Resourceful Designer: Strategies for running a graphic design business
343 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 97 ratingsWouldn't it be nice if you could spend more time designing and less time worrying about your design business? Resourceful Designer offers tips, tricks and resources for freelancers in order to help streamline your graphic design and web design business so you can get back to what you do best… Designing!
Let me know what topics you would like me to cover by emailing [email protected]
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Episodes
A Look Back - A Look Ahead - 2023 Edition - RD329
December 18, 2023 08:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBA look back at 2023 and a look ahead to 2024. Thank you for your continued interest in what I do at Resourceful Designer. I appreciate you more than you know. Many great resources are available for learning and growing as a designer, and I’m humbled that you chose to spend a bit of your valuable time with me. I am continuing my annual tradition. This last podcast episode of the year is my Look Back, Look Ahead edition. It’s where I reflect and share my year as a design business owner. Th...
Using Pitch Work To Grow Your Design Business - RD328
December 04, 2023 08:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBIn this episode of Resourceful Designer, I explore the concept of pitch work as a powerful tool for growing your design business. I explain the difference between pitch work and spec work, detailing how pitch work involves presenting work to a client they didn't ask for, potentially for free or at a discount. Through personal experiences and anecdotes, I outline how pitch work has helped me grow my design businesses, including entering a new niche and building my portfolio. I present...
10 Steps Toward Design Business Success - RD327
November 20, 2023 08:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBWelcome back to Resourceful Designer! In today's episode, titled "10 Steps Toward Design Business Success," I have an incredible lineup of tips and strategies to share with you. Whether you're just starting in the design industry or looking to take your established business to new heights, there are ten critical factors you need to consider. I will dive into each step. These steps are crucial in ensuring the growth and success of your design business. So, grab your notebook and get re...
Tell Your Design Clients What You Do - RD326
November 13, 2023 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBWelcome to episode 326 of Resourceful Designer. In this episode, I highlight the importance of informing your clients about your full range of services. Drawing from my own experiences, I emphasize how clients may not be fully aware of everything you are capable of. By sharing my own revelations and successful strategies for informing clients, I shed light on opportunities for designers to expand their businesses and nurture existing client relationships. Join me as I revisit the valuab...
Logo Package Swatch with Michael Bruny-Groth - RD325
November 06, 2023 07:00 - 45 minutes - 31.2 MBWelcome back to another episode of Resourceful Designer! In today's episode, I welcomes a special guest, Michael Bruny-Groth, the creator of Logo Package Express, Logo Package Portal, and the newest addition to the Logo Package family, Logo Package Swatch. We dive into the details of Logo Package Swatch, a powerful tool that helps designers organize and display color palettes for their clients. We discuss its features, customization options, and how it can prevent mistakes in copying ...
You Are An Expert - RD324
October 30, 2023 07:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBWelcome to episode 324 of Resourceful Designer, titled "You Are An Expert." In today's episode, I share a personal story that taught him a valuable lesson about business. It may not be a story about design or web development, but it's one that you should hear. Join me as I recounts being stopped at a police roadblock and the unexpected expert status I discovered. Stay tuned to learn how knowing just a little more than someone else can make you an expert in their eyes. Let's dive in!
The Most Important Question To Ask Design Clients - RD323
October 23, 2023 07:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBWelcome back to Resourceful Designer! In today's episode titled "The Most Important Question You Can Ask Your Design Client," I reveal a simple question that can transform your design projects. The question that toddlers ask incessantly can unlock new possibilities and strengthen client relationships. Join me as I explain how asking "why" can clarify client needs, guide project direction, and save you time and money. Stay tuned to discover the power of this fundamental question in the desig...
Designing Success: Applying 'Selling the Invisible' to Your Graphic Design Business - RD322
October 16, 2023 07:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBIn this episode of Resourceful Designer, I delve into the world of modern marketing and share my insights from the influential book, Selling the Invisible: A Field Guide to Modern Marketing by Harry Beckwith. Discover how the principles outlined in this book, originally written in 1997 but still applicable today, can revolutionize the way you run your graphic design business. From the importance of showcasing your work and emphasizing value over features, to building trust and creatin...
Beyond The clock: The Pitfalls of Hourly Rates for Designers - RD321
October 09, 2023 07:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBOn today's episode of Resourceful Designer, I discuss the pitfalls of hourly rates for designers. Inspired by a conversation in a design-related Facebook group, I explore the common practice of billing by the hour and the negative impact it can have on a designer's income. Using personal anecdotes and insights, I explains how charging by the project or value-based pricing can lead to more successful and lucrative design work. So, if you're a designer who is tired of being stuck in the ho...
