A colleague recently said to me, “I’ve heard that you’re a client relations guru. Are there any tips or tricks that you have for starting to build up

Naturally, there are bad clients out there, but 90% of the time, it’s not really the client who is at fault. Poor communication, a lack of setting exp

Recently, Condé Nast Digital undertook a complete redesign of the articles published on wired.co.uk. The aim was to provide a more content-first and i

Within the past couple of weeks, I handed in my notice, after spending over fifteen years working in-house as a designer of websites and magazines for

Ah, the mid-2000s. A simpler time on the internet. MySpace was still ruling the social media scene, YouTube was a baby, and smartphones were more “dum

Content marketing is a marketing technique focused on creating and distributing valuable content to attract and retain visitors, and turn these visito

One of our biggest challenges when producing client work is communicating technical information effectively with clients. Many developers in our commu

Technology is speeding ahead at a breakneck pace, but have we lost something important along the way?In a beautifully designed and thought-provoking p

Most of us are familiar with the saying, “Show, don’t tell.” For those of us working in creative industries, this should be your mantra when building

The number one question I always am asked is, “How do I get prospective clients to look at my portfolio?” It comes from newbies and… er… oldies, and p

Google+ Hangouts have been at the heart of some of the hottest video conferencing technologies since it first debuted as part of Google+ several years

The term “web design” refers to the process of planning, organizing, and editing content online. On the surface, it seems like a simple enough concept

Working as a freelancer means that your business is all about you. You’re the sole person in charge of making the tough decisions. You’ll decide how t

Do you find yourself stuck when finding new web design clients? Whether you own a web design company or work as a freelancer, expanding your audience

How you present your design solutions (whether it be to another team member or a client) has an impact on how they view the quality of that solution a

In order to deliver a clean, fresh, and — more importantly — effective user interface, usability tests are required. It is very unlikely any designer,

According to some historical records, some people out there have boundless energy, loads of free time, and ambition enough to make a dictator blush. T

What is WordPress? It began as a simple CMS for building a blog, and it has evolved over the years into a complex ecosystem of tools and resources.Wor

So you’ve been working as a designer for the past few years. You’re good at it. You’re successful. Maybe even really successful. You’ve had big-name c

Starting your own business is a process with a fair share of challenges. Even in the web design world, where you can potentially minimize costs by wor

Game of Thrones, based on George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire book series, has captivated audiences for five seasons now, with a sixth already i

Most of us are concerned about our public image, right? It matters a lot how people see and think of us. Export the same sentiment to a brand instead

On Monday, Microsoft and LinkedIn announced that Microsoft would buy LinkedIn in an all-cash deal for $196 a share, at $26.2 billion. In a news releas

You’ve been busting your ass for years as a freelance designer, taking projects as they come, performing every role required for a successful business

2020 has been an interesting year, to say the least. And although I’m sure many of you can’t wait until the calendar flips ahead to 2021, it doesn’t l

Starting out on your own as a freelancer is exciting. You’re making your talents available to the world, and are ready to make your mark.While this ca

Let’s face it: The web design industry is very competitive. The barriers of entry are low, the technology (platforms, coding languages and DIY service

Perception is everything! Many famous creatives grew to fame because people knew about them, more than their work. Should you create a persona of your

A domain name is an essential element of every project, product, and company. It’s central to a brand and has a disproportionately large impact on use

What is a design-driven organization, according to designers? What organizations put a legitimate emphasis on design? Conversely, which industries see

The last couple of months have been nothing short of groundbreaking for the Opera browser and the company. Two months ago, it made headlines with the

Are you a creative person looking for the perfect career path to take? If so, there are not many more creative professions than that of a web designer

A career as a web designer can be extremely lucrative. The average web designer in the US makes around $50-55,000 per year, equating to an hourly rate

Every day, people are asking themselves things like, “React or Vue?” “VR or no VR?” “CSS Grid or Flexbox?” These are the wrong questions entirely, bec

When you design a website for a client, you’re in charge for the most part. You’re the one that’s mastered the art of web design, who understands sear

Why do some clients stop communicating with us all of a sudden? Is there any way out of this crappy situation?Picture this: a client calls you; she is

