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THE PRO SERIES


A seminar series for illustrators, which focuses on building a strong freelance illustration business.
 

OVERVIEW


This series of six seminars is taught by IFH co-founder Nate Padavick, who has 20+ years of experience running a successful freelance illustration business. The PRO Series is filled with golden nuggets, technical tips, smart suggestions, and very specific techniques that help illustrators become more savvy business people and more successful freelancers. Participants will learn things that can immediately be put to use to improve their illustration businesses. The seminars are:
  • Finding Your Niche
  • Optimizing Your Website
  • Asserting Your Credibility
  • Negotiating Your Prices
  • Pricing Your Illustrations
  • Building Your Business

IS THE PRO SERIES RIGHT FOR YOU?


  • For seasoned professionals, these seminars will help you boost your business and increase your competitive edge.
  • For new freelancers, these seminars will give you a very big jump-start to spring ahead of other illustrators entering the field.
  • For aspirational illustrators, these seminars will help you prepare to manage the business aspects of a freelance illustration practice.

SEMINARS


Each on-demand seminar includes:  
  • a 60+ minute video
  • a presentation graphic
  • helpful reference links
  • a list of “10 Takeaways”

While each seminar builds upon each other, it is not necessary to take them all! For example, if you already know your niche with 100% certainty, you can skip the first seminar. Seminars cost $39 each or all six for $199. Watch them on-demand, at your own pace.

TESTIMONIALS


I can honestly that The PRO Series has been the best money I’ve ever spent on courses. I learned soooo many things that I felt in-the-dark about for years.
— Stacie Dale, freelance illustrator and surface designer

Read more testimonials from others who have taken The PRO Series.



SEMINAR 1: FINDING YOUR NICHE


Take advantage of the effectiveness of niche marketing for illustrators. Learn how to gain a competitive advantage as a specialist within a niche. 

This seminar addresses the following questions:
  • What is niche marketing? Why is it more important now than ever?
  • What are illustration niches? Which illustrators have strong niches?
  • What are the benefits of niche marketing? 
  • How do you find your niche?

Note from Nate: Knowing your niche—with 100% certainty—makes it so much easier to develop your brand, target your customers, and promote your services.

    PURCHASE FOR $39



    SEMINAR 2: OPTIMIZING YOUR WEBSITE


    Drive more traffic to your site by implementing the best practices of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Learn how to maximize a search engine’s ability to understand—and recommend—the content of your website. 

    This seminar addresses the following questions:
    • What is SEO? How does it work?
    • Why is it so important?
    • Is your site optimized for search engines?
    • How can you make your site more SEO-friendly?

    Note from Nate: Applying even the most basic—and easy—SEO tweaks will give you such a competitive advantage over many illustrators.

    PURCHASE FOR $39



    SEMINAR 3: ASSERTING YOUR CREDIBILITY


    Understand how the nature of online searching—beyond SEO—has evolved to encompass greater judgement on a professional’s credibility. Learn how to emphasize your own credibility.

    This seminar addresses the following questions:
    • What are the factors used by search engines to assess your credibility?
    • How can you emphasize your credibility as a professional illustrator?
    • What are Google's standards of quality?
    • How has Google’s new guidelines (so important!!!) affected your website?

    Note from Nate:     Keeping up with the latest search algorithm updates is a must. If you take only one seminar, let it be this one.

    PURCHASE FOR $39



    SEMINAR 4: NEGOTIATING YOUR PRICES


    Earn larger fees by applying effective negotiation skills and client communication techniques. Learn how to win more commissions and maximize your income.

    This seminar will address the following questions:
    • How much should you charge?
    • What factors go into setting the right price?
    • How do you ensure that you actually get the job?

    Note from Nate: Knowing just a few really solid negotiating techniques will give you the confidence to ask for larger fees—this knowledge pays off!

    PURCHASE FOR $39



    SEMINAR 5: PRICING YOUR ILLUSTRATIONS


    Gain pricing insight from five professional illustrators who will divulge financial details behind a variety of projects.  Learn how to price your own illustrations based on the fees earned by others.

    This seminar will address the following questions:
    • How much money can an illustrator earn in a year?
    • From whom can illustrators draw income?
    • What do other illustrators charge for their illustrations?

    Note from Nate: Listening to real life case studies from other successful illustrators really helps solidy your pricing strategy.

    PURCHASE FOR $39



    SEMINAR 6: BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS


    Build your business into a brand that attracts more of the right clients from more of the right sources. Learn how to turn your freelance practice into an ecosystem of illustration.

    This seminar will address the following questions:
    • What does it take to manage a successfull illustration business?
    • What are the components of an illustration brand?
    • What does an ideal website look like?
    • How do you define, display, communicate, and expand your brand?

    Note from Nate: Treating a freelance illustration practice like a true small business operation is what separates the pros from amateurs.

    PURCHASE FOR $39



    ALL SIX SEMINARS


    Level-up your game by taking all six seminars. It’s like earning a mini-master’s degree in the business of freelance illustration.
    • Finding Your Niche
    • Optimizing Your Website
    • Asserting Your Credibility
    • Negotiating Your Prices
    • Pricing Your Illustrations
    • Building Your Business

    Note from Nate: Attending to the business side of your freelance practice is an ongoing task. Simply watching and listening to these seminars will sharpen your professionalism.

    PURCHASE FOR $199

    Questions? No problem! Please, send Nate or Salli an email.

    Nate & SalliCo-founders, siblings, and freelance illustrators