When a Client Wants to Pay with Trade, Michael Janda and Cassi Nicole. // How to handle a client who wants to pay with a trade of services. // Clients offer to trade all kinds of crazy things for design services. I once had a client offer my agency a…
Focus on Your Strengths, Michael Janda and Cassi Nicole. // It seems we breed self-judgement, comparison, and insecurity right from the first day in design school. “Ok, everybody put your designs on the wall for the rest of the class to see and critique. Now, go out into the world…
How Do You Find Your First Design Job? // Michael Janda and Jacob Cass discuss ways for designers to find their first design job…especially the mindset a designer should have while they are searching for this first opportunity.
Keeping your billings balanced with completed work is the best way to keep animosity from entering into the client relationship. This video is an excerpt from a coaching call with Bryan Jimenez, a super talented designer and agency owner based in Austin, Texas.
Bad Logos & Good Branding. Michael Janda and G’day Frank // Branding takes time and distribution. There is evidence that anything can be effectively branded over time. Take a look at Goodle’s original logo…which they used for many years, effectively building a multi-hundred billion dollar company. The visual brand matters,…
Your Business is a We // Referring to your business as “we” can help your clients start seeing you in a bigger light. Many clients feel like they can order freelancers around since it is just a single person and in their perception “not a real business.” By referring to…
How do you ask for client feedback? // Michael Janda and Jacob Cass discuss proven methods for asking for client feedback. Always present the work. Train your client on what types of feedback are most valuable before you show them the work. Make sure there is one mouthpiece for the client. This person…
Michael Janda with Tom Ross // Michael and Tom discuss what it means to build a culture in your business and some of the considerations you should have. Your business culture is intentional. Be deliberate. Define your culture and write it down and then hire people who agree with and…
Michael Janda with Arcui Usoara // You attract the type of clients you market yourself to. Want better clients? Market yourself in a way that shows you can provide more value to your clients and solve bigger problems.
Michael Janda and Tom Ross (CEO of Design Cuts) discuss the importance of being “human” in your social media marketing. It isn’t about the big number, it is about building genuine connections, one on one, with your audience to have a dramatic impact on engagement.
Having trouble keeping a website project moving forward? Are your clients always late with content and assets, holding up the whole project? At my agency we developed a system that I call a “Phased Production Strategy.”
Work in the creative industry long enough and you will inevitably run into each of these eight clients. Watch for them and be extra careful if you decide to engage in a working relationship. They may just put your business at risk.
Notifications
