Doing graphic design and video editing for a local TV station, finding a new home in the Envato marketplaces, making the Top 40 after being ranked 528, and advising other authors not to hurry the process of submitting files. This week we meet Misel Delic (miseld) from VideoHive (as well as AudioJungle, GraphicRiver and PhotoDune).

If you’re an Envato marketplace author and would like to be interviewed for the blog, head over to this form. We’d love to hear from you.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from, what do you do for a living?

Hi, my name is Misel (Michelle) Delic, I’m freelancer from Bosna and Herzegovina (Balcan). I’m 31 years old, married, and father of a beautiful five-year-old daughter.

I work as a graphic designer and video editor on the local TV station that covers Europe, Australia, US and Canada via two satellite channels.

For the last two years I’ve been working on the Envato marketplaces as, let’s say, a successful author. And I’m trying to achieve amazing goals with other authors who take the marketplaces seriously as their main income and new future.

Which marketplaces do you belong to? What types of files do you sell?

My primary marketplace is VideoHive where I sell my After Effects templates and motion graphics, but I’m also active on AudioJungle, GraphicRiver and PhotoDune.

Also since 2011 I’ve been active as buyer. I’m trying to help and stimulate many authors by buying their items for my clients, and in the same time I’m trying to reach the balance between those two and making Envato marketplaces better for both as much is possible.

How did you get started? Have you had any formal training?

Envato happened accidentally in my life. Due to the global financial crisis I lost my job, and after 10 days/nights of surfing over the Internet I found a forum where Ilija aka “D3luxxxe” and “Dorde” shared their knowledge and satisfaction about the VideoHive marketplace.

I was positively impressed, and after doing some online research and reading about Envato and it founder-owner Collis Ta’eed, I said to myself, “This is the place where I belong, this is my new life.”

Full of enthusiasm and power I jumped in, and guess what? My first item was rejected! I was not disappointed. It was not so easy for me to adapt myself to the marketplace rules, but I never gave up. What does not kill you makes you stronger, right?

The next week or so my 1st item was approved and I was so happy, but I didn’t realize that I was ranked as 528 (member) on top author list. I started to follow other top authors, to see what are they doing, what sells on the market etc… After few months I realized that I needed to spend more time than I expected.

I have over 11 years experience in graphic design, video editing etc. But being VideoHive author is much more than that. You need branding, something that helps people to recognize you, so I started AEDADDY, my own brand, and upgraded my skills as much is possible.

Starting from the last position, I’m proud to say I am now in the top 40 authors. And our marketplace at the time you’re reading this interview has nearly 1,500 authors.

Describe your home workspace.

A table, chair and two beauties – my CoreQuad workstation and HP laptop. Since I work alone there is always a mess, papers, and coffee. And sometimes even whiskey is my guest, if I’m celebrating a good month or achieving some goals. As I like to say, “My table is a real horror,” but that’s me, working non-stop.

Describe your creative process. What steps do you normally follow to create your files?

Most of my work is inspired by movies. In my portfolio there are a lot of cinematic templates, graphics and music. There is nothing special, sometimes a small emotion can turn you in to machine. I must admit, if I don’t have inspiration I never work.

What is your advice to other authors regarding how to create a successful portfolio?

My advice is don’t hurry. Sometimes when you create something new, you feel happy about that and inside of you there is something that tells you “SUBMIT,” or “IT WILL BE THE BEST SELLER”, but wait, STOP, hold on for a moment, leave it for another day. There is always something that is missing – maybe small dot or polish. Give that item a small spurt, do research, analyze the market again, try to make a long term project. Sooner or later success is guaranteed.

What do you do to market your files?

This is the million dollar question!

I primarily use Twiter, as well as Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, Adobe Exchange Market, and from time to time I use Google Adwords. Online marketing is a science – I need much more space than I have in this interview to share my knowledge and experience with you all.

Since I don’t have time to write about marketing strategies, I would like to say just one word: “Turn around. Marketing is everywhere around us. If you don’t see it you are the happiest man/woman in the world.” Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.

What are your three favorite files, and why do you like them?

“Alphabetica” by InlifeThrill

I like how the project looks. Somehow it’s unique, and I think Inlife uses After Effects CS3 to the max to create it.

“Black Classic 3D Logo” by Maupa

A clean style, and that plastic look was bingo for best selling item at VideoHive. I just wonder how many times it will sell.

“Hands” by Phillip

It’s unique and i like idea, creating template like “Hands” was not but at the end it pays off!

Apart from yourself, who is your favorite marketplace author, and why do you like them?

Ben aka “Felt_Tips“. He is guru, that’s all I can say.

Yuri_Arcurs. I don’t know him personally, but he is one of my favorite examples how you can be successful.

Christian aka “Kriesi“. He currently has 45 items, over 40k sales, and a power elite badge. Most of us will never reach that level of success. He is the right guy at the right time in the right place.

There is many others such is: Dorde, BBoyKoma, Mocarg, Digitalvox_design, D3luxxxe, InlifeThrill, PlamenCvetanov, Zanimotion etc. The list would be huge if I continued writing.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all from Envato HQ for the selfless support.

Big thanks to: Mark Brodhuber, Drew Douglass, Jami Gibbs, Thinesh Paramalingam, Ibrahim Rodríguez, Filips Baumanis, Nicholas Kramer, Tyson Frantz, Adrian Try and all other who make my life easy.

Special thanks to Collis Ta’eed. Without you I would never achieve my dreams.

What do you do in your spare time?

I play with my daughter/ But I never take a break – non stop working. From time to time I watch movies, read blogs, go out for a walk, nothing special.

Since this is the last question and you read the answer, I would like to ask all of you who read this interview for a favor:

- Every time when you wake up ask yourself “What I can do today for myself?”

Thanks, I hope you enjoyed.
Misel D.