Resourceful Designer - A Graphic Design Podcast

I'm continuing the tradition of making the final podcast episode of the year a form of a retrospective where I look back a the year that's coming to an end and look forward to the year ahead. I bring you A Look back—A Look Ahead 2021 Edition.

Today I’m sharing ways to augment the money you make by print brokering. And not simply by increasing your markup. However, that is a way to do it. No, I’m talking about ways to improve your revenue, and at the same time, your client feels like they’re getting a better deal.

Don’t fall into that rut where the brand image you’re putting out there says one thing about your business, but your prices say another. All you’ll be doing is confusing your potential clients. And when you confuse, you lose.

checklists help ensure the dumb stuff gets done so that you can concentrate on the more important things without worrying.

You want to build lasting relationships with your clients so they come back to you over and over again in the future. You'll never be able to do that if your reputation is tarnished. Because once you lose their trust. It's almost impossible to gain it back.

After hearing what I have to say, I hope you take an extra moment to contemplate your response the next time someone asks you to critique their work.

There are many ways isolation can take a toll on you both physically and mentally. I talked about them back in episode 105. But until this past week, I had never experienced this sedentary lifestyle. At least not to this extent. And there’s a danger in that.

What differentiates a designer who is qualified to run their own design business and one who isn’t is their personality. Or, more accurately, personalities.

As a freelancer, you never know when or where you'll get your next payment. Nor how much it will be. And that can cause a lot of stress in your life, especially if you are the primary breadwinner in your household. Because even though your income may be unpredictable, your monthly expenses are not.

After 30+ years of working in the design industry, knowing when a client isn’t a good fit and how to turn them down becomes a top priority every time you meet a potential new client. You’re better off putting your time and energy into finding better clients to work with.