Matt Keefe's guest appearances

Matt Keefe

The Busy Creator Podcast with Prescott Perez-Fox

Michael Bierut

Gabby Wallace

Cal Newport

Cathryn Lavery

Laura Roeder

Jim Hopkinson

Eric Kass

Douglas Davis

Betsy Helmuth

Debbie Millman

Steve Dotto

Todd Henry

Laura Thomas

Lisa Cummings

John Hargrave

OwlTail

Matt Keefe (@MKeefe) is a multitalented designer &amp; developer, and the co-founder of PixelBit, a design and development agency. PixelBit has no particular home base, with staff spread out all over the world. Managing this requires systems and good communication, which Matt discusses in this conversation. We also cover tools and methodologies that change over time, sometimes very quickly, balancing client needs with constraints of deadlines and technology, and leaving life as a freelancer for one of a business owner.  Show Notes &amp; Links Matt and Prescott met via the Photoshop Cafe forum c.2001 Prescott bemoans the end of forums in general Colin Smith, founder of Photoshop Cafe Facebook groups are nearly impossible to search Matt helps “clients create products and expand on their brands” PixelBit was founded in 2011 by Matt Keefe and Philip Neal as a mobile and app development team Matt was a freelancer for ten years PixelBit will partner with larger agencies when they’re at capacity  “We’re like an outside force inside their business” —Matt KeefeClick to Tweet  Apple Watch, less of a consumer product and more of a new brand platform Those guys who grow enormous pumpkins, and how they prune Blackberry and Flash, once prominent now all-but-abandoned Developing for Android is often overlooked, but it can be a powerful boost to your brand The balance between intuitive apps that look like the OS, and user discovery from innovative new UI  “Being a freelancer is like being Batman; one day you’re called on to save the world, but the next you’re an orphan.” —Prescott Perez-FoxClick to Tweet “Freelancing is all about the journey because there is no ‘freelance destination’ ” —Prescott Perez-FoxClick to Tweet “As a small business owner, you have to wear 57 different hats.” —Matt KeefeClick to Tweet  Matt is [still] a programmer, but has moved away from design  “You don’t have the money not to market your company.” —Matt KeefeClick to Tweet  PixelBit didn’t find success with Twitter or Facebook ads; it’s hard to sell services in 140 characters Von Glitschka, Illustrative designer on Dribbble Vijay Mathews, past guest on The Busy Creator Podcast  “There’s never too much communication … unless it’s by email” —Matt KeefeClick to Tweet  Henry David Thoreau, and his rural Massachusetts lifestyle Autocross  Matt Keefe on Twitter  Matt Keefe on Facebook  Matt Keefe on Instagram  PixelBit on Twitter  PixelBit on FacebookTools Slack Flash iOS, Android, Windows Phone OS – mobile operation systems WordPress Sortfolio (formerly Haystack), a directory for agencies Dribbble or Behance, portfolio sites Dropbox InVision to screenshare with clients Trello Jira for bug-tracking Basecamp Harvest Agile workflows Quickbooks Online Xero Ikea desksTechniques Use Slack to maintain a group community (instead of Facebook) Reconnect with previous clients to introduce your new capabilities or team Acknowledge where your skills are best utilized — design vs. development Post work and engage on Facebook, but don’t expect an ROI and real project works Create a Trello board for design and development ideas Implement a “ground game” at local Chambers of Commerce and other groups Include the client on ideation Never be in a position where the client asks “what’s the status?” Write-off the square footage of your home office, but only if there’s a door!Habits Always have a staging server so the client can see the project status Use milestones and formal meetings, because some clients prefer it Wake up at 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning, especially to chat with team members in different timezones Keep a structured eating schedule, especially when you’re deep in a project Maintain hobbies that are entirely separate from computers and technology Try Audible.com Free for 30-DaysVisit BusyCreatorBook.com for your free trial Get Remote: Office Not Required by Jason Fried &amp; David Heinemeier Hansson as a free audiobookGet The Episode  Download The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 53 (MP3, 42:17, 20.3 MB) Download The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 53 (OGG, 42:17, 36.0 MB)    Subscribe to Get New Episodes Subscribe to The Busy Creator Podcast on iTunes

