Motion Hatch: Helping Motion Designers Do Better Business

Sometimes we create outstanding work that doesn’t mean that much to us personally. Should you include it on your site anyway? Today’s guest suggests that we cut that out and only include the type of work that we really truly want to make. That will get you to the heart of using your unique voice to drive your business. About Monique Wray Monique Wray is a San Francisco based animator, illustrator, and director. She specializes in creating character-focused illustrated and animated content for a wide range of companies. What Makes You Unique is an Asset As Monique pivoted her business from freelance to studio owner, she went on a mission of discovery to find her unique voice. There is something that differentiates everyone and sets us all apart. Monique found that focusing on that not only helps her get noticed by clients but also leads to more personally fulfilling work. Simply put, when you present the work that you want to do the most, you’ll attract the clients who want to hire you to do that sort of work. Being Yourself to Find the Right Clients for You We all want to create work that gets us hired. Monique finds that doing so should not be separated from your values, identity, and the impact that you want to make. It may take intentional work to discover or rediscover what those elements are, but it’s worth it. When your work is imbued with your values and identity, the right clients will resonate with it and be all the more eager to work with you. Read the full show notes Links and resources Find Monique Wray online Follow Monique on Instagram Find Your Artistic Voice by Lisa Congdon The Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck by Mark Manson Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Related episodes Episode 77: How to Plan Your Best Motion Design Year Ever Additional resources Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative

Want personalised coaching from me? Check out Balanced Business Bootcamp. 📲 Grab my free Social Media Guide for Motion Designers.I was invited to the Freelancers and Friends networking event at Doodledo Studio in Manchester. I had a great chat with their studio owner James, where I gave my advice on niching down and positioning your services in a unique way to stand out. We also had some great audience questions about pricing strategies and using social media to connect with potential clients. We discussed:✅ My journey from full-time motion designer to Motion Hatch. ✅ How to create a unique niche and use your positioning to stand out. ✅ What are productised services and do they work?✅ What are the best ways to structure pricing packages?✅ What's working right now on social media to get clients?✅ What should you do if cold outreach isn't working?✅ The pressures and imposter syndrome that comes with using LinkedIn. Doodledo: WebsiteLuke Stanley: LinkedInListen next: Our episode with studio owner's, Illenia and Luca.  Free resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

🛠 Check out my Perfect Your Pricing Toolkit here: https://motionhatch.com/pricingIlenia and Luca founded Illo, a motion design and animation studio in 2012. More recently Luca branched off to create a brand new motion design studio called Algo which focuses on creating video automation systems for clients. I was eager to learn about why they decided to create two separate studios, how they manage their teams of 10+ people and how they market each studio to land huge clients like New York Times and Google. We discussed:✅ How Luca and Illenia built and grew two successful studios ✅ How their teams are structured and their advice for hiring ✅ How they use their social media and portfolio to attract dream projects ✅ What systems they find essential for any freelancer or studio owner Illo: Website Algo: WebsiteListen next: Our episode with studio owner, Karl Doran. Free resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

As we draw 2024 to a close, I thought a Q&A episode would be a nice way to end the year on the podcast. I get questions all the time about specific problems that motion designers face when running their businesses. So, the chances are that you're facing these problems, too. In this episode, I share my thoughts on how you could run a successful subscription-based motion design business, my opinions on charging for your project files and how much time you should actually be spending on outreach. In this episode, I cover:- How to justify long timelines to clients- How to stand out amongst other motion designers- Should you charge for project files?- How to build a profitable subscription-based motion design business- How to find time and motivation for business tasks- How to write the best copy for LinkedIn- How much time you should be spending on outreach Links Mentioned:Sign up to our email list hereSubmit a question hereDownload our Vivid Vision ExerciseDownload our Social Media Guide 2.0 📲Joe Walker: LinkedInHemmingway App*Speechify*Grammarly(Any links above marked with a * are affiliate links. Using this link means we get a little kickback, but it doesn't cost you anything.)Free resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!Connect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcastListen to this podcast next

🌟 Grab my Perfect Your Pricing Toolkit: https://motionhatch.com/pricing Get out your notepad and pen, grab a hot drink and get ready for a jam-packed episode! 📝☕️ This episode is split into two parts. Part 1 is for anyone who is starting completely from scratch and has zero clients right now. Part 2 is for anyone who already has some clients but wants to attract new ideal clients they’d love to work with, while also building a more consistent revenue stream.For Part 2, skip to 07:47 In this episode, I cover:- How to make new connections in the industry - How to stay top-of-mind using a CRM and social media - How to identify your ideal clients - How to discover your niche and unique offering - How to forecast your revenue to find more financial stability Links Mentioned:Perfect your Pricing Toolkit 🛠FREE Social Media Guide 2.0 📲Learn more about Client Quest 🚀Camp Mograph 🏕Our video podcast with Kevin RappLuke Stanley: LinkedIn Hollie Arnett: Website Free resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guide 2.0 Connect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

