Resourceful Designer: Strategies for running a graphic design business

Latest Episodes:

12 Ways To Earn Extra Income As A Graphic Designer-RD009 Nov 04, 2015

Show notes

12 Ways To Earn Extra Income As A Graphic Designer.

No matter how good a graphic designer you are there will be times when work is slow and you find yourself with some extra time on your hands. These times are perfect opportunities to put your design skills to work and earn extra income.

Methods to earn extra income discussed in this episode

Become a print broker
Become a media host
Create designs to sell on merchandise
Create and sell website themes.
Sell your design leftovers.
Create and sell designs to stock image sites.
Design a font/typeface.
Create and sell a Photoshop action or Illustrator Style.
Manage a client's social media accounts
Teach a workshop/course locally or online
Build and monetize a niche website
Write a book/ebook

There are many more ways for a graphic designer to use their skills to earn extra income. Those I talk about in this episode are the ones I have experience with and am comfortable talking about.

Links mentioned in this episode.

List of sites you can use to earn extra income as a graphic designer.

Four Week Marketing Boost - FREE GUIDE

Download my FREE guide, the Four Week Marketing Boost to help improve your business' image and create the best first impression possible to attract more clients.

Subscribe to the podcast

Subscribe on iTunesSubscribe on StitcherSubscribe on Android

Contact me

Send me feedback

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook

Design Resource

If you are looking for a web host for yourself or your clients I suggest you visit resourcefuldesigner.com/hosting and check out Hostgator. I've been using them for several years now and have been very pleased with their service. If you decide to sign up you can use the discount code "RESOURCEFUL25" to get a 25% discount on your purchase of a hosting package.

I want to help you.

Running a graphic design or web design business all by yourself isn't easy. If there are any struggles you face running your design business please reach out to me. I'll do my best to help you by addressing your issues in a future blog post or podcast episode here at Resourceful Designer. You can reach me at feedback@resourcefuldesigner.com

Just In Time Learning And Your Ongoing Design Education-RD008 Oct 28, 2015

Show notes

Just In Time Learning And Your Ongoing Design Education!

We work in a profession that is constantly changing. If we don't keep up with our ongoing design education we can quickly fall behind and become obsolete. In this episode of Resourceful Designer I talk about the concept of Just In Time Learning.

Just In Time Learning is something I first heard about a couple of years ago and it drastically changed the way I look at courses, tutorials, guides and everything else involved in my ongoing design education as both a graphic designer and web designer.

The principal behind Just In Time Learning is to only learn what you need to know for the next task you are undertaking.

We all suffer from F.O.M.O. or the Fear Of Missing Out. Whenever we come across a new feature is something or a new tutorial on how to do something we immediately want to dive right into it and expand our knowledge. The problem is, many of these things we spend time learning are not, and may never be important or useful to us. So why are we waisting our time learning them?

In this week's episode I give some examples of how Just In Time Learning has helped me and I share ways to create a learning toolbox where you can save all the tutorials and courses for future reference should you ever need them.

Links mentioned in this episode.

Evernote Essentials, The only Evernote guide you'll need.

Four Week Marketing Boost - FREE GUIDE

Download my FREE guide, the Four Week Marketing Boost to help improve your business' image and create the best first impression possible to attract more clients.

Subscribe to the podcast

Subscribe on iTunesSubscribe on StitcherSubscribe on Android

Contact me

Send me feedback

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook

Design Resource

This week's Design Resource is Lynda.com. This is a great resource to learn software, skills and techniques to better yourself. I learned HTML and CSS by taking courses at Lynda.com. I wouldn't be the web designer I am today if not for them. You can try Lynda.com free for 10 days with access to every one of their courses.

I want to help you.

Considerations When Starting A Graphic Design Business-RD007 Oct 21, 2015

Show notes

Considerations When Starting A Graphic Design Business.

Starting a graphic design business is a big step in your design career and not one to take lightly. There are many things to consider before jumping in with both feet. In this episode of Resourceful Designer I go over several topics that you may want to consider before, during and after you've started your graphic design business.

Things to Consider... Before Starting A Graphic Design Business

Do you want to work in a specific niche of graphic design?
Do you want to work from home or have an office away from the house?
What type of business do you want to start (Incorporated, Sole proprietor)?
Do you have enough savings to invest in a new business?
How will you deal with friends and family looking for designs from you?
How will you name your business?

While Starting A Graphic Design Business

What type of computer will you use?
Will you use your home address for your business?
What will your working hours be?
What will your rates be?
What phone number will you use for your business?
How will you communicate with your graphic design clients?
How will you accept payment from your graphic design clients?
You need to acquaint yourself with your bank, accountant and layer.
How will you handle requests for pro-bono work?

