The Profitable Graphic Designer

Ever wondered how you can work only 15 hours a week while running a 6-figure design agency? I used to work 15 hours a day, but I made a conscious choice to change that and spend more quality time with my kids. Now, with the help of my amazing team, I focus on what I truly enjoy and outsource the rest, including tasks like taxes and even house cleaning. In this episode, I’ll share the practical steps I took to transform my business and life. Plus, I’m excited to announce The Creative CEO Accelerator starting in September, designed to help you consistently attract top clients and maximize your design agency income in just five months. The waitlist is now open at aventiveacademy.com/accelerator. You will learn: How to prioritize and plan your tasks to maximize efficiency. The importance of building a reliable team and delegating effectively. Strategies for landing high-paying clients and focusing on five-figure projects. Tips for outsourcing tasks that don’t bring you joy or add value to your business. The mindset shifts necessary to achieve a balanced and fulfilling work-life integration. Tune in to discover how you can work smarter, not harder, and take control of your business and life. Aventive Academy’s Resources: Free Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ $12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Tired of feeling like you have to post endlessly on social media to land design clients? I’ve got you covered! In this episode, I’ll show you how to build a thriving design business without relying on social media platforms. I'll share practical strategies to connect with potential clients, leverage SEO, and make the most of referrals. You'll discover how to create meaningful relationships that lead to real business opportunities.   You will learn How to tap into your existing network to find new clients Effective SEO techniques to boost your online presence Strategies for asking for and receiving valuable referrals Tips for showcasing your work and expertise without social media Ways to follow up and stay connected with potential clients Say goodbye to social media overwhelm and hello to a more personalized and effective approach to landing design clients!   Aventive Academy’s Resources: Free Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ $12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Have you ever wondered how to turn your design freelancing into a thriving, successful agency? Today, I sat down with Massimo, the founder and creative director of a niche design agency that achieved a remarkable 7-figure acquisition. His journey from solo designer to agency owner is full of insights, challenges, and triumphs. You'll hear firsthand how focusing on a niche can help you crush competitors and get way more clients and of course - grow your business. This episode is packed with practical advice, strategies, and inspiration for anyone looking to scale their design business.   You will learn: The key steps to transition from freelancing to running a successful design agency How to identify and embrace a profitable niche for your business Effective techniques to attract bigger and better clients Ways to overcome the biggest challenges during the transition from solo designer to agency owner Valuable lessons and advice for design business owners aspiring to achieve greater success About Massimo Zefferino: Founder & Creative director of zfactor - a niche full service creative agency with a 7 figure acquisition. Host of Angry Designer Podcast Website | Instagram | YouTube   Aventive Academy’s Resources: Free Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ $12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Ever wondered how to land high-paying clients, boost your rates, and run a successful design agency? This episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast is a bit different because I'm answering questions from you, our listeners. I’ve been in the design industry since I was 15, and now at 33, I’ve experienced it all—from charging $65 for a logo to handling $29,000 branding projects. I’ve worked 9-5, freelanced, and now own a thriving branding and design agency in Austin, Texas.   You will learn: Tips on attracting high-paying clients. Strategies for finding and maintaining quality when outsourcing design work. Methods for staying motivated and avoiding burnout. Effective time management between multiple projects. How to market design services cost-effectively. Insights into building a strong portfolio that attracts clients.   Aventive Academy’s Resources: Free Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ $12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Let’s talk about landing those high-ticket design projects that can transform your business. These aren't just any gigs – they’re the ones that allow you to showcase your design skills and command higher fees. To secure these projects, you need to position yourself as a premium brand, build trust with potential clients, and create compelling proposals. I’ll guide you through each step to ensure you can confidently attract and win these lucrative opportunities. You will learn: How to establish yourself as a premium brand that naturally attracts high-value clients. Key strategies to build trust and credibility, making clients eager to work with you. Techniques for crafting irresistible proposals that stand out and win contracts. How to negotiate effectively, ensuring you’re compensated fairly for your work. Best practices for nurturing long-term client relationships that lead to repeat business.   Aventive Academy’s Resources: Free Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ $12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

