108. Untapped Gold: Maximizing Profits with Retainer-Based Design Strategies

This episode shares the actionable steps and mindset shifts that doubled my revenue last month. - Importance of mindset and five key shifts that led to revenue growth. - Transitioning from an agency model to a leaner studio setup. - Surrender versus strategy: trusting the process and focusing on small daily progress. - Tools and templates for streamlining business processes and prioritizing self-care. - Expanding mindset, embracing the "yes, I can" attitude, and creating white space for increased productivity. Timestamps: 01:00 Business transformed to align with lifestyle and values. 04:33 Mindset shifts for revenue growth: strategy, surrender. 07:18 Setting big goals and letting go. 10:22 Focus on small daily tasks for progress. 14:51 Shifted mindset, prioritize self-care for better days. 16:49 Prioritize self-care, and wake up earlier. 20:34 Expanding capacity and mindset to achieve goals. 25:04 Embracing simplicity and self-care for success. 29:58 Recommend meditation, self-reflection, and self-care practices. Check out our resources & links: Free Course: 6 Figure Designer's Growth Guide Website: byoliviaaustin.com Instagram: instagram.com/byoliviaaustin

Welcome back to Behind the Design Podcast! In this episode, we dive deep into the essentials of personal branding and how it can transform your design career. Key points covered: - The importance of personal branding in the current marketing landscape. - How personal branding can help evolve and expand your business. - Steps to outline your vision and what you want to be known for. - Examples of strong personal branding in the design space. - Practical tips for integrating personal elements into your business without oversharing. Timestamps: 00:00 Why now is the time to build a personal brand 05:04 Expanding business by sharing personal experiences. 09:10 Consider your vision for business growth. 11:00 Focus on your legacy, merging business & life. 13:27 Define brand values, audience, and identity clearly. 18:01 Incorporate personal aspects into your design studio. 22:22 Desire for new activities, citing successful examples. 24:54 Remind yourself you can grow your brand. 27:19 Offering you design, business advice, connection.

Kelsey Ogletree is the founder and CEO of Pitchcraft, a tech platform connecting writers, editors and PR professionals. She's also an independent journalist, holding a master's degree in magazine journalism from Northwestern University. Her writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, AARP The Magazine, Travel + Leisure and more. She is a new mom to baby Asher, born in April 2023, and cat, Monty. In her free time, she enjoys baking, golfing, reading, being active outside and spending time with family and friends. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to guest: transitioned from editor to successful freelance writer. 03:58 Media industry faced uncertainty during March 2020. 09:18 Freelance writer pitches story ideas to publications. 10:51 Experienced writers: pitch directly or find freelancer. 13:29 Start local with niche community publications first. 17:00 Adding value to others, not self-promotion. 20:17 Clearly state your keywords and follow up. 23:20 Managing email productivity and setting work boundaries. 27:42 Guard your time, prioritize tasks effectively. 31:26 Prioritized balance and grace over rigid routines. 34:56 Parenting requires juggling, but we're blessed. 38:59 Struggle to balance motherhood and personal identity. 42:38 Trusting intuition and prioritizing self-care and family. 44:30 Following my heart over traditional marketing strategies. 46:30 Evaluate activities based on your hourly rate. 50:17 How to Find Kelsey

So much out there on getting more clients, but once you reach a certain stage in business getting to consistent $10/$15k months, it's about client retention and this is where I think a lot of designers are leaving money on the table. If you want to increase your revenue without constantly onboarding new clients, this episode is going to have a lot of really good takeaways for you. Timestamps: 00:00 Importance of client retention through retainers. 05:58 Implementing passive income, allowing clients to return. 08:15 Build client relationships, prioritize systems and processes. 10:43 Listen to client needs, create easy offer. 14:28 Templates streamline business for efficient, profitable success. 21:37 Listen to clients, offer premium services, educate. 25:20 Delegate design work, hire graphic designer eventually. 28:50 Build passive income with multiple client projects.

Join Linzay and I as we unpack the real deal about maternity leave for creative entrepreneurs. Our guest is sharing everything from tweaks to your business model that can keep the cash flowing, to navigating the emotional rollercoaster of postpartum. Linzay Davis is a Parental Leave Expert helping parents navigate parental leave in the US through her business, The Park Consulting. Timestamps: 00:00 Writer had bad parental leave experience. HR background. 05:34 FMLA standard of 12 weeks is arbitrary. 07:45 Prepare for change, seek help for postpartum. 11:45 Options for paid leave for entrepreneurs explained. 15:16 Therapists creating passive income during time off. 19:03 Redefine your purpose and embrace freedom. 22:28 Struggle of balancing work and childcare. Overwhelming. 24:35 Focusing on engaging fully in work and family. 28:03 Plan ahead, be open to unexpected changes. 32:18 Making fun of mom's busy schedule. 34:10 Prepare early for time off, involve spouses. 38:14 US laws for entrepreneurs and pregnant workers. 39:57 Employer obligations for breastfeeding moms, legal advice. 43:22 Entrepreneurial flexibility empowers work-life balance.

