Best Colleen Gratzer Podcasts (2024)

1
21 Business Lessons After 21 Years in Business 34:07

2d ago34:07

34:07

#180 Find out 21 business lessons I’ve learned over the past 21 years of having a successful creative business that will give you more confidence and clarity with your own freelance design business.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Adobes New Terms of Service What You Need to KnowWith Matt the Lawyer 36:43

23d ago36:43

36:43

#179 Adobe’s latest terms of service updates have caused an uproar in the design industry, with designers saying they are leaving Adobe once and for all. Find out what you need to know—from a lawyer—about Adobe’s terms of use.By Colleen Gratzer

1
#1 Accessible Infographic Creator — With Eugene Woo 37:34

1M ago37:34

37:34

#178 Many designers want an alternative to Adobe and Canva that will help them create accessible infographics and short documents that can be edited by non-designers and don’t have to be remediated. Find out how accessible infographic creator Venngage can help you do that.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Big Clients versus Small Clients 12:27

2M ago12:27

12:27

#177 A lot of designers think having big clients is the key to making more money in their creative business. But that is not the case, and there are many pros and cons to working with them. Find out the advantages and disadvantages to working with big clients versus small clients and which ones you should work with.…

1
The Best Free Fonts to Download 9:16

3M ago9:16

9:16

#176 Find out where to get quality free fonts you can legally use for design projects, surprising reasons you should use certain free fonts, and accessibility concerns with certain types of typefaces.By Colleen Gratzer

1
The State of Web Accessibility in 2024 12:11

3M ago12:11

12:11

#175 The WebAIM Million provides insightful data on the top 1 million web pages. Find out what you need to know as a web designer or developer about the state of website accessibility in 2024.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Canva Acquires Affinity: What It Means for Designers 11:15

4M ago11:15

11:15

#174 The news of Canva buying Affinity and its parent company Serif has shocked and outraged designers worldwide. Find out more about the Affinity acquisition and what it means for designers.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Key Findings From the WebAIM 2024 Screen Reader User Survey 10:36

4M ago10:36

10:36

#173 The WebAIM 2024 Screen Reader User Survey provides insights we can use to perform better web accessibility testing and to understand more about screen reader users’ behavior and preferences.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Business Success From Personal Discovery—With Shannon Mattern 46:14

5M ago46:14

46:14

#172 Shannon Mattern of Web Designer Academy talks about how personal discoveries and coaching helped her stop undercharging and overdelivering and actually create a more enjoyable, profitable web design business.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Where to Find Clients Needing Accessibility Services 6:41

5M ago6:41

6:41

#171 There are so many places where you can find clients who need your accessibility services. Many of them are already knowledgeable about accessibility and understand they need it and are even easy to find.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Business Lessons From a Chiropractor?! 10:29

6M ago10:29

10:29

#170 Find out how thinking like a doctor can help your creative business. Get business strategies for getting clients, the sales process and your work processes.By Colleen Gratzer

1
What to Do When You Screw Up a Client Project 12:27

6M ago12:27

12:27

#169 A screw-up is bound to happen at some point in your creative career. The circumstances around the mistake and how you handle the situation affect your credibility, reputation and bottom line. Find out what to do when you screw up a client project.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Level Access Acquiring UserWay 9:25

7M ago9:25

9:25

#168 Accessibility company Level Access has warned against website accessibility overlays in the past. So it shocked the accessibility industry when they announced plans to acquire UserWay, known for its overlay. Find out what this potentially means for the industry.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Adobe Acquiring Figma: The Full Scoop 8:08

7M ago8:08

8:08

#167 Get the scoop about what happened with Adobe acquiring Figma and what it means for designers.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Client Gifting: The Complete Guide 7:51

7M ago7:51

7:51

#166 Thinking about sending a client a gift? Find out what to consider before sending a gift to a client, when to send a gift, what to send clients as a gift and more.By Colleen Gratzer

1
How APCA Changes Accessible Contrast—With Andrew Somers 1:17:30

8M ago1:17:30

1:17:30

#165 APCA calculates contrast differently from WCAG and is expected to be part of WCAG 3. Find out from APCA creator Andrew Somers the problem with WCAG contrast ratios, why APCA is more accurate and how you can make your colors more accessible.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Mastering Accessible Headings 11:45

8M ago11:45

11:45

#164 One way to make your documents and website content more accessible is to use an accessible heading structure. Find out some common mistakes when styling headings, easy, actionable tips for how to create accessible headings and tools to check them.By Colleen Gratzer

1
From Generalist to Specialist With Chris Hinds 41:46

9M ago41:46

41:46

#163 Chris Hinds of Equalize Digital shares their story of going from generalist designers to web accessibility specialists, giving them clarity and a competitive edge, winning clients more easily, improving their processes and making marketing efforts easier.By Colleen Gratzer

