One of the best ways to get more work isn’t by pitching, it’s by giving.

When we wrap up a project, we often move on, waiting for the next client to come knocking.

But what if we took a different approach?

What if we looked back at our previous work, found ways to improve it, and offered value without being asked?

Not for a sale. Not for a hidden agenda. Just to help.

When I started Boosted, I didn’t have a large following or incredible network. Instead, I had a small book of business from my freelancing days.

The following tips helped me close $13k in new projects my first month from reaching out and strengthening relationships through genuine giving without being asked (or being paid).

The Power of Giving Without Expectation

Clients are busy. They don’t always notice small problems, or realize how those problems might be affecting their business. But as designers, we see things they don’t.

Maybe their site’s typography could use a subtle tweak for better readability.
Maybe their dashboard could be more intuitive.
Maybe their brand visuals could use a slight refresh.

These are simple improvements we can make, and offer freely.

That’s exactly how Boosted landed its first project.

I noticed a previous freelance client had added new sections to their website (ones I didn’t design), but they felt cluttered and used the wrong fonts and colors. So, I spent a few minutes mocking up a cleaner version in Figma and sent it over, no pitch, no sales angle, no expectations.

Here’s exactly what I wrote:

"Hey [client], how’s everything going? I noticed a couple of new sections on your homepage since we last worked together. The colors and fonts seemed a bit off, so I went ahead and re-designed them to align with your brand. Hope it helps!"

That same week, they booked a call. What started as a small, no-strings-attached favor turned into a $5K project redesigning even more sections of their site.

How This Turns into New Work

When you help without expectation, you do two things:

1. You strengthen the relationship. Clients see you as someone who genuinely cares about their success, not just a paycheck.

2. You stay top of mind. When they do need a designer, who do you think they’ll reach out to? The one who disappeared after the last invoice, or the one who just made their life easier, no charge?

In the earlier example, a few minutes of genuine effort led to real work, not because I asked for it, but because I earned it.

By giving without expectation, you build trust, stay top of mind, and naturally attract more opportunities.

Try it. Find a past project, spot a small improvement, and offer it freely. You never know where it might lead.

Action Step: Find One Way to Help Today

Look at a past project. Spot a small improvement. Reach out to the client and say:

"Hey [Client Name], I was thinking about [past project] and noticed [small improvement]. I went ahead and made this tweak for you, no charge, just wanted to make sure it’s working as well as it can for you."

That’s it. No pitch. No upsell. Just value.

This mindset shift is how you build lasting relationships, and get hired again and again.

Now not all clients will reach out and give you $5k projects. Many will thank you, more might ignore you. But, the more do this, the more report you build which for me, has resulted in the best ROI.

It’s hard to say how exactly, but when you look to put out value in the world, the world has a way to return it to you ten fold. It make take a little time, but it’ll come.

Try it. And let me know what happens.

Stay creative,

Lo Partsch

It’s hard. As designers, we want to design… everything! We see a need and want to fill it with great design.

However, in the crowded world of design, many creatives struggle to stand out. They chase clients, lower their prices, and compete against countless others offering the same services. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to shift your approach. Instead of being a generalist trying to do everything for everyone, you need to carve out a niche.

Blair Enns, in The Win Without Pitching Manifesto, argues that positioning yourself as an expert in a specific area is one of the most powerful ways to win clients without competing on price or pitching for free. Here’s why niching down has been a game-changer at Boosted.Design.

1. Experts Get Hired, Generalists Get Compared

When a company is looking for a designer, they don’t want just any designer—they want the designer who understands their unique challenges.

When I started freelancing, I was doing everything. I designed websites, brochures, business cards—everything—for every industry!

I was as general as they come, which is why I found myself chasing business rather than business chasing me.

Imagine you’re a law firm looking for a website redesign. You come across two options:

• A generalist designer who works with all kinds of businesses (me in the beginning).

• A specialist designer who focuses on law firms, understands legal marketing, and knows what works in the industry.

Which one do you think they’ll trust more?

The specialist wins because expertise reduces risk. Clients prefer to hire someone who has solved similar problems before.

As a freelancer offering too many services across all industries, I diluted the perception of quality I could provide. And honestly, that perception wasn’t far from reality—I didn’t have enough experience in one service or industry to truly know what worked and what didn’t.

When I transitioned from freelancing to running an agency, I decided to narrow our focus to websites and SaaS. Later, I realized even that was still too broad.

2. Higher Value = Higher Prices

When you try to serve everyone, you compete on price. But when you specialize, you compete on value.

Generalist designers often hear:
“Can you lower your price?”
“We’re comparing multiple options before we decide.”

