So, my question to you is: How many different directions can YOU grow YOUR business?
At the moment I just run one business - design. Current direction is to provide logo/branding, collateral, app, and web design. I've recently expanded into offering coding services. Not very comprehensive, just one language, and only for the web (no mobile apps or anything). Using both skills, I've expanded into offering the full package - full-stack web service. To prove I can do it, I made a site that sells ready-made logos and icons. So that's two ways so far.
To expand further, I could learn the basics of Wordpress & design web templates for that platform. Or I could learn PHP & offer full Wordpress services. If I go that route, I could maybe make a purchasable Wordpress template, and sell it on the Envato platform. Another possible way to expand, would be to learn Objective C, and start offering app-construction services. One other way is to brush up on my 3D skills, and combine my coding ability & graphic design, to create fresh new games.
Now, unfortunately, due to the extremely low barrier of entry of the design industry, every Tom, Dick, and Harry thinks they can make do with downloadable templates (of questionable copyright & ownerships) and self-made stuff. Clients too are spoiled for choice, with many in third-world countries offering cheap to free services. These and other factors unfortunately reduced the respect and overall incomes of designers. The Wordpress area is completely saturated, so that's probably not a useful avenue to take. Apps (both development and design) still has a market, even if there are countless apps out there that make no money. If you know both design and app development, you could earn somewhat decently. Unfortunately, this probably isn't going to last very long. Newer and more exciting gadgets have appeared in the horizon (VR, AR, etc..), and it's only a matter of time before handhelds are gone. I give it a couple more years. As for 3D games, it's rather risky and extremely time-consuming to create even the simplest of 3D games. While open-source engines exists, they still take time and money to build something that folks actually want to play.
Future's not looking too bright in this field at the moment. So I'm taking my design skill towards the only direction that makes the most sense - using design as one of my powerful toolsets. Development is another. Rather than depend on clients, I'd much prefer building things myself. That's probably the best way to grow... as a brand new business.