Matt Keefe (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/MKeefe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@MKeefe</a>) is a multitalented designer &amp; developer, and the co-founder of <a href="http://pixelbit.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PixelBit</a>, a design and development agency. PixelBit has no particular home base, with staff spread out all over the world. Managing this requires systems and good communication, which Matt discusses in this conversation. We also cover tools and methodologies that change over time, sometimes very quickly, balancing client needs with constraints of deadlines and technology, and leaving life as a freelancer for one of a business owner.  Show Notes &amp; Links <ul> <li>Matt and Prescott met via the <a href="http://photoshopcafe.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Photoshop Cafe</a> forum c.2001</li> <li>Prescott bemoans the end of forums in general</li> <li><a href="http://photoshopcafe.com/about.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Colin Smith</a>, founder of Photoshop Cafe</li> <li>Facebook groups are nearly impossible to search</li> <li>Matt helps “clients create products and expand on their brands”</li> <li><a href="http://pixelbit.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PixelBit</a> was founded in 2011 by Matt Keefe and <a href="http://twitter.com/PhilipJNeal" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Philip Neal</a> as a mobile and app development team</li> <li>Matt was a freelancer for ten years</li> <li>PixelBit will partner with larger agencies when they’re at capacity</li> </ul> “We’re like an outside force inside their business” —Matt Keefe<a href="http://ctt.ec/eB3td" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click to Tweet</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.apple.com/watch/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Apple Watch</a>, less of a consumer product and more of a new brand platform</li> <li>Those guys who <a href="http://www.gardenersnet.com/vegetable/giantpumpkins.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">grow enormous pumpkins</a>, and how they prune</li> <li><a href="http://us.blackberry.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Blackberry</a> and <a href="http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flash</a>, once prominent now all-but-abandoned</li> <li>Developing for <a href="https://www.android.com/intl/en_us/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Android</a> is often overlooked, but it can be a powerful boost to your brand</li> <li>The balance between intuitive apps that look like the OS, and user discovery from innovative new UI</li> </ul> “Being a freelancer is like being Batman; one day you’re called on to save the world, but the next you’re an orphan.” —Prescott Perez-Fox<a href="http://ctt.ec/Balco" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click to Tweet</a> “Freelancing is all about the journey because there is no ‘freelance destination’ ” —Prescott Perez-Fox<a href="http://ctt.ec/1Cz2c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click to Tweet</a> “As a small business owner, you have to wear 57 different hats.” —Matt Keefe<a href="http://ctt.ec/wdxtf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click to Tweet</a> <ul> <li>Matt is [still] a programmer, but has moved away from design</li> </ul> “You don’t have the money not to market your company.” —Matt Keefe<a href="http://ctt.ec/3wLel" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click to Tweet</a> <ul> <li>PixelBit didn’t find success with Twitter or Facebook ads; it’s hard to sell services in 140 characters</li> <li><a href="http://www.glitschkastudios.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Von Glitschka</a>, Illustrative designer <a href="http://dribbble.com/vonster" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on Dribbble</a></li> <li>Vijay Mathews, <a href="http://busycreator.com/32" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">past guest on The Busy Creator Podcast</a></li> </ul> “There’s never too much communication … unless it’s by email” —Matt Keefe<a href="http://ctt.ec/He8BD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Click to Tweet</a> <ul> <li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Henry David Thoreau</a>, and his rural Massachusetts lifestyle</li> <li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocross" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Autocross</a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/MKeefe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matt Keefe on Twitter</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mkeefecom" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matt Keefe on Facebook</a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.instagram.com/MKeefe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Matt Keefe on Instagram</a></li> <li> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/pixelbit" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PixelBit on Twitter</a></li> <li> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PixelBitcreative" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PixelBit on Facebook</a></li></ul>Tools <ul> <li><a href="http://slack.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Slack</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flash</a></li> <li>iOS, Android, Windows Phone OS – mobile operation systems</li> <li><a href="http://wordpress.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WordPress</a></li> <li><a href="http://sortfolio.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sortfolio</a> (formerly Haystack), a directory for agencies</li> <li><a href="http://dribbble.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dribbble</a> or <a href="http://behance.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Behance</a>, portfolio sites</li> <li><a href="http://busycreator.com/dropbox" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dropbox</a></li> <li><a href="http://invisionapp.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">InVision</a> to screenshare with clients</li> <li><a href="http://trello.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trello</a></li> <li><a href="http://atlassian.com/jira" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jira</a> for bug-tracking</li> <li><a href="http://basecamp.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Basecamp</a></li> <li><a href="http://busycreator.com/harvest" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Harvest</a></li> <li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_software_development" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Agile workflows</a></li> <li><a href="http://quickbooks.intuit.com/online/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Quickbooks Online</a></li> <li><a href="http://xero.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Xero</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/workspaces/desks_and_tables/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ikea desks</a></li></ul>Techniques <ul> <li>Use Slack to maintain a group community (instead of Facebook)</li> <li>Reconnect with previous clients to introduce your new capabilities or team</li> <li>Acknowledge where your skills are best utilized — design vs. development</li> <li>Post work and engage on Facebook, but don’t expect an ROI and real project works</li> <li>Create a Trello board for design and development ideas</li> <li>Implement a “ground game” at local Chambers of Commerce and other groups</li> <li>Include the client on ideation</li> <li>Never be in a position where the client asks “what’s the status?”</li> <li>Write-off the square footage of your home office, but only if there’s a door!</li></ul>Habits <ul> <li>Always have a staging server so the client can see the project status</li> <li>Use milestones and formal meetings, because some clients prefer it</li> <li>Wake up at 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning, especially to chat with team members in different timezones</li> <li>Keep a structured eating schedule, especially when you’re deep in a project</li> <li>Maintain hobbies that are entirely separate from computers and technology </li></ul>Try <a href="http://Audible.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Audible.com</a> Free for 30-Days Visit <a href="http://busycreatorbook.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BusyCreatorBook.com</a> for your free trial<a href="http://busycreatorbook.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> Get Remote: Office Not Required by Jason Fried &amp; David Heinemeier Hansson as a free audiobook<a href="http://www.busycreatorbook.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a>Get The Episode <ul> <ul> <li><a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/busycreator/TheBusyCreator_53_MattKeefe.mp3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 53</a> (MP3, 42:17, 20.3 MB)</li> <li><a href="http://busycreator.com/podcast-eps/TheBusyCreator_53_MattKeefe.ogg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Download The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 53</a> (OGG, 42:17, 36.0 MB)</li> </ul> </ul>  Subscribe to Get New Episodes <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-busy-creator-podcast/id816956921?mt=2&amp;uo=4&amp;at=10ltSM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a> <a href="http://busycreator.com/itunes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe to The Busy Creator Podcast on iTunes</a>

The Busy Creator 53 w/guest Matt Keefe