Tim Halling is the founder of Scribble Digital & Design, a Sydney-based company that provides graphic design and digital marketing services to a range of businesses across Australia. Since 2011 Scribble has provided brands with digital and design support to help them thrive.
For more information on Scribble Digital & Design visit scribblegraphicdesign.com.au
Here we sit down with Tim to get valuable insights about his journey as an entrepreneur.
Q. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
Tim: I think there were a few things that inspired me. I was keen to have something that I had ownership of. I read “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” in my early 20s and often recalled the importance it placed on starting a business and the related financial benefits that working for yourself provides. I also wanted the freedom to be able to work and travel at the same time which Scribble allowed me to do.
Q. How did you get started?
Tim: Scribble began as a side hustle. My full-time roles were primarily focused on marketing, as I found there were more job opportunities in marketing as opposed to design when I started my career. Having a side hustle allowed me to supplement my income but also provided a creative outlet where I could continue to do graphic design as well. I did a few projects for friends and family and it really just grew from there.
Q. What was your biggest startup challenge? What steps did you take to overcome it? What did you learn?
Tim: Starting out, it was hard to get design projects and build a client base, particularly on freelance marketplace sites like Freelancer and Upwork. There’s often a lot of overseas competition bidding for work offering far cheaper hourly rates that I simply couldn’t compete with.
I found it was all about learning from your experiences and being vigilant when looking for opportunities. I continually optimised my approach to bidding on projects and tried to make pitches and work examples as personalised and relevant to the client as possible. I posted projects myself as a competitor analysis exercise to see how other freelancers were bidding on projects to see where I could improve.
I’d specifically target Australian businesses that would potentially be willing to pay a little more for a local designer who knows the Australian market. I also found that offering to do the first project cheaper to get your foot in the door, build relationships and get positive public reviews was also beneficial. A combination of all of this helped me to start landing ongoing clients.
Q. What is the most memorable thing you’ve done since you started your business?
Tim: I worked very closely with Atira Student Living for several years, helping drive their brand refresh and digital marketing transformation. This included the launch of a brand new website with industry-first integration. Atira was recognised with the Excellence in Marketing and Communications award at the Asia-Pacific Student Accommodation Association for that work which was very rewarding.
Q. What is one book you recommend, and why?
Tim: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant. I’ve been a fan of Naval for a while after I first heard him on the Joe Rogan podcast. The book is a collection of his thoughts and philosophies on not only business and building wealth but also achieving happiness. I love how he thinks and the way he’s able to take quite complex ideas and articulate them in their simplest form.
Q. What are your top 3 favourite online apps, tools or resources and what do you love about them?
Tim: I would say my top 3 are:
Twitter/X: If you follow the right people and steer clear of the toxicity, there are a heap of amazing designers and marketers posting awesome content and learning resources.
Google Drive: I use Google Drive as my file repository. Easy to use, cost-effective cloud storage and I have a ton of design files for over 100+ clients past and present.
Asana: I’m starting to use Asana for project management and task tracking. Really helps to keep track of to-do lists across multiple clients and my team at the same time.
Q. In terms of legacy, what is the mark you’d like to leave on the world?
Tim: I think, ideally, we all want to make a positive impact and leave the world a better place. The best part about owning and working at Scribble is supporting businesses while they grow and kick their own goals. Watching them succeed is what keeps me passionate about marketing and design.
Q. In one sentence, what’s the best advice you’d give to someone just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey?
Tim: I’d say: “Embrace the grind”. I think having the discipline and drive to work harder than the next person plays a big part in creating a successful business. It’s also easier if your mindset is to love the process instead of the destination.
To keep up to date with Tim and his journey, connect with him at http://scribblegraphicdesign.com.au/
