Interview › Gino Orlandi
by NichMI had Adobe Photoshop for a while before I started freelancing, but I really got into design when I started college and took some basic software classes. Soon after that I started freelancing online.
Who have you done work for?
I have done work for a lot of interesting clients including a fashion designer, fashion stylist, a lot of start up companies and I also get some great clients once in a while who send a lot of steady work my way.
What are some of the tools you use?
I pretty much just use the adobe creative suite and right now I'm looking into buying a new iMac and Wacom stylus.
Where can we find more information to hire you?
You can check out my website www.ginoorlandi.com. The new version is still under construction and I am currently working on adding new and old work to the site.
What/Where is the best place to get inspiration?
I like to read design magazines, view portfolio sites of other designers and check out other creative websites that showcase design work.
cssremix.com is nice for website design inspiration
faveup.com is great for logo design inspiration
printmag.com is my favorite design magazine
When did you get into blogging and how?
I recently got into bogging about 4 months ago and I basically just started researching blogging online until I felt comfortable enough to start my own blog.
ProBlogger is an important blog to read if you want to become a professional blogger.
Why do you think blogs are such a great way to share information?
I think they are great because content management systems like Wordpress make it so easy to publish information quickly online. People have also developed many great free plugins and other software to enhance your blog.
Bloggers are always wondering if you can live off blogging, what are your experiences?
I think it's definitely possible to make a living blogging if you work hard at it. Blogging is all about research, quality content and promotion. The more you grow the more money you can make and there are very few expenses so profits can be great.
The real key though is to have a passion for what you are writing about or you will lose interest after a few months and it will be extremely difficult to write posts.
On your blog you seem to be trying several ways to monetize it, which do you find the most successful?
I would say paid sponsorships are by far the best way to make money, but other ways such as Google Adsense and affiliate programs can be a great addition.
Do you find it hard to constantly post every weekday?
You really need to stay on top of your game and be very organized to do this. I have a large list of bookmarks and other resources I check during the week for post material and I usually write all my posts for the following week on the weekend. This way I don't stress myself out during the week trying to write posts.
What are some tips for people who are trying to gain more readers to their blog?
Keep improving your content, study other websites in your niche, take advantage of free promotion methods such as forum posting, article directories, social bookmarking sites and most importantly networking with other people in your niche.
You recently released a Graphic Design Forum, what is it?
It's a great new place for designers to discuss current topics, learn and have fun in a friendly environment.
What made you want to create a forum?
I love the design community and I wanted to create a place where readers of my blog and designers could network and learn from each other.
What can we expect in the future from you and You the Designer?
I plan on expanding my freelance design business and I look forward to the continued growth of my blog and new graphic design forums. I hope to see you all there!