Becoming a freelance designer is a common
dream among many designers, although it takes quite a bit of talent, business
savvy, commitment, and time. With all there is to consider when becoming
self-employed, one can become overwhelmed, enough to deter themselves from
trying at all.
Realizing many people reading this already have a head-start into the world of professional and freelance design, this post is meant to act as not only a step-by-step guide, but also a checklist for those who have already started their career.
Realizing many people reading this already have a head-start into the world of professional and freelance design, this post is meant to act as not only a step-by-step guide, but also a checklist for those who have already started their career.
Hopefully this guide can cover all aspects of
becoming a professional and freelance designer, from business aspect and
working with clients, to creating an effective portfolio and advertising one's
work.
Also consider our previous articles:
A more
in-depth view of how to determine the time needed to complete a design project,
and how to more properly estimate a salary.
An article
that discusses strategies and shares tips on working with clients, and how to
create a successful relationship with them.
An article discussing "fast food"
design jobs, or design jobs that are needed ASAP. The post goes over how to
deal with a creative rush, and strategies on how to pump out great design with
a stressful deadline.
1. Do
the Necessary Research
The absolute first step into any freelancing career
is to do the needed research ahead of time. Freelancing is a huge life and
career change, and one need to look into exactly how it will change life before
diving in.
Research the
costs
Making money on one's own terms sounds incredibly
appealing, until the realization comes that it's a lot less money than working
at a company (at first, at least). Below is just a short list of expenses to
consider. Make sure they are covered when venturing into a freelancing
lifestyle.
- Domain name and hosting services
- Stationary, Business Cards, and other marketing material
- Needed software
- A desk space and supplies
- Subscriptions to stock photo sites and other forms of resources
On top of that, consider basic living expenses and
additional emergency or living money. At this point, a formal budget is not
needed, but it's a very smart idea to go over the basic numbers of starting a
freelance business, and maintaining it. Most of the time, designers must save
up before starting a freelance career.
Taxes &
Insurance
While most aspiring freelancers will slowly
transition into the lifestyle, opposed to quitting their day job cold turkey,
it is important to look into taxing information, insurance, and other assets
that will be changed with self-employment. Because local laws and personal
circumstances can vary so significantly, new designers should research this
area on their own.
Research the
Time
A more specific schedule can be setup later, but
it's a good idea to look into the time requirement for the work each day, per
week, and even per month to handle X amount of clients. For some, the time
needed to be invested in this type of career path is not currently available.
Consider current social or family happenings,
career responsibilities, and for some, even school. If it is not a good time in
life to change focus, it may not be a good time to start freelancing full-time.
Sometimes it is appropriate to put dreams on hold. With that being said, set
a realistic date to begin a true freelancing lifestyle, whether that means
just easing into it now, or setting a time in the future to go full-time.
If all consideration is put into place, the idea is
well researched, then it can be time to start a freelance design career! Below
are the remaining steps to take.
2. Become a
Brand
There are many differences between a young
freelance designer just trying to get by, and a successful freelance designer
with their business and future in mind. One of those differences is that
successful freelance designers understand, and pay close attention to branding.
Branding a business, even if only a one person
operation, can do a lot of things in terms of the business' success. A good
brand builds credibility, client loyalty, delivers a target message to
clients and other businesses, and even aids in marketing strategy.
What's in A
Name?
The name of a freelancing business can signify a
lot, and most designers just choose to use their full name as the brand name.
This is fine, but another option is to use a specialized brand name. Depending
on the future plans of the business, it is smart to think closer about an
official name.
If one plans on turning an individual freelancing
business into a firm one day, a name other than the designer's given name may
be more appropriate. Also, a specialized brand name may be more memorable than
the designer's given name, and the possibilities are then endless as far as
finding an SEO friendly name, or a name that gives off a portrayal of the
business it represents.
On the other end of the spectrum, it's easy to see
the benefits of using a given name as a business name. Using a designer's given
name is always original, and something uniquely personal to the designer.
Really, both can be successful decisions, but it is a decision that is often
times taken too lightly. The way the brand is further marketed depends largely
on this decision.