1
What's New in WCAG 2.2 11:38

10M ago11:38

11:38

#162 Get a plain-English summary of the 9 new success criteria in the WCAG 2.2 guidelines, so that you can make your websites more accessible.By Colleen Gratzer

1
How to Get What You Need From Clients 11:33

10M ago11:33

11:33

#161 Do you spend a lot of time explaining what you need to clients? Tired of clients sending you the wrong files or not following your processes? Find out how to get what you need from clients to make for a smoother client relationship and more profitable projects.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Why Graphic Designers Need a Website 8:59

10M ago8:59

8:59

Is having a website worth it? Where should you create your design website? Where should you post your portfolio online? If you’re serious about building a freelance design business, find out why you should have your own website.By Colleen Gratzer

1
5 Must-have Acrobat Accessibility Preflight Fixups 8:02

11M ago8:02

8:02

#159 Do you design or remediate accessible documents and find some of the PDF work to be tedious and time consuming? Find out five Acrobat preflight fixups that will speed up your accessible PDF workflow when it comes to artifacting, hyperlinks and more.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Top 10 Logo Design Podcast Episodes 10:05

11M ago10:05

10:05

#158 Find out the top 10 logo design podcast episodes from Design Domination and other podcasts that talk about understanding more about logo design, how to design a logo, how to price a logo, how to get clients and which file formats to create for a logo.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Freelancer vs Employee 14:12

12M ago14:12

14:12

#157 Thinking of going out on your own as a freelance graphic designer or web designer? Find out the pros and cons of being a full-time freelancer versus employee and some points to consider before working for yourself full time.By Colleen Gratzer

1
AudioEye vs Adrian Roselli: The SLAPP Heard Around the World 9:28

1y ago9:28

9:28

#156 The web accessibility community is in an uproar about the AudioEye lawsuit against 30-year accessibility champion Adrian Roselli for his criticism of their overlay product.By Colleen Gratzer

1
10 Time-saving InDesign Tips 14:24

1y ago14:24

14:24

#155 Learn how to work more efficiently in Adobe InDesign with these time-saving 10 tips about features that most graphic designers don’t use. The more you know InDesign, the easier it is to incorporate accessibility into the layout process too.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Stop People Pleasing, Save Your Business 14:33

1y ago14:33

14:33

#154 Providing good customer service doesn’t mean you have to be at the whim of every client request or that the client is always right. In fact, if you do that, your business will suffer. Find out why people pleasing is bad for your creative business.By Colleen Gratzer

1
9 Tips for Creating Accessible Hyperlinks 11:18

1y ago11:18

11:18

#153 Ensuring that hyperlinks are accessible for all website visitors increases the accessibility and usability of a website. There are functional, cognitive and visual factors to consider. Find out 9 tips for creating accessible hyperlinks on websites.By Colleen Gratzer

1
How to Write a Creative Brief 11:16

1y ago11:16

11:16

#152 A design brief, or creative brief, helps you get more respect and be seen as an expert as a designer. Find out how to write a creative brief and how it helps not only you but the designer-client relationship and the design process.By Colleen Gratzer

1
How to Write a Good About Page—Todd Jones 46:11

1y ago46:11

46:11

#151 Learn how to leverage the About page on your website so that you stand out and increase your chances of getting new clients. Find out tips for what to include and how to write a good About page even if you find it hard to talk about yourself.By Colleen Gratzer

1
The Risks of Having One Big Client (Gorilla Client) 15:56

1+ y ago15:56

15:56

#150 Having a client who makes up a large portion of your income is a blessing and a curse. They keep you busy, but you lose focus on your freelance business. Find out if you have any gorilla clients, or high client concentration, and what to do about it.By Colleen Gratzer

1
The Business Case for Accessibility 22:18

1+ y ago22:18

22:18

#149 Are you looking to have the accessibility conversation with clients or coworkers but not sure where to start? Have you tried but gotten resistance? Find out 10 common objections to accessibility and how to overcome them to get others on board.By Colleen Gratzer

1
When a Client Wants More Than One of Your Designs 9:06

1+ y ago9:06

9:06

As a graphic designer, you may run into a situation where the client wants more than one of your designs. Should you provide the design free? Should you charge for the additional design? Find out what to think about and how to figure out how to price it.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Setting Boundaries With Clients 19:29

1+ y ago19:29

19:29

#147 Many freelance designers struggle with creating and enforcing boundaries with clients, taking on and putting up with bad clients. But setting boundaries means you're in charge, work with good clients and have a more profitable creative business.By Colleen Gratzer