Navigating Pro Bono Design Work for Non-Profits and Charities - RD320
October 02, 2023 07:00 - 28 minutes - 19.6 MBHey, design enthusiasts! In this episode, we're diving into the world of pro bono design work for nonprofits and charities. We'll demystify the differences between nonprofits and charities, debunk the budget myth, and explore the pros and cons of offering your design skills for a good cause. I'll also share my personal criteria for selecting projects, including the "Three's the Magic Number" rule. Plus, I'll spill the beans on a clever tax receipt strategy that benefits you and the organizat...
The Curse Of Knowledge - RD319
September 25, 2023 07:00 - 17 minutes - 11.9 MBIn this episode, I'm diving deep into a topic that hits close to home for many of us in the design world: the Curse of Knowledge. I'm sharing personal experiences, like insider knowledge and navigating design jargon, to shed light on how it can lead to misunderstandings with clients. But don't worry, I've got your back! I'll be dishing out practical tips to help bridge that gap, ensuring every conversation is crystal clear. So, join me on this journey as we master the art of transparent com...
You Can't Read The Label From Inside The Jar - RD318
September 18, 2023 07:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBWelcome to Resourceful Designer, the podcast that helps designers thrive in their creative careers. In today's episode, titled "You Can't Read The Label From Inside The Jar," host Mark delves into the importance of seeking feedback and involving others in your design process. Mark reflects on the metaphor of not being able to see the bigger picture when you're too close to something and how this applies to our work as designers. He emphasizes the need for honest feedback from individuals wi...
Make A Living Designing Logos with Ian Paget - RD317
July 10, 2023 07:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MBIn this episode of Resourceful Designer, I'm joined by special guest Ian Paget of LogoGeek, author of the new book Make A Living Designing Logos. Ian shares the story behind writing his book and how it can benefit anyone in the design space, even if you don't design logos. I was granted a sneak peek of the book, and I can assure you that it's as good, if not better than we make it out to be during the interview. Ian also shares a heartwarming story of wanting to teach his four-year-old dau...
Hiatus Announcement
May 08, 2023 07:00 - 5 minutes - 3.54 MBResourceful Designer is going on a short hiatus. Please stay subscribed for when I return with more great tips, advice and resources for starting and growing your design business. Stay Creative
A Graphic Design Cleanup - RD316
April 10, 2023 07:00 - 20 minutes - 14.1 MBIt’s the beginning of spring here in Canada. And with spring comes a desire to put all the messes of winter behind us and clean things up as we prepare for summer. That’s where the term Spring Cleaning comes from. However, today, I’m not talking about packing away your sweaters and pulling out your shorts. Nor am I referring to cleaning the yard or washing the grime off the windows. Although, it is time to do all of those things. No. I’m talking about doing some spring cleaning of your de...
Turning Your Design Style Into A Niche - RD315
April 03, 2023 07:00 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MBHave you ever thought of turning your design style into a niche? You’re lying to yourself if you say you don’t have one. Every designer has a design style. Even if your design style resembles many other designers, I bet something unique makes you different. Have you ever thought of how you came by your design style? Did you go to school for design and develop your style from what your teachers taught you? Did you learn your style by following design influencers? There are tons of great des...
Throwback - Ep. 17 - Being A Freelance Graphic Designer Could Hurt Your Business
March 27, 2023 07:00 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBThis is a throwback episode, replaying episode 17, Being A Freelance Graphic Designer Could Hurt Your Business. For any links or to leave comments, please visit https://resourcefuldesigner.com/episode17
Throwback - Ep. 195 - Design Hacks To Increase Productivity
March 20, 2023 19:00 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MBThis is a throwback episode, replaying episode 195, Design Hacks To increase Productivity. For any links or to leave comments, please visit https://resourcefuldesigner.com/episode195
Price Equals Expectations - RD314
March 13, 2023 07:00 - 13 minutes - 9.38 MBThe second most common question among graphic and web designers, after how to attract clients, is how much to charge for our services. No matter what price we settle on, we’re never sure it’s right. Could you have gotten more for that job the client so readily agreed to? Probably. Is price the reason another client isn’t replying to the proposal you sent? It could be. No matter how long we work in this industry. I don’t think we will ever figure out the “right price.” But that’s ok if you ...