But specialists hear:
“We need your expertise—how do we start?”
“You’ve worked with companies like ours before; when can we begin?”

When you own a niche, you become a premium provider, not a commodity.

Clients expect to pay more for expertise, allowing you to charge based on value rather than hours. I’ll have a separate newsletter just on this topic—pricing is something I’m still learning.

3. Niche = Fewer Competitors, More Demand

A broad market means more competition. A niche market means fewer competitors and greater demand for your specific skills.

Think about it:

• How many general designers are out there? Thousands.

• How many designers specialize in e-commerce UX for fashion brands? A handful.

If you dominate a niche, you own that market instead of constantly battling competitors.

However, as markets become more saturated, you may need to niche down even further. For example, FinTech design used to be a niche, but now it’s too broad. Designers in this space are going a level deeper and focusing on:

• Personal Finance

• Crypto, Web3, & DeFi

• B2B FinTech SaaS

Niching down further helps you build a trusted network and stand out in a growing market.

Lastly, fewer competitors also mean higher quality competition. If you’re in a niche, your services need to be top-notch.

4. Attract Clients Instead of Chasing Them

Niching down allows you to build authority in a specific space. When you consistently share insights and showcase work within a niche, potential clients begin to see you as an expert.

Suddenly, you’re not cold-emailing and begging for work—clients are coming to you. You’re magnetic instead of desperate.

You become the go-to person for your niche, and referrals start flowing because people know exactly what you do.

5. Your Marketing Becomes 10x Easier

Marketing is hard when you’re trying to appeal to everyone. But when you have a niche, your messaging becomes clear and direct.

Instead of saying:
🚫 “I’m a freelance designer who does web, branding, and marketing materials for any business.”

You say:
✅ “I help SaaS startups create conversion-focused websites that drive growth.”

See the difference? The second one speaks directly to a specific audience. This makes your LinkedIn posts, website, and outreach far more effective.

(At Boosted.Design, we’ll be testing different marketing strategies for niches and sharing what we learn!)

How to Find Your Niche

If you’re unsure where to specialize, ask yourself:

• Which industries or types of businesses do I enjoy working with?

• Where do I already have experience or insights?

• What design problems do I solve exceptionally well?

• What type of work excites me the most?

Your niche could be industry-based (e.g., Health Tech, Real Estate, AI Startups) or problem-based (e.g., Conversion-Focused Design, UX for Dashboards, Branding for Coaches).

Our Niche Journey at Boosted.Design

At Boosted.Design, we’re still niching down.

We initially focused on websites and SaaS, primarily for early-stage tech brands. But recently, we’ve noticed a trend—many of our projects are in Health Tech.

So now we’re asking:
👉 Is there an opportunity in becoming the go-to agency for early-stage Health Tech brands?

We’ll update you in a future newsletter about our niching-down journey, so stay tuned!

When I first decided to start my design agency, I thought I had my priorities straight:

• Design a sleek logo.

• Build a killer website.

• Create an LLC.

• Set up social media accounts and start posting.

I was pumped, and excited to get the business “looking” good. I even had business cards on my list.

When I shared this with a mentor of mine, he stopped me in my tracks with a single piece of advice that felt completely backwards.

He said: “The first step isn’t about you—it’s about building a team.”

I was skeptical at first. How could I build a team when I didn’t even have clients yet? Shouldn’t I focus on processes, marketing, or creating a portfolio?

But then he explained: “If you don’t have a team to delegate to, you don’t have a business—you have a job.”

And that’s when the light bulb went off.

Why Building a Team Comes First

If I was doing all the work, I wasn’t creating a business—I was just becoming a well-paid freelancer.

I’ve freelanced for years and always thought I was running a business, just to find out recently that I’ve been running a job.

Here’s the thing about freelancing:

• You’re still trading your time for money.

• You can only handle so many projects before you hit a ceiling.

I realized I wanted something bigger—a business that could grow and thrive without me burning out. And to achieve that, I needed to stop thinking like a freelancer and start acting like a business owner.

The Biggest Lessons I Learned From Starting With a Team

1. Thinking in Time, Not Money
At first, I made less money, but I gained something far more valuable: time. Knowing that tasks were getting done without me being the one to do them was a game-changer. It was the first time I saw someone else making money for me.

The first gig I outsourced to a freelancer earned me just $100. It wasn’t much, but it was a milestone—it was the moment I started feeling like a real business owner, not just a freelancer.

2. Hire Quality Talent
The key to repeat business is quality, so hiring the right talent is non-negotiable. If a designer or developer quotes a price and I believe their work is worth it, I never haggle to pay less. In fact, I often pay more upfront.