After Starting A Graphic Design Business

You will need to market your business any way you can.
You must join clubs and business groups in your area. Including your Chamber of Commerce.
Contact other local designers for possible partnerships and work trade.
Contact local printers and suppliers and try to work out discounts for bringing them work.
You must continue your education and grow as a graphic designer.
You must take care of yourself both physically and mentally so you don't burn out.

There are many more aspects involved when starting a graphic design business. These are just a few that I came up with that I thought I would share with you. If you can think of more that I missed, add them to the comment section at resourcefuldesigner.com/episode7

Four Week Marketing Boost - FREE GUIDE

Download my FREE guide, the Four Week Marketing Boost to help improve your business' image and create the best first impression possible to attract more clients.

Subscribe to the podcast

Subscribe on iTunesSubscribe on Stitcher

Contact me

Send me feedback

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook

Design Resource

This week I shared three great resources for selecting and managing colours for your clients. I've only recently discovered them but have found them a big help already.

ColorSnapper 2

Spectrum

Colors Pallete Generator

I want to help you.

8 Myths About Starting A Home Based Design Business-RD006 Oct 14, 2015

Show notes

8 Myths About Starting A Home Based Design Business.

If doesn't matter if you're a graphic designer or a web designer, it's all the same when it comes to starting a home based design business. To some, the thought of starting their own home based design business can seem quite daunting. In this episode of Resourceful Designer I cover 8 myths that often holds people back from taking the leap in their entrepreneurial journey.

The 8 Myths

You need a lot of clients to make your home based design business viable.
It's hard to give up a steady pay cheque. How will I make ends meat with a home based design business?
It's complicated to set up a home based design business.
It's expensive to purchase the hardware required to run a home based design business.
I can't afford all the software needed to successfully run a home based design business.
I'll be able to work on whatever projects I want once I'm running my own home based design business.
I'll make a tone of money running my own home based design business.
Once I'm running my own home based design business I'll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy life.

I'm sure there are many other myths I could have covered but these are the ones I hear most often.

Links mentioned in this episode.

Adobe Creative Cloud QuarkXpress

Adobe Photoshop Alternatives

Gimp (Free, Windows, Linux, Mac) Affinity Photo ($57.99, Mac) Sketch ($99, Mac) Pixelmator ($29.99, Mac, IOS) Acorn ($29.99, Mac) Corel PaintShop Pro ($79.99, Windows)

Adobe Illustrator Alternatives

Affinity Designer ($45.99, Mac) SVG-Edit (Free, web browser) Inkscape (Free, Windows, Linux, Mac) Serif DrawPlus (Free, or £39.99 paid version, Windows) Sketch ($99, Mac)

Four Week Marketing Boost - FREE GUIDE

Download my FREE guide, the Four Week Marketing Boost to help improve your business' image and create the best first impression possible to attract more clients.

Subscribe to the podcast

Subscribe on iTunesSubscribe on Stitcher

Contact me

Send me feedback

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook

Design Resource

If you are involved in Wordpress web design in any way you need to check out Elegant Themes. With 87 themes plus 6 very useful Wordpress plugins all for a low price. You can't go wrong. I've been using Elegant Themes for a few years now and can't say enough good things about their products and Customer service. Don't forget to sign up for their newsletter to receive 10% off your order.

I want to help you.

Don't Compromise Your Principles For Your Design Business-RD005 Oct 07, 2015

Show notes

Don't Compromise Your Principles For Your Design Business.

We've all experienced it. That little voice in our head telling us that what our client is asking us to do may not be a good idea. In this episode of Resourceful Designer I talk about how compromising your principles, either moral, ethical, or design can affect your graphic design or web design business.

Subjects covered

When a client asks you to do something against your moral principles.
When a client asks you to do something you are not comfortable with.
When a client asks you to do something against your design principles.
How turning down work will benefit your design business in the long run.

I share some experiences from my business where I had to make these decisions, followed my principles and how it affected me.

Links mentioned in this episode.

Subscribe on iTunes

Subscribe on Stitcher

Send me feedback

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook

Design Resource

The program I've used for the past 10 years to keep track of my clients, my time spent on each project and all my estimates, invoices and collections is Billings Pro by Marketcircle. Try it FREE for 30 days.

I want to help you.

Superhero Syndrome and Your Design Business - RD004 Oct 01, 2015

Show notes

Superhero Syndrome and Your Design Business.

Wouldn't it be cool if we had super powers? The ability to fly, teleport or turn invisible. Unfortunately none of these are possible. However, some entrepreneurs, creatives in particular are often affected with something called Superhero Syndrome. It's when we want to wear all the hats in our business which could lead to burn out.

Symptoms of Superhero Syndrome include

Trying to save money by doing everything yourself
If something needs doing and you don't know how, you teach yourself.
You think your ideas and concepts are far better than anyone else's

Sound familiar? Don't worry, there are ways to deal with Superhero Syndrome and I discuss them in this episode of Resourceful Designer. So enjoy and try not to fret to much about your design business.

