There are many approaches to analyzing the quality of a brand. This one focuses on simplicity—working with clear concepts, one at a time, to create a professional-looking business. Iteration, prioritizing movement over perfection, and thoughtfulness are essential. In a hurry? Download a brand audit worksheet to analyze the health of your current brand » First, let’s… [Continue Reading]
Strategy and Porter’s Five Forces: Analyzing the Graphic Design Industry
Michael Porter’s Five Forces framework is an analysis tool used to understand key competitive forces that affect an industry’s overall performance. The Five Forces are Threat to Entry, Threat of Substitutes, Bargaining Power of Buyers, Bargaining Power of Suppliers, and Intensity of Rivalry. As a small business owner, I often think about the strategy behind… [Continue Reading]
Motivation and the startup
I’m noticing a few interesting things about myself while working on twords. I’m incredibly motivated by building things that solve problems for people I care about. My favorite little improvements all came from talking to Joe and the kind friends who send me suggestions. I solve their problems, I get a boost of happiness. Easy…. [Continue Reading]
Sell Art Online Without Selling Out: 4 lessons learned from Lewis Howes’s creativeLIVE workshop, and how to apply them as an artist
In early December, Chase Jarvis’s (@chasejarvis) and Craig Swanson’s (@craigmswanson) brainchild creativeLIVE (@creativeLIVE) ran a seminar on online businesses hosted by former pro athlete and entrepreneur Lewis Howes (@LewisHowes), with guest appearances by Derek Halpern (@derekhalpern), James Wedmore (@jameswedmore), and Amy Porterfield (@AmyPorterfield). The workshop did a great job covering the basics—it featured discrete lessons… [Continue Reading]