How I'm Growing My Graphic Design Business in 2025 (And How You Can Too!)
Let's get real for a minute: last year was A LOT. After having a tough year navigating life as a mom of 3 and being postpartum, I felt zero desire to work or show up in my business. But slowly, as I found clarity through conversations with God, my husband, and friends, I started feeling more like myself.
As I go into year 6 of business, I'm more determined than ever about what I need to do to pay myself well and not burn out.
Whether you're fresh in the game or a seasoned pro looking to grow your biz, grab your favorite beverage, and let's get into strategies that actually work.
Getting Your Foundation Right
Finding Your Sweet Spot
Finding your position in the design world is not a one-and-done deal. When I first created my services and tested them over time, I didn't really have my target audience completely dialed in. But through working with dozens of clients and listening to their pains and struggles, I figured out exactly how I could serve them.
The real gold? It came from noticing those projects where time flies, and clients make you want to do a happy dance. Thanks to the help of working with a brand strategist, I worked through brand positioning, messaging, and my unique differentiators as a design studio.
Questions for you to think about if your biz is evolving:
Which clients make you excited to open your laptop?
What problems do they keep bringing you (that you love solving)?
Which parts of your process get clients hyped?
What's your special sauce that nobody else does quite like you?
Brand Identity (Practice What You Preach)
Once you redefine the core meaning and substance behind your brand, you can move to the visuals.
Let's have an honest moment: my initial brand in 2019 wasn't exactly meaningful. I worked with my junior designer at the time to throw something together that was easy on the eyes but lacked depth.
Now that I know who I serve and how I want to show up, I've invested in a thoughtful rebrand that:
Reflects the caliber of work I deliver
Uses intentional design elements
Resonates with my ideal clients
Creates meaningful emotional connections
Smart Service Structure
If you've been in business for more than 5 minutes, you've probably heard that whole "power of one" spiel. After consulting with a marketing expert, I learned something that shifted my mindset: you can have one signature offer and other supporting offers that stair-step to that main offer. You don’t have to just pick one.
Instead of forcing myself into an impossibly tiny “one offer, one audience, on channel” box, I've created a service menu that works together and:
Meets clients at different investment levels
Creates natural progression paths
Solves problems at various stages
Takes the pressure off jumping straight to the premium package
Making It Run (Without Running Yourself Into the Ground)
Marketing That Actually Works
Spoiler alert: posting without a schedule or strategy and at random on various platforms is a quick way to make no meaningful progress (I learned this the hard way).
For me, success came recently from hiring a certified Notion expert to bring all my content SOPs to life with a content hub and signing up with a LinkedIn accountability partner. Through these two big changes, I now have a content system that I actually use and delegate parts out to team members and consistent visibility without reinventing the wheel.
Building Your Dream Team
Y'all, trying to do everything yourself is the fast track to burnout city. Through the highs and lows of team management, I've finally dialed in the support I need. My current dream squad includes:
A project coordinator who manages all workflows
A designer for internal marketing needs
A client-focused designer for project execution
Specialists who swoop in for specific projects (like my Notion fairy godmother or awesome bookkeeper)
Bonus tip: Instead of hiring one person to do it all, I hire based on strengths and bring in experts for specialized needs. You may want to consider the same!
Finding Your People
We are built for community!! One major contributor to my clarity this year was finding my business community through a finance-focused coaching community.
I finally have clear money goals that make sense, financial systems I actually use, accountability partners who get it, and a squad that celebrates the wins and helps through the rough patches.
It doesn’t matter what group you’re apart of, even if you need to create your own, just find 1-2 people who can walk with you through this journey.
Answering Your Burning Questions
How can I attract more clients to my graphic design business?
Stop doing the random posts and pray approach. Create a system that actually works. Start by nailing down your value proposition, then create case studies that make potential clients stop scrolling and say, "I need that!" Build a referral system that turns your happy clients into your biggest cheerleaders, and nurture those existing relationships. Remember: your best next client probably already knows your current favorite client.
What are the best marketing strategies for graphic designers?
Build a marketing machine that works while you sleep (because we all need beauty rest). Craft a portfolio that tells success stories, not just pretty pictures. Create resources that solve real problems for your dream clients, and build an email sequence that sounds like a real human wrote it. Pick 2 to 3 channels where your dream clients actually hang out and rock those. You don't need to be everywhere–you need to be where it matters.
How do I set competitive pricing for my graphic design services?
Time for some tough love about money (because someone needs to say it). Research what others charge, but don't blindly copy their rates. Calculate your REAL costs, add profit margins that let you take actual vacations, and create packages that won't make you resent your clients every time you open their emails. And please, stop undercharging.
What tools can help scale a graphic design business?
Start with project management software that doesn't make you cry. I use ClickUp and have used Notion and Trello in the past. Then add proposal software that makes you look ultra-professional and automates those tedious repetitive tasks.
I currently moved to terms on my website + Stripe, I was tired of all the custom contracts. If that’s not how you want to move, I recommend a tool like the Bonsai App. Whichever tool you pick, keep it simple and focus on what moves the needle in your business.
So what’s your next best step?
Building a successful design business isn't about following some perfect formula or turning yourself into a corporate robot. It's about finding what works for YOU, creating systems that don't make you want to scream, and serving your clients in a way that feels authentic.
Ready to build a design business that doesn't run you into the ground? Join my email list below for business-building weekly tips, occasional sass, and real talk about balancing entrepreneurship with family life!
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