One will notice that designers who choose a
specialized name for their brand often call themselves a studio. This gives the
impression that they are a bigger business; a more formal organization. The
portfolios with given names, though, provide a more personal appeal, something
many clients look for. This often gives them more of the true freelancer feel.
Depending on how a designer wants to operate their
business, the clients they want to attract, and based on the future goals of
the business, the final decision of the freelancing business name can have many
possibilities.
Logo
After the official brand name is decided, it's time
to start creating a logo around it. Many beginner designers don't understand
the importance a logo has in a brand, or even how important a brand is in
itself. Opposed to creating a quick logo in the process of designing a
portfolio template, a logo should be made separately and with the utmost consideration.
I you take the extra time to create a well-branded
and effective logo, you have the opportunity to expand the logo design to
stationary, business cards, advertisements, and more. Not to mention, creating
a logo that serves the original purpose of logo design - to create a brand,
build business loyalty, and create an image that aids in recognition.
A designer will want to create a logo that
represents their design style, and that will attract a client that is looking
for that type of design. To create a great logo, read up on logo design
principles, tutorials, and logo design processes.
Below are just a few of these tutorials and
walkthroughs:
An Elevator
Pitch
There is a lot more to being a successful freelance
designer than just being good at design. Any sort of freelancer has to be an
entrepreneur as well. Rule #1 for entrepreneurship: create an elevator
pitch.
For those that don't know what an elevator pitch
is, it is a premeditated, well though-out introduction to one's services or a
person's business as a whole. Let's take a look at a better definition. Excuse
the use of Wikipedia for professional reference, but Wikipedia's definition of
an elevator pitch is just about perfect for the freelance designer:
An elevator
pitch (or elevator speech) is an overview of an idea for a product, service, or
project. The name reflects the fact that an elevator pitch can be delivered in
the time span of an elevator ride (for example, thirty seconds and 100-150
words).
...A variety of other people, including
entrepreneurs, project managers, salespeople, evangelists, policy-makers, job
seekers (web designers and freelancers), and speed daters commonly use elevator
pitches to get their point across quickly. - Elevator pitch, Wikipedia
Take the time to create an elevator pitch for a
freelance business. For a freelance designer, it can venture beyond the
traditional use of a speech in an elevator, to the introduction to a portfolio,
the about page on a website, or as an introduction to an application for a
freelancing position.
Many marketing gurus leave the assumption that the
creation of an elevator speech for a business will increase the client list
dramatically. Usually, this isn't the case, at least not directly. What it will
do though is quite useful:
- Save the designer countless hours in coming up with a smart introduction over and over again.
- Create a professional atmosphere for a portfolio, or wherever it is used.
- An elevator speech will make sure that any new introductions don't leave out vital information about the services of freelancing business.
The following is an example of an excellent
elevator pitch for a 45royale web design studio.
45royale is an enthusiastic web
design studio located in the bustling metropolis of Canton, Georgia. We promote
web standards and bring energy and commitment to our work every single day. - 45royale
Inc.
The above is a strong example for a small, yet
established business. Freelancing can use the same principle, but with a more
personal approach:
Hi there, my name's Brian
Wilkins and I am a web designer/front-end developer living outside Boston,
Massachusetts. I currently work at Reelpoint, an online design
and marketing firm. I build clean and functional interfaces. With a hunger to
constantly grow and evolve as a designer, I have a genuine passion for art,
typography, design, technology and creative thinking. - BrianWilkins.net
That detailed elevator pitch can be seen on his
about page, telling potential clients exactly what he does. On the front page,
as part of his portfolio design, he includes a much shorter, but equally
effective pitch:
I'm a web designer that creates
clean and modern content for the world wide web.
Taking the time to create an elevator pitch can
help launch a freelance career through the use of business tactics. Below are
some further resources for creating a great elevator pitch:
An Overall
Style
The last thing to do is create an overall style for
the freelancing business. Fortunately, most of this is accomplished by the
above several factors. The overall style, colours, textures, and even how a
designer presents one's self should reflect the style of work a designer
completes.
