Welcome to The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast. My name is Kady Sandel, and this podcast was brought to you by Aventive Academy – an online business education platform that helps brand, graphic, and web designers get more clients, increase their pricing, and build a profitable design business. You can find out more about starting and growing your freelance design business at aventiveacademy.com
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136 Raise Your Design Rates (Without Losing Clients)
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Raising your design rates isn’t just about earning more—it’s about reflecting your expertise and the transformation you bring to clients. In this episode, I share how to approach rate increases confidently, attract high-paying clients, and position yourself as a premium service without fear of losing clients. This is about aligning your fees with t…
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135 How to Create a Strong Brand for Your Own Design Business
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Branding isn’t just for your clients - it’s essential for your design business too. Often, designers overlook their own brand, assuming their work will speak for itself. But a strong brand identity is what sets you apart, attracts clients, and establishes you as a serious professional. In this episode, I share everything you need to know about crea…
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134 Pricing Your Design Services Confidently - The Ultimate Guide
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Think about it: every time you set a price that genuinely reflects your work's value, you’re establishing a standard for the clients you want to attract. When I charge $25k for a branding project, I’m not just picking a number—I’m showing clients the level of transformation and expertise I bring. This confidence in pricing doesn’t just impress clie…
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133 How I Turned My Side Hustle into a Thriving Design Agency
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When I charge $25k for a branding project, I’m not just picking a number - I’m showing clients the level of transformation and expertise I bring. This confidence in pricing doesn’t just impress clients; it signals that you know your worth. Think about it: every time you set a price that genuinely reflects your work's value, you’re establishing a st…
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132 FREE Brand Guidelines for Brand Designers – Elevating Your Visual Identity Skills
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If you think your job ends after you design the logo, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity. In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, I’m sharing why brand guidelines are essential for brand designers who want to elevate their craft, charge higher rates, and secure more client referrals. I’ll show you how these comprehensive b…
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131 From Zero Leads to Fully Booked: My Client Magnet Method
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Ever wondered why some designers seem to have clients flocking to them while others struggle to get a single inquiry? I’ve been there, staring at my inbox and waiting for leads that never came. That was until I discovered the power of my Client Magnet Method, which took me from zero leads to fully booked. In this episode, I’ll share the exact steps…
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130 Why Most Designers Struggle with Consistent Income (and How to Fix It)
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Many designers face the dreaded feast and famine cycle, where one month you’re on top of the world with a big project, and the next, you’re scrambling for clients. I’ve been there, and I know it’s exhausting. But predictable income isn’t just a dream—it’s a necessity for building a sustainable design business. By creating steady revenue streams, ma…
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129 How I Doubled My Income by Saying No to Clients
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Have you ever wondered how saying “no” could actually double your income? It may sound strange, but turning down clients has been one of the most transformative strategies in my design business. When I stopped taking on projects that didn’t align with my goals or respect my worth, I opened the door to more profitable, fulfilling opportunities. In t…
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128 How to Position Your Design Business for Premium Clients
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Ready to position your design business for premium clients and elevate your brand to the next level? I’m breaking down exactly how you can identify your ideal clients, stand out in a crowded market, charge what you’re truly worth, and build a portfolio that attracts the kind of high-paying clients you’ve been dreaming of. If you’ve been struggling …
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127 Marketing Strategies for Freelance Designers with Kiri Mohan
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If you’ve ever wondered how to take your design businessfrom freelance to something more sustainable, today’s episode is for you. I had a great conversation with Kiri Mohan, who helps women freelancers with corporate backgrounds grow their businesses and regain more time for themselves. We touched on everything from finding higher-paying clients to…
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126 How to Sell Your Design Services Without Feeling Pushy with Tyler Archer
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Selling your design services shouldn’t feel overwhelming, but for many designers, it does. That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to Tyler, New Zealand’s top online sales coach, who’s here to help you shift your mindset around sales and close more deals with ease. With over 15 years of experience, Tyler has guided countless solopreneurs and creati…
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125 How to Consistently Get Design Clients without Chasing Leads
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Chasing leads is exhausting, and it’s holding you back from growing your design business to its full potential. I’m sharing my approach to consistently attracting high paying clients without the constant hustle. Imagine having clients seek you out, ready to pay what you’re worth, without you ever having to chase them down. It’s all about positionin…
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124 Scale Your Design Business by Raising Your Rates
