Podcasts – The Deep End Design

Would you ever buy a product or service online without seeing a rating or review? Neither would we, and neither would your potential clients! The best way around this is to turn your existing graphic design clients into raving fans, and let them do the heavy lifting of selling you to others.   Not sure […]

Ever wonder how you can make potential clients see what exactly you can do for them? Well the Deeply Graphic gang is on the case! On this episode, we’re talking all about case studies, which can be an extremely powerful tool to help future clients see how you have helped previous clients. When done right, […]

Well we made it to 30 episodes, and we have you to thank for it! To show our appreciation, we have put together what may be our best listener question show yet. We get so many great questions from you, our listeners, that this is the best way to get through a bunch of them […]

There’s no place like home! The homepage of your portfolio website is the first impression you will likely make on potential clients, so make it count! In this, our second in our “Portfolio Site Pro-Tips” series, we will take a look at some “above and beyond” things you can do to make your homepage work […]

Since a graphic designer’s most valuable showcase of their work is the portfolio website, we thought it would be a great idea to do a series on how you can make the most of yours. In this, the first installment of the series, Wes, Mikelle and writing expert Kristen Fischer talk about what you can […]

Oprah has her Favorite Things show, and we just happen to have some favorite things of our own. Things that every graphic and web designer will want to get his or her hands on this holiday season. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Festivus, listen as the gang talks about all the new toys made just […]

Whenever you design a website for someone else, you need to know what they want and more importantly, what they need. The best way to figure all that out is to ask smart questions. Questions that are designed to get right to the heart of what matters to your clients’ business. While that may not […]

Every designer knows that its way harder to land a new client than it is to keep one you already have. Unfortunately, a lot of freelancers don't always treat their clients right, which can lead to... well it doesn't lead to much. In this episode, we tackle the subject of good graphic design customer service, and the different things we do to make our clients feel special. Whether you're in the courting phase, in the middle of a project, or the project has come to an end, there are things we can all do to cultivate lasting relationships with our clients. If done right, you can make sure that you are the only designer your clients ever hire. We also talk about how to make yourself known to design firms whether they are hiring or not, and why you might be scaring off potential clients. Show Links: DreamHost.com (Use link or promo code DEEP60 for $60 off any hosting package, LIMITED TIME ONLY)

To blog or not to blog? It's a question with an easy answer. Blogging is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get your name out there as well as to gain "expert" status in the field of graphic design. In this episode, the gang talks about the various types of blogging, and all the different ways you can use your experience and your opinions to drive other designers as well as clients to your portfolio site, which can lead to people sharing your work across the interwebs. Sneaky, huh? But like everything, there is a right way and a wrong way to go about blogging to help your design business, so listen closely. We will give you lots of tips that will help you make the most of your blogging efforts. If listening to this episode inspires you to start guest blogging, send us an article pitch so your blog post can appear right here on The Deep End blog! Show Links: Content Rules book Trover DreamHost.com (Use link or promo code DEEP60 for $60 off any hosting package, LIMITED TIME ONLY)

Wouldn't it be great to just design for design's sake? If only there were money in that! But graphic design is a job, like any other job. And looking for a job requires a killer resume. On this week's show we lucked out into getting certified resume writer extraordinaire and published author Kristen Fischer to sit in with us and dish out some excellent resume advice just for graphic design professionals. We discuss what should be included, what should be left out, and we answer the biggest question about graphic design resumes: how much "design" is too much? We also talk a bit about the do's and don'ts of graphic design cover letters. Since we have been getting so many great listener questions, we have decided to skip "Do Yourself a Favor" for the time being, and instead, we will answer two listener questions per episode, starting with this one. Show Links: KristenFischer.com Freelance Radio DreamHost.com (Use link or promo code DEEP60 for $60 off any hosting package, LIMITED TIME ONLY) The resume featured in the image above is courtesy of Bernice Beltran. (Creative commons attribution)

Its true what they say — $&!# happens. It just sucks when it happens in business, particularly when it happens in front of a client. But when life throws you a curveball, its all in how you handle the situation. In this episode, the gang tells some pretty candid and horrific stories about past mistakes, how we handled them, and what we learned from them. So listen carefully, and you just may save yourself from making the same mistakes we did. Even if you don't learn anything, you can still take joy in our misfortunes. The Germans have a special word for that: schadenfreude. See, you're learning already! Show Links: OvernightPrints.com (Use promo code DGDESIGNCAST for around 50% off on business cards, postcards and more) DreamHost.com (Use link or promo code DEEP25 for $25 off any hosting package) How Pixar almost deleted Toy Story 2 (video) themeforest.net NowPlaying Podcast What is the biggest mistake you've made and how did you deal with it? Leave your story  in the comment section below.

Is your graphic design portfolio lacking? This is a problem faced by designers of all experience levels, but the good news is that it is actually under your control. You can add great new portfolio projects anytime you want. All it takes is a little initiative and a plan of attack. In this episode, the gang discusses some great ways of giving your portfolio some extra "oomph," whether you have clients or not. We also talk about some different ways you can turn existing, less-impressive projects into ones that will make a better impression on prospective clients and employers alike. While we're on the subject of portfolios, we answer a portfolio-related listener question, and give up some new tips in this week's "Do yourself a favor." Show Links: OvernightPrints.com (Use promo code DGDESIGNCAST for around 50% off on business cards, postcards and more) DreamHost.com (Use link or promo code DEEP25 for $25 off any hosting package) Apple Genius Bar employee manual leaked! (Gizmodo article) Logo Lounge How to Design a Logo - a Beginners Course

Its hard to believe we've already reached 20 episodes! Even more unbelievable is the number of amazing questions we get from our listeners on a weekly basis. So for our 20th show celebration, we are going to once again clean out the old inbox and answer a bunch of questions at once. And since we have such a diverse group of listeners, the questions are pretty varied. Which keeps us on our toes, and ensures that there is something for everyone in this episode. We even answer the age-old question: does design-MacGuyver exist? Show links: OvernightPrints.com (Use promo code DGDESIGNCAST for seriously big savings on business cards, postcards and more) DreamHost.com (Use link for $25 off any hosting package) Paranorman trailer How to Design a Logo - a Beginners Course School of Visual Concepts (Seattle) Kristi Duce Design

What's the biggest roadblock between you and freelance success? Clients. Specifically, GOOD ones. Lets be honest, good clients keep the bills paid and the lights on, so you need to know where to find them. In this episode, the gang digs deep into their personal experience and talks about how to find awesome graphic design clients. Because without them, you're not so much a freelancer as unemployed. We also answer a listener question about crowd-sourcing, and we have a new round of helpful tips in store for you in this week's "Do Yourself a Favor." Show Links: OvernightPrints.com (Use promo code DGDESIGNCAST for seriously big savings on business cards, postcards and more) DreamHost.com (Use link for $25 off any hosting package) Meetup.com 24Seven Creative Creative Group Creative Circle Filter Talent Smart Dept. iCloud mypriceapp.com    

If you don't utilize some kind of graphic design leave-behind, or if you don't even know what one is, you need to listen to this episode! Making a good impression at a job interview or client consultation is great, but why not leave a more lasting impression? We talk all about the benefits of leaving something tangible in the hands of a potential client or employer, as well as some solid leave-behind ideas. Do you have a great leave-behind idea or story? We would love to hear it! Just leave it in the comment section below. Show Links: Kristiducedesign.com Mypublisher.com Paper Source Creative Hotlist The Denver Egotist Focus & Ignore Lists (lifehacker)   Featured image courtesy of: Teri Yeung