I bet you have a dream to own your studio, work for yourself, because you are tired working some one else, or you just tired of commercial design industry the way the treat your hard work.
I’ve been there, I get it all, but it’s doesn’t work that so perfectly like what we dream about, even you are really good about what you doing right now.
First of all all designer is not perfect, we might really good about things we doing, but most of us quite bad about math, and price to tell your customer, how to work more efficiency, and how to let more client to find you? Yep Those thing we didn’t have a special class for that back when I study in college.
Don’t freak out and start thinking go back to the work you don’t like already, if you still need to make money, I think you can keep a part time job, and work on your business really hard. And all those book I’m going to share with you is super helpful to me and I think well be good to you.
1.Work for Money, Design for Love:
I’m honestly LOVE this book, the title just write to my heart!! You want to make good design, but you also want to make some money for living. I’m really recommend it you should have one of this book!
Little introduction from Amazon:
David Airey answers the questions all designers have when first starting out on their own. In fact, the book was inspired by the many questions David receives every day from the more than 600,000 designers who visit his three blogs (Logo Design Love, Identity Designed, and DavidAirey.com) each month.
How do I find new clients? How much should I charge for my design work? When should I say no to a client? How do I handle difficult clients? What should I be sure to include in my contracts?
The answer is all in the book, go buy one copy now!
2.How to Be a Graphic Designer without Losing Your Soul
Lot of imformation, include find your client and do you need art agency, and how to find one, how those things work, also have lot of good interview with talent designer, you can learn a lot from them!
Little introduction from Amazon:
Published to instant acclaim in 2005, our best selling How to Be a Graphic Designer without Losing Your Soul has become a trusted resource for graphic designers around the world, combining practical advice with philosophical guidance to help young professionals embark on their careers.
How to Be a Graphic Designer offers clear, concise guidance along with focused, no-nonsense strategies for setting up, running, and promoting a studio; finding work; and collaborating with clients. The book also includes inspiring new interviews with leading designers, including Jonathan Barnbrook, Sara De Bondt, Stephen Doyle, Ben Drury, Paul Sahre, Dmitri Siegel, Sophie Thomas, and Magnus Vol Mathiassen. Click here to buy it.
3. How to Grow as a Graphic Designer
How they have the successful career right now, this book tell you all the scene behind all the designers. How you going to survile if you don’t have case? ….Lot of common question in this industry, you can get lot of answet from here.
Little introduction from Amazon:
Helping graphic designers find professional and spiritual support in the ever-demanding struggle to stay creative and profitable, this book reveals how some of today’s most successful and intriguing designers keep growing as artists and as people with the power to affect public attitudes. Topics addressed include how to keep track of one’s vision, the meaning of success, what sustains designers spiritually, and how to embrace change and stay fluid. Also provided is priceless peer advice on strategic issues such setting a goal for one’s company, growing or shrinking a business, and promoting one’s uniqueness. Click here to buy it.
4.The Graphic Designer’s Guide to Creative Marketing: Finding & Keeping Your Best Clients
This book will save you lot of time to find strategy to promot you or your studio out there, and how they can remember you, and they include some helpful worksheet you can start with it really easily.
If you work on your own, not with any agency, this book is really good and helpful, you won’t regret to get this one.
Little introduction from Amazon:
You know you’ve got the talent, now let them know it-your complete guide to finding, winning, and keeping good clients Written by a graphic designer and successful marketing consultant, this book is the most complete guide available to marketing your services, with clear, practical, step-by-step instructions on every aspect of graphic design marketing, including:
* Developing and implementing a marketing plan
* Researching prospective clients
* Creating effective marketing materials
* Cold calling and follow-ups
* Effective communication
* Dressing for success
* Resumes, cover letters, and portfolios
* Proposals, bids, and contracts
* Keeping good clients-account management
Also included are sample business forms, contracts, proposals, letters, and checklists, along with stunning full-color examples of successful self-promotion campaigns for every budget. Throughout the book, there are fascinating and instructive interviews with clients as well as graphic designers from across the country who share what they’ve learned about marketing and managing graphic design services. Click here to buy it.
5.The Designer’s Guide To Marketing And Pricing: How To Win Clients And What To Charge Them
Lot of time the book store always can wirte a much better introduction of book them my, so check on what they say this book can help you:
Whether you’re a freelancer, a seasoned owner of a design firm, or an aspiring entrepreneur, if you want to succeed in your creative business, The Designer’s Guide to Marketing and Pricing will show you the way.
Based on 35 years of combined business experience, this creative business bible will show you how to:
• Determine who your ideal clients are and how to get their attention
• Choose which marketing tools are most effective and how to use them
• Create a smart marketing plan that reflects your financial goals
• Take small actionable steps toward those financial goals
• Turn that initial contact into a profitable relationship for everyone involved
• Talk to clients about money and get them to tell you their budget
• Figure out your hourly rate and give accurate estimates for your jobs
You’ll learn the ins and outs of creating and running a creative services business – the things they never taught you in school. Plus, the book is chock full of useful worksheets and checklists so you can take what you learn and apply it immediately and directly to your business. (Introduction from here)
I hope all this book will help you, you can start read one by one to start, don’t stress yourself out, you will get there!
If you have some book want to recommend to us, leave a comment, let us know. Thanks!