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Scaling a graphic design business can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. I’m breaking down exactly how you can attract more premium clients, raise your rates, and start outsourcing so you can get your time back and grow your business without burning out. I’ll share the strategies that have worked for me, from refining your brand position…
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123 What Nobody Tells You About How Designers Can Work Less and Earn More
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Freelance design can feel like an endless grind - constantly hustling, wearing all the hats, and still not reaching the level of income or freedom you want. I’ve been there, and I know exactly how frustrating it is to be stuck in that cycle. The reality is that the key to working less and earning more isn’t about pushing yourself harder; it’s about…
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122 Why Freelance Designers Struggle to Grow (and How to Break Free)
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Why do so many talented freelance designers get stuck in a constant cycle of hustling for clients, overworking themselves, and never quite hitting the income goals they’ve set? In this episode, I’m breaking down the root causes behind why freelancers struggle to grow and, more importantly, how you can break free from this trap. I’ll be sharing the …
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121 The Designer to Agency Bootcamp, September 2024
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You’re doing all the things in your design business—designing, managing clients, handling marketing, and everything else on your plate—but the more you take on, the harder it is to actually scale. You know something has to change, but letting go of control feels risky. In this episode, I’m breaking down what you need to do to shift from being a sol…
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120 How I Went From $500 Website Designs to $10K+ Web Projects (Pricing Part 2)
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Ever wondered how you can charge more for your web design projects? In this episode, I’ll share my journey from charging $500 for a website to landing $10k+ web projects. Building on the insights from Part 1 (Episode #119), you’ll learn how to price your web projects for maximum profitability by understanding client needs, communicating value, and …
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119 How I Went from $65 Logo Designs to $20K+ Branding Projects (Pricing Part 1)
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Ever wondered how to significantly increase your rates? In this episode, I share my journey from charging $65 for logo designs to landing $20k+ branding projects. You’ll get insider tips on positioning, specializing, and communicating value to attract high-paying clients. I’ll walk you through the exact steps I took to transform my pricing strategy…
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118 The Benefits of Hiring and Outsourcing as a Freelance Designer
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Ever feel like you’re drowning in tasks, both personal and professional, as a freelance designer? You're not alone. In this episode, I share how hiring and outsourcing can transform your business and your life. From hiring a cleaner or nanny to taking on a design assistant, I’ll show you the steps to move from solo freelancer to thriving business o…
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117 How I Run a 6-Figure Design Agency Working Only 15 Hours a Week
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Ever wondered how you can work only 15 hours a week while running a 6-figure design agency? I used to work 15 hours a day, but I made a conscious choice to change that and spend more quality time with my kids. Now, with the help of my amazing team, I focus on what I truly enjoy and outsource the rest, including tasks like taxes and even house clean…
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116 How to Land Design Clients Without Social Media
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Tired of feeling like you have to post endlessly on social media to land design clients? I’ve got you covered! In this episode, I’ll show you how to build a thriving design business without relying on social media platforms. I'll share practical strategies to connect with potential clients, leverage SEO, and make the most of referrals. You'll disco…
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115 Crushing Competitors With a Niche Design Agency With Massimo Zefferino
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Have you ever wondered how to turn your design freelancing into a thriving, successful agency? Today, I sat down with Massimo, the founder and creative director of a niche design agency that achieved a remarkable 7-figure acquisition. His journey from solo designer to agency owner is full of insights, challenges, and triumphs. You'll hear firsthand…
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114 Q&A: Landing Clients, Boosting Rates, Running a Design Agency
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Ever wondered how to land high-paying clients, boost your rates, and run a successful design agency? This episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast is a bit different because I'm answering questions from you, our listeners. I’ve been in the design industry since I was 15, and now at 33, I’ve experienced it all—from charging $65 for a logo …
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Let’s talk about landing those high-ticket design projects that can transform your business. These aren't just any gigs – they’re the ones that allow you to showcase your design skills and command higher fees. To secure these projects, you need to position yourself as a premium brand, build trust with potential clients, and create compelling propos…
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112 From Followers to Design Clients with James Barnard
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When was the last time a single social media post changed your life? Ever? Join me on The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast as I sit down with James Barnard, an award-winning logo designer, design educator, and the creative mind behind Barnard.co. James has an incredible story of how one viral TikTok post skyrocketed his career, bringing in count…
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111 Stop the Endless Client Emails With This Free Client Portal
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This client portal changed absolutely everything in my design business. Fewer revisions, fewer emails, fewer questions. It’s all in one spot. Clients don’t ask us to resend the final files, they don’t ask about the timeline, they know exactly when they should pay next, and they are not asking for revisions via email. All the answers for them are in…
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110 Who Pays the Fees: Designer or Client?