When was the last time a single social media post changed your life? Ever? Join me on The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast as I sit down with James Barnard, an award-winning logo designer, design educator, and the creative mind behind Barnard.co. James has an incredible story of how one viral TikTok post skyrocketed his career, bringing in countless design inquiries and transforming his business. From his journey as a solo freelancer to becoming a sought-after design expert, James shares his “secrets” to success, balancing content creation with client work, and handling the ups and downs of social media fame. You won't want to miss this inspiring conversation!   You will learn: The pivotal moment when James’ TikTok post went viral and how it impacted his design business. Insights into James’ content creation process, including his strategies for TikTok and Instagram. How James manages negative comments and maintains a positive online presence. Tips on balancing content creation with client work. How to identify and attract high-quality design clients. Advice for brand, graphic, and web designers on growing their businesses and increasing their rates. Tune in to discover how you can leverage social media to grow your design business and attract high-quality clients.   About James Barnard: James is an award-winning logo designer, seasoned freelancer, design educator, dad, and owner of Barnard.co. He specializes in designing logos and visual identities with meaning. James started his career in graphic design more than a decade ago, working in the publishing industry. He has designed creative content for some of the UK’s biggest titles, including The Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Men’s Health, Empire, Cosmopolitan, The Times, and many more. These days, James runs his freelance logo design business from the Gold Coast, Australia, after emigrating from London in 2021. He has an impressive variety of skills in design software, which he aims to pass on to the next generation of designers through his social platforms. His work has been published in the Logo Lounge, and he speaks as an authority in the world of logo design at design conferences, on podcasts, and for other design channels. Connect with James: https://barnard.co/ https://www.instagram.com/barnardco/ https://www.tiktok.com/@barnardco   Aventive Academy’s Resources: Free Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ $12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

This client portal changed absolutely everything in my design business. Fewer revisions, fewer emails, fewer questions. It’s all in one spot. Clients don’t ask us to resend the final files, they don’t ask about the timeline, they know exactly when they should pay next, and they are not asking for revisions via email. All the answers for them are in one spot. It’s amazing. https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/

Who pays the processing fees? How about taxes? Designer or Client? In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we are revealing something that many designers don’t handle correctly. It’s definitely something that your clients can choose not to hire you for or hire you for. I’ve been freelancing and running my design agency since 2015, and I've been on both sides. Sometimes I am the client because we hire and outsource to contractors all the time. So, I know what feels right and who should pay the fees. Are fees the cost of doing business, or should your clients pay them? Tune in to learn more. You will learn: What fees you need to pay and what fees your clients should pay. If you are a contractor that a project was outsourced to, who needs to pay taxes and processing fees. If fees are included in a project price or charged extra. How to present the fees to the clients. Overall, who pays and what fees.   Aventive Academy’s Resources: Free Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ $12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Have you ever thought about creating a quiz as a designer? No, I'm not talking about designing it, but using it in a way that will help you GET CLIENTS! Yes, it works. In today’s episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we are talking with Josh Haynam, the CEO and creator of Interact. Interact is a tool for creating online quizzes that generate leads. We use quizzes at Aventive Academy, and you can check one out for yourself; it’s called "Marketing for Designers," and it will help you figure out which marketing strategy is the best for you as a designer to get clients. It’s amazing. In this episode, we covered everything from how to create it, the results you can get, what clients like and don’t like, and much more. You will learn: How you can generate design leads using quizzes What it takes to create a quiz and the best ways to promote them The full workflow, from a lead finding out about your quiz to all the next steps until they become your clients The importance of understanding your audience’s psychology in marketing How to create a quiz that doesn’t feel like a waste of time and is actually valuable and personalized Tune in, and again, try out the Marketing Quiz for Designers to test it out.   About Josh Haynam: Josh is the co-founder and CEO at interact, an AI powered quiz platform for generating leads and engaging audiences. Josh founded Interact 11 years ago and has bootstrapped it to 7,000 customers and over 1 billion quizzes served. Connect with Josh:  tryinteract.com https://www.instagram.com/tryinteract/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhaynam/ Aventive Academy’s Resources: Free Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ $12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Ever wondered how long it takes to land high-paying clients? You’ll be surprised, I promise. Welcome! In this episode, I walk you through every single step I had to take to land my $29,000 branding and web design clients. While this is just one example, the majority of my clients are in the five-figure range, and the steps I take remain consistent with each potential client. I also share where our clients typically find us, how they communicate with us, what we offer, what's included, and all the important details. This episode is incredibly valuable if you're aiming to land amazing clients you want to work with. You will learn:  How we acquire high-paying design clients The timeframe for landing a five-figure client The precise steps needed to secure a $29k client   Aventive Academy’s Resources: Free Client Portal for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/ $12k Client Attraction Masterclass: https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: https://aventiveacademy.com/profit The Creative CEO Accelerator: https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator