website.
Fair enough. I had it down more as $2000 for the local car dealership, but either way I agree that cold calling small businesses isn't a strategy I've seen successfully exploited either.
I guess it raises the question of how do you "go where the money is" if you're stating out.
That'd be an example of 'stepping outside of your system'. Get your ass off the comfy couch and actually talk with bakers to find out their needs and ideas. That could be pretty surprising and not at all what you expected. It's refreshing to be inspired by other people, rather than trying to figure it all out by yourself. And when you finally gain insight in what they really want, it's time to create that document ;-)
My advice would be to work for a design firm FIRST, and once you grow out of it, go on your own. It takes years to build relationships with clients and accounts people who will authorize $100k projects to you. Going door to door is a waste of your time and talent and not the best way to approach building business, unless you're starting from scratch, in which case, I reiterate working at a design firm first.
Also, don't fool yourself. "Design firm" is just a sexy and sophisticated title. What you're really doing is research 80% of the time and execution 20%.
I worked this way since I was 15 years old, and The first time I worked for a design firm was at 18.
I truly believe there is no need to work for a design firm before starting on your own. There is no good reason for that. I made more money when I worked by myself than working for a "sexy design firm".
Fair enough. And I was just waking up, and probably -- certainly -- a bit curt. But... I hesitate when I see grammatical mistakes, whatever the site design may be.
There is a subset of sites/designs that put great emphasis into a graphical appearance, but do not write well.
In this specific case, you want to use "than" rather than "then". "Than" is a comparison. "Then" denotes a sequence or position in time. :-)
P.S. I guess I should add that "native" does not work here as a noun. In the context you are using, it would be an adjective -- a modifier. "English isn't my native language." That would work.
"Native" as a noun is used to identify an indigenous person. I believe this latter use is mostly considered a bit dated or "politically incorrect", these days, as it has historically often expressed or implied a hierarchical relationship and a negative judgment of the indigenous culture.
If you start a new design firm (and particularly if you're inexperienced), you need to go where the money and the work is already, not try to create new markets.