Chad Johnson

Product Design Founder @Digs_Co (acquired 2020). Entrepreneur and product designer helping other designers build businesses.

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

I see designers make these 6 mistakes ALL the time when starting a business...

Here they are + how to remedy them 😎

#business #productdesign #Designers

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

@SahilBloom 100% agree with this. People drastically underestimate what they can accomplish in one year.

I think many burnout before they even get that far.

[Rowan Cheung @rowancheung]

RIP website designers.

This new tool is ChatGPT for UI design.

What's even more amazing: it's all editable in Figma. 👇

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

Just 3 ideas to get you thinking - you could also combine these to create a unique model that fits your goals.

And there are many other business models out there to consider.

#freelance #design #business

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

Designers, here are 3 alternative business models that are more scalable, sustainable, and lucrative than freelancing...

And all around better for your mental health (no high-maintenance clients)...

#design #freelance #business #uxdesign

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

3️⃣ The productized model
My fav. Package service or expertise into a digital product (info or software):

✅ Info products are the lowest cost but require a lot of effort. Includes courses, eBooks, and communities
✅ Pricing strategy is crucial
✅ Add more over time

#design

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

I think I effed up that thread 😂

Still getting the hang of this Twitter thing, bear with me.

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

🔟 Think about recurring revenue for predictable income

This will allow you to scale much easier.

- Subscription services
- Paid communities
- Retainers/maintenance plans

This likely comes later after you've figured out your initial offering.

#design #business #revenue

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

Designers need a reality check if they want to start a business...

Perfecting a logo, brand identity, and website are the last things you should be doing.

⚡ Focus on these 10 things instead (so you can do the fun stuff later) 👇

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

9️⃣ Make it easy on yourself
Building a business is hard enough. Figure out how to save time, money, and effort. This can include automation, outsourcing, software, and other tools.

Tools like @zapier, @ConvertKit, @Kajabi are perfect for this.

#design #automation #business

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

8️⃣ Productize your offering
If you're offering a service, find ways to package and sell it as a product. This can help increase your revenue and create more predictable income streams.

Products > Services every time

#productdesign #business #design

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

7️⃣ Determine your pricing strategy
Research and understand your costs and pricing models in your industry to ensure your pricing is competitive and profitable.

#productmarketfit #design #business

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

6️⃣ Identify your unique value prop
Determine what sets you apart from your competitors and use it to your advantage. This is a big one.

#valueprop #design

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

5️⃣ Focus on getting your first paying customer(s)
Prioritize getting your first paying customer and getting feedback from them. Use that feedback to iterate and improve your offering, and repeat the process continuously.

#feedback #design #Creator

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

4️⃣ Talk to your ideal customers often
Regularly connect with your ideal customer persona to understand their pain points, challenges, and needs. This can help you create better products or services when the time comes.

#firstcustomer #desgin #uxdesign #business

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

3️⃣ Identify your ideal customer
Determine the characteristics of your ideal customer and target them specifically in your content and marketing efforts. This will also help inform what kind of content you should be creating.

#contentmarketing #design #business

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

2️⃣ Focus on building relationships
Instead of solely focusing on making a sale, prioritize building relationships first. This can help generate repeat business and referrals later on, but will also allow you to form relationships with future customers.

#design #relationship

[Chad Johnson @chadsayswhat]

1️⃣ Build an audience
Create content and engage with your target audience on social media or platforms like @substack or @Medium. This will help establish you as an expert and build trust. This is something you can (and should) always be doing, no matter what stage you're at.