1
How to Make More Money in Graphic Design (and Work Less) With Adrienne Johnston 40:33

1+ y ago40:33

40:33

Graphic designer Adrienne Johnston shares how she went from being stressed out and overworked in a $60k-a-year creative business to working less and without stress making more than $200k a year by focusing on presentation design in PowerPoint.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Adding Skip Navigation Links for Better Web Accessibility 10:26

1+ y ago10:26

10:26

Improve the accessibility and usability of the websites you design by adding a skip navigation link for keyboard users. Find out why skip links are important, who they help, how to check for a skip link and how to add one to an existing website.By Colleen Gratzer

1
How to Raise Your Prices 20:06

1+ y ago20:06

20:06

#144 Raising your prices as a freelance graphic designer is vital for a viable, profitable creative business. Find out when you should raise your rates, how to raise them, how much to raise them and what to do if clients react negatively when you do.By Colleen Gratzer

1
How to Get Google Reviews With John Falke 38:27

1+ y ago38:27

38:27

#143 Google reviews are a free tool designers can leverage to make the marketing and sales process easier. They help you get new clients. Hear how Google reviews have helped John Falke's design business and how to get Google reviews from clients.By Colleen Gratzer

1
How to Make 6 Figures as a Freelancer 18:32

1+ y ago18:32

18:32

#142 Want to make $100,000 a year as a full-time freelancer? Find out what I did and what you can do to make 6 figures as a self-employed freelance designer, even in your first year of freelancing full time. Also find out what to do before you do it.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Color and Contrast Accessibility 10:08

1+ y ago10:08

10:08

#141 As a graphic designer, document designer or web designer, understanding the WCAG color and contrast accessibility guidelines will help make your designs more inclusive and accessible to sighted individuals with or without a visual disability.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Affordable Health Care for Freelancers 15:10

1+ y ago15:10

15:10

#140 Medical insurance for self-employed freelance designers can be cost prohibitive. Find out some affordable health insurance alternatives that will save you money along with what to consider before going with one of these options.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Adobe Removing Pantone Colors: What Graphic Designers Need to Know 9:40

1+ y ago9:40

9:40

#139 Pantone color books are being phased out of Adobe Creative Cloud, greatly impacting many graphic designers. Access to all Pantone libraries will require a paid Pantone Connect subscription. Find out what you need to know and what options you have.By Colleen Gratzer

1
12 Ways to Motivate Clients to Send Content 17:03

1+ y ago17:03

17:03

#138 Getting content from clients is definitely high on the list of complaints from graphic designers. Find out 12 ways to motivate your clients to get you content, so that you get projects done on time and profitably.By Colleen Gratzer

1
The Difference Between Consultation and Discovery 11:02

2y ago11:02

11:02

#137 Many graphic designers give away their advice, expertise and ideas in the sales process for free. Learn what to stop doing on consultation calls and how to get paid for discovery calls, so you get more respect and are more valued as an expert.By Colleen Gratzer

1
How to Get More Leads From Your Website With Josh Hall 58:21

2y ago58:21

58:21

#136 Just because graphic designers put up a portfolio website doesn't mean potential clients will find it or contact you. Learn strategic steps to get people to your site, keep them on your site and taking action, so you build a profitable creative business.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Top 11 Creative Business Books 10:48

2y ago10:48

10:48

#135 Find out what books are on my list of top creative business books for freelance graphic designers to help you with starting your own business, sales and marketing, getting clients, positioning, pricing and profit, confidence, mindset and more.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Day Rates for Graphic Designers With Sarah Masci 32:35

2y ago32:35

32:35

#134 Sarah Masci of Day Rate Mastery joins me to talk about how graphic designers can increase their profitability by charging day rates instead of hourly rates or value-based pricing and how she went from charging $50 per hour to $10k months working less.By Colleen Gratzer

1
Why Graphic Designers Need Contracts 13:21

2y ago13:21

13:21

#133 Find out important reasons why freelance graphic designers should use contracts for design work in their creative business, including some surprising things you may have thought of.By Colleen Gratzer

1
The Talent, Not the Tool, With Don Bolognese 1:02:32

2y ago1:02:32

1:02:32

#132 Renowned artist/illustrator Don Bolognese joins me to talk about how it's the designer’s talent—not the tool—that’s vital for a successful creative career. He shares interesting stories and insights from his 67-year career and how it evolved over time with changes in technology.By Colleen Gratzer

1
When Designers Should Turn Down Work 9:15

2y ago9:15

9:15

#131 When you take on work that isn’t a good fit with your skills and expertise, it can result in a bad testimonial, no referrals and the work not being profitable. Find out when graphic designers should turn down work from a prospect or existing client.By Colleen Gratzer

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Colleen Gratzer Podcasts

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