I’m not a salesperson. I have a lot of respect for sales, I just never saw myself being good at it. But here’s the thing, I’ve also been selling my design and creative services for over a decade. Not in a slimy, pushy, “limited time offer” kind of way, but in a way that feels real, valuable, and, most importantly, useful to the people I want to help.
Turns out selling isn’t about tricking someone into buying, it’s about making them realize they need what you do.
Selling Mindsets That Have Helped Me
1. Lead With the Work
I don’t have to convince people I’m good at what I do, my brand mostly does that for me. Your brand, your visuals, your identity? That’s your reputation before you even say a word. Show up consistently, put out work that speaks for itself, and you won’t have to “sell” in the traditional sense. The right people will see it and get it.
2. Solve Real Problems
Nobody cares about your skills—they care about how your skills make their life easier, their brand stronger, their business more successful. That’s the pitch: “Here’s the problem you have. Here’s how I solve it.” No fluff, no jargon, just clarity.
3. Make It About Them
People don’t buy when they understand you—they buy when they feel understood. Ask questions. Listen. Reflect their challenges back at them and show them the path forward. When they feel seen, they trust you. And trust is the real currency of business.
4. Share Wisely & Give Value, Not Your Entire Process
Create work that sparks conversation and makes people want to talk to you. Share insights, provide useful takeaways, and establish yourself as an authority in your space. But here’s the key: don’t give away your entire thought process for free. Your strategic thinking is valuable, and it can be monetized through consulting, subscription-based content, or exclusive workshops. Educate, engage, and attract, but make sure you leave space for people to invest in working with you directly.
5. The Real Flex? Offline Networking
Offline doesn’t just mean in-person (though yes, getting out there and meeting people face-to-face is huge). It also means creating exclusivity: Facebook groups, Discord chats, private email networks, Slack communities. Places where real conversations happen without the pressure of performance metrics and algorithms. The key? Be somewhere that actually fosters relationships. Real connections build trust, and trust leads to sales. Don’t neglect past connections either! Get together with people you’ve worked with and keep up with them through thoughtful and authentic social engagement on places like LinkedIn.
Below is a snap of me and my friend/former creative services manager, Alex—after tackling 293 limestone stairs.. We spent the day at Swallow Cliff Woods and got a chance to talk shop, catch up, and scream in the forest.
Selling is Just Helping the Right People Find You
Make Yourself Easy to Buy From
Look, I get it, selling can feel weird. But it’s really just about putting yourself where the right people can find you and making sure they understand how you can help them. No pressure, no weird sales tactics, just clarity, confidence, and being really good at what you do. And the best part? When you do this right, people come to you. No hard sell needed.
