As a studio owner, having a successful animation business for the long term should be your main goal. To efficiently accomplish this, you will need to hire a skilled salesperson. A salesperson or sales representative is concerned with maximizing the profit of your animation business by identifying the needs of your potential animation clients and […]
As an animator, you’ll have your hands full, ensuring your animation projects run smoothly and according to your animation client’s vision. After all, running a successful animation studio would require more than a one-man team. You’ll need to hire a reliable and skilled team of people with the ability to carry out specific creative visions, […]
Whether you’re a freelance animator or studio owner, finding a sustainable amount of work can be challenging. With some animation clients giving you one and done projects, the need to find more work is crucial to keeping you afloat. Thankfully, setting up animation video retainers can help solve this problem. In this blog post, we’ll […]
Do you recall your first day in college? New city, new home, new classmates, and all the possible newness in life. Everything just seemed strange, with no signs of familiar things lurking around. You thought of going out there and making friends, but that was quite nerve-wracking, especially in an unfamiliar environment. Cold messaging animation […]
The internet is often regarded as the great equalizer for its democratization of content creation and distribution tools. In particular, YouTube has made it possible for many freelance animators to not only post their animated videos but gain widespread fame and recognition for them. These independent YouTube animators are essentially self-made, and their success stories […]
Being a freelance animator can be challenging especially when it comes to finances, not just because your paycheck isn’t consistent, but also because you’ll have to manage your personal finances by yourself. For instance, you’ll have to plan for your taxes. This includes the self-employment tax and the business tax you will be charged with […]
Sales calls are just one of the many ways freelance animators or animation studio owners can acquire new clients and work. To put it simply, a sales call is a meeting between you and a potential animation client where you promote your animation services to help grow your business. A successful sales call can be […]
Selling your services as a freelance animator or studio owner can be a difficult task, especially if you just started your animation business. The animation industry is a competitive industry full of skilled and experienced animators and studios that provide almost the same video styles. By having a unique selling proposition and delivering on your […]
The key to being good at animation isn’t just working hard but it’s also working smart. Even if you’ve practiced harder than anyone else, all that hard work still might not amount to much if you’re not thinking about other important things, such as the business side of animation and the importance of taking breaks. […]
As an animator, you’re well-acquainted with long hours of sitting at a desk and looking at a screen. Long hours of doing these for days on end can lead to bodily discomforts and even certain injuries or chronic conditions. This is why it’s important to set up an ergonomic workstation to boost your productivity in […]
Your animation demo reel is like your cover letter or resume when applying for a job. It’s your first opportunity to show your ability to create amazing animations that stand out from other animators. It has to attract your animation client’s attention enough for them to want to work with you If you already made […]
Meeting an animation client for the first time can be nerve-wracking for sure, especially if you’re just starting out. There would be so many concerns racing through your mind. You might even be so overwhelmed to the point where your first meeting with an animation client causes you to be more stressed than excited. Questions […]
As a freelance animator or an animation studio owner, it’s challenging to get clients every now and then. And when you do secure those animation clients, it would be another challenge entirely to keep them happy. Now that you’ve got clients trusting you with their animation needs, how do you keep them happy? In this […]
Having trouble keeping up with your relationship with your animation clients? Frustrated with spending too much time organizing client profiles and interactions instead of focusing on animating? Often losing track of emails, calls, inquiries, and whatnot? Being a freelance animator or an animation studio owner comes with its own barrage of responsibilities, from administrative to […]
Animators are under constant pressure to be creative, but more often than not, pressure can stifle or hinder creativity rather than allow it to thrive. Though many animators are passionate about their craft, the pressure to be creative combined with a heavy workload can make them feel burned out. Burnout is a result of chronic […]
In anything that you do, approaching with the proper mindset is key. For animators, it’s important to have a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset. This way of thinking allows you to look at challenges as opportunities for growth while having a fixed mindset makes you less inclined to believe that new skills can […]
