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Advice for Freelance Graphic Designers 2015

Advice for Freelance Graphic Designers 2015
Becoming a freelance graphic designer is not for everyone. Graphic Design is a very competitive career and for freelancers it is even more so. When you become a freelance graphic designer, you’re not just an artist you are a marketer and a sales person, or you’re broke.

It’s that straightforward. You don’t get to just be a graphic designer anymore. You have to figure exactly how you’re going to get paid as a freelancer and you have to be very practical about how you spend you time and energy.

Resources for Freelance Graphic Designers

Get a portfolio website: http://robertoblake.com/bluehost
Get organized everyday: http://robertoblake.com/evernote
Track Time and Invoices: http://robertoblake.com/freshbooks
50+ Graphic Design Books: https://www.facebook.com/Robertoblake2/posts/10152758164456781
Checkout More Graphic Design Videos: http://goo.gl/1yqkNK

Being a freelance graphic designer is about discipline. You have to be willing to do work that will pay off in the long run and sometimes it means doing work for free in order to build up to a bigger opportunity. You can’t go into freelancing without an investment mentality. You also can be a freelancer purely from a position of passion if you want to be successful. Freelance Graphic Designers need to balance their passion for graphic design with the practicality of business.

That is something difficult for graphic designers who think of themselves as artist first. If you’re going to be a full time freelancer then you can’t do it from a place of more passion than practicality most of the time 80/20 rule.

If you want to become a freelance graphic designer and be successful at it, then you have to understand that what you want may have to take a back seat to what is in the best interest of the business and your freelance clients.

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Logitech Haul Video [Tech and Gear]

Logitech Product Haul Video!
I’m reviewing some Logitech Products here on the channel, recently they sent some Logitech gear over and I also have purchased some things myself to share with you.

My Logitech Gear Currently:
Logitech MX Master Mouse http://amzn.to/227Sm6Q
Logitech K800 Wireless Keyboard http://amzn.to/227RtuY
Logitech Wireless Headset http://amzn.to/227RqPF
Logitech C920 Webcam http://amzn.to/1I9opwv
Logitech Presenter R800 http://amzn.to/227St2g
Logitech Z200 Speakers http://amzn.to/1I9owZ1
Logitech Conference Cam http://amzn.to/1I9oO25
As a company I’ve always been a fan of Logitech and feel they have solid products. I use the webcam regularly here on the channel and on other video platforms.

The MX Master Mouse and the K800 keyboard are much more comfortable and help me with productivity vs the Apple products I replaced.

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My YouTube Setup
Nikon D3300 http://amzn.to/1vUnnca
Audio Technica ATR2100 http://amzn.to/1ECRn18
Neewer Lapel Mic http://amzn.to/1waIfBu
Zoom H1 Recorder: http://amzn.to/1Qumh32
TakStar Shotgun Mic http://amzn.to/1waIDjp
Zeikos Tripods 2X http://amzn.to/1IXJGEJ
SP Lighting Kit http://amzn.to/1GftjSU
Lexar HR2 Workflow Hub http://amzn.to/1ED3Xln
Lexar SR2 SD Card Reader 4X http://amzn.to/1Gvj0hi
Lexar Memory Cards 32GB 5X http://amzn.to/1ED4x2o
Transcend Memory Cards 32GB 8X http://amzn.to/1Gvj8NQ
Seagate Desktop Backup http://amzn.to/1desv86
Editing Software Adobe Premiere Pro CC

Recommended Web Hosting
Blue Host http://goo.gl/or3zpx
1and1 http://goo.gl/el9jPo

Mailchimp Email Marketing http://eepurl.com/bugUyT

Follow Me Online!
My Graphic Design Portfolio http://robertoblake.com
Learn Graphic Design on My Blog: http://robertoblake.com/blog
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Checkout My Instagram http://instagram.com/robertoblake

Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

Should You Become a Freelance Graphic Designer?

Should You Become a Freelance Graphic Designer?
If you want to become a graphic designer you have to decide whether becoming a freelance graphic designer or an in-house graphic designer is the right career choice for you.

Being a freelance graphic designer means that you will have a lot freedom but also increased responsibility you may not have if you are a graphic designer working for a company.

As a freelance graphic designer you will also have to interact directly with clients and take ownership and responsibility for all aspects of your work. If you’re a more introverted or shy person this can be uncomfortable or stressful for you.

