Cloud computing is making software more accessible than ever before. While complex accountancy packages once cost thousands, licensing is now available as a monthly subscription, and the software itself is accessed through a normal web browser. Lots of companies now...
An Inverse Business Model For Web Designers My friend recently told me that he was planning on becoming a web designer. Up until now he had been working for a company that developed 'defensive weapons' for the military – missiles that would shoot other missiles out of...
The Importance Of Reaching Out To People For a long time now I've worked as an internet entrepreneur, shutting myself away in coffee shops to write content for websites and occasionally doing some programming to sell an app or two. I love this lifestyle and the...
Negotiating Your Web Development Contract In today’s world of global commerce, having a strong Web presence is a necessary component of successful marketing and operations. There are many aspects of planning a Web design project, but the cost factor is an aspect that...
How to Acquire New Clients One of the toughest things when owning your own business is getting a sustainable flow of clients. Steady business is what keeps the doors open. Money is tight, and your budget needs to stretch as far as possible. So what do you do? Do you...
High Conversion Services Pages Ah, the obligatory Services page. For many freelancers it's just something they create to look more professional. And yet, ironically, they put little time or energy into it. Resulting in a lackluster page that underperforms. The reality...
Keeping Good Records Disclaimer: The following suggestions are based on personal experience. Please consult a tax professional for your own situation. Call me crazy, but I like to do my own taxes. It forces me to be more organized than I might be otherwise with my...
Set Your Graphic Design Prices Right As Creatives, Graphic Designers, Consultants, etc., one of the most daunting tasks is to figure out how to Set Your Graphic Design Prices. When starting our own business, we have to consider our own expenses, health insurance,...
Apps to Help Freelancers Be More Productive Using productivity apps is an excellent way to boost your overall productivity and stay organized as a freelancer. Here's a list of my five current faves, all of which are totally free. Give 'em a try and they'll help you...
Freelance Jobs Vs Full Time Work Freelance work is a way of life and a way of making a living. Some designers prefer to work strictly as freelance designers. They are afforded the freedom to decide their own income, and they make their own schedules. Freelance...
Make More Money As a Freelancer As a freelancer, your ability to master both your time and attention is the key to making more money and truly enjoying your off-hours. Mastering time is one thing. Mastering your attention is another and requires laser focus. Here are...
Having a Good Business Attitude Affects Your Business One thing to consider is the way that you carry yourself. If you are visiting a client at their place of business, it is common for the secretary, or receptionist to observe your actions. Someone is always watching...
Your invoice says a lot about you and your business Your invoice is something that you should forward to sending. After all, it says that you have put a lot of work into a project, and now it is time to get paid for your efforts. Some designers may look at an invoice...
Choosing a Method That Works For You What I have realized from being an artist for years is that we all have a different ways of doing things when it comes to creating good design. Some of us like to do a mainly traditional route and sketch everything out. Some people...
Why Good Design Service is Just As Important As Your Design Skills Many of us strive to be successful. We work hard and we are constantly refining our skills to get better. We want to be able to build websites faster, edit images faster, build great layouts faster. We...
Creating Awesome Designs Awesome designs don't just fall out of the sky. You have to satisfy the needs and objectives of your client. You must do this while making everything aesthetically pleasing and user friendly. When reviewing your designs to make sure that you...
Fighting Designers Block We’ve all been at a point where the wheel just won't turn. You have a huge project that is due right around the corner. You have a lot of ideas that still need to fall into place, and the pressure is on to be productive and get things done....
It can be really tough to get going as a freelance designer. If you don't have a background in business, you may not know how to get started. Freelancing has its good and bad sides, but it can be scary to take the leap. Honestly, getting into the business and being...
Saving Tons of Time with Automator (Mac) I was recently working on a project that was a bit of an odd one. A company had a bunch of product images that were high resolution, but they were embedded on one of the most unconventional file formats... and Excel...
Grow Your Design Business: A How to Guide Figuring out how to grow your design business should be your main focus. You have the talent, and you have the expertise, but where is the steady flow of clients that you are looking for? One of the hardest things for...