To promote consistency throughout the life of the
freelancing business, though, designers need to look at branding in a more
broad sense when first starting out. Creating a colour scheme, design style,
and other overall design guidelines based off of the logo design, and
information presented in the elevator pitch. Then stick to the brand as the
freelancing business progresses.
3. Create a
Portfolio Website
Step
number three is an obvious one - create a portfolio website. However, it deserves
a decent overview and closer look because we as designers are own worst
clients. Many new freelancers, or anyone just entering the design world of
business, will open Photoshop and start grinding away. Instead, think about
what a portfolio can actually do.
A
mediocre portfolio will have a great design, and show off a designer's past
works. However, an excellent portfolio will do the following things:
- Reflect and grow a designer's brand.
- Show a client not only what a designer can do, but what the designer can do for them.
- Show great talent, but also business savvy and professionalism.
- Intrigue potential clients strongly enough so that they stay on the website long enough to make contact with the designer.
- Provide a user-friendly interface for the client (who very well may not be so Internet or design savvy).
Keep all
of this in mind during the design process of a design portfolio. Make note that
a designer's portfolio has to be their best work. Furthermore, consider the
following items when creating, or even modifying a design portfolio.
Consider a 1-Page Portfolio
It's
called direct response marketing, and it's proven to be one of the most
effective forms of marketing to get the most sales. It's basically a method
that involves making a huge impact in the most direct way possible. In the
world of design, this means an incredibly effective and amazing portfolio - but
in only one page.
Of
course, this isn't a great method for everyone, especially those who offer more
than just basic design services. However, without a one-page design, a designer
can still take use of this knowledge by applying more direct-response marketing
to their portfolio. This may mean simplifying it, putting the contact form on
the front page, and merging similar pages together.
Use a Contact Form
Provide a
traditional email address and other information, but most importantly, include
an email form. It makes things easier for the potential client to get a hold of
the designer, even if only to ask for more information. This then provides
further opportunity for the designer to sell their work.
The form
above (Komodomedia) is a perfect example because it
gives the visitor various options for the form, rather than just requesting a
quote. This designer has made themselves approachable, which is an excellent
way to gain more clients. Also, above the form, there are other ways to contact
the designer, which may be suitable for different visitors.
Make the Most Important Things Noticeable
Make sure
the most important components of a portfolio design are out in the open and
easy to use and find. For most, this means the contact form and information,
the portfolio pieces, and the logo.
A perfect
example is Alexandru Cohaniuc's portfolio. The biggest text
on the page is "Portfolio", "Hi, I'm Alex", and
"Contact." Right above the word "Portfolio" is the logo,
strategically placed in the top left.
4. Build Legal Documents
To make
things really official, a designer has to create some legal documents. These
can be reused for each client, but must be made initially to deal with
potential problems later.
Contract
A
contract is a necessity for a freelancer of any sort. It will help protect the
designer and the client, as well as outline some rules and guidelines. For more
information on how to create a freelance contract, check out the resources
below.
In
addition, one can hire a technical writer or other writing professional to do
the job.
Terms & Conditions
Terms and
conditions are a more in-depth view of the rules between the designer and the client.
Again, one can hire someone to write a terms and agreement paper for them,
otherwise here is a great template: Terms and Conditions Template.
Copyright Agreement
A third
needed agreement is a separate copyright agreement. Designers are always at
risk for work being stolen and miscredited. A copyright agreement is a way to
protect that work, and a way to set further rules for who can use the work.
Because
copyright law can vary among different countries, we won't get much into it
here. It is important, though, to research copyright law, know one's own
rights, and apply it to one's own circumstances.
5. Find a Starting Wage & Budget
Deciding
on a personal starting wage is difficult, because we never truly know how much
to pay ourselves. As anyone can guess, someone just starting out in freelancing
won't be making much. A new designer just has to make sure they have basic
living expenses paid, and a bit of cushion room for emergency costs or budget
mishaps.
Pros and Cons of Fixed-Priced Projects
A
fixed-priced project is one where the designer and client agree on an overall
cost for a design project ahead of time, and the payment is completely independent
of how long it takes the designer to complete. Below are some pros and cons of
using this method.