In that situation you may be better off working as a graphic designer for a company or agency rather than being a freelance graphic designer, so there is a buffer between you and clients.

There is no right or wrong answer as to being a freelancer or working as an in-house graphic designer, but you have to be self aware when deciding what graphic design career pathway is best for you in your journey.

Start Your Graphic Design Portfolio with a Website
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Asus VS238 LED Monitor Unboxing

Asus VS238 LED Monitor Unboxing
Full Review of this Monitor Coming Soon! http://amzn.to/1U0d3wf
This Asus Monitor is LED and is amazing for graphic design and video editing. I’ve been using it for a few days since the unboxing and I’m very happy with it. This one of the best monitors you can get on a budget for under $150.

This Asus monitor is something I’m using as an external monitor for my laptop and it’s got a beautiful screen and it helping me with editing in Premiere Pro when I want to use my other work area.

This monitor is great for photographers, designers, and video editors but it is not the only option for a great budget monitor.

Best Budget Monitors for Graphic Design and Video Editing

Asus VS228H-P/VS228 21.5-Inches http://amzn.to/1U0cQco
ASUS VS238H-P 23 inches Full HD http://amzn.to/1U0d3wf
2015 Newest Dell S2240L 21.5-Inch http://amzn.to/1ISPIWG
Dell E2414HM 24″ Screen LED-Lit Monitor http://amzn.to/1U0dy9u
Acer G226HQL Bbd 21.5-inch Full HD http://amzn.to/1ISQ1Rq
Acer G236HL Bbd 23-Inch LED-Lit Monitor http://amzn.to/1ISQ7Ix
ASUS VS247H-P 23.6 Monitor http://amzn.to/1ISQkeP

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Checkout More Graphic Design Videos: http://goo.gl/1yqkNK
More Tech Videos & Reviews: https://goo.gl/cDfoZY
More About DSLR Video & Photography https://goo.gl/zTlg6M
More Photoshop CC Tutorials: https://goo.gl/VhQeFN
More Videos About YouTube https://goo.gl/F8a0uf
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Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

Planning Your Graphic Design Career

Often graphic designers overlook the importance of planning their graphic design career and setting clear goals and accomplishments for themselves. Most designers just get a job and think that is the end of it. Or they are working as freelancers and think that the end all be all is hunting clients.

You need a bigger goal and plan than that to make it as designer and be truly satisfied. Haven’t you ever wanted to do the work you love and can be most proud of? If you don’t make a true plan for your career, the odds are, that this will never happen for you, because you are working all day instead of taking the steps to build an actual career as a designer.

So what do I mean by an “actual career as a designer”?

Well your career is the accomplishments or feats you’ve achieved as a designer. Which is what you will find on the best resumes from the most in demand creatives. They don’t have their job roles and daily duties. They have a list of feats they achieved in their time. Figure out what your “12 Labors of Hercules” would look like. What do you aspire to accomplish?

Figure out what you are passionate about
Make a list of things you want to achieve in the next 2 years
Identify what job roles and titles align with your goals
Determine any resources you need that you don’t currently have
Develop network contacts that can help you achieve your goals

Recommended Graphic Design and Career Books:

How to Become a Graphic Designer Without Losing Your Soul

Creative Inc: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Creative Freelance Business

Crush It: Why Now is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion

Know Your Onions: How to Think like a Creative, Act Like a Businessman and Design Like a God

Steal Like An Artist: 10 Things People Never Told You About Being a Creative

Burn Your Portfolio: Stuff They Don’t Teach You In Design School, But Should

Show Your Work: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered

Adobe Fuse CC Preview Released

Adobe Fuse CC Preview Released
The Adobe Fuse CC 3D Character App is now available as a Preview for Creative Cloud 2015 in the winter update.

This actually really cool and something I’m very excited about personally. Using Adobe Fuse CC we will finally have the ability to develop 3D Characters in a native Adobe application without any 3D experience or technical ability and then be able to work with them in Adobe Photoshop CC to create stunning artwork and 3D animation.

With Photoshop and Fuse CC working together there are many new possible applications for 3D and digital art that will be simple and affordable. Fuse CC 3D character mascots are something I can see a lot of brands wanting to take advantage of in the near future.

This has a lot of commercial applications for freelancers looking for new revenue opportunities and ways to leverage their Photoshop skills. This is one more reason to stop holding out on Adobe Creative Cloud if the investment and lack of ownership was bothering you.

The benefits of the Adobe Creative Cloud Updates are making that argument less and less viable as time goes on and the ability to really and truly step into 3D with no prior knowledge is too good to pass on.l

Adobe Fuse CC is a great piece of innovation for the Adobe Creative Cloud and making 3D characters accessible to the mainstream in a way that the competition hasn’t and I’m very excited about.

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Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

Starting a Graphic Design Business

Starting a Graphic Design Business is very different than being a Freelance Graphic Designer. Freelancers have to think about the Business side of Graphic Design, but they don’t necessarily have to run every aspect of the business or incorporate, deal with payroll or outsourcing.

Building a Graphic Design Business means thinking about how to sustain the business even if you don’t have Graphic Design Clients, which means diversifying revenue, having recurring income and knowing what all of your yearly expenses are.

Freelancers have more freedom where this is concerned and it is also the reason the lifestyle is more feast or famine. Running a Design Business means positioning for long term stability.

Graphic Design businesses can take many forms and may not all be service oriented.

Books That Build My Business
http://robertoblake.com/blog/2015/11/100-books-that-built-my-business/

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Recommended Web Hosting
Blue Host http://goo.gl/or3zpx
1and1 http://goo.gl/el9jPo

Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

How To Back Up Your Files Part 2 [Cloud Storage]

How To Back Up Your Files Part 2 [Cloud Storage]
Backing Up Your files can be a bit confusing.
Signup for my Gear of the Week List http://bit.ly/AwesomeGearList

In this video I talk more about my approach to backing up files for video, for my clients and how I use cloud storage services for backups.

Dropbox: https://db.tt/dUHZv838
Remote Cloud Storage for Working Files http://amzn.to/1SL35fM (Western Digital)
Remote Cloud Storage for Archived Files (mostly video) http://amzn.to/1Oz1iJH Seagate
Backup for cloning SD Cards from Camera (WD Passport Wireless) http://amzn.to/1SL2CKL
4X 4TB Desktop External Drives for Backup and Working Files http://amzn.to/1ex6Vf5 WD http://amzn.to/1LTLJyE Seagate

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Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

When Is It Okay to Use Design Templates?

When Is It Okay To Use Graphic Design Templates?
Beginning Graphic Designers often wonder if it is okay to use templates. I hear a lot of Graphic Designers with experience give some of the worst advice about this, overplaying the “value of originality” with no accounting for the context of the situation.

As a graphic designer, you should NEVER depend on templates. But using them, making your own and understanding when to use them is part of the Business of Graphic Design.

Romanticizing certain ideas instead of a focus on practicality dooms many designers in their career.

Here are some helpful templates for different graphic design needs you might have:

Mutli-Purpose HTML Theme http://bit.ly/startuprrHTML
Avad WordPress Responsive Theme: http://goo.gl/kllctn
Bootstrap Landing Page Template: http://goo.gl/rf14h4
Stationary and Branding Mockup: http://goo.gl/JUFU1L
After Effects Logo Reveal: http://goo.gl/OLruQ7
Broadcast Motion Graphics Package: http://goo.gl/CEk2pt
Digital Magazine Template: http://goo.gl/bxwjWS
Trifold Brochure Template: http://goo.gl/0337Z6

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1and1 http://goo.gl/el9jPo

Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.

Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse Unboxing

Logitech MX Master Mouse Unboxing and First Impressions. This Logitech Wireless Mouse feels amazing in my hand!
Wireless Mouse for Mac & PC http://amzn.to/1Mk6VvG

Logitech is one of my favorite brands in tech because I like how physically comfortable their products are in my hands and the build quality. The Logitech MX Master Wireless Mouse will work for both Mac and PC and can be hooked up to multiple devices at once!

Some Recommended Logitech Gear
Logitech Wireless Mouse & Keyboard Combo
http://amzn.to/1SW07Xv

Logitech C920 Webcam http://amzn.to/1MkakuA
Logitech Professional Presenter http://amzn.to/1SW0od9
Logitech Wireless Presenter http://amzn.to/1MkaCl0
Logitech Conference Cam http://amzn.to/1SW0qBQ

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Recommended Web Hosting
Blue Host http://goo.gl/or3zpx
1and1 http://goo.gl/el9jPo

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Disclaimers: all opinions are my own, sponsors are acknowledge. Affiliates are: Amazon, BHPhotoVideo, MyFonts, 1and1, Bluehost and Lumoid.