We recently connected with Ebony Ivey McDonald and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Ebony thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

My first few clients were referrals which I’m very fortunate to have received. My close friends and family spread the word about my services and several people were in need.

My first client outside of referrals came from online ads. I leveraged several digital marketplaces and social media channels to promote my business. Websites like DesignRush, and Fiverr are great resources. One day I received a phone call from someone who was interested in learning more about my offerings. I was so excited, but I couldn’t let my excitement have me get too ahead of myself before they signed an agreement. I made sure to send a brief summary via email immediately after the phone call and continued to make myself available for any questions. Within a week, I had officially secured my first big, non-referral, client, Initially, I couldn’t believe that someone was impressed enough with me and my work to do business with me. It felt so surreal and also gave me a big confidence boost.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I never imagined I’d be in the creative field. My plan was to go into music and be an A&R or publicist for popular artists.

It wasn’t until college that I discovered my passion for creating. I was always the one designing flyers for events or neatly setting up a Powerpoint template. Somehow, I’ve always been pretty tech-savvy, so the two paired together effortlessly.

I think what I’m most passionate about in my line of work, is the direct hand that I have in business growth. Websites and digital content are no longer a “nice to have” for a business. Online presence can make or break conversion rates almost immediately and I enjoy seeing visitors convert to repeat clients.

I get to work with business owners and stakeholders to bring their visions to life and it directly impacts their bottom line in a positive way. I’ve helped build brands from the ground up and it’s extremely satisfying to say that when the brands are thriving, and are a direct representation of your experience and capabilities.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Designing can be challenging in more ways than one. A lot of people don’t immediately know what they want and they don’t figure it out until something is visually presented to them. Often times, it’s up to marketers and designers to think creatively for someone and that leaves room for visions to be misaligned.

One of my first clients was very confident in the vision she had for her business and I had to learn that the critiques and feedback on my work were not personal attacks on my talent or abilities. Revisions are a natural part of the creative process and now, I enjoy when clients provide feedback. I note all revisions in order to streamline and hopefully ace the next design and it shows me that they are confident in their brand.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I believe my purpose is giving and I think that can be done in so many different ways. A person can give their time, share their resources, give advice and ideas or give financially. For now, my main goal is to lead by example in hopes that others are inspired and find enjoyment in giving back the way I do.

My long term goal is for Gold & Fourth to be a content powerhouse. I’d like for my business to be known for curating unicorn brands and I’d like to provide opportunities for minorities, at all career levels, in the creative field.

Contact Info:

• Website: goldandfourth.com
• Instagram: goldandfourth