If you've spent any time in the graphic design industry, you know just how crowded it can be with folks touting themselves as brand or website designers, especially in Denver. Nowadays, becoming your own boss in a creative field with minimal expenses is a more tangible vision than ever before.

It's hard to get a concrete number on the amount of "brand designers" or "website designers" globally, since the standards for those titles can differ. However, it's believed that tens of thousands of designers work across a range of fields including advertising, marketing, and design. With the sector expanding rapidly, fresh talent is continuously entering the scene.

According to IBIS World's 2019 report, the US boasts around 190,716 graphic design businesses, with roughly 1,500 designers operating in Denver, including both full-time and part-time professionals, as well as freelancers. As Denver is a hot hub for creative professionals and design companies, competition for clients is pretty fierce.

WHY I WANTED TO OWN A LOGO & WEBSITE DESIGN BUSINESS IN DENVER

As a business owner, I relish the freedom to select my own clientele, establish my own fees, and take on projects that really spark my creativity. It also enables me to showcase my distinctive abilities while building my own brand and reputation. Plus, having control over my own schedule and workload helps me maintain a solid work-life balance while leaving plenty of room for growth and professional development. While the competition may be fierce, the benefits of owning and running my own graphic design business make it all completely worth it.

While the design industry is competitive, Denver has also seen an incredible amount of population growth. Denver has the sixth-fastest-growing economy in the U.S. New businesses are popping up everywhere, all needing a brand and website design to showcase to the world.

HOW I GREW A SIX FIGURE BRAND AND WEBSITE DESIGN BUSINESS IN DENVER

I tried hard NOT to be a graphic designer. The thought of sitting at a computer all day sounded awful to me. My college years were spent working towards a Fine Art degree where I put a medium in my hand and that medium to paper. We studied negative space, cropping, color theory, and how the human brain responds to visual stimuli. I cherished every minute of it and was relieved that I didn't have to take graphic design classes. I loved every minute. I still remember walking by the graphic design class room in the art building and thinking, “I’m so glad I’m not doing that.”

But being a “starving artist” wasn’t anything I really wanted to be either, so I declared another major in Business Marketing. At the time, I felt like I was living a double life, jumping from my business classes to an art studio. I had no idea how I was going to use both my degrees, but I was committed to both. I loved both. 

With a fine art degree, I mastered the ability to look at something and knowing instantly why something wasn’t working or why it was. If something didn’t look right, I could articulate the “why” AND I knew the fix. With a Business Marketing Degree, I understood marketing strategy development, consumer behavior analysis, advertising and promotion techniques, and market research methodologies. I also developed an understanding of branding, digital marketing, and social media marketing strategies.

Eventually, I realized that graphic design was the perfect way to combine both of my interests and career paths. I went back to school to receive formal training in graphic design, where I fell in love with the digital space. I'm exceptionally grateful for my background in both fine arts and business, as it has given me a unique advantage in the branding and website design industry. My clients appreciate my ability to create logos and websites that evoke an emotional response and help them grow their businesses.

A killer brand alone isn't enough to ensure growth. When I first launched my design business, it was a slow start, and I only made $10,000 in my first year. Thankfully, my husband believed in me and my vision even when I had moments of doubt. I was determined to be my own boss so that I could have the flexibility to spend time with my family.

HOW TO GROW A GRAPHIC DESIGN BUSINESS IN DENVER

1. REFINE YOUR BRAND AND WEBSITE DESIGN PORTFOLIO

   I refined my portfolio to match the style of work I wanted to do more of, which for me, was a modern minimalist approach, and also the style I excelled at most. I have often been described as producing 'clean' work, so I stopped trying to prove that I could do any style and instead tailored my portfolio to attract clients who appreciated my best work. This was a huge shift for me, as it allowed me to create work that clients loved without needing lots of revisions.

2. PRIORITIZE COMMUNICATION WITH DESIGN CLIENTS

   For effective communication with clients, I make sure they feel prioritized at every stage of the process. From the onboarding to the off-boarding process, I ensure my clients are never left in the dark, wondering what's next or where we are in the process. I also know the right questions to ask to understand client needs and goals, allowing us to create a design strategy that addresses and solves problems.

3. ASK YOUR DESIGN CLIENTS HOW YOU CAN IMPROVE

   To generate at least half of my clients through referrals, I regularly request feedback from clients to learn where I can make improvements. Happy clients lead to referrals, which is essential for any business.

4. INVEST IN YOUR BUSINESS BY HIRING OTHER DESIGN EXPERTS

   I also recommend investing in experts to improve your services or products. For me, hiring an SEO expert like Sarah Moon made a difference. She taught me the ins and outs of search engine optimization, and I was able to list my business on Google organically on the first page for logo and website designer, brand designer, and graphic designer in Denver. Implementing Sarah's expertise into my business and then for my clients made a significant difference, and my client base is now perfectly balanced with half referrals and half new googled-inquiries.

5. GET FOUND ON GOOGLE

   Creating a Google My Business Listing account with a location pin and maintaining accurate business hours and closures helped me get found on Google faster. Google acknowledges and rewards businesses that nurture this account by listing them higher on the Google Maps search results. Even if you don't want to list your home address, this simple step will list your business on Google Maps.

It's certainly a competitive field, but with dedication and strategic moves, it's definitely possible to grow a successful graphic design business. Nurturing your portfolio, prioritizing communication with clients, and investing in the right experts can help you stand out and generate referrals. Leveraging your expertise and honing in on your preferred style can set you apart from others in the industry. And with the right strategies in place, such as Google My Business Listings and search engine optimization, you can ensure your business is discoverable and visible. While it may take some time and effort, the freedom and reward of owning and running your own graphic design business make it all completely worth it.

Many of the same techniques I used to grow my business can apply to many industries and cities. If you are looking to grow a successful business feel free to book a call below.