Linda mentioned in this episode.

fiverr.com

Upwork.com

virtualstafffinder.com

Virtual Freedom by Chris Ducker

Four Week Marketing Boost

Design Resource

If you are a web designer check out DomainBrain the easy application for managing website, mail and database access.

I want to help you.

Dealing With Photographers-Brett Gilmour Interview - RD003 Oct 01, 2015

Show notes

Dealing With Photographers Interview with Brett Gilmour

In this episode of Resourceful Designer I'm joined by award winning photographer Brett Gilmour as we discuss things to help designers when dealing with photographers.

Brett specializes in location photography of architecture, people and places. His images have been featured in advertising campaigns and magazines around the world and he's been honoured with three Gold Nugget Awards for Arcitectural Photography, the highest honour in North America. He's shot photos for General Electric, Shell, Estee Lauder and Chevron just to name a few.

In the interview we discuss questions to ask when hiring a photographer, specifically what are the responsibilities of the designer and what are the responsibilities of the photographer. How to deal with contracts. What equipment the photographer needs. What the designer should expect before, during, and after the photo shoot.

If you enjoy the interview and want to learn more about Brett, please visit his site Gilmour Photography

Photographer Cheat Sheet

I put together a simple one page cheat sheet of questions you should ask when dealing with photographers based on what Brett talked about in the interview. You can download it at http://resourcefuldesigner.com/photographercheatsheet

I want to help you.

Do Your Design Clients Know What You Do? - RD002 Sep 30, 2015

Show notes

Do Your Design Clients Know What You Do?

As graphic designers and/or web designers you're always looking for ways to find new clients. After all, they are your bread and butter. Without design clients you're out of a job. But finding new clients can be a challenge. I wrote a blog post that may help titled 10 Proven Ways To Attract Design Clients that goes over simple ways that I myself have used to get new clients.

But should all your focus be on attracting new design clients or on attracting new design work? Because there's a wealth of potential projects waiting for you with your existing clients if you just ask. Because the fact is, your design clients don't know what you do.

Sounds crazy I know. But the fact is, they became your client because they needed you for a specific project and you delivered. But when the next, slightly different project comes along will they think of you? The answer is not unless you tell them you can do it.

In this episode of the Resourceful Designer podcast I share a simple trick I use that keeps winning me more projects from my existing clients. Some of them projects my clients didn't even know they had until I told them.

Face it, as a designer you have a lot of skills. Some you use on a daily basis and others you don't get to stretch out as often as you'd like. But those skills are there when you need them. You need to inform your clients of those skills so that when the time comes they will know what you do as a designer.

Backblaze online backup solution

One of the scariest things you can think of as a designer is what would happen if disaster strikes and you loose all your computer files. What would it mean for your business? Backblaze offers a simple unlimited online backup solution for your design business for only $5/month. And it's so easy. You just set it up and forget about it. Backblaze works in the background automatically backing up your files. And if you ever loose your data for whatever reason, you wont have to worry because you'll know everything can be restored from Backblaze.

If you're interested in finding out more about Backblaze's online backup solution, visit resourcefuldesigner.com/backup

Introduction to the Resourceful Designer podcast - RD001 Sep 30, 2015

Show notes

Welcome to the very first episode of the Resourceful Designer podcast.

I'm Mark Des Cotes, graphic designer, web designer and host of this podcast. I'm super excited that you decided to take the time to listen to my show. The fact that you are tells me a couple of things about you. 1) you're either a graphic designer or web designer (or perhaps both) and 2) you're passionate about your design business. Why else would you press play on a podcast about running a graphic/web design business? I think we'll get a long just fine.

My goal is to help you explore ways to streamline your graphic design and/or web design business so that you can get back to what you do best... designing.

In each episode Resourceful Designer I'll explore different aspects of what happens behind the scenes of a design studio. All the nitty gritty that your clients never see but are necessary to keeps your business not only running but competitive. From software and hardware, to dealing with clients and suppliers, to balancing home and business life and so much more. I'm stoked that you are joining me for this journey.

Who is this podcast for?

Resourceful Designer is aimed at solopreneurs, especially those of you running a design studio out of your home. But that's not to say that those of you not working from home won't benefit from the show. A lot of what I'll discuss can be used or modified for larger design studios and can be helpful to designers working at larger agencies. Just keep in mind that my main focus is helping the small one designer studios.

Who is this guy?

I've been in the industry for over 25 years, the last 10 of which have been spent running my own design studio out of my home. Before that I worked for 15 years in the design department at a commercial printer.

I'm also an experienced podcaster. I run Solo Talk Media where I host several TV Fan podcasts. I'm also one of the hosts for the Stuff I Learned Yesterday podcast by Golden Spiral Media.

I started Resourceful Designer to share my knowledge, and the knowledge of my guests with you. To help you streamline your design business.

I want to help you.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Resourceful Designer: Strategies for running a graphic design business

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected