The Profitable Graphic Designer

Have you ever wondered if blogging is still a viable way to get graphic design clients? Or how to set up your website’s SEO so it attracts and converts the high-ticket clients you want? In today’s episode, guest expert Jacob Cass sits down with host Kady Sandel for an incredible conversation about how to use blogging & SEO to land design clients, get leads, and generate passive income. Jacob’s website has been viewed over 70 million times! He shares how to set goals for your blog, manage the workload, and the key tricks to help your posts stand out in a crowded market. We also talk about how you can outsource blogging to a team of writers so you can reap the benefits of SEO without spending all your time on it. Tune in! About Jacob Cass: Jacob Cass is a brand designer, strategist, educator, podcaster, business coach, community builder and the founder of JUST Creative, a branding & design consultancy that doubles as an industry-leading blog and community. Jacob helps grow brands strategically and has worked for clients such as Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld however he is now focused on bringing this global brand experience to smaller businesses. For Jacob, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as empowering other fellow designers & entrepreneurs to build on theirs, which has allowed him to build a large and loyal following, including his JUST Creative website which has been viewed over 70 million times. Jacob has spoken at TEDx and been featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes, and a number of high-profile design books including The Best of Logo Lounge Master Series. Learn more at justcreative.com or on Instagram @justcreative Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Snag your spot in our free $12k Client Attraction Masterclass here: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ Connect with Kady on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign high-ticket clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money

Wondering why you’re spending all your time marketing your design business, yet not actually landing clients from it? In this episode, Kady Sandel shows you how to tell if your marketing strategies just need more time to work… or if you are doing them completely wrong! Learn the #1 mistake that graphic designers make when trying to market their services, plus practical tips on how to land design clients using methods like blogging, LinkedIn, networking events, and more. Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Snag your spot in our free $12k Client Attraction Masterclass here: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign high-ticket clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money

Why do some designers land high-ticket clients on repeat, while others have clients in their inbox trying to demand the cheapest price ("how much for a logo?")? Kady Sandel dives into it in this juicy episode about why she gets $12k+ design clients! She shows you the 3 unique strategies she uses to attract high-ticket clients, with before-and-after examples from her own brand design business. Learn how to get graphic design clients who have the budget to pay you well, package your offers in a way that excites them, and use outsourcing to provide a better experience (even if you’re just starting a design business!). Once you've listened to the episode, be sure to sign up for Kady’s free $12k Client Attraction Masterclass at https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ . Resources: Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign high-ticket clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money

Join guest expert Lucian Grofsorean in a conversation with host Kady Sandel on how freelance brand, web, and graphic designers can build their personal brands! You know that your design business needs its own brand, especially if you are positioning yourself as an agency or studio… but how can you build a personal brand at the same time? And do you even need to? We cover it all in this episode. Learn the psychology of personal branding, as well as why it’s harder to make your own brand than it is to make a brand for your clients. Plus walk away with actionable steps to convert high-ticket clients with your personal brand! About Lucian Grofsorean: Lucian Grofsorean is a brand strategist & designer passionate about psychology and conversion-centered design. He is on a mission to help entrepreneurs transitioning from the corporate world confidently sell to their ideal clients. Starting on your own can be terrifying at times, but with Lucian’s guidance, you'll find the clarity and consistency you need to build a personal brand that converts. He loves working with motivated people who embrace a collaborative approach and are not afraid to stand out from the crowd. You can connect with Lucian & learn more about his work at Darkcore Studio: https://www.darkcore.studio/ or on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucian-grofsorean/ Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Snag your spot in our free $12k Client Attraction Masterclass here: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

Let’s talk about burnout for graphic, brand, and web designers – and specifically: how you can market your freelance business and get clients without burning out! In today’s episode, Kady Sandel shows you how to promote your design business without spreading yourself too thin or working 24/7, with examples of the methods she used to grow from a solopreneur to a branding agency. Learn the difference between inbound & outbound marketing for creative businesses, how to pick the marketing strategies with the best ROI for you, and why outsourcing may be the key to landing better design clients (even if you’re not sure if you can afford to hire help yet!). Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? We show you where these clients hang out, what they want, and how to find them in our free $12k Client Attraction Masterclass here: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign high-ticket clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money 

Have you ever wondered how to leverage IG stories to make more money in your design business? Then this is the episode for you! Kady Sandel speaks with guest expert Alyssa Moorhead about how to grow your graphic design, web design, or brand design business on Instagram – specifically using the Stories feature. You’ll learn how to build genuine connections with ideal clients, how to get them to find you in the first place, and what you should be doing in the DMs to get hired without feeling pushy. Alyssa shares how she scaled her own creative business using IG stories, plus the best way to convert your Instagram stories & private messages into actual paid design clients on social media. *** About Alyssa Moorhead: Alyssa is the owner of Nerve Client Studio, a Brooklyn-based Client Strategy Studio. The Nerve team helps mostly female-identifying business owners curate their dream client roster + achieve beyond-their-dreams income through done-for-your sales services. At Nerve, they do sales differently- Not only do they nurture leads, but opportunities too; And they don’t just nurture, but they actually sign clients and opportunities. If you want sales taken off your plate by people who live for sales, Nerve is for you. Learn more at nerveclientstudio.com and follow Alyssa on Instagram @nerveclientstudio *** Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free $12k Client Attraction Masterclass here: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

In this episode, guest expert Natalie Gates joins Kady Sandel to share how freelance brand designers, graphic designers, and web designers can make more money and land bigger clients by collaborating with copywriters. You’ll hear Natalie’s tips on where to find the best freelance copywriters and how to become their #1 go-to designer, the logistics of how to structure your partnership (aka: who pays who!), plus how to get graphic design clients through copywriting referrals. We also cover the pros and cons of collaborating with other freelance creatives & what to do if a design client gives you terrible copy to work with! About Natalie Gates: Natalie Gates is a website copywriter and brand messaging strategist for creatives and professional service providers. She helps small businesses capture their unique value, connect with more of the right people, and turn their website into a lead-generating tool. You can follow Natalie on Instagram at @wordsbynatalieor visit her website http://www.nataliegates.ca Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

Most freelance designers have questions about how to add services to their design business: like how to go from being a logo designer, to a brand designer, to maybe even a web designer or full-service studio. In this episode, Kady Sandel covers all the “hows” of how she personally evolved her freelance business into an agency! Get the inside scoop on what design services she learned (versus which she outsourced), how she knew when it was time to level up, and her #1 tip for when you want to expand your design business but are scared to make the leap. Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

Are you burnt out from trying to scale up your design business problems on your own? Craving an outside perspective to help you see if your ideas make sense? In this episode, Kady Sandel shares the story of when she joined a mastermind earlier in her brand design business, including the positive and negative aspects of it. Learn about our upcoming High-Ticket Client Mastermind for creatives and how it can help you hit $10k months in your web design, graphic design, or brand design business. Prevent burnout and stop trying to do everything yourself – it’s time to accept help, make designer friends, and see real results in your design business! Visit aventiveacademy.com/mastermind for all the details. Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

If you need to feel motivated in your freelance design business again, this is the episode for you! Guest expert Jeremy Mura joins Kady Sandel to break down the key mindset mistakes that are holding your creative business back. You’ll hear Jeremy’s tips on how to position your freelance business so you can attract more clients and opportunities – and leave an amazing impression on them when they arrive. We also cover how to set your prices confidently, how a positive mindset will transform the way you interact with high-ticket clients, and how to create space for your dream projects by embracing an abundance mentality. Don’t miss this one! About Jeremy Mura: Jeremy Mura is an award-winning logo identity designer, YouTuber, and creator from Sydney, Australia. He has been in the design industry for 10 years working with brand names such as Disneyland Paris, Adobe Live, Macquarie Business School, American Express, and Telstra. Jeremy has over 4M+ views on YouTube with over 500+ videos uploaded, has taught over 65k+ students on Skillshare, and has grown a following of 100k+ on Instagram. He has been featured on Adobe Live, LogoLounge Book 12, Skillshare, FrontRow Design Conference, and Creative Market. You can follow him on YouTube and Instagram, or get free his resources at JeremyMura.com Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

Have you ever craved the guidance of a mentor for your freelance design business, but you weren’t sure where to find one? In today’s episode, Kady Sandel speaks with guest expert Prajin Shee about how to find the right mentor for your creative business – including where to find one, what qualities to look for in a mentor, and how exactly a mentor can help you grow your graphic design, brand design, or web design business. Prajin shares how having a mentor helped him scale his company, plus the best way to set up your mentor relationship so you see real results in your business. Join us and discover how to skip the years of trial and error by finding a mentor who can get you to the next level! About Prajin Shee: Prajin is the Co-founder of Gray Line Media, an agency that helps solopreneurs and small businesses create remarkable websites and relatable content. He is passionate about giving time back to business owners/freelancers by helping them build out streamlined processes and automating redundant tasks so they can focus on the things that are important to them. Prajin has been featured by Gartner where he discusses the importance of focusing on people, processes, and culture and shares his learnings through cofounding his own business. Prajin's presentations are full of valuable content, sharing stories from his life and providing tips from the trenches to ensure small business owners/freelancers are geared for success Learn more at www.graylinemedia.comand connect with Prajin on LinkedIn at @prajin-shee Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