Google Analytics 4 and Using Plan Instead of Should
March 06, 2023 08:00 - 6 minutes - 4.77 MBThis isn't a standard episode of Resourceful Designer. Instead, I want to share two tips with you. Tip #1 Set up your Google Analytics 4 account ASAP. Google is turning on Universal Analytics on July 1st, 2023. Google has said the data collected in your UA account will not be migrated to your GA4 account. Unless you want to start again from zero, you need to set up your GA4 account now and start collecting data while you still have access to your UA information. Listen to the podcast e...
Graphic Design Business Challenges You're Sure to Encounter - RD313
February 27, 2023 08:00 - 11 minutes - 7.6 MBAre you running or considering starting a graphic or web design business? If so, let me tell you, you’re in for a wild ride! The graphic and web design industries are filled with opportunities and challenges, and understanding what to expect can be the difference between success and failure. In this Resourceful Designer episode, I’ll look at some common challenges you will surely encounter. Here are four of the most common challenges you may face. Finding Clients. Finding clients is on...
8 Uses For Page Redirects - RD312
February 20, 2023 08:00 - 28 minutes - 19.9 MBPage Redirects. I know. Sound boring, right? I mean, how much can one talk about page redirects? After all, as the name implies, they redirect one web page to another—end of the story. Not so fast. Yes, Page redirects do redirect one web page to another. But there’s a lot more power to them that you may not have thought of. When used correctly, page redirects can help attract clients. They can show authority. They can strengthen a website. They can even steal visitors from the competit...
Throwback - Ep 52 - How A Great About Page Can Attract Design Clients
February 13, 2023 08:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBThis is a throwback episode, replaying episode 52, How A Great About Page Can Attract Design Clients. For any links or to leave comments, please visit https://resourcefuldesigner.com/episode52
Throwback - Ep 202 - S.W.A.T. Analysis For Designers
February 06, 2023 08:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBThis is a throwback episode, replaying episode 202, S.W.A.T. Analysis For Designers. For any links or to leave comments, please visit https://resourcefuldesigner.com/episode202
Monetizing Your Design Skills - RD311
January 30, 2023 08:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBMonetizing Your Design Skills: Making money without clients. Do you dread interacting with clients? Have you ever considered monetizing your design skills to make money without working for clients? Since starting Resourceful Designer in 2015, I’ve received many emails from designers worldwide seeking advice. People have sought my opinion on everything from naming their design business to my thoughts on specific tools. The most popular questions I’m asked are about working with clients....
Throwback - Ep. 61 - 12 Random Graphic Design Tips
January 23, 2023 08:00 - 56 minutes - 38.9 MBThis is a throwback episode, replaying episode 61, 12 Random Graphic Design Tips. For any links or to leave comments, please visit https://resourcefuldesigner.com/episode61
Solutions Without Problems: Blinded By Tools - RD310
January 16, 2023 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12.1 MBI had a conversation with a business coach recently. And he told me that no matter how innovative business people become, he keeps seeing the same issue crop up over and over that holds them back from their full potential. They’re looking for solutions without problems. It’s one of the biggest hurdles he faces with his coaching clients. I’ll share his insights in a minute. But before that, I want to talk to you about technology. We live in an amazing time. As I write this, people use too...
2023 Survey
January 09, 2023 08:00 - 1 minute - 1.1 MBPlease fill out my survey and help me determine the future of Resourceful Designer. https://resourcefuldesigner.com/2023
A Look Back - A Look Ahead - 2022 Edition - RD309
December 19, 2022 08:00 - 27 minutes - 18.9 MBA look back at 2022 and a look ahead to 2023. Thank you for your continued interest in Resourceful Designer. You have no idea how much I appreciate you. Many great resources are available for learning and growing as a designer, and I’m humbled that you chose to spend a bit of your valuable time with me. I am continuing my annual tradition. This last podcast episode of 2022 is my Look Back, Look Ahead edition. It’s where I reflect and share my year as a design business owner. Then I’ll lo...
Why AI Generated Art Won't Replace Graphic Designers - RD308
December 12, 2022 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBBefore I start, let me preface this by saying I am not an expert in AI-Generated Art. These platforms are still in their infancy, and nobody knows what the future holds for them or their effect on the graphic design industry, but I doubt they’ll ever replace graphic designers. I’ve experimented with various platforms, read articles, and watched videos. I’ve seen both sites of the debate argued. Some people don’t see AI-Art as a threat to our industry, while others are all doom and gloom, s...
How To Notify Clients Of A Price Increase - RD307
December 05, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBScan the news these days, and you’d be hard-pressed not to come across a story about price increases. The price of gas has gone up. Rents are increasing, and groceries are at an all-time high. It’s depressing, I know. But that’s the world we live in. And your business should be no different. At some point, you’ll have to raise your rates if you want to remain solvent. The one benefit of inflation is that people are getting used to price increases. So it won’t be as much of a shock when yo...