This approach has consistently helped me attract and retain talent who work harder, faster, and more efficiently. It’s a small investment that pays off with exceptional results and happy clients.

3. Creating Mental Space
When you’re working a full-time job and trying to build a business, protecting your mental space is crucial—not just for your work, but for your family and loved ones.

I never want to miss dinner with my family because I’m buried in work. Having a team allows me to delegate tasks so I can be fully present when it matters most. It’s the difference between burning out and thriving, both at work and at home.

Your Action Plan

If you’re dreaming of starting an agency—or scaling the one you already have—start by asking yourself:

• What tasks am I doing that someone else could handle?

• What’s stopping me from building a team, even if it’s just one person?

• How can I free up my time to focus on growing my business?

Start small. Hire one person. Automate one process. Test it out. You’ll be amazed at how quickly your capacity (and your business) begins to expand.

My Go-To Resources for Finding Great Talent

• UpWork – A reliable platform for finding skilled freelancers.

• Contra – Perfect for creative and technical roles.

• Personal Network – Honestly, this has been the best resource by far.

Even if you don’t have clients yet, that’s okay. When I first started, I didn’t either. I focused on messaging and building relationships with talented people so that when work came in, I already knew exactly who to contact.

Stay tuned—I’ll be writing a detailed newsletter soon about how I hire talent, including:

• What I look for in candidates.

• How I vet them to ensure they’re a good fit.

• My step-by-step onboarding process.

Remember: your time is your most valuable asset. Building a team isn’t just the first step—it’s the smartest step.

Stay tuned for more tips to help you build your agency.

Lo

To quit or not to quit, that is the question!

Many will advise you that to go all in, you have to quit your job!

In many cases, this is true. If you’re truly ready to commit to your dream and are in a financial position to do so, walking away from the safety of your day job might be the best route to take. Here’s why:

1. Time and Focus: When you’re not juggling a full-time job and a side hustle, you can pour your full energy into building your business. You can refine your product, grow your brand, and make connections without the constraints of a 9-to-5.

2. Higher Stakes = Bigger Motivation: When your livelihood depends entirely on your business, it creates a sense of urgency that can accelerate growth. The pressure forces you to think strategically and take decisive action.

3. Freedom to Pivot: Running a business often requires quick changes. If you’re not tied to a job, you have the freedom to pivot and experiment without worrying about conflicting schedules.

But, for most people—especially those supporting families or with significant financial responsibilities—quitting your job cold turkey could come with risks:

1. Financial Uncertainty: Without sufficient savings or a clear plan to replace your income, quitting your job could lead to stress. Your business may take longer to generate revenue than you expect.

2. Loss of Benefits: Full-time jobs often come with healthcare, retirement plans, and other benefits that can be hard to replace when you're on your own.

3. Emotional Strain: Balancing the emotional toll of supporting your family while launching a business can be overwhelming and strain your mental and emotional well-being.

I fell into the latter group. I have a young family who relies on my income, and the idea of quitting my job without much else to lean on felt too risky. I couldn’t afford the financial strain, and the thought of disrupting my family’s stability gave me pause.

So, instead of quitting my job, I decided to make a compromise.

I began dedicating two hours before work, and two hours after work, to focus solely on my business. This allowed me to keep my commitments to my employer, while also not sacrificing what was most important to me, daily time with my family.

Building a design agency involves many moving parts—design, branding, copywriting, development, admin, marketing, and sales. With only four hours a day, "going all in" seemed impossible, so I had to find a way to multiply my output to gain traction.

Turning 4 hours into 24 hours

To make the most of those four hours, I had to focus on building a SMALL TEAM and creating SYSTEMS.

Having a small team allowed me to delegate tasks that were either too time-consuming or outside my skill set, while the systems helped streamline processes and keep things running efficiently. With a small but dedicated team, we could push forward without me having to manage every single detail on my own.

Building systems and leveraging others allowed me to scale my efforts without burning out. Systems provide a framework for processes that ensure tasks are completed consistently and efficiently. It also meant that I could continue working my day job and providing for my family, while gradually building a business that, over time, would give me the freedom and flexibility I was seeking.

This approach wasn’t as glamorous as quitting and going all in, but it was practical and allows me to manage both my responsibilities and ambitions.

No one-size-fits-all

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how you should approach building your agency. Some people will thrive with the full commitment of quitting their job and diving headfirst into their business. But for many, myself included, taking a more balanced approach—slowly building while maintaining job security—is the better choice in today’s economy.

If you’re starting from ground Zero, I’ll be sharing in the next newsletter some simple steps you can take to get started!

Stay tuned!