For web design businesses looking to grow, hiring a salesperson is a natural first step. Unfortunately, many businesses make hiring decisions without adequately considering the kind of person they need and what is best for their business. Finding a proper balance between the two is key. Luckily, uGurus can help you avoid some of the… read more
Whether you’re a freelancer or an agency owner, you’re going to reach a point in your business when you need to outsource work. When this happens, it’s hard to know who to turn for an extra hand. That’s why we reached out to some $10K Graduates to get their thoughts on outsourcing work: where to… read more
We’ve all been there. You meet someone new, maybe at a party or networking event, ask them what they do, and receive a well rehearsed line about, “I do blah blah blah for blah blah blah.” They sound like Charlie Brown’s parents and you begin looking for the nearest exit. As you walk away you… read more
Looking for Better Projects? Ask Clients to Pay for Discovery. Discovery is a process of using your expertise through a series of questions across 4-5 meetings to uncover your client’s business pains and goals so you can develop a course of action to solve/achieve those goals. Paid discovery is charging for this. Doing good discovery… read more
Over the years, we’ve helped hundreds of web professionals build amazing businesses by teaching them to focus on three key components: strategy, sales, and projects. This boils down to one simple concept: “High value work for high pay.” And while these three components serve as the foundational elements of our program, the issue of pricing… read more
Each week, at the same time, on the same day, I sit down with a pen and pad. It’s a clearing time. Having no distractions around me with no clearly defined tasks helps to release the barrier of “being on” all the time, allowing new ideas to bubble up. I call it “Paper Time.” This… read more
Most people understand the concept of creating processes and systems in their business. But many have difficulties in how to translate theory into actionable steps. Today, I’m going to walk you through my process, hopefully giving you an idea of where to start and how to tackle such a daunting task. Define Your Key Objective… read more
Before I started my agency I spent some time as a professional sales trainer. One of the questions I would ask as we’d start each class is “When I say, SALESMAN, what’s the first word that comes to mind?” I would get words like Crook, Thief, Liar, Rip Off – the list goes on. Never… read more
I’ve been a graphics and website designer since I was 16 years old – back when it was terrible GeoCities stuff. We’ve come a long way since then. But even with all my experience, I was sorely disappointed after getting a BFA and starting my own business. I quickly realized how unprepared I was to… read more
As a strategist for $10K Bootcamp, I get the opportunity to speak with a lot of web pros at various stages of business building. But because I’m not as “out front” as Brent is, people often wonder what it’s like to have a call with me. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain and sharing what’s… read more
You put a goal out there but don’t put any time on it. Two weeks go by. A month goes by. It hangs around your to-do list like an unwanted guest. As super busy entrepreneurs, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. And most of us have little to no accountability to others unless we’re a part… read more
I recently launched a new company, Solar Energy Marketing, a web design and marketing business completely separate from my current business, Design by Friday. Here’s how I launched it in six months. Laying the Groundwork I mentioned in a previous post that I dedicate 90 minutes a day to connecting with potential clients via LinkedIn…. read more
“My nephew can do this for $800.” I call this The Kiss of Death. It’s not your fault that people say it. But it is your fault if you let it define your business. Don’t let our industry fool you. You are not a commodity. Massively competitive labor marketplaces, free content management systems, and cheap… read more
Most of us wonder how we can get more customers interested in our business. If you find yourself asking, “Why don’t people understand my business and its value? Why can’t I attract clients?” the fault is probably not your product or service but in your branding. What is Branding? One of the key elements in… read more
If you started on your own and you’re growing, it’s hard to realize you’re not the only person exercising judgment and affecting the trajectory of your business anymore. I learned from my wife, Aisha, that paying attention to a few areas of your business can take it to another level. Aisha has helped me see… read more
In my last post, I mentioned that if you don’t figure out your process and set an hourly rate that reflects your time and value, you’re never going to make it to daylight. Today, I explain what “Driving for Daylight” means and what it can do for your business. Driving for Daylight I’m a huge… read more
I’ve been in this business for a long time. Despite all my years of hard work, a day came where I realized I was not making money. I still was not getting ahead. I found myself losing every single proposal. In the off chance that I won one, I ended up cutting prices to get… read more
Everybody hates cold calling. A lot of people, whom I respect, say you need to make 40 cold calls a day. If you’re lucky, two of them will work out. My strategy is to make two to five calls but make them count by warming them up a little. Hit the ground running by doing… read more
I started my career as a freelancer on eLance. Within six months, I had canceled my account because I had more work than I could handle. Things progressed faster than I anticipated. As you can imagine, I found myself stuck in a tiny box. I was doing small projects for little money, always chasing the… read more
You sell work, then you do the work you sold, then you go out to sell more work. In this system, you can never get ahead. There’s a simple fix to all this. You need to shift your mindset away from being your own employee and start thinking more like an owner. Here are a… read more
After college, I worked as a full-time touring drummer. I designed websites on the side as a way to supplement my income. When I got to the point of leaving my work as a drummer to pursue a web design career full time, I moved to New York City. I quickly developed some good relationships… read more