$0 to $10K MRR in 12 Months: 3 Things That Actually Moved the Needle for My Design Agency
Most design agencies stay stuck under $5K/month. I was one of them for 2 years.
The agency technically existed for 3 years, but I only got serious 12 months ago. What changed? I stopped letting fear run the show. While I was "planning" and "preparing," competitors were closing my potential clients.
Here's what actually worked to hit $10K MRR:
1. Treating Twitter like a sales channel (not a portfolio)
Personal brand beats agency brand every time. People buy from people.
My approach: I post multiple times daily, but the real game-changer was commenting. I leave 100+ comments per day on posts where my ideal clients hang out (AI and crypto founders, mostly).
This sounds excessive. It is. But it works because you become familiar before they ever need you.
What didn't work: Posting once a day and hoping the algorithm would do the rest. It won't.
2. Over-delivering until it hurts
I have "deliver an unforgettable experience" written on a board in front of my desk. I see it every day.
Practically, this means:
Giving more than what's asked
Sending small gifts to clients
Treating their product like it's mine
The result: Average client stays 10 months. That's where the real revenue comes from - retention, not acquisition.
3. Hiring for initiative, not just skill
I have 5 people on my team now. The #1 trait I look for: Can they generate ideas without me?
If I have to manage someone step-by-step ("do this, then do that"), they're not the right fit. I keep a running database of designers so I always have backup options.
Harsh? Maybe. But an autonomous team means the business runs even when I'm sick.
The uncomfortable truth: None of this works if you don't genuinely love the craft. When I'm in flow state, ideas just come. I'm not forcing anything - I'm just doing what I enjoy. Clients pick up on that energy.
What's ONE thing that moved the needle most for your agency or freelance business?
Let's connect, you can message or ask anything here or in comments -
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Congrats! That's a huge milestone. I am curious: How did you have the time for 100 comments per day AND the build? And follow up question: did you take the leap and go full-time? Or did you do this partially while working a full time job?
These are the issues I'm running into. It's tough out here. My Twitter is mostly turning into a build log, and it's difficult to find my ICP on Twitter specifically without drifting into the PE Bro/SaaS founder bro algorithm (not my ICP).
This was refreshing to read. The ‘over-delivering until it hurts’ section resonated a lot. Everyone talks about acquisition, but almost nobody talks about keeping clients for 10+ months. That mindset shift alone is worth the read.
Thank you!
What an incredible journey — huge congratulations on everything you’ve achieved along the way! Your article was genuinely eye-opening and packed with insight. Thank you for sharing it so openly.
Congrats on your achievements through the journey! I found the article interesting and quite insightful. Thanks for the post!
This post came at the perfect time. I’ve been stuck under $5K MRR for almost 2 years and was starting to think it’s just ‘normal’. Seeing your shift in mindset + concrete actions (100+ comments, over-delivery, initiative-first hiring) makes the path feel much clearer. Thanks for sharing the real playbook
Thank you too
Congrats on the journey from $0 to $10K MRR! I like that you didn’t romanticize it — 100+ comments a day and hiring for initiative sounds intense but real. Do you have any examples of questions or angles you use when you comment so much without sounding spammy?
Just try to give value, not just random comments