A major crossroad in your animation career lies in deciding whether you should generalize or specialize. This decision will determine both your education and your career path as an animator. Because you’ve got a long road ahead of you, it will also really help if you make a decision early on. A generalist is an […]
According to Hellen Keller, "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight and no vision.” Vision is defined as the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom. Also, as a mental image of what the future will look like. Your personal vision statement as an animator, in this […]
One cannot underestimate the power of a loyal client base. Not all of the animation clients you get remain loyal to you. As a matter of fact, only 12 to 15 percent of clients remain loyal to one retailer. However, they represent 55 to 70 percent of retail sales. A lot of businesses focus on […]
Email automation is one of the online marketing tools that have completely changed the way businesses communicate with their clients. It’s a powerful tool that allows you to automatically send your message to specific animation clients based on their business needs at the schedule you set. If you link it with your website analytics tool, […]
When you hear the word customer service, what comes to mind? Is it answering customer questions, solving problems, delivering on a promise? Customer service is even more than that. If you want to make a powerful impression on your customers, you need to level up your customer service skills. As an animator, you’re expected to […]
The incredible power and results of online marketing is more widely known than ever. That’s why individuals and businesses are leveling up their strategies by using online platforms. Advertising online allows you to create your perfect ad campaign easily and efficiently. With online ads, you can reach and engage with a huge audience and target […]
Working with a website designer is a significant investment and takes a lot of time and effort. That’s why, before you solicit a web designer to work on your animation website, you have to be sure that they’re the best fit for your website needs. Instead of trusting your site to someone after exchanging one […]
If you’ve been an animator for years now, odds are that you have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with newer animators. Luckily, there’s a way to help other animators thrive in the industry while simultaneously expanding your reach and legitimizing your business. The answer is blogging! Blogging has been around for around […]
As an animator, you know that turning your leads into clients is one of the most difficult but important parts of the business. Every animator wishes they had an easy time pushing sales leads down their marketing funnel, but looking for and converting new leads can often take a back seat to all the other […]
Even as tech evolves faster than ever, email is still undoubtedly the best electronic communication there is and is still relevant in business communication. So what makes email stand out as a top-tier form of communication? It’s all about the basic principles. The greatest factor in email’s time-tested efficacy is the fact that email is […]
Payment terms determine how and when you, as a freelance animator, will get paid by your animation clients. They contain everything related to payment, including deposits, who pays for what expense, payment methods, payment deadlines, and late payment penalties. According to Twine, freelance animators are usually the ones who set the payment terms. It’s rare […]
Even if you’ve been animating for a long time now, you may still feel like you don’t know what defined your personal style of animation. Or maybe you know your style, but want to change it. You may not be sure how to develop new a animation style because you’re afraid of deviating from the […]
Animation is an ever-changing industry. You’ve surely noticed that the animation style you grew up with as a kid has morphed into something entirely new. Well, since the very beginning, animation has been evolving into what we see today. We first saw animation in movies and shorts. Now, we see it in TV shows, ads, […]
As an animator, you need Twitter in your networking arsenal. Twitter is a great platform to connect with like-minded creative people, make friends, and share your work. With Twitter, you can even gain animation clients for free. It may seem challenging since there’s so much competition, but if you use the right strategies to market […]
Getting your animation clients to pay you on time is a common problem for many businesses and individuals. If you’re new to the business, you may assume that you’ll automatically get paid after getting hired or completing a job, but, typically, that’s just the beginning of getting your paycheck. If you want to receive your […]
If you’ve watched a movie or played your XBOX lately, you’ve probably already noticed that animation in games and movies is evolving faster than ever. Each decade, the smoothness of playing games and the experience of watching animated movies continue to improve in quality and in the number of games and movies produced. It is […]
Animators like you spend about half of the day sitting. A comfortable chair can make the difference between a productive day full of creativity and an annoying day filled with aches and pains. This is why choosing the perfect chair is so important for an animator. Most likely, you will be sitting down and not […]
