Business
Are you ready to start your own business?
Freelancing and small creative businesses are on the rise. In 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that one in… Read More
Business
Business, WordPress
8 great WordPress themes for your personal brand
Whether you’re a hobbyist, an all-in solopreneur, or somewhere in between, it’s a no-brainer that you’ll need a website to showcase your skill and personality. Read More
Business
Never miss a payment again with these invoicing tips
Payment is one of the most rewarding parts of a project. It signifies that a client has found value in the work you provided and… Read More
Business
Why you should use a contact form
It’s probably no surprise that the contact page is among the top three most important pages of any website. Being reachable is critical when you’re… Read More
Business
How to manage multiple WordPress sites
Managing multiple WordPress sites can be tricky. It’s a good problem to have (because that probably means you’re growing your business), but being responsible for… Read More
Business
How to create a bigger brand with this simple trick
Let’s face it, marketing is hard. Marketing as you scale? Even harder. One of the biggest challenges we run into with our clients is where… Read More
Business
Why it’s a good idea to take a break sometimes
Whether you’re an entrepreneur or employed by an agency, one thing we all have in common is the constant pursuit of creative greatness –… Read More
Business
The freelancer’s guide to the galaxy: Tips, tricks, and an infographic
Whether you’re thinking about launching into the world of freelancing or have been cruising there for a while, at some point or another, you’ll… Read More
Business
How collaborative mono-tasking improves the way you work
Take a moment to step away from whatever you’re doing and imagine yourself sitting comfortably in a serene studio, bathed in light. Reclaimed wood… Read More
Business
8 ideas for your next business card
Take a look at your business card. Observe the colors, the fonts, the layout. Notice the design and the details. Feel the texture, the… Read More
Business
What a freelancer’s day really looks like
In 2007, I was living in Omaha, Nebraska and had just been laid off from my associate copywriter position because of the recession. Not… Read More
Business
3 ways to get more help by asking for it the right way
As clients’ needs become more complex, the pressure is on designers to come up with more sophisticated solutions. Premium plugins, themes, and other tools… Read More
Business
Layering support for your clients
Currently, I own 27 domain names and they’re all managed by Hover with the average annual cost for each domain in the neighborhood of… Read More
Business
One sign your online portfolio is leaking leads
Ah freelancing… Picture waking up each morning, grabbing coffee, sending cold pitches, and hoping for some responses. No — I’m not suggesting that every freelancer’s… Read More
Business
From coffee shops to coworking
Five years ago I had a great home office. Really great. It had tons of natural light, whiteboards, exposed brick, sturdy wooden tables I built… Read More
Business
Should you do it yourself or collaborate on that project?
Whether you are a freelancer or work for a small agency, there are times when the perfect client comes along with an exciting project… Read More
Business
8 creative exercises to re-energize your brain
Web designers are, by nature, creative. And one of the facts of the creative life is creative fatigue. Whether it’s physical tiredness, boredom, a… Read More
Business
7 inspiring infographic resumes
If a vacancy for your dream job landed in your inbox today, would your resume be ready to send? As a designer, an infographic… Read More
Business
7 notebooks for web designers
As a creative, you know how important a notebook can be. There’s just something about having a great place to collect your thoughts that makes… Read More
Business
How to streamline your administrative workflow
Let’s be honest: admin tasks are not your favorite. In fact, they always fall to the bottom of your to-do list, because you’ve got… Read More
Business
What you need to start your freelance business
Thinking about going freelance? Maybe you’ve got visions of financial freedom, creative freedom, logical freedom, or something else dancing in your head. Or maybe… Read More
Business
What your agency’s mission statement should say about you
The mission statement has become the text equivalent of the elevator pitch. It distills the entirety of your company — from culture to product,… Read More
Business
How to explain the importance of logo design
More than 40 years ago, Nike bought its logo from a college student for $35. When companies hear that logos can come with such a… Read More
Business
Partnering with a motion graphics artist
Nothing can bring your designs to life quite like animation. But if you’ve never worked with an animator or motion graphics artist, motion may… Read More
Business
Which billing method is right for you?
One of the biggest invoicing decisions for a freelancer is whether to bill by the hour or by the project. Each method has its devotees… Read More
Business
Interview questions designers should ask
Interviews are stressful. There are a lot of opinions about how to dress, what to bring, how you should present yourself, and what questions… Read More
Business
5 things school taught me about freelancing
School might be out for summer soon, but as a freelancer, the projects never end. Being both a freelancer and a student has taught… Read More
Business, Design
Advice for you in-house designers out there
There are three routes to take for work as a designer: freelance, agency-life, and in-house. I’ve worked as an in-house graphic designer ranging from… Read More
Business
Consider a design apprenticeship
What do you think of when you hear the word “apprentice” or “apprenticeship”? Do you picture a medieval teenager (let’s face it — probably… Read More
Business
Using online platforms for work as a freelancer
Finding freelance work is often all about who you know and can be difficult when you first begin. Every once in awhile, I see… Read More