How many times have you asked yourself this question?A potential client wants your proposal for a design project. You’re sitting in front of your comp

In a seismic shift for the visual content industry, Getty Images and Shutterstock have announced a $3.7 billion merger, uniting two of the most promin

All of the work you do to grow your web design business requires an investment of time and energy. And if you do this song-and-dance routine for long

Augmented Reality is everywhere. Everyday, we read about it in the news. And even though Virtual Reality initially seemed to be a big deal—to have the

If you’ve ever used Reddit to dig for answers or insights, you know how much gold is hidden in its threads—but finding it isn’t always straightforward

Have you ever had a customer from hell? The kind of customer who abuses you, spending as little as they possibly can while trying to squeeze as much f

Your business is starving. You’re struggling to get the clients and projects you need to keep your business going. Sometimes, it feels like you’ll nev

It covers the market size, earning potential, estimated startup cost, the target audience, and the value they bring to the table. You’ll also learn ho

When you are just starting out in a web development business, it can be really tempting to try to handle most (if not all) of the work entirely by you

Every freelancer has heard the pitch from clients about “no money now, but there will be later”, “help start my business and you’ll be my ‘go-to’ pers

Web designers are some of the hardest working people I know. Which is why I don’t envy them having to design websites and other content for clients wh

Remember Grumpy Cat? That famous feline whose face could rival the grumpiest of Monday mornings. Born with a perpetual scowl, she managed to capture t

Miss the days when your computer made cheerful chimes, folders had faces, and ClarisWorks was the peak of productivity?Then you’re going to love Infin

It hardly seems possible given the radical transformations we’ve seen over the last few decades, but the web design landscape is evolving faster than

The much talked about step of creating professional certification for graphic/web designers looks like it will become a reality in a little more than

The web is going through a slow-motion identity crisis.It began as a decentralized playground of pages, links, and raw human curiosity. Then came the

Time for a harsh truth: You can be the best designer in the world producing stunning user interfaces, but it doesn’t matter; you can be the most accom

For those of you working from home right now (willingly or unwillingly), you can’t allow your surroundings to have an effect on your work and, more im

Moving from studying design into the big wide world of web design is a daunting process. It’s a competitive and dynamic industry that’s growing all th

It’s far too easy to look back and imagine that everything was better then than it is now. God knows I miss being a skinny teenager, but I don’t want

It’s going to happen at some point this year; you will face designer burnout.One of the reasons that burnout is so common for creatives is that it’s a

The autumn air is fresh and clear, the light is soft and uplifting and the autumnal forests are at their most beautiful. Combined with some smooth Swi

In today’s roundup of the latest research for web designers, we’re going to look at a variety of topics, from 2020 holiday shopping predictions to mis

It’s Christmas Eve, and Santa Claus is preparing for his busiest night of the year. But have you ever wondered how Santa manages to create a seamless

An OnDeck Vacation Study reported that only 57% of small business owners planned on taking a vacation last year. Further, only about a quarter of thes

Most designers struggle with putting a price on their services. Many end up using a pricing model that leaves them run ragged trying to pay the bills,

There are so many things to think about when first starting a business. What will your business offer? How will this differ from existing solutions? W

There’s a tendency within the design community to depict freelancing as a goal to be achieved. Who wouldn’t want to lie in every day, do two hours of

If you’re here, then you’re thinking about becoming a web designer and wondering if it’s a smart move.Honestly, it’s not uncommon to be plagued by dou

It’s been 5 years since I last wrote, but it’s an absolute pleasure to be back once again.I’m doing a great deal more blogging these days, which isn’t

According to a recent QuickBooks survey, the #1 reason freelancers go into business for themselves is because it lends them the freedom to shape their

Incognito mode, often marketed as a digital cloak for anonymity, has become a trusted tool for countless users seeking to shield their online activity

You aren’t being paid…Scratch that. You aren’t being paid what you’re worth. You bend over backwards for your clients. But they have no idea how hard

The creative field, which encompasses design, illustration, photography and anything else that is a commercial-based service and takes imagination and

When it comes to tech, Google has been synonymous with innovation, success, and world domination (hello, Android and Chrome!).But even the mightiest g

At the dawn of the web-era, there was much focus on how environmentally friendly websites were: we’d chop down fewer trees, ship fewer products, and t