Repeat Clients: The Lifeblood of Your Animation Business In a world where more is more, gaining new clients tends to stay at the forefront of a company’s to-do list. Many businesses focus most of their budget on new customer acquisition, and unfortunately, retaining customers takes the backseat of the priority bus. For example, for the […]
When it comes to defining your brand, a logo can set the tone from the very start. The best and most famous logos are the ones that immediately attract attention (in a good way!). Big brands such as Apple, Coca-Cola, or Starbucks Coffee convey reliability, quality, and originality through their logos, which have become iconic […]
In this day and age, live chats are a must for websites both for small and big businesses. Live chat capabilities turn your website into a powerful channel to attract leads, convert customers, evaluate performance, and enhance your business’ reputation. So what makes live chat so necessary? A live chat feature is a cost and […]
Twitter isn’t just for seeing what celebrities have to say about politics; it can also be a powerful marketing tool for your animation services. You can use Twitter’s advertising service to build brand awareness, increase engagement, and get more animation clients. With more than 330 million monthly active users and 145 million daily active users […]
What does it take to run a business? Hard work, determination, and… a website! If you want to succeed as an animator, you will need a website to attract new clients and legitimize yourself. Unless you’re also a web developer, requiring a website also means needing a website hosting provider. Website hosting providers help you […]
Are you finding it difficult to balance spending time on your work, being with family and friends, and taking some personal time? It can be a challenge, especially if your focus is on gaining new animation clients or getting noticed as a successful animator in the industry. The good news is you have complete control […]
Being an animator is generally a pretty sweet gig: you get to enjoy doing creative work for a living and even have complete control over your schedule if you’re a freelance animator. However, if you want to attract more clients and make more money, you need to take on some challenges to level up your […]
When it comes to making it as an animator, there are more than just art skills required. Even if you’re the best animator in the business, you won’t find true success until you learn how to communicate properly with your animation clients. Many animators forget that this is a part of the sales process and […]
Many people enjoy working from home. It can allow them to have more freedom, the potential to be creative, and control over their time. But on some days, even the most enthusiastic purporters of working from home can feel lonely and have the “work-from-home blues”. Without making an effort to set boundaries between life at […]
For most animators, their careers began as a hobby. As it turns into a profession and a source of income, though, it can sometimes feel draining and, and animators forget why they started animating in the first place. You may have felt this way too in the past, or maybe you’re currently experiencing it. If you’re […]
As you may have noticed, more and more people are making their foray into podcasts lately. From major influencers to people within your own circle of friends, it seems like everyone has a podcast. This isn’t just a bandwagon to hop on, though; there’s real progress to be made with podcasting. Whether someone chooses to […]
Whether you’re hoping to raise brand awareness for your animation services or attract sales leads, LinkedIn, with its more than 660 million users, is worth pursuing. Advertising your services on LinkedIn will allow you to build a powerful network of other animators and companies looking to create animated videos. Growing your animation business has never […]
There has been a rise in the number of people using animation for various purposes, and the number is predicted to rise continually from year to year. One of the biggest reasons the number will surge is that animated videos have many advantages compared to conventional live-action videos. Through live-action-videos, there are numerous constraints, such […]
Empathy - the ability to understand and to some extent, share the feelings of others as our own - is a skill that all of us are capable of demonstrating. Nevertheless, there is a varying degree in the depth of our abilities to demonstrate this particular skill and implement it in beneficial ways. First of […]
Drawing is arguably the essential skill that aspiring animators need. Accurate as this may be, relying on just this particular skill alone will not be sufficient to go a long way. Many challenges that animators face daily - such as working on a tight schedule, thinking about ways to pack the content in a relevant […]
In the past few years, YouTube channels about animation have become a great resource for animators of all kinds to show off their work. With YouTube being accessible worldwide by anyone, many animators can share their creativity anytime they want without any limitations. Some people may think that becoming a successful YouTube animator is easy, […]
YouTube is the second most popular website in the world with billions of users each month and billions of hours of videos being watched on it every single day. According to Oberlo, it reaches more 18-49 year-olds than any tv network. Plus, 81% of people are convinced to buy a product or service just by watching […]