Pros:
- These types of projects can be easier to apply to a monthly budget.
- Designer's with efficient methods to save time during a project won't be unfairly punished with a low cost.
- It is easy to see how many projects per month need to be completed to determine profits and budget handling.
Cons:
- It is much more difficult to determine a fixed-price for a project before actually completing it.
- Sometimes designers are underpaid using this method.
- Payment doesn't come at regular intervals, which may not be suitable for all lifestyles.
Pros and Cons of Hourly Wage Work
While hourly
work may be what we're all used to, there can be some equal pros and cons to
consider when thinking about this payment system as a freelancer.
Pros:
- Budgeting is easier for those that require a daily or weekly budget.
- It is harder to become under or over paid for a project.
- It is much easier to explain to the client the final cost of a project.
Cons:
- It is hard to determine our own hourly rate based on the judgement of our own skills.
- It is more difficult to work with a monthly budget.
- Timesheets need to be filled out and there needs to be an effective way to transfer timesheets back and forth between the designer and client.
A closer
look into these two types of payment plans can help a designer decide. For
further reading, look over Effective Strategy To Estimate Time
For Your Design Projects.
Tools for Managing Money As a Freelancer
Less
Accounting is an all-in-one money management application that will let one
connect to bank accounts, and even let a freelancer invite a personal
accountant login to help watch money. In addition, Less Accounting also features
all the basic money management needs for freelancers.
Mint may
not be made for freelancers specifically, but it is one of the best tools out
there for taking control of one's own money. This is perfect for new business
owners that may be low on money, and need to pay extra attention to their cash
flow.
Tick is a
time management tool aimed at organizing time so that freelancers can hit their
budgets. It's a great tool that breaks up time so a freelancer can enter hours
worked, Hourly pay rate, project pay rate, and more.
Slimtimer
is similar to Tick, in that it is a time and budget management tool. One can
create tasks, time their own work, run reports, and mange their money overall
more efficiently.
Invoicing Tools
SimplyBill
is a very simple invoicing tool to help effectively keep track of clients,
their invoices, and to send invoices out.
FreshBooks
is a great invoicing tool for freelancers with a lot of versatility to meet
anyone's needs. Best of all, it's free up to three clients, so this gives
designers plenty of time to decide if FreshBooks is right for them.
By the
creator of QuickBooks, Intuit is a free alternative invoicing system that is
perfect for designer just starting out that need to save that extra bit of
cash.
FreeAgent
allows a freelancer to manage all their invoices, and will even tell the
freelancer what they owe the tax man.
6. Create a Resume
Without a
strong portfolio just yet, new freelance designers need to rely on a strong resume.
This is a designer's true chance to flaunt their skills in full detail. Most of
us learned how to create a resume back in high school, and another good portion
of us probably still hold on to our most recent one today. When venturing into
a new freelance design career, though, it's time to tweak it to meet the needs
of this new career path.
Below are
some resources for creating the perfect resume for designers and freelancers.
7. Find "Portfolio Building" Clients
Now that
just about everything is set up, it's time to take action. Finding the first few
clients is always tough, because nobody wants to hire a nobody. It may be near
impossible to find good, well-paying clients yet, so sit tight and take on the
first few "portfolio building" clients .
Consider Offering Free Services
Working
for free is never fun, but it may be necessary. Do some volunteer work for a
church or other non-profit/low budget organization. these services obviously
aren't hard to sell; just put an ad up for yourself up on Craigslist
or in freelance and web design forums.
When
creating an ad to offer free services, be sure to avoid failure. This means
setting limits - no designer wants to spend a month on a complicated job making
no money. Offer only PSD templates, 1-page websites, or something of the like.
Of
course, this isn't an option for everybody because we all don't have the time,
nor the patience to do a free job. If that is the case, explore some options
below to get paying clients that will gladly deal with a new designer.
Advertise Locally
Put up
fliers or an ad in the local newspaper to gain some local recognition. Not
every potential client knows where to look online for design services, and it
may very well be that many are looking locally. Otherwise, they're only finding
top Google-ranked design businesses that they can't afford.
