We live in a world where the way things work shifts almost
daily.
And for creatives, the flexible landscape of freelancing has many benefits, such as creative and financial freedom.
With freelancing, people are able to work at their own pace, take on projects that they are passionate about and set their own prices.
Put your pens down and read on as media update's Saads Abrahams breaks down how to become a freelance graphic designer.
via GIPHY
Be ready
You need to
make sure that you are ready to become a freelancer. If you are leaving your corporate, nine-to-five and stable-salary job, make sure you are prepared for the
huge adjustment that comes with being a freelancer.
Make sure that you
have funds to keep you going for a while so that you don't just take on projects you are not necessarily excited about. Be careful to not take on too many projects either
just so you can pay the bills.
Build a memorable portfolio
You are a creative! Your portfolio needs to
bleed creativity. Make sure that you are showing off your
skills, your
niche and your
diversity!
Having a stellar portfolio means you can
draw in a clientele that resonates with who you are as an individual brand. Remember to also
keep your portfolio updated with your latest work.
Get social
The best way to
show off your work and
connect with new clients is through social media. Make sure that you have created social media pages that are specifically for your
personal brand as a graphic designer.
Your page
cannot be all over the place; don't have selfies with your dogs when the next post is an epic design you've created. This
doesn't give off the
professional vibe that you need to stand out. Find
the right social media platform / s for your brand.
Post accordingly and
as much as possible to get the recognition you need!
Be consistent
If you want to get known as a graphic designer,
consistency is key. You need to try and post daily, showcasing your work
and your skills. This is a sure way to end up on the right "For You Page" and get clients.
You want your brand to be
recognised and easily identified. Make sure that your social media pages, your portfolio
and your website or blog
all look unified and that one glance will let people know that you created that!
Price it right!
The biggest pro that comes with freelancing is being able to
set your own rates. This can lead to
major financial freedom for you. However, you need to
keep your rates competitive and
realistic.
Set out a pricing structure that is based on:
- your experience
- the complexity of the project
- time, and
- market rates.
Make sure you
draw up a contract for each project you take on and make sure you receive a
written contract from your client with what they expect from you!
Upskill yourself
Never stop learning — you are in an industry that is
constantly changing and developing. If you want to have a successful freelancing career, it is
so important for you to make it a must to
learn new skills. By learning a new skill — such as photography, for instance — you will have another solution to provide clients with.
Stay updated with new tools that are available for graphic designers, and keep an eye on
social media for new tricks and tips that could help you out!
Manage your expectations
Freelancing is a
tough career path, especially when you are just starting out. So try not to be too hard on yourself when you start out and are trying to get clients and projects.
On top of that,
manage your workload accordingly — a few ways you can do this is by:
- not biting off more than you can chew
- not taking on too many projects with deadlines that are either very close together or unattainable
- being open and honest with your clients, and
- managing client expectations.
Enjoy the ride
As much as this is a job,
it is also your passion. Freelancing is the best way for you to only work on projects that you love and enjoy. So, remember to
enjoy the process and always show to
put your heart into every project you take on!
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Have you thought about venturing into freelancing? Let us know in the comments section below.
*Image courtesy of Canva ** Information sourced from envatoelements, Make use of and HuntLancer