Instagram is more than just a place to post pictures of your lattes. It can also be the perfect hunting grounds for new clients! Maybe you’ve had an Instagram for your animation business for a while now or maybe you’re brand new. Either way, if it seems like no prospects are following your account it […]
With so many entrepreneurs, artists, and brands fighting for attention in this digital era, animators like you need to follow strategies to stand out, get followers, make them stay, and convert them into animation clients. There are tons of effective hacks you can use to get animation clients for free on Instagram. However, if you […]
Disclaimer: We don't necessarily recommend finding work and clients on some of the marketplaces listed here due to high competition, low-quality clients, commissions deducted from your pay, not being able to grow your own brand, unstable source of income, etc. But it can be a good way to get started for some. With that said, […]
Finding your animation niche is not an easy task. If you’re just starting out your animation career or looking to get as many animation clients as you possibly can, finding your niche can be even more difficult. However, carving out a place for yourself in the industry is the best way to not only make […]
Becoming a great animator takes years of work, experience, and inspiration to master. A great source of inspiration for your animation career videos is learning from the best animators on YouTube. Some of the YouTube animators that we feature in this blog post upload their own drawing tutorials and animation projects. In their YouTube animation […]
Everyone has a website these days. Whether you’re an individual with a blog or a business that needs to draw in new clients, having a website is imperative in this day and age. Despite the prevalence of well-designed sites, many people who make and commission websites aren’t aware of the importance and benefits of having […]
If you have a website for your animation website, you know that the aesthetics and function of your website make a strong first impression about your services -- whether it be a good impression or a bad one. You should make your website look appealing if you want to promote your animation services in an […]
Writing proposals as an animator can be time-consuming and, even worse, BORING. Being a visually creative person, you would probably rather spend your time working on your animation projects over making a bunch of proposals that might not even lead to an actual project. We get it! For many years, people would always use Microsoft […]
With so many skilled and experienced designers, artists, and animators using great animation software in the world today, there’s more competition than ever. That’s why you will need a Unique Selling Proposition (USP) as an animator. A unique selling proposition helps you define your unique place in the animation industry. It’s what you show and […]
Working on a new animation project, whether it’s an explainer video, short film, advertisement, or even a passion project, can seem overwhelming and tough to finish. Here’s the thing: if you want to reach your goal, you need to set objectives. Without goals, you will feel lost and not have a sense of fulfillment as […]
Are you looking for a website builder that you can use to showcase your animation work? We’ve got you covered. You’ll find all the best website building sites right here. Website builders work wonders for freelancers, artists, bloggers, creative professionals, and more who don’t have the budget to hire someone to develop a website for […]
Everyone has their ideal lifestyle. Whether it’s far from the way you currently live or well within reach, you probably have an ideal lifestyle, too. The way you live now as an animator, as a friend, or as a family member is a reflection of all your choices and efforts in the past, and your […]
A website is an essential part of your freelance animation business. Your website is responsible for expanding people’s awareness of your animation services and getting you animation clients. Whether you’ve never made an animation website or you already have one but want to start fresh, this article will help put you on the right path […]
As an animator, your job is to give your animated characters believable movements that your audience will understand. Your characters shouldn’t just move; they should have a certain way of thinking as well as a unique personality. If you want to get better at animating your characters, you should first learn about acting. In this […]
You’ve got the animation skills, you know the technical side of the business inside and out… Becoming an animator should be a breeze, right? While having the technical skill and know-how certainly puts you on the right track to becoming a professional animator, things might get trickier when you are faced with managing the expectations […]
Does this sound familiar? You’ve been on a roll, animating up a storm, and nothing could slow you down! Except… rendering. Waiting for your projects to render can be frustrating, but it is a necessary step for you to finish your animation project. Unfortunately, there are many things that can slow down your rendering process, […]
Too much of a good thing is never good, especially in animation. Over-animation is excessive animation that animators put into in a scene. When animators over-animate, they give a character or an object unnecessary movements that ruin the animation’s purpose. This is a common problem for animators. In the pursuit of the best animation possible, […]