Outsourcing: Hiring Subcontractors - RD306
November 28, 2022 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.1 MBOne of the perks of running your own design business is the freedom it provides. You have nobody to answer to but yourself. Ok, sure, there are the clients. You do have to answer to them, to a degree. But it’s your business, so you can dictate how you respond to them. If you don’t want to work Friday afternoons, you can take them off. Nobody is stopping you if you want to try a new design technique or different software. And you get to decide how much you charge for your services and can c...
Throwback - Ep. 11 - Pricing Strategies For Your Graphic Design Business
November 21, 2022 08:00 - 35 minutes - 24.7 MBThis is a throwback episode, replaying episode 11, Pricing Strategies For Your Graphic Design Business. For any links or to leave comments, please visit https://resourcefuldesigner.com/episode11
9 Ways to Keep Clients Coming Back Again and Again - RD305
November 14, 2022 08:00 - 18 minutes - 12.4 MBThis episode is sponsored by Sticker Mule. Get 10 Custom Stickers for $1, plus free shipping. Visit stickermule.com/resourcefuldesigner It’s well-established that it’s easier to get a new design project from a past client than to land a project from a new client. You can run a successful design business with only a few good recurring clients. It’s the 80/20 rule. 80% of your business will come from 20% of your clients. Therefore you must keep as many clients as you can. For the first f...
Find It Faster - Google Search Hacks You May Not Know About - RD304
November 07, 2022 07:00 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBGoogle. Very few brands have transitioned beyond their original intent. But Google is one of them. What started in 1998 as a small company launched by two Stanford U students to promote their new search engine has grown to become one of the world’s largest conglomerates. Not only that, but the name Google has evolved to become a noun, an adjective and a verb. Don’t believe me? Google it for yourself. And even though Google now offers a wide gambit of technological solutions to improve pe...
Following Up With Dormant Clients - RD303
October 31, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutes - 9.73 MBEpisode Sponsor: StickerMule How often do you follow up with dormant clients? I’m not talking dormant like they haven’t replied to an email in a few days. However, following up is always a good idea when you don’t receive an expected reply. I’m talking about following up with dormant clients months or even years after you’ve completed whatever project you did for them. In episode 72 of Resourceful Designer, I discussed getting new work from existing clients. It’s proven that getting n...
Stop Wasting Time On Time Management - RD302
October 24, 2022 07:00 - 18 minutes - 13 MBHere’s some valuable advice to help make you a more productive graphic or web designer. Stop wasting time on time management. I’ve been in the graphic design space for over 30 years. I’ve been running my own home-based design business since 2005. And I’ve been publishing the Resourceful Designer podcast since 2015. In all that time, I’ve had the opportunity to talk to many designers. Be it graphic designers, web designers, UI and UX Designers. I’ve spoken with generalists and specialists, ...
Time For A Tool Audit - RD301
October 17, 2022 07:00 - 25 minutes - 17.5 MBEpisode Sponsor: StickerMule I want to talk to you about your tools (software). But first, I want to tell you a story. A couple of weeks ago, my daughter invited her mother and me for dinner, and we arrived mid-afternoon. As is always the case, Mother and daughter had lots to do and talk about, which left me to my own devices. So I turned on the TV, launched Disney+ and started scrolling through the menu to find something to watch. I knew there was the possibility they might need my he...
Resourceful Designer will be back on October 17, 2022
September 08, 2022 19:13 - 3 minutes - 3.3 MBI need to put the Resourceful Designer podcast on a short hiatus. Episodes will return on October 17th, 2022. In the meantime, if you watch the new The Rings Of Power television series on Amazon Prime Video, please check out my new podcast. The Rings Of Power Podcast - Tales From Middle Earth. http://theringsofpowerpodcast.com/
When To Drop A Design Client - RD300
August 29, 2022 07:00 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBWhen first starting in graphic or web design, firing a client may seem like a foreign concept. After all, isn’t the whole point of building a business to increase your number of clients, not reduce it? But money is money, and as long as clients pay, they’re worth having. Right? If you’re strapped for cash and don’t have a choice, then I say, sure, get every client you can. But as your client list grows and things become more stable, you’ll inevitably notice that some clients are easier to ...
