This week, we’re joined by Dina Rodriguez from Letter Shoppe. Tom is especially excited to have her on the show as she is somewhat of a hero of his when it comes to creativity and social media. Today we’re going to be chatting with her about authenticity, confidence, and being yourself as a designer. So without further ado, let’s jump in the show!
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Show Notes for This Episode:
[1:30] Dina introduces herself to everyone.
[2:20] Tom asks Dina what sex positive means.
[3:20] Dina’s This Is Me approach to sharing content.
[4:00] People can tell when you are not doing you.
[5:00] Push outside of the echo chamber of creativity to find yourself.
[6:00] Stop waiting for someone else to create what you want.
[7:25] Dina discovers a secret desire in her audience.
[8:00] Dustin asks Dina if she amplifies her persona?
[9:40] Dina explains why she curses.
[10:00] Advertising is everywhere and the competition is massive. Stand out!
[11:20] Living with no filter.
[12:00] Dina shares what is important to her and what she understands.
[13:00] Listen to your audience, be FEARLESS and have a strategy.
[14:30] Dina’s first cannabis post cost her 200 followers that day.
[15:30] lettershoppe.com was hacked and vulgarly attacked?! What? Dina explains.
[16:00] Trolls try to SWAT Dina during her live Twitch stream.
[17:10] With popularity comes fame, glory, money and the trolls.
[18:00] Dina’s motherly energy explained by Lisa.
[19:10] Dina isn’t just climbing the ladder, she’s building it.
[20:10] Tom digs for more pointers.
[21:00] If it scares you or it’s hard it’s probably worth doing.
[22:00] Dina advises to forget trying to be overly perfect.
[23:00] Dustin asks how you get people excited about less taboo subjects like philosophy.
[24:05] Dina explains how she would approach less taboo topics.
[25:30] The group discusses Dustin’s drawing challenge.
[26:25] Tom asks Dina about her coaching calls.
[27:00] Dina shares her coaching call format.
[28:00] Niching down strategies.
[29:00] Dina is hired because she attracts a client’s customers.
[30:10] Use Instagram as a driver to your site.
[31:00] Your website is where you can be you. Make sure it’s spectacular.
[33:10] Creating a series is powerful.
[34:30] Be realistic and create a series that works best for you.
[35:30] Dina is not a 30 days of type person and that’s ok.
[36:05] 50 prompts to draw for people who don’t know what to draw.
[37:10] It’s more about the meaning behind the work and not how long it takes.
[38:30] Feeling creative freedom.
[39:00] Forget the highlight reel.
[40:00] Share your truth and screw perfection.
[41:00] Dina on Lauren Hom.
[42:40] Dear artist posts.
[43:20] Stop comparing yourself to others.
[44:20] It’s OK to unfollow people.
[45:50] Dina is on the move again. Look out Michigan!
[46:00] Small town vibes coming soon.
[47:10] Tom invites Dina to join in on Design Evolution.
[48:20] Dina shares her Design Evolution in a minute.
[49:00] Learning Lettering and Lost Book Royalties.
[50:30] Dina’s 5 years from start to now.
[51:30] From baby steps to full amp.
[52:00] Empathy and vulnerability is an artist’s strongest tool. Use them!
[54:30] Tom asks Dina how do you make money from this?
[55:00] Products make good money but don’t use these store fonts.
[56:00] Package and sell on your own site.
[57:30] Dustin ask Dina about Patreon.
[58:00] Dina shares the ins-and-outs of Patreon.
[1:00:00] What to do when a product is doing well.
[1:01:00] Repurposing your content.
[1:02:00] Repurposing passive income.
[1:03:00] Revisiting what you’ve already created and make it even better.
[1:04:00] The 80/20, Free-Paid, Split to Content.
[1:05:00] Free samples sell.
[1:06:45] Lisa asks Dina how to be patient with oneself.
[1:07:30] Dina shares her art and marketing schedule.
[1:08:00] Marketing is the moneymaker but so is art so balance is key.
[1:09:00] Still falling for the shiny objects.
[1:10:00] Dina keeps clients to one per month to free up time.
[1:12:00] Advice for young females.
[1:13:00] Women make up 60% of the artist community, but only 10% are showcased.
[1:16:20] Dina and the gang sign-off with a song.
Find all things Dina Rodriguez by visiting her website.
Find us on iTunes, Spotify, and Instagram by searching for The Honest Designers Show.
“A must for every creative freelancer (or those aspiring to freelance). Thank you for being so… honest! Such a wealth of information from people I admire who have ‘been there and done that’. Listening to the podcast every week feels like I’m among friends. Can’t wait for more episodes!” – AG_GD
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