They’re every professional animator’s enemy: deadlines. Though they always seem to come too soon, deadlines are a necessary part of the business. This means that animators frequently have to speed up their animation times and submit their animated videos to clients as soon as possible. Sometimes, marketing agencies, advertising agencies, animation studios, and businesses need […]
If you want to succeed in an online business, you need to know your SEO. Understanding how SEO works and using it properly will help drive traffic to your website and increase brand awareness as well as conversions. To do this, you’ll need to observe and emulate what your competitors are currently doing with SEO, […]
Are you struggling to find more clients for your animation business? If you are a freelance animator and have no idea where to start searching for clients, LinkedIn can help you – for free. With more than 350 million members, LinkedIn is a huge, business-centered social media platform. On LinkedIn, you can connect with other […]
Communicating with a client is an everyday thing for animators. Since most of the work an animator like yourself does take place online, most of your communication is centered around devices such as your phone, laptop, desktop computer, or tablet, via various applications. Even before your client commissions your service, communication is already happening. After […]
There’s a very important part of freelancing or owning your own business that many people never talk about: collecting payment! Thankfully, today there are so many different options to choose from when it comes to online payment solutions for your transactions with your animation clients. Each of these solutions have unique features such as analytics, […]
Do you use social media platforms like Facebook to connect with friends and family? It turns out that social media can also be a great place to connect with clients! You can promote your animation business and find new clients all from the social media platforms you most likely already use. Is it really effective, […]
The internet is filled with questions like: “Is drawing really important for animation?” Many aspiring animators want to know if they can animate without great drawing skills. In a previous blog post, we talked about “4 Steps to Make Your Bad Drawing Work for You as an Animator". In this blog post, we won’t tell […]
To be a digital nomad means to live a life on the road or sometimes, on a beach. Instead of being in a place because of work, the world is your place, and you bring your work along with you. The Rise of Digital Nomads The workplace has evolved at an outstanding pace through the […]
Whether you’re new to the world of freelance animation or not, there will always be basic principles that you should remember to do and not do to please animation studios, businesses, marketing agencies, advertising agencies, etc. Below are the top 15 dos and don’ts for freelance animators. Dos of Freelance Animation 1) Do Prepare Your […]
Making mistakes is an inevitable part of life. Students, teachers, people in the workforce… it doesn’t matter who you are; we all make mistakes. Some of them can have a negligible impact on your life or work, but there are other mistakes that can impact your life both inside and out of your job. Whether […]
As an animator, there are many ways you can be employed. You can work on-staff with a company, or you can freelance, and there are many different types of freelancing! All these options can be confusing, so here, we’ve summarized 9 differences between freelance and on-staff animation work, so you can decide which path best […]
If you were to ask experienced animators which book they consider the number one must-have for up-and-coming animators, they would most likely have different opinions. That’s because there are so many great animation books out there breaching all the topics an animator could ever need. From 3D animation, 2D animation, motion graphics, and more, there […]
More and more businesses are hiring agencies and freelance animators to work on animated videos. That’s because animated videos are one of the most effective ways to inform and persuade customers in a very simple, but still entertaining, way. Agencies and animators should have a fixed process of planning, organizing, and working together if they […]
If you’ve decided to hire a website designer for your animation website, it’s essential to hire the best designer. A well-designed website can help you promote your animation services, establish a robust online presence, and get more clients. However, some businesses and employers don’t know where to hire, whom to hire, and how to hire. […]
In the world today, animation is everywhere from films and television shows to advertisements, video games, and all over the internet. Since animation is a thriving field, you as an animator should be thriving too! However, since there is more need than ever for animation, there are more up-and-coming animators than ever ready to step […]
Creating a portfolio or animation website is an excellent (and necessary) step towards establishing an online presence as an animator. If you really want to generate leads and increase sales, though, you will need to create a powerful landing page. First thing’s first: what is a landing page? Your landing page is the first page […]
Google ads are a great way to promote your animation services. Google, after all, is the most popular search engine, dominating more than 72% of users worldwide. It also has different advertising options that will fit any business goal – including yours! Not only will Google ads allow you to reach more people, but they […]