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Who pays the processing fees? How about taxes? Designer or Client? In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we are revealing something that many designers don’t handle correctly. It’s definitely something that your clients can choose not to hire you for or hire you for. I’ve been freelancing and running my design agency since 201…
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109 Hooking Potential Design Clients with Quizzes
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Have you ever thought about creating a quiz as a designer? No, I'm not talking about designing it, but using it in a way that will help you GET CLIENTS! Yes, it works. In today’s episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we are talking with Josh Haynam, the CEO and creator of Interact. Interact is a tool for creating online quizzes that g…
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108 Landing a $29,000 Branding Project - How Long It Takes
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Ever wondered how long it takes to land high-paying clients?You’ll be surprised, I promise. Welcome! In this episode, I walk you through every single step I had to take to land my $29,000 branding and web design clients. While this is just one example, the majority of my clients are in the five-figure range, and the steps I take remain consistent w…
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107 Revisions and Client Feedback Are Not a Bad Thing
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In today’s episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer podcast, we're talking about design revisions. Throughout this episode, you'll learn how to embrace revisions as a natural part of the creative process, communicate effectively with clients to minimize misunderstandings, and educate clients on the value of your designs. By the end of our discuss…
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106 When Design Clients Are MIA: Tips for Navigating Slow Seasons
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No clients? No problem! Join me as I share invaluable insights and strategies for navigating those challenging times when clients seem to be nowhere in sight. In this episode, I'll guide you through practical steps to not just survive but thrive during these downtimes. You'll learn how to revamp your portfolio to attract new clients, harness the po…
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105 Transforming Leads into High-Quality Design Clients with Josh Hall
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Every designer grapples with challenging clients—it's an inevitable part of the journey. We've all been there, facing clients who may not align with our vision or approach. But what defines a "bad" client? Is it the low-paying ones, the ones who seem to micromanage every detail, or perhaps the ones who reach out for minor tweaks at inconvenient tim…
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104 Working With Fortune 500 Companies and Securing $100K Branding Deals With Kyle Courtright
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Welcome to another episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast! In this episode, we're excited to have Kyle Courtright joining us. Kyle, a visionary who rejected the traditional 9-5 grind, has been making waves in the freelancing world. His impressive client roster includes big names such as PayPal, Toyota, Chipotle, Walmart, NVIDIA, NFL, NB…
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103 Marketing Strategies for Design Professionals With Shannon Mattern
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Welcome to an insightful episode where I sit down with Shannon Mattern, a seasoned business coach specializing in helping web design entrepreneurs create freedom, flexibility, and financial independence. In our conversation, Shannon shares invaluable insights into the realm of marketing for design professionals. Uncover the key elements of a succes…
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102 Running a Small Design Agency with Kristy Campbell (Pink Pony Creative)
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Get ready to explore the vibrant world of design entrepreneurship with Kristy Campbell, the innovative force behind Pink Pony Creative. In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we uncover Kristy's journey from a solo designer to leading a successful design agency. Discover the inspiration behind Kristy's 100-day design challenge …
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I am hosting a FREE masterclass on April 10th on how to get amazing design clients on LinkedIn. If you are a brand, graphic, or web designer, this is for you, and you can register by clicking on this link – aventiveacademy.com/linkedin. In today’s podcast episode, on The Profitable Graphic Designer podcast, we’re covering why LinkedIn is such a pow…
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100 Strategies to Grow Your Design Business with Chris Do
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It's a milestone worth celebrating! The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast is proud to announce its 100th episode! Over the past 100 episodes, we've had the privilege of hosting some of the sharpest minds in the creative industry. Our guests have shared their experiences, tips, and strategies that have empowered designers to run profitable, simple…
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99 Booking $32k in a Day as a Brand & Web Designer
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This episode means the world to me. I want you to understand that the $32,000 isn't about bragging - it's about showing you what's possible. Trust me, I've been there, starting with those $65 logo gigs on Craigslist. It wasn't a quick journey, and yours won't be either. But let me tell you, it's doable. What used to be a massive accomplishment for …
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98 Steps for Growing into a Small Design Agency
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As someone who's been in your shoes, consistently pulling in $5k a month as a freelance graphic designer, I understand the urge to take things to the next level. Let's talk about transforming your solo operation into a small design agency. We're diving into the steps you need to take to make that transition seamlessly. This podcast episode is going…
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97 Building Your Design Agency Dream Team
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In this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, we talk about expanding your design business and building your dream team. From feeling swamped with administrative tasks to struggling to attract top-notch clients, we've all been there. If you've heard my other podcast episodes, you'll know that I used to be a solo freelance designer cha…
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96 Attracting Design Clients on Instagram & TikTok with Kenzi Green
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Welcome to another episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer podcast! Today, we’re talking about social media content creation with our guest, Kenzi Green. With her expertise in luxury brand and web design, Kenzi is the creative force behind Kenzi Green Design. Kenzi shares her experience and insights into crafting compelling content tailored to a…
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Yes, this is written by AI and you can spot it miles away (if you have ever used ChatGPT) 😊 Get ready to supercharge your design and business game in this episode! I'm diving into the incredible world of AI and how it's a game-changer for designers like me. We're exploring the endless possibilities of harnessing AI in design and how it transforms t…
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Get ready, because in this episode, I'm unveiling the secrets to turbocharge your design business with an unstoppable client pipeline. As a graphic, brand, or web design business owner, I've walked the same path, and today, I'm sharing my tried-and-true strategies. Join me as I guide you through the art of Lead Generation – we'll explore how to ree…
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93 Mastering Content Creation and Logo Design with Will Paterson
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Join me in this exciting episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, where I had the pleasure of hosting the incredibly talented Will Paterson. Will is a true master in the world of graphic design, specializing in Logo Design, Hand Lettering, and Brand Identity. As the owner of a successful design agency, he's collaborated with big names li…
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92 Selling Online Courses and Generating Passive Income with Ran Segall
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Welcome, fellow designers, to another exciting episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast. I'm thrilled to have a very special guest joining me. Meet Ran, a seasoned designer with over two decades of experience and a deep passion for all things WebFlow. Throughout our conversation, we'll delve into Ran's remarkable journey and uncover the s…
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91 Spend Your Time Creating Logos, Not Exporting Them! An Interview With Michael Bruny-Groth
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From transitioning from a freelance graphic designer to developing a product tailored for designers, Michael shares his journey of inventing software for logo designers in this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast. We delve into the highs and lows of his path. We discuss the benefits of using The Logo Package software and how designer…
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90 Stop Selling if You Want to Sell Your Design Services – With Matt Essam
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Join me in this episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast as I sit down with the insightful Matthew Essam, a seasoned designer who has a unique perspective on selling design services. In this conversation, we explore a refreshing approach to selling that goes beyond the traditional sales pitch. Matt encourages us to shift our focus from se…
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89 From Solo Designer to Agency Success With Michael Janda
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Welcome to another episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast! Before I tell you more about the new pod episode – I just want you to know that we did a role play where I was a client, and Michael sold me his logo design! It was amazing. You don't want to miss this! Today, we're in for a treat as I sit down with the incredible Michael Janda,…
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88 How I Get $20,000 Design Projects: Breakdown
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Join me in this super insightful episode where I spill the beans on how I went from charging a $65 for a logo design back in 2015 to now raking in a cool $20,000 for a single branding project. It's been quite a ride, and I can't wait to share my journey with you. So, here are the juicy details: First, I'm going to talk about how I supercharged my d…
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87 Earning $20k/m as a graphic designer while working 20-30h per week with Adrienne Johnston
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Are you a graphic designer trying to make a significant income while working part-time? No matter what your goals or motivations are, in today’s episode of The Profitable Graphic Designer Podcast, you will hear how my guest, Adrienne Johnston, makes $20,000 to $30,000 per month while working only 20-30 hours per week. We had an amazing conversation…
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