In this episode of "Behind the Design Podcast", hosted by Olivia Austin, we get an inspiring glimpse into the colorful world of Nicole Goldfarb, the creative CEO of Nixie, and her journey into the business of joy-infusing design. Nicole Goldfarb is a color-loving creative whose eye-catching illustrations radiate a playful energy that is synonymous with joy. With a signature blend of lively hues, bold shapes and funky typography, her mission is to inspire a life full of fun by making the most out of every day. Nicole believes life is so much more fun when you lean into the things that make you truly happy, so she created Nixie, a brand toting a colorful curation of art and lifestyle goods. Color is her love language, summer is her muse, design is her passion, and the beach is her happy place. Nicole is currently catching rays and making waves in Venice, CA. Timestamps: 00:00 Olivia Austin, brand designer, strategist, business coach. 04:10 Worked in freelance creative agency, then started selling art. 06:40 Struggling between job and passion leads breakthrough. 12:24 Preparing to move, given different feedback related. 15:27 Launching collection with colorful and cute items. 18:58 Finding joy in small, creative moments daily. 21:20 Finding inspiration in world, city, nature. 23:06 Create, sketch, and let ideas simmer. 27:22 Adapting and taking breaks to enhance productivity. 31:19 Be open to different creative opportunities. 35:42 Excited about expanding party accessories with Nixie. 38:07 Podcast host offering guidance and resources. Follow!

In this episode, Olivia Austin shares expert insights on preventing website project stalls with effective communication, system implementation, and client guidance in brand and web design. Tune in for actionable strategies and tips on setting boundaries, maintaining project momentum, and ensuring profitable, timely delivery. 00:00 Encouraging audience engagement, seeking input on topics. 04:51 Integrating copywriting into the design process. 09:07 Copywriter involvement varies based on client preference. 10:20 Align deadline for brand identity and website. 14:52 Experts lead, guide, and communicate in projects. 18:45 Offering multiple options for feedback in detail. 22:33 Clear communication about finalizing website content stages. 24:06 Client feedback shapes website design, limited revisions. 28:50 Implementing fees for ghosting clients ensures profitability. 30:24 Recommend fee range, contract terms, and communication tips. 33:44 Client investment affects commitment, discussed on podcast.

Angela is the Founder and Creative Heart behind Saffron Avenue, a graphic design studio for ambitious brands and a template shop for entrepreneurs and artists. With a love of designing with intention and connection, I focus on infusing strategy, sophistication, and hand-crafted details into each brand, website, and product. Her mission has been to help creative business owners gain clarity and confidence with their brand and website, allowing them to effortlessly evolve with growth. Today we chat about her evolution of Saffron Avenue and everything she's learned along the way from simplifying her services, honing in on her niche, what her schedule is like as a new mom and business owner and where she finds creativity to do multiple launch collections/year. If you're a creative at heart, you're going to love this episode! Timestamps: 00:00 Feeling determined to start creative business early. 04:38 Ignorance turned to success through hard work. 07:08 Learned design skills through self-teaching and perseverance. 11:09 Passionate about branding and unique websites. 14:24 Love playing with color, creating seasonal palettes. 18:56 Personalized branding creates excitement and customer engagement. 19:36 Workbook helps brand alignment, Pinterest board review. 25:28 Semi-customs provide clarity and save time. 28:53 Entrepreneurship: follow intuition, find joy, attract success. 30:52 Mindset change, fear replaced by joy. 35:36 Women leading, setting positive examples for kids. 36:31 Changing mind, aging, career impact on family. 39:33 Scheduled work, ongoing projects, and flexibility. 43:13 Shifting focus to branding education, website templates.

In this episode of Behind the Design, host Olivia Austin shares a step-by-step strategy for reflecting on the past quarter and creating a customized plan for the next quarter. Discover the #1 important, reflection exercise and identify the actionable steps to define your goals, refine your strategies, and achieve success in Quarter 2. Timestamps: 00:00 Entrepreneurs need strategic reflection to grow 03:38 Review, reflect, and refine for business growth 09:06 Reflect on achievements and set clear goals 10:16 Setting and maintaining habits for productivity and wellness 14:58 Focus on one goal and specific tasks 17:12 Reflect on goals, ramp up podcast, refine tasks 22:11 Reflect on the episode and share goals 23:00 Encouraging feedback and strategy for business growth

Join our guest, Kay from KAC Marketing, on the Behind the Design podcast as we dive into secrets on scaling agencies, leveraging AI for efficiency, and mastering email marketing and ad management strategies for small businesses. Plus, you'll hear expert advice on balancing work-life and harnessing the power of organic content and paid ads to grow your client base. Don't miss these valuable insights - perfect for agency owners and marketing professionals looking to thrive! Kay is a marketing strategist with over 15 years of experience helping businesses take a data-driven approach to increasing revenue. She is a former VP of Marketing & Analytics and is now the founder of the KAC Marketing Agency where she helps 7-figure brands scale through ads and email marketing. Timestamps: 00:00 Launched email marketing agency, grew through referrals. 06:09 Messaging strategy, GBT training, boosts efficiency. 07:38 AI enhances efficiency and profitability in agencies. 10:49 Learning from previous large agency experience helped. 16:19 Delegation is key for successful hiring. 18:47 Consistent content with client results generates leads. 20:34 Strong network connections essential for business success. 25:48 Starting from scratch, testing messaging and imagery. 29:31 Agencies are expensive; consider freelance options. 33:24 Disagreements with art director over design choices. 35:48 Instagram content should have specific calls-to-action. 37:49 Lower costs with in-app ads, better conversion. 42:45 Prioritizing balance after experiencing burnout, flexible schedule. 44:31 Embrace flexibility in work for success.