Profitable Graphic Designer: Clients, Business, Money, and Freedom

You don’t need to post every day to attract high-paying graphic design clients. What you need is clarity, focus, and a strategy that actually moves your design business forward. In this episode, I’m sharing how to stop wasting hours on random posts and start using intentional content that brings you clients, not just followers. I’ll walk you through the exact steps to figure out where your dream clients are, what they actually care about, and how to position your design content so it sells your expertise without burning you out.You will learn:How to get design clients without posting every single dayWhy most design content attracts other designers, not paying clientsHow to choose one or two platforms that actually grow your design businessWhat kind of content positions you as an expert and leads to higher design ratesA simple system to repurpose content and stay consistent without losing your sanityGrab a cup of coffee, your notes, and get ready to rethink how you show up online as a profitable designer.And if you're tired of wasting time on invoices, tracking payments, or chasing overdue bills, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FreshBooks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It’s the all-in-one invoicing and accounting software I use to stay organized and focus more on design - not admin.Aventive Academy’s Resources:From Crickets to Clients: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/crickets-to-clients/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Client Portal for Designers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mockup Magic: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Brand Guidelines Template: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/profit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join My Weekly Newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Creative CEO Accelerator: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator⁠

If you’ve ever looked at a clean, elevated brand and thought, “How do they make it look so effortless?” - this episode is for you.I’m joined by Ayelet, a designer known for her intentional, minimal style and smart systems behind the visuals. We talked about how she approaches branding, her favorite tools (like Notion and Wix Studio), the role of AI in design, and how she keeps things creatively exciting even after years in the field.This episode is packed with perspective on staying inspired, building a brand system that actually works, and taking more creative control as a designer.You’ll learn:How to develop a signature aestheticAyelet’s go-to process for branding and web designHow to handle micromanaging clients with graceTools that make web design easier (yes, even if you don’t code)What’s next in design and how to stay aheadGrab your coffee and tune in - this one’s for designers who care about both beauty and impact.And if you want to start offering web design without dealing with code or tech stress, check out ⁠⁠Wix Studio⁠⁠. It’s built for designers like you who want to keep full creative control and add more value for their clients.Aventive Academy’s Resources:From Crickets to Clients: https://aventiveacademy.com/crickets-to-clients/$12k Client Attraction Masterclass: ⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/attract-clients-workshop/⁠⁠Client Portal for Designers: ⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/client-portal/⁠⁠ The Wealthy Client Blueprint: ⁠⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/wealthy-client/⁠⁠Mockup Magic: ⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/mockup-magic/⁠⁠ Brand Guidelines Template: ⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/brand-guidelines/⁠⁠ 12-Week Business Program for Designers: ⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/profit⁠⁠ Join My Weekly Newsletter: ⁠⁠https://aventive-academy.ck.page/0fc86a336f⁠⁠ The Creative CEO Accelerator: ⁠⁠https://aventiveacademy.com/accelerator

Many designers (and other creatives!) are concerned about the potential impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the design industry. In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer podcast, Kady Sandel shows you how AI can assist designers in the creative process, using a case study from behind the scenes of her branding agency to illustrate the benefits of incorporating AI into your workflow! Additionally, Kady talks about future implications of AI in the design industry and shares tips to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving field. You'll discover examples of how you can utilize AI in your business to save time and work in your zone of genius. Resources: What’s the best high-ticket marketing strategy for your design business? Take our quiz to find out: https://bit.ly/3lN3xVS Connect with Kady on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign $10k+ clients and scale into six-figure design agencies so they can have the freedom and lifestyle they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money

Are you tired of clients ghosting you after you've invested time and effort in pitching your design services? In this episode, business coach Kady Sandel explores the most common reasons behind client ghosting and shares what you can do to prevent it from happening to you. As a graphic, brand, or web design business owner, understanding why clients ghost you is essential to growing your business and making sure it happens less frequently. We also discuss the importance of pricing strategy and how it can impact your client responses, plus how to offer value beyond your design services to attract and retain clients. Tune in! Resources: What’s the best high-ticket marketing strategy for your design business? Take our quiz to find out: https://bit.ly/3lN3xVS Connect with Kady on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign $10k+ clients and scale into six-figure design agencies so they can have the freedom and lifestyle they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money