🌟Download my FREE Social Media Guide and Freelance Funnel Framework worksheet here: motionhatch.com/inmotion This video was filmed LIVE at the Barbican in London for the Playgrounds In Motion event. My lovely friend Ashleigh Robertson, a freelance motion designer, interviewed me about what’s currently working to get clients right now.In this episode, we discussed the motion design industry’s ever-changing landscape and how we can adapt and leverage these changes to stand out to potential clients.- What can new freelancers do right now to get clients?- How can established freelancers and studio owners get clients right now?- How to set up your CRM to get more clients- How the motion design industry has changed - The best way to niche down and stand out to new clientsAshleigh Robertson: Website Playgrounds, In Motion: WebsiteFree resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

This is a special bonus episode of the Motion Hatch Podcast! I recently got back from Camp Mograph in the US, and while I was there, I filmed a mini-podcast episode with Jess Herrera. (This episode was filmed outside, so listen out for the birds in the background.) We chatted about whether it's worth travelling for this kind of mograph event and whether they can help you grow your network and get clients. Thanks to Agustin Eguia for filming and cleaning up the audio and Jen van Horn for helping set up for filming this episode!Links mentioned:🚀 Learn more about Balanced Business BootcampFollow Jess Herrera: Website | InstagramListen next: Our previous episode with Jess HerreraFree resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

I have some news for you this week...We are taking a short break from the podcast and YouTube channel until the Autumn (fall). We'll be coming back even bigger and better with the second half of season 2. I hope you have a wonderful summer, and thank you so much for supporting Motion Hatch! Links mentioned:🚀 Join the self-paced version of Client Quest Live💬 Leave us your feedback and suggestionsFree resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

Flow Creative is an award-winning animation and branding studio based in Manchester, UK.In this episode, Karl Doran, owner and founder, shares his insights into running Flow Creative, along with key points on his journey from freelancer to studio owner. In this episode, you'll learn:How to start an animation studioThe difference between freelancer and studio ownerHow to get clients as a studioHow freelancers can get hired by studiosTransitioning from a creative to a management roleFollow Flow Creative: Website | InstagramFree resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

Caleb and Shelby Ward founded Curious Refuge after going viral for using AI to create a fake Wes Anderson x Star Wars movie trailer.In this episode, I ask Caleb and Shelby how motion designers can realistically utilise AI in their workflows, the best AI tools to use and how we can future-proof our careers against the rise of AI.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Caleb and Shelby went viral with their AI projectHow they formed Curious RefugeWill AI make roles in animation redundant?What AI tools should motion designers be using?How can you implement AI into your pipeline?How can you future-proof your motion design career against AI?Follow Curious Refuge: Website | InstagramFree resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

HaZ Dulull, founder of HaZimation, is a multi award-winning Film and Games Director, developing & producing feature films, tv and video games using Unreal Engine. In this episode, HaZ shares his journey from in-house VFX artist to indie film director. We also discuss how to access funding for original content/IP, how to win pitches, and how to start your own studio.In this episode, you'll learn:How HaZ went from VFX artist to indie film director/studio ownerTechniques and strategies for winning pitchesHow HaZ wrote/directed a fully animated film released on NetflixThe importance of networking at conferencesHow HaZ transitioned from indie filmmaking to building a game in FortniteHow HaZ fully utilised Unreal Engine in his careerFollow HaZimation: Website | InstagramFree resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

Mothers of Mograph are trying to combat feeling alone as moms in the creative industry. Parenthood is often considered a taboo topic in the creative industry, something Jennie Davis and Kaci Smith are on a mission to change with Mothers of Mograph. In this episode, Jennie and Kaci share challenges and solutions to being a creative while being a parent, how they manage their schedules and how they've both benefitted in their careers since having children.Jennie and Kaci discuss:What is Mothers of Mograph?The impact that becoming a parent can have on your careerHow to better manage your time with kidsThe positive outcomes of being a parent and a motion designerHow the creative industry can better support parentsFollow Mothers of Mograph: Website | Instagram Free resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

Kwame Christian is an expert in negotiation. He is the Founder and CEO of the American Negotiation Institute, host of the world's most popular negotiation podcast and author of two best-selling books. He is also a contributor at Forbes, and his TEDx Talk, Finding Confidence in Conflict, was one of the most popular TED Talks in 2017.In this episode, Kwame shares his negotiation secrets to better discuss rates/budgets with your clients, how to adopt an abundance mindset and setting expectations with clients with better communication.We also share a Q&A with Kwame from a call with our Motion Hatch students in Balanced Business Bootcamp.In this episode, you'll learn:How to negotiate with your clientsHow to raise prices without losing clientsCommon negotiation mistakes and how to avoid themHow to be confident in saying 'no'Maintaining client relationships through the negotiation processNegotiating expectations, not just transactions.Techniques for negotiating with stubborn individualsThe role of likeability and leverage in negotiationsFollow Kwame: Instagram | Linkedin Links: American Negotiation Institute | Negotiate Anything PodcastFree resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