The start of the year is always a good time to reassess priorities and consider new approaches, but 2021 is more of a reset than we expected this time

You’ve named your business. You’ve sorted out the visual branding piece. Now, it’s time to get your business online so you can start making money.In t

Freelancers go by many names these days. They can be “non-traditional workers” in Canada or “autónomo” in Spain. They can be “self-employed” and “inde

The desktop computer is the underdog of the tech world—a bulky box that screams “1999” while the rest of us flex our slim laptops and shiny new tablet

Every now and then, on some blog or design group, someone brings up the question of designers unionizing or having some sort of certification in the h

Building a product from scratch isn’t easy, but it can be a very rewarding process. When I had the idea for Revue, I decided to act on it immediately.

For most designers – freelance or in-house – generating new business can be a dreaded part of the job. But it necessary to maintain and sustain growth

In 2016, 34% of the US workforce worked as freelancers, and by 2020, it’s estimated that number will rise to 43%. Freelance opportunities aren’t going

The obvious place to start looking for a web design agency is by asking friends, family, and colleagues for personal recommendations, but bear in mind

When I quit my job 7 years ago to go freelance as a web designer, I thought I was finally free. But what I soon realized was I actually didn’t have ne

Hubspot estimates that a 400-person conference on the level of something like Hustle Con could realistically cost around $20,000 to host, not to menti

A lot of designers have wild misconceptions about freelancing and what it’s actually like. Despite what many people think, it’s not all fun and games

WordPress, the behemoth that once empowered a third of the internet, stands in 2025 as a paradox. On one hand, it’s still everywhere — powering blogs,

The Secret Handshake is a fabulous project, aimed at helping young designers (18–25) find their way into the industry.You should always quantify the a

Word-of-mouth marketing is one of the best ways to get new business — and high-quality business at that. But unless you’re focused on a very small spa

How do designers use their own websites to promote themselves online? What are some good ways to set up an online presence that gets you found, puts y

The internet was once a place for discovery. A space where curiosity could roam free, where you could stumble across something entirely new, and where

Remember when technology was supposed to make life easier? That dream is long gone. Instead of simplifying our lives, modern UX has become an enduranc

If you were paying close attention to your IT department around the 8th of December, you might have heard some quiet sobbing and the occasional wail o

Design work is very time consuming. But it’s not just the labor you put into building websites that takes time and concentration.Because the projects

I recently witnessed a startup website train wreck. It was an extreme failure because the owner launched too soon and the consequences of doing so wer

When you hear the word “leadership,” do you think of a particular person?If you’d been asked that question anytime before the 1900s, chances are you’d

Within hours of the recent mass shooting at a New Zealand mosque by a far-right terrorist, the country’s authorities were scrambling to ensure a sicke

I ought to know a lot about charities and non-profit organizations. My parents are career missionaries; and I grew up in an environment where everyone

It’s every business owner’s goal to provide a fantastic experience for every client or customer and ensure that each of them walks away happy. But whe

As the managing attorney of a commercial law boutique practice, I am asked several times per week some variation of the following question:How should

It’s going to happen — a design project or website launch will go poorly. What you do in the first hours, days, and weeks after that mistake can shape

Mass appeal is a myth. I know that goes against what we’d all like to believe, and your eternal optimist inside probably shouts, “Hey! My product is a

One of the hardest parts of starting your business or freelancing is trying to figure out what you should charge. Years ago after accepting pennies on

Getting your project organized and easily manageable is always a challenge when working as a part of a team. The problem reaches a whole new level whe

For years, Bitly has been the go-to URL shortening service for marketers, creators, and businesses alike, offering a quick and efficient way to share

We’ve all dreamt about working for big brands. Microsoft, Google, Apple, McDonalds, Coca-Cola…they all have one thing in common; they’re household nam

When companies become misaligned, different departments may be working toward entirely different goals – in some cases, these goals may be at odds wit

I’m a lucky person. Every day I get to do what I love, which is helping clients work out what their web project is going to look like.As any good acco

By now, you’ve likely encountered and worked your way out one of the more common problems freelancers face. In moving your business model from one tha

Much has been said about the skills and capabilities of a full stack developer: On one hand, there are people who believe that a full stack developer

It’s happened to every designer at some point: A client or co-worker makes an absolutely cringe-worthy comment about your work.Feedback is important.