If a new
designer comes to them offering cheaper services, whether in the form of a
newspaper ad, a flier at a grocery store, or through word-of-mouth via friends
and family, they'll be very happy to hire.
Offer Freebies or Sell Templates
One more
option requires no actual clients at all. Many designers choose to make free
templates in their spare time, and use them to advertise their services, show
off what they can do, and in some instances, sell them for some residual
income.
Over at ThemeForest,
Collis has sold a PSD template at $10 - 168 times. This means over a thousand dollars
in his pocket, and a great portfolio piece to show off.
Unless
one makes spewing out free or cheap templates, WordPress Themes, or scripts
their full-time business, this isn’t going to be a great option for making
monthly living expenses. It is however, a great alternative to 1) get a
designer to create some portfolio pieces, 2) get the designer's name out in the
community, and 3) let the designer make a bit of extra cash.
However,
it is important to try a few real clients as well, for the business experience.
Then What?
After
finding a few clients, keep these few things in mind.
- Create a personal (yet professional) connection between the first few clients. This may welcome great testimonials and word-of-mouth clients.
- Offer variety in your services when starting out. For example, one may want to try logo design, web design, and basic coding. Later on, when trying to add a new service to the freelancing business, this will make for a much easier transition.
- Just because new designers have to deal with low (or no) wages, doesn't mean they should offer low-quality work. Put in the hours and create something great. Keep in mind that there is more to the first few projects than just the money.
Tools for Client Management
BaseCamp
is a very popular project management tool for freelancers. With BaseCamp, a
freelancer can share files, set deadlines, assign tasks, organize feedback, and
more.
Essentially,
Zoho Writer is an online word processer. In addition to being that though, it
is aimed at freelancers, with the ability to share documents and collaborate
with clients in various ways.
Big
Contacts is an online contacts solution to help share files, email, have
meeting, send notes, and more between the freelancer and client.
8. Create (and Stick to) a Schedule
A huge
part of freelancing is finding a schedule that fits the designer's needs, and
allows the designer to get the necessary work done on time. It is a step in
itself to becoming a professional freelance designer.
Find the Hours Necessary
To find a
schedule, a designer needs to find how much time it actually takes them to do the
tasks at hand. A freelancer has to ask themselves, "How much time does it
take to create a simple PSD template, and then how long does it take to code
it?" Depending on the skill sets of individual designers, this length of
time can greatly change. However, work from previous clients or the creation of
sample templates can give a rough estimate.
After
determining how long the workflow takes, decide on a daily hourly input for
work - and work only.
A Daily Schedule
A general
daily schedule depends greatly on each designer's personal lifestyle, and is
something that needs to be predetermined in order to be successful. After a
designer realizes how much time it takes daily to get the required amount of
work done, he or she should create a daily schedule for themselves.
A daily
schedule will help aid designers to stay on track, instead of constantly
checking email, jumping back and forth between projects, or ignoring client
work altogether.
A Weekly & Monthly Schedule
On top of
a daily schedule, freelance professionals should also make a weekly and monthly
calendar. A broader calendar can be used to keep track of deadlines and plan
out longer projects.
Whether
it is a calendar hanging on the wall or a web-based calendar like Google
Calendar, make sure to keep track of deadlines, payment schedules,
and other checkmarks along the way of a project.
Find The Motivation
Anyone
can see the benefits of a steady schedule, but the hardest part for most may be
staying motivated to keep to it. Below are some things to keep in mind if the
urge to break a preset schedule creeps up.
- Do the same specific thing during work at the same time every day. For example, check email first thing in the morning, then start directly on client work.
- For those who have already quit their day jobs to pursue this career. Wake up at the same time every day. If it means sleeping in a few extra hours than the traditional worker, that's fine. However, having a constantly altering start to the day can mess up a schedule, even if things are done in the same order during waking time.
- Write a to-do list in the morning of items that need to be addresses that day.
