We all know those perfect Instagram feeds that almost look like a single image. While they are nice to look at, what value do they offer and are they authentic enough? In this episode we talk about the differences between Instagram and TikTok and aesthetic content vs. authentic content with personality.

Being on the client side of things recently when we were looking for a video editor, there were some patterns we noticed in the freelancers that contacted us for the job. In this episode we talk about our experience as a client looking for creative services, and what turned us off vs. what made us want to work with someone.

With design tools like Figma, Framer, Canva and Adobe amping up their AI capabilities you have to wonder as a designer whether your work will be replaced by AI in the future. In this episode we talk about where we think AI is going in the creative industry and how you can set yourself apart as a creative business.

Ok so the title is a little click-baity, but what we're really trying to say here is that your portfolio should not be your number one priority when you start out. Your network is so much more important than getting your portfolio to look beautiful and in this short episode from our Creative Business Essentials series explains why.

In this episode we discuss our intentions behind the development of our course Creative Business Essentials. Posting about the course online often does not allow for us to provide the full context behind what we do, which is why we decided to make an episode about it.

Yes yes we've said many times we hate hourly-based pricing, but for some types of work it makes the most sense to use this pricing method. There are ways to make hourly-based pricing less of a headache and you can generate liquidity without having to chase clients by implementing certain boundaries.

Whenever we post anything about our business successes on Threads we are met with mostly positivity, but the haters still manage to leave a bigger impression initially. In this episode we unpack some of the comments made on a post that went semi-viral recently.

This is the first in a series of short episodes brought to you from Creative Business Essentials. Our course is for anyone starting out in the creative industry, and for people who continue to struggle to make their creative business profitable. In this short snippet we go over five reasons why you are not working with your dream clients.

Starting a business is tough, and it's easy to feel like things aren’t working fast enough. But the truth is, most success comes from sticking it out, even when it gets hard. In this episode we talk about the most common things that contribute to failure in creative business.

In this episode, we discuss the importance of knowing your target audience when it comes to running a successful creative business. Understanding your ideal clients helps you shape your brand, create lasting relationships, and stand out from the competition. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow, don't forget to keep analysing the target group in order to measure success. It might be hurting your business if you don't!

Value and money don't mean the same thing for every client. Whether it's about priorities, goals, or budget constraints, each person sees value through a unique lens. While some people spend their money to see Taylor Swift, others will feel like it is a waste, and then there are those spending millions for Justin Bieber to sing at their wedding.

Why are some designers quick to criticize others' rates? We explore the root causes of this judgmental mindset, how it impacts the industry, and what can be done to foster a more supportive environment. Whether you're a seasoned designer or just starting out, this conversation sheds light on the importance of valuing different pricing strategies and the need for mutual respect in the creative field.

There are so many bootcamps and most of them are super overpriced and don't even teach you what you really need in a real world frontend development job. We think they are a scam and there are better ways to become a frontend developer.

Starting a business for the first time is always going to be a lot of learning by doing, and we sure made some mistakes when started our design studio. In this episode we explore how we would go about starting a creative business today and how it would be different to what we did four years ago.

Our business course is almost ready for release and we can finally share more insights on what will be included in the course. Sign up to our newsletter for updates and for first access! Newsletter sign up

As a business you always want to have liquidity and retainers are the best and fastest way to achieve that. It not only gives you peace of mind financially, but also builds a foundation for long-term partnerships. It removes the stress of having to take on every single project and client that comes your way.

We asked our threads community what the worst client red flags are that they experienced. In this episode we discuss some of the most common ones that came up, and the ones we have experienced the most.

Being self-employed sounds like a dream, and it can be don't get us wrong! The reality is often worse than an employment in many ways. In this episode we talk about some of the not so nice realities we have faced. Would we do it all again?

Can you believe we've been doing this for a whole year? Neither can we! It's our birthday episode and this is how it's been and where it will be going.

Don't you just hate it when someone tells you no? Well so do we, but only when we know that "no" doesn't have to be the answer. A lot of the times people will tell you something is not possible just to get out of having to do it. We cannot stand this attitude and we'll tell you why.

Ever been approached to pitch for a contract? We have, and ever since we realised our worth and drew boundaries we decided pitching is a scam and very rarely worth the time and energy put into it. In this episode we talk about our experiences with pitching and why we wouldn't recommend it.

One of our biggest challenges at the end of 2023 was ensuring we had enough liquidity as a company. While many companies choose to take out loans to ensure liquidity, we didn't want to do this. We made some tough decisions last year and this episode we go into what we learned in terms of liquidity not just as a business but also in our private lives.

Everyone who has worked in the field of design probably knows the struggle of having to try many iterations of the same solution to make the client trust that the final result is the "right" one. Clients will hire designers, because they aren't a designer themselves, but at the same time will not always trust the designers decisions. Why do people not trust a designer's expertise?

An interesting discussion on value and how it is not something you can convince someone about if they are not open to it. The price point will absolutely affect process and the experiences you have as a service provider, because it will attract a certain type of client.