Starting your own Graphic Design business in 2020 requires a new level of balance.

First and most importantly, we need to balance technology with being human.

Email, texting and messaging are not substitutes for a real live conversation. 93% of communication is non verbal. Let that sink in. When you’re tempted to send an email or text because it’s fast and easy, consider the possibility that it may not be the most efficient way to communicate, and could actually end up complicating the issue.

You also need to balance being a creative with being a business owner.

The best thing about being a graphic designer is the freedom to create, but that’s only about 1/3 of your business. You need to have functional processes in place for bringing in clients and guiding them smoothly through a project. Have a website with clearly defined offerings, easy to understand navigation and easy to find contact information. Build your email list. Follow up on everything.

Once you secure a client, it’s up to you to make it seem easy.

Provide a proposal that covers all the details. Alleviate misunderstandings. Manage expectations. Communicate clearly. Be professional. It may sound basic, but you can easily lose clients if they are confused in any way.

With everyone having 24/7 access to pretty much everything,

a business owner can get burned out pretty quickly if they’re not putting up their own boundaries of self care. That means balancing out your daily routine with time for yourself, time for marketing, time for project work. Strategic time management is essential to being successful.

Come up with a system that works for you, so you can be at your best each and every day.

 

{Article contributed to the Creative Market Blog, “How To Start A Graphic Design Business in 2020: Entrepreneurs Share Advice.” View the entire article by clicking here.}