Jessica Hische is a lettering artist, freelancer and author, selling books and craft supplies in two brick and mortar stores in the US. Jessica has built an incredible personal brand by building a following on social media, writing her own children's books and speaking at events such as OFFF and Adobe Max. Her network has helped her to land huge clients, including working on titles for director Wes Anderson.In this episode, Jessica shares her networking secrets to land big clients - including the benefits that smaller clients can offer. She also discusses how to make the most of pitching to clients, how newsletters may be the future of communicating to clients and how to avoid social media burnout.In this episode, you'll learn:How Jessica worked with Wes AndersonWhy networking is important as a designerHow to make the most of pitching to clientsHow to avoid social media burnoutBehind the scenes of Jessica's brick and mortar storesHow to land big clientsFollow Jessica: Website | InstagramLinks: My First Book of Fancy Letters Free resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guideConnect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our websiteRate this podcast

Kevin Rapp made $500,000 in his first year freelancing after discovering the value of content systems and passing this on to high-profile tech companies.Kevin is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary creative director with vast experience ranging from start-up disruptors to Fortune 500 companies.In this episode, Kevin shares his unique approach to building video content systems. We also discuss strategies for attracting clients on LinkedIn and practical tips for motion designers to transition to a more business-oriented mindset.Since recording this episode, Kevin reached an astonishing $1 million in sales!In this episode, you'll learn:How Kevin made $500,000 in his first year as a freelancerWhat are scalable content systems?How to shift your mindset into the business side of motion designHow to get clients using social mediaHow to efficiently get clients from LinkedInHow to negotiate with clientsFollow Kevin: Website | LinkedInFree resources to grow your career:💸 Get your next client in 5 days!📲 Download our free social media guide Connect with Motion Hatch:✉️ Subscribe to our newsletter📸 Follow us on Instagram🖥️ Find more free resources on our website

We're back with a brand new season of the Motion Hatch Podcast featuring some incredible guests! Motion Hatch helps motion designers to start and scale their businesses.We dive deep into the challenges freelancers and studio owners come up against and have conversations with a wide range of business and marketing experts through the lens of motion design, as well as designers, animators, and artists who are just a few steps ahead of you.Together, we uncover the exact next steps you can take to a thriving and sustainable motion design business. If you're new to Motion Hatch, you might not know that the podcast already has over 100+ episodes in its back catalogue.This season, we're taking it up a notch, exploring the tough questions freelancers and studio owners face every day.

The Motion Hatch Podcast is BACK! We're thrilled to announce that Season Two of the podcast will return on the 28th March! We have some incredible guests lined up for you too, we can't wait to share it with you!

Should you niche down as a designer? We’ve all heard this advice! So, does niching down help you to win more clients or empower you to be seen as an expert? In this podcast, Hayley speaks with one of our Accelerator students, Giuseppe about how he niched down his animation studio Motion Aptitude to work on projects he loves. About Giuseppe Forestieri Giuseppe Forestieri is the Animation Director of his own studio, Motion Aptitude and has a background in visual communication, specialising in animation and Illustration. Motion Aptitude is the fusion of two of Giuseppe’s biggest passions in life: creativity, and the great outdoors. In this episode, he explains how he found his niche and hopes he can inspire other designers to pursue the work they love.  Read the full shownotes

When Motion Hatch first started it was a side hustle, now it's a company! Have you considered starting your own motion design project to help you grow your career? Our founder Hayley Akins explains how and why she started this motion design podcast and what she’s learnt along the way. About Hayley Akins Hayley started Motion Hatch with the aim of helping freelance motion designers with the business side of motion design – but she wasn’t sure how to achieve this. At the time, Hayley felt she had three choices for a motion design project: a podcast, blog or YouTube channel (she now has all three!). Initially Hayley didn’t feel confident filming videos and writing wasn’t her passion, so she decided to focus on creating her own motion design podcast. Read the full shownotes.

Looking to pursue motion design side projects but unsure how to find balance with your day job? In today’s episode Charli Marie explains how side projects can help motion designers to improve their craft and process. About Charli Marie Charli Marie is a Youtuber, podcast host and Creative Director at email marketing company ConvertKit.  Throughout her working career, Charli has always pursued some side projects outside of her 9-5 role. Currently she creates weekly content on her YouTube channel and podcast, Design Life, sharing insights into life as a professional designer alongside tutorials and advice on design tools and concepts. Read the full shownotes