- Use calendar and daily planner to keep track of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
A Few Time Management Tools
Quite the
opposite of most time management software, this application actually tells you
when to stop working. With timed breaks, this tool can help a freelancer have
an overall more relaxing career.
Google
Calendar is a great option for those that use Google's other tools a lot, in
that it will be all in the same place. Like many of Google's other tools, it is
free, versatile, and very useful.
Tada List
is an easy to-do list tool hosted online for convenience. It is easy to create
lists for one's own use, or for others.
9. Create a Business Plan
One of
the most boring and tedious tasks one can do is create a business plan. Most
might feel free to skip this step, but wait a moment and consider the benefits
(and assurances) of taking the time to create one.
Benefits
of a Professional Business Plan:
- Creates a real business in the designer's eyes, and in the client's eye.
- A business plan can be used in tricky legal situations, to differ the business from just a hobby.
- Identifies future plans, direction, and goals for the business.
- Keeps the designer, as a business owner, on track with the development of the business.
- Upgrades the simple monthly budget to a long-term financial structure.
Anyone
can see the benefits range from business growth, to financial growth, and
credibility. To learn more about creating a business plan, view the helpful
article on About.com, Back to Business Planning: Developing a 4-Part Business Plan
for Freelance Designers..
10. Know How to Gain recognition
Not all
designers are marketing experts, but a bit of knowledge about how to gain
recognition in the freelance design world is necessary to be successful.
Designers should do research on marketing, and create a long-term plan for
the growth of their portfolio and their reputation as a freelance designer.
Expand With Social Networking
Use
social networking sites to not only promote a portfolio, but also to promote
new designs and projects. In addition, one can use Twitter, or something
similar to get valuable feedback on current projects. For more ideas on how to
get the most out of Twitter as a web designer, take a look at Ramsay's post: 5 Simple Ways Twitter Can Make You a
Better Web Designer.
Also,
those who are active within social media communities benefit far more than
those who use them for only self-promotion. Create a community, find other
designers, and even discover some interesting finds along the way. Take the
time to enjoy social media websites, while gaining recognition as a designer.
Get Recognized in a Crowd of Applicants
Knowing
where to look for more work is necessary when depending on that work for a
decent income. However, with thousands of freelancers floating around in
forums, job boards, and other sources of possible clients, getting noticed can
be some hard work - especially when others (who may be doing it for just a
hobby) are willing to offer their services extremely cheap.
To get
noticed by clients and win a job, follow a few of these simple rules.
- Don't apply to jobs that are more than a few days old - chances are they've been filled, and it's really a waste of time.
- Use multiple job board websites and forums to have a wider range of possibilities.
- Be a good designer. This sounds like a dumb tip, but often times clients get application for designers that either 1) aren't good at design 2) have designs that show no unique ability and are very ordinary.
- Don't apply for jobs that you don't qualify for. Clients can't stand hearing, "I haven't done a design for the style you're looking for, but I've been creating websites for X years and could probably do it." The next designer that comes to them with a decent portfolio proving they can meet the client's needs is going to get the job instead
- This shouldn't even have to be said, but sadly, it does: Capitalize your sentences, use correct grammar, and don't make spelling mistakes when applying for a freelance job.
As for
the best tip of all - don't sell work cheaper than it needs to be just to gain a
client. If a client can't see why a logo design costs $200 when the kid that
applied the day before is offering the same service for $20, then it's really
their own loss. Sometimes it's worth losing jobs, and that's part of the
difficulty when just starting out.
11. Blog often, but pay attention to the quality of
your posts
Blogs are
great for improving search engine rank and gaining popularity in the design
community. Whether designers have a lot of time or barely enough, a blog
showcasing interesting finds or discussing anything related to the design or
the freelancing profession can gain an audience fast.
Below are
just a few websites that use blogs to promote their general careers as
freelance web designers.
WellMedicated.com
really doesn't update that often - only about once every two months - but it's
still a well respected design blog in the community. Andrew Lindstrom is a
freelance web designer, and spends most of his focus on that. However, with a
great following on his blog, he can easily gain traffic to his web design
portfolio through his side bar and about page.
In a recent interