Freelancing can be tough. It’s not always easy pleasing a client or working under a deadline. In fact, every once and a while it’s enough to make you want to stop creating…stop designing. The problem The problem is, designing has become a business for you. I mean, it’s a good problem to have because now...

Most businesses fail not because their owners aren’t good at what they do. A design studio doesn’t generally fail because they create poor designs. A dentist doesn’t generally fail because he cannot fix your teeth. Most businesses fail because their owners don’t understand how to run a business. As a design entrepreneur, this is the...

Today is an unusual day for me. I’m working from home. As many of you know, I’m not a full-time always-work-from-home freelance designer. I have a full time job too. (Don’t hate me, remember?) But today, I’m working from home. All day. It’s bringing back some memories of when I first started freelancing and...

Since I’ve been answering a lot of reader questions lately, I’d like to turn the tables today and ask you a simple question: How much should a freelance designer make? I recently had a facebook fan ask me how much he should expect to make if he made the switch to freelance design. Of course,...

Your design business will DIE without solid goals. April’s new post today is a must-read for any designer who hopes to get anywhere in business. After April shared such a great personal experience about naming her design business (read here), I asked her to write more great content with personal stories and experience. If you...

The last few posts I’ve written here have all come from excellent reader suggestions on this post. Today’s is no different. Joe Malleck writes: One topic that I’m interested in is what a designer’s future role in the marketplace is. With the uprising of theme marketplaces and the awareness that you can essentially purchase design...

A few days ago, I published a post in response to one reader’s question about overcoming fear as a freelancer. The post was such a hit, I decided to tackle another question posed by a designer named Bree. Here’s the request: I would love to see some reviews or tips on how to handle clients...

If you’re anything like me, the absolute very last thing on your mind after finalizing a proof is your pitch. At this point you’re reeking of awesomeness and positively giddy with the prospect of  reveling in the praise and glory your client is going to heap upon you from the moment they see your brain-child...

When I relaunched this brand new version of GDB earlier this year, I asked you to submit your ideas for posts you’d like to see over the next 12 months. (Haven’t had a chance to submit your request? Click here to view the original new-year-launch post.) One reader, Carla, posted this request:   Any suggestions...

A couple years ago, I was stuck – big time. Maybe you’re familiar with it. You’ve been designing for a while, finding clients, fulfilling their needs, rinse and repeat. But my client pool was starting to grow thin (PS – “3 Simple Tips to Keep Your Client Pool Full“) and I was getting worried. No...

GDB readers, it’s time to name my freelance business, and I really need your help. But first, a little back story: When I got laid off last February after 5 years with the company, I was devastated. I loved my core coworkers. I needed the paycheck. I hated that I had been chosen as the...

Have you ever used a theme or a template on one of your freelance web design projects? I have. And I’m (in my humble opinion) a good designer and coder. I’ve built tons of web sites both for myself and for my clients–and I built them from scratch.Designed; Coded; Tested; the works. I know HTML,...

Every designer has that high-maintenance client who always needs their projects rushed to the highest priority. You know, the one that calls at 4:30pm on a Friday needing something for a Saturday morning conference but who is still waiting for legal’s final review of the text? This is the client my bank account loves but...

You’ve just finished a project with your client. They love the work you’ve done for them. The design is perfect. The price is right. And the moment couldn’t be more perfect. So you pop the question: “Can I get a testimonial from you?” When they say “yes,” you get all excited and can’t wait to...

2011 was a defining year for technology. Smartphones went mostly mainstream, social media helped spark political revolutions, and Silicon Valley lost its default despot. Web designers have had, as a result, a series of interesting insights into the future of their profession. Before we get too settled into a new year, let’s pore over the...