If you’ve ever thought Hallmark Christmas movies couldn’t get any more over-the-top, Xmas.Piclooks.com is here to prove you wrong.This delightfully ch

Sometimes, being a web designer is more than just creating a beautiful, functional website. You may have to play different roles depending upon the si

Many, if not most designers will at some point encounter this scenario: they’ve just completed a digital wire-frame for a new project, with a new clie

“How do I get more clients?” It’s a question most freelancers struggle with. It’s tough to attract great clients and predictable income when you’re ju

If you’ve ever been a fan of Product Hunt, you probably remember the excitement of finding something genuinely cool—a new app, a fresh productivity to

If you do any client work, you understand that success or failure depends on meeting expectations; one of the hardest things to do. There are some rul

Sell ebooks, software, courses or music online? If you or any of your customers live in a European country then a piece of legislation designed to dea

In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses are always on the lookout for new ways to connect with their audience. BlueSky, a decentralized social

I really don’t need to explain how important your reputation is, do I?Short version: if people think you suck, either as a person or as a designer, th

As a designer, you might go through school or online training with the expectation of working face to face with your clients. While this is usually th

If you are a web designer/developer who currently bills per hour, I hope I can persuade you to change your pricing method to value-based pricing. In t

Successful startups are known for their disruptive approach, so it’s interesting to see how so many innovative companies are surprisingly conservative

If you’re a half-decent designer or a relatively competent developer, then there’s no reason you can’t make a living as a web designer. Here are six s

The Internet as a concept, and as a community, is much like a teenager: it’s struggling to establish its identity, everyone is trying to tell it what

This is not a management article. Well, it kind of is, but please leave your agile-lean-workplace-organization-human-resources backpack at the door. W

For decades, Google has been the cornerstone of how we navigate the internet. Whether you’re searching for the best pizza in town or troubleshooting a

“UX design doesn’t work…And it won’t make us money.”Business executives aren’t all that fond of UX design, or even design in general. It’s an incredib

Picture it: New York City, 2010; you’re working full-time as a digital designer for one of the world’s largest advertising agencies. The paycheck is s

Let’s say that co-owners of a business who know nothing about creating a website (except that they need one) are in the market for a website.They need

The web is getting deeper—literally. Flat, static designs are starting to feel stale, and the rise of 3D elements and immersive experiences is changin

There are a ton of different reasons people choose to freelance. Sometimes it’s born of necessity: you decide you need to take jobs on the side of you

For many professionals looking for new work opportunities, they know that prospective employers are going to ask for proof of their credentials; where

How long ago did you start your design business or side gig? Three months? Three years? And how long has it been since you evaluated your business sin

How does the little guy compete? How do you win against these giant companies? It’s inevitable right? The big guy always wins. Walmart decimated the M

It wasn’t all that long ago that web and product designers were presented with a choice: Fireworks, Illustrator, or Photoshop.All owned by Adobe, they

Today, I want to look at where the term came from, what it refers to today, and why it’s something that all of us in business, marketing, and web desi

Understanding the true value of the work we do is one of the first lessons many of us learn. Turning away spec work, focusing on growing the skills th

The basic idea of a meeting is simple: it’s when two or more people get together to discuss one or multiple topics. It can be in a formal or informal

No, no. I didn’t go researching modern-day witchcraft or anything like I did with Taoism. No, I’m taking web design lessons from a set of entirely fic

You probably know by now that NFT stands for Non-Fungible Token; what is perhaps less clear is what “Fungible” actually means; in this context, it mea

Every time we begin a web design project, we do research. We research our clients, their customers, the website’s target audience, and the competition

Which Roles Do You Need to Fill?This really depends on why you’re hiring someone as well as the direction you see your business going.Consider the fol

Being able to quickly and efficiently one-line our skills and the focus of our professional life has a lot of value. The title that we use can effecti

Many of us dream of being our own boss, being able to set our own hours and choose what kind of work we take on. But achieving this aim takes years, a

I recently received a call from a young designer who I met when she was in art school. I reviewed her portfolio and several years later at a local gra