In this episode, guest expert Faith Rodriguez joins Kady Sandel to share the details of how niching WAY down in your design business can help you attract higher-ticket graphic design, brand design, and web design clients. You’ll hear Faith’s fascinating career journey from esthetician to marketing expert, and how she blends these passions together to help her specialized audience of beauty professionals. We also cover how to find your creative niche, why it’s usually more obvious than you think, and how to make dream clients come to you by making a few key shifts in your marketing. Tune in! About Faith Rodriguez: As a small-town girl turned too city to go back, Faith enjoys the finer things in life like a cool-toned berry lipstick paired with a set of Forever 21 pumps that hurt after five minutes of standing. Faith is a marketing strategist, beauty branding specialist, and website designer who started her career as a licensed esthetician and used it to gain her M.S. in Digital Marketing & Analytics. After completing her education, she started offering business services and products specifically designed for licensed beauty professionals. Faith, now the founder of Faith Elizabeth Marketing, upholds the mission to help fellow beauty professionals become empowered entrepreneurs through growth strategies and marketing tactics. Learn more at faithelizabethmarketing.com and follow her on Instagram @faithelizabeth.marketing

Want to land high-ticket design clients? Then stop calling yourself a graphic designer :) In today’s controversial episode, we talk about how to describe your graphic design, brand design, or web design business in a catchy way that stands out and makes clients & networking partners remember you. Kady Sandel breaks down the reality of what non-designers picture when they hear the word “graphic designer,” and why you don’t want to be lumped in with that crowd! Learn a simple & fun way to describe your business differently, plus one mindset shift that will help you make more money and step into your power as an entrepreneur. Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

Have you ever had an amazing client show up in your inbox… and maybe you even had calls with them, or they put down a deposit… then, they disappeared?! In this episode, Kady Sandel talks about what to do when a freelance graphic, brand, or web design client ghosts you. Learn the top reasons why clients ghost designers, how you can prevent this from happening, and how to protect yourself when it does. You will walk away with both mindset tips and clear-cut strategies to handle ghosting – and you’ll know how to attract better, more professional clients in the future. Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

Want to crack the code of charging more while working less in your design business? This is the episode for you! Kady Sandel shows you how to explain your value to clients (and add the services they really want!) so you can charge more than other freelance graphic, brand, and web designers.  You will hear the story of her first $9,000 month as a freelance graphic designer – and why that month wasn’t as good as it sounds. Learn the #1 mindset shift that will help you position in the value of your services, plus practical tips on what services to add to your business to get your dream clients to a yes. Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

If your freelance design clients constantly want tweaks and revisions to your projects… you can learn how to limit revisions effectively & spend less time on them in this episode! Kady Sandel shares honest business advice around how you can massively reduce revision requests in your graphic, brand, or web design business. Learn how to set up your contracts, create boundaries with your clients, and structure your projects from the very beginning so clients see you as an expert (and stop asking for changes). Kady also discusses the process her branding agency implemented that brought revision requests down to almost zero! Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

We’ve all had them: the design client who wants to pay “in exposure,” who asks their entire family for opinions on your logo, who complains about all their previous designers… In today’s episode, Kady Sandel shows you the freelance client red flags to watch for, with plenty of examples from her own business. Learn how to spot potential headaches before accepting a project, set and hold your boundaries, and land better clients that value your work and expertise (and that you genuinely love working with!). Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

Looking to grow your freelance design business ASAP? In this episode, Kady Sandel shares her simple 2-step strategy to help you to land freelance graphic, brand, and web design clients in the short term – like tomorrow! Learn how to get clear on who your next client is, contact them with confidence (even if you’re an introvert!), plus the long-term marketing tactics you can start using today. Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

There are things you should do to market your graphic, web, or brand design business, and other things you should definitely NOT do! In this episode, Kady Sandel dives deep into the 5 biggest marketing mistakes that cost her time, money, and clients when she was starting out as a freelancer. From awkward networking events to social media blunders to wasted advertising money… hear her personal freelancing stories, as well as how to avoid these mistakes so you can land $12k+ design clients faster. This episode will help you revitalize your marketing and learn what strategies DO work to hit six figures in your freelance design business! Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com

In today’s episode, we talk numbers: specifically, the math of how you can get to a $10k month as a freelance graphic, brand, or web designer! Kady Sandel breaks down the numbers of how you can hit six figures in your design business in a way that feels manageable, possible, and fun. There are a lot of ways you hit $10k per month, and some strategies require more work than others – let’s dive into the details together. If you usually feel intimidated by math, be sure to join us for this episode to gain a new perspective & feel empowered to sign $10k+ clients in your design business. Resources: Want to sign a $12k graphic, brand, or web design client? Join our free 5-day $12k client challenge here! Connect with us on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our Aventive Academy programs help designers sign better clients, make more money, and grow their freelance businesses so they can have the freedom and cash they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com