Are you a creative looking to expand your services to include brand strategy? Or maybe you're a business owner wondering if you should work with a certified brand strategist or not. In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we sit down with Melinda Livsey, a brand strategist & designer, to talk about her journey of transitioning from a graphic designer to a brand strategist and why she doesn't believe that having a certification is necessary to stand out. She discusses how being uncertified has helped her and her students attract better clients, build confidence in their skills, and take a more flexible and personalized approach to brand strategy and building a creative business overall. There's no one-size-fits-all approach to branding, and Melinda shares her insights on how being an uncertified brand strategist can help you build a thriving creative business. Tune in to learn more! About Melinda: Melinda Livsey is a graphic designer turned brand strategist and founder of the Brand Strategy Bootcamp. Her aim is to help make brand strategy (and life!) easier for the creative over-thinker and believes that curiosity is the only certification creatives need. Learn how to do brand strategy in your own unique way with Melinda's Brand Strategy Bootcamp: https://melindalivsey.com/brand-strategy-bootcamp Check out Melinda's website at https://melindalivsey.com Connect with Melinda on Instagram @melindalivsey

Outsourcing Your Designs aka White Labeling is an episode for graphic, brand, and web design business owners who want to expand their services and increase their revenue. In this episode of the Profitable Designer Podcast, Kady Sandel (your host) talks about the concept of white labeling and if it can benefit your design business. She covers the pros and cons of white labeling, including the benefits of increased revenue and access to new clients, as well as the potential downsides of limited creative control and lack of credit. You will learn: · The definition of white labeling and how it works in the graphic design industry · The benefits and downsides of offering white labeling services as a designer · How your business can grow really fast while working for someone else · How to offer white labeling services, including research, setting clear guidelines, signing a contract, and keeping open communication Resources: What’s the best high-ticket marketing strategy for your design business? Take our quiz here to find out: https://bit.ly/3lN3xVS Connect with Kady on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign $10k+ clients and scale into six-figure design agencies so they can have the freedom and lifestyle they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money

Are you looking for a better way to sell your design services? In this episode of The Profitable Designer Program, we explore an alternative approach to selling design services – by packaging them into specific, pre-defined products! You can use this approach to increase your pricing, streamline your sales process, and build a stronger brand identity, just like Kady Sandel (your host) did. We discuss the benefits of productizing your design services along with the drawbacks of the the traditional hourly & project rates. Kady will also show you how to package your services effectively, plus the importance of positioning your products correctly. Tune in! Resources: What’s the best high-ticket marketing strategy for your design business? Take our quiz here to find out: https://bit.ly/3lN3xVS Connect with Kady on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign $10k+ clients and scale into six-figure design agencies so they can have the freedom and lifestyle they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money

In this episode, business coach for designers Kady Sandel dives into the world of social media for graphic, brand, and web designers. Let’s explore how you can use these platforms to attract high-paying clients ($10k+) and grow your creative business! She discusses the importance of developing a strong social media strategy that targets the right platforms for your ideal design clients, creating high-quality content that showcases your skills and expertise, engaging with potential clients to build relationships and attract new business, and much more. Plus, learn why you need to create a high-value service offer that justifies your pricing and helps you reach your income goals! Resources: What’s the best high-ticket marketing strategy for your design business? Take our quiz here to find out: https://bit.ly/3lN3xVS Connect with Kady on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign $10k+ clients and scale into six-figure design agencies so they can have the freedom and lifestyle they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money

In this episode, business coach Kady Sandel shows you how to talk about your brand design, graphic, and web design services so high-ticket clients want to learn more! Anyone can say “I’m a brand designer” or “I design websites.” But to stand out from the millions of other designers out there, you need to make your messaging more compelling. You’ll learn why it’s important to focus on the results your designs provide (rather than on your services themselves), and how to rework your elevator pitch to focus on the benefits rather than the features. Kady also shows you how to build relationships with referral partners who can connect you with dream $12k+ clients. Resources: What’s the best high-ticket marketing strategy for your graphic, brand, or web design business? Take our quiz to find out: https://bit.ly/3lN3xVS Connect with Kady on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign $10k+ clients and scale into six-figure design agencies so they can have the freedom and lifestyle they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money

In this episode, guest expert Josh Hall joins Kady Sandel to talk about growing your web design business, setting your prices, and whether you can guarantee results like sales, traffic, or conversions to your web design clients! You’ll hear about Josh’s career journey from cabinetmaker and drummer to web designer and online educator, and how these unique experiences have helped him grow his web design business. We also cover how to collaborate with copywriters, the #1 thing you should do to get a new web design client, and how to use value-based pricing as a web designer. Tune in! About Josh Hall: Josh is a web design business coach, podcast host, and web agency founder who lives and works in Columbus Ohio. Through his online courses, podcast, and YouTube channel, he teaches web designers how to build their dream web design business that gives them freedom and life they love. Learn more at joshhall.co and check out his Web Design Business Podcast at https://joshhall.co/podcast/ Resources: Scale your design business to $20k months without burnout in our mastermind program, The Creative CEO: aventiveacademy.com/mastermind Connect with Kady on Instagram @aventiveacademy Our 12-week Profitable Designer Program helps designers sign $10k+ clients and scale into six-figure design agencies so they can have the freedom and lifestyle they desire. Join us at aventiveacademy.com/make-money