The graphic design business, you are
expected to do a lot of things. The design pays the bills, but if you really
want to get your business off the ground, there are some high-level business
development tasks to pay attention to. Here are seven "secrets to
success" that I have personally used to build my own graphic design
business.
Manage your time - There are only a limited number of hours in a day. Highly successful
graphic designers seem to get more out of them than their peers. You may want
to study some time management methods and choose the one that best suits your
needs. Stick with it, and you'll find that you're finally taking two steps for
every step your competition takes.
Update Your Portfolio - That old saying about how the cobbler's kids need new
shoes is so true. Most graphic designers are so busy working on design projects that they never have a spare minute
to update their portfolios. Or if you're like me, you're so excited about
what's new that it seems boring to go back and review old projects for the sake
of the portfolio. That's why updating your portfolio should be something that
you schedule a time for every six months.
Hone Your Skills: Budgeting a significant amount of money each year to attend seminars
and trade shows and purchase home study courses. This could mean a project
management workshop or class on Photoshop or public speaking. If you're not
already spending several thousand dollars a year on personal and professional
development, it may sound like a lot of money, but the more skilled and
versatile you are, the more you can charge your clients.
Create and Maintain Client Files - Your company's most valuable asset is your list of
graphic design clients. At a minimum, you should collect contact information
for each of your customers. You should also take notes on them each time you
speak. What foods do they like? What hobbies do they have? What is the name of
your wife/husband? I also recommend setting up a system that reminds you to
check in with clients every 3-6 months. The information you capture in them is
very valuable for this purpose. If they've ever revealed that they love peanut
butter chocolate chip cookies, then sending them a plate of those cookies is a
great way to say, "hey, remember me?" if you haven't heard from them
in a while.
Keep lists of ideas - Ideas are like seeds. They are very small, but they can grow into
something much larger. Most people have good ideas but don't have a system to
capture and organize them. I use Microsoft OneNote to capture my inspiration
snippets, but even a simple notebook will do. Set a reminder on your calendar
to review your idea bank every three months.
Press the meat: Get away from your desk and go shake people's hands, not just anyone,
but an influencer or decision-maker you address in advance. Find out what
events they regularly attend and plan to go there with the intention of
introducing them to you.
Streamline Business Processes: As I said earlier, running a graphic design business
involves much more than designing all day. In addition to the six high-level
success secrets mentioned above, you'll need to do things like keep track of
your billable hours, bill customers, etc.
There are thousands of free graphics
available for your website or blog. With that being the case, it's hard to
understand why people steal content without the owner's permission.
Penalties for these crimes can
include fines, prosecutions, or, in extreme cases, imprisonment. It is not
worth taking the risk of exhibiting someone else's work without their
permission.
Actually, there is no need to copy
someone else's work when there are so many other alternatives. Many sources
offer free graphics, so there is no excuse.
To get started, you can create your
own charts. I really enjoy making my own covers and banners when I have time.
It is gratifying when someone comments on how much they like the artwork I have
produced.
You can also invest in a digital
camera if you don't already have one. Take the camera with you and when you see
an interesting scene, take a photo or two. This technique has an additional
benefit; If you can't use the image on your own site, you can upload it to a
site that offers images for sale to others. You can earn a few extra bucks this
way, and who knows, it may open up a whole new career for you!
Use product images provided by
merchants. This one is a no brainer; why should I try using my own image when
the merchant has a professionally made version that I can use for free?
Graphic design is, of course,
subjective, and there are hundreds of different paths that lead to the
solution. You need to find the best. Once you've finished your work, ask
yourself this: is this the best possible result? The extent of what kind of
designer you will become will largely depend on how hard you push yourself with
this very question. Don't settle for something if you are not 100% convinced
that it is the best possible design result. If there is a little doubt in your
mind, change it or try something new. Your client wants to see the best you can
do. That is exactly what it should deliver every time.
The principles listed above should
be Lesson 1.01 for any future graphic designer. An experienced and successful
professional works for them without even thinking about it. Creativity without
order is contemporary art, not graphic design. Never forget your client. You
get paid to be creative, but working with these guidelines in mind will help
build the structure of your art to be true to its purpose and sell exactly what
it's designed to sell, whether it's glamorous or not-so-glamorous. After all,
that is precisely what we are employed for.