Fight Creativity With Creativity - RD299
August 15, 2022 07:00 - 13 minutes - 9.11 MBFind something to distract your creative mind. Nobody tells you when you get into the design industry that regardless of whether you’re doing this part-time or full-time or how many hours you devote to working each day, being a graphic or web designer is a 24/7 job. The curse of creativity. Let me know if this sounds familiar to you. You’re out doing errands. Maybe it’s grocery shopping or going to an appointment. It doesn’t matter. Whatever you’re doing has nothing to do with desig...
My Website Designing Toolbox - RD298
August 08, 2022 07:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MBIn episode 89 of Resourceful Designer, I discussed checklists and your design business. As a bonus to that episode, I offered my WordPress Website Setup Checklist. That was five years ago, and things have changed. In that time, I've grown and expanded as a web designer. The tools I use to create websites have also grown and expanded. Here is an up-to-date list of the tools I regularly use to design and build WordPress websites. Don't build in WordPress? Don't worry. I share a few things that...
Getting Out Of A Rut - RD297
July 11, 2022 07:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBI have a confession to make. I’m not perfect. Even though I’ve released 297 episodes of the Resourceful Designer podcast, a show I created to share tips and strategies for running a graphic and web design business. I still don’t have all the answers. And even though I consider myself a successful entrepreneur. After all, I’ve been running my home-based design business for 17 years. Plus, I started my niche side business, Podcast Branding, just over three years ago, and it’s doing better th...
The Magic Email - RD296
June 20, 2022 07:00 - 15 minutes - 10.4 MBHas this ever happened to you? A new client contacts you looking for a designer. Their project sounds fun, and you seem to hit it off well with them. They verbally agree to your terms, and since everything sounds encouraging, you send them a formal proposal. And you wait in anticipation for them to approve your proposal and give you the go-ahead to get started on their project. And then you wait and wait, but you don't hear back. You send follow-up emails but don't receive any replies. The...
Two things that helped me become a better designer - RD295
May 30, 2022 07:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBThere are two things I started doing that have helped me provide a better service to my clients. Which, in turn, makes me a better designer as far as they are concerned. I've been doing one of them for quite a while, while the other I only started doing a few years ago, and much more so since the pandemic began. What are these two things, you ask? Contemplation and Revision. Take time to contemplate after a design project. When you have a busy schedule, it's easy to finish one design ...
What Makes You Different? - RD294
May 23, 2022 07:00 - 17 minutes - 12.4 MBOne of the best things about being human is our ability to make choices. If you’re in the mood for a hamburger but also in a rush, you still have options. Do you go to Mcdonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s or one of the other fast-food burger joints? If you’re in the market for a new car, do you look at Ford, Dodge, Toyota, or Honda? Need a new computer? You can choose one of the many models of Pcs or go with a Mac. Regardless of your choices, the ultimate decision is still up to you. But how...
Think Like A Design Client - RD293
May 09, 2022 07:00 - 20 minutes - 14.3 MBIt’s so easy to get caught up in what we do, be that logo design, vehicle wraps, websites, trade show booths; you name it. We forget that our clients don’t live in the same world as we do. Our clients don’t see the world through a designer’s eye. When they look at a billboard, they see the message. When a designer looks at a billboard, not only do we take in the content and message. But we also take in the layout, the hierarchy, the use of negative space and the colour pallet. We note what...
Six Unconventional Ways To Find Design Clients - RD292
May 02, 2022 07:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBAsk any designer, and they’ll tell you that their number one way of landing new design clients is through word-of-mouth referrals. If you do an excellent job on a client’s project, there’s a good chance they’ll pass your name along should they hear of someone requiring services you offer. I’ve built my entire business on this model. And chances are, so have you. But does that mean you should only rely on word-of-mouth referrals? No, it doesn’t. Are you familiar with the term diversify?...
How Precise Is Your Writing - RD291
April 18, 2022 07:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBLet me ask you something. How confident would you be buying a meal from a food truck that is so rusted and smoke-stained that you can’t make out its name on the side? Or how confident would you be staying at a motel where the paint was peeling off the doors, siding was missing on the building, and duct tape held the cracked windows together? Or how confident would you be buying a car from an auto dealer whose windows were so dirty you couldn’t see through them and whose sign was missing a co...
I'm looking for guest blog authors
April 11, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.95 MBHi there, it’s Mark here. I’m sorry, but there won’t be a typical podcast episode this week. But I will be back next week with more great content to help you with your design business. In the meantime, I have a proposition for you. If you know anything about website ranking and SEO, you know the importance of good quality backlinks. How would you like to get a backlink to your website from a very well-established site in the design space? I’m talking about https://resourcefuldesigner...