When you’re running a freelance animation business, you have to take advantage of all the ways you can get animation clients both offline and online. One of the most important platforms you can use to promote yourself is Facebook. Facebook is not just a place to keep up with your friends from college anymore. Now, […]
The animation industry is filled with so many top-notch animators who are constantly putting out great material and unique characters. Sometimes, though, even they run out of inspiration. To stay inspired and keep up with the most recent trends in the field of animation, artists should constantly be learning from books, videos, online courses, seminars, […]
No doubt, drawing helps a person understand the foundations of animation. After all, animation developed from hand-drawn illustrations. Furthermore, drawing helps animators easily bring their conceptualized characters into being. Some 2D animators have a knack for drawing, but not all do! In fact some animators are famous despite, and sometimes because of, their “bad” drawing […]
Have you ever felt like you’re not a good animator, no matter how many times you have been praised? Have you worried that other people view you as a copy-cat or unoriginal? This feeling is called impostor syndrome, and it can happen to anyone. If you regularly doubt yourself, get easily disappointed when you don’t […]
Disclaimer: We don't recommend finding work and clients on some of the marketplaces listed here due to high competition, low-quality clients, commissions deducted from your pay, not being able to grow your own brand, unstable source of income, etc. With that said, in Animation Accelerator we have figured out a unique strategy that will help […]
New animation trends and concepts are developed almost every day. Within the industry, there’s a lot of competition with other talented animators, so you need to create unique animations that differentiate you. Seek inspiration from great animators. Use that inspiration to practice more animation styles that you enjoy and think your clients will like. The […]
Making your animation clients happy and exceeding their expectations are the best ways to promote yourself as an animator. If you make your client happy, you may be able to gather useful testimonials. Testimonials make you and your animation skills look more valuable and trustworthy. 82% of consumers read reviews online to find businesses they […]
Creative block happens to everyone from designers to animators. Sometimes you may feel like your world has stopped because of your temporary lull in creativity. Luckily, you’re not the only one going through this. Many top artists have suffered from creative blocks and were able to get through them. You will get through your block […]
With a project proposal, you present a solution to a problem your potential client has defined, the budget for the project, the ideal timeline, and other relevant information. Animation project proposals are usually agreed on and signed after several conversations between you and your client. It may seem unnecessary and frustrating to write an animation […]
Freelance animation is an exciting and challenging career. As an animator, there are so many areas you can experiment and specialize in, including 2D animation, 3D animation, whiteboard animation, motion graphics, storyboarding, and more. Before you fully dive into being a freelance animator, there are some points you have to remember. Here are our top […]
The most influential and famous animation studios in the world have created many movies. If you are wondering about the history of top animation studios and are looking for some tips on how to manage your own animation studio in the future, then this blog post is for you. Walt Disney Animation Studios Image from […]
Being a freelance animator can seem like a dream job for some people. You get to be your own boss, you control your working hours, and you can work from home. However, there are also challenges that animators might face while being self-employed. If you want to know more about the daily life of a […]
Just because you’re an animator, you don’t always have to dish out hundreds of dollars just to buy software and practice your animation skills. There are some free software options, which are used by many 2D and 3D professional animators. To help guide you as you practice with and explore software, here is a list […]
Many animators have a hard time deciding how to price their services and also complain that their clients pay them poorly. Take the wheel of your animation career and learn how to price your services and negotiate properly. But don’t worry, you don’t have to do it alone. We’ve prepared 7 tips to help you […]
More and more artists, including animators, are moving from traditional art to digital art. Digital animation makes sketching, coloring, painting, masking, etc. easier, compared to traditional animation. In order to create digital art, physical tools such as a graphics tablet, a PC, and a stylus make the experience much more effective, and great software is […]
Almost all animators struggle with time management. The time within a day is limited, and you probably have a whole host of other responsibilities on your plate, outside of managing your animation work. But knowing how to properly manage your tasks within a given time will help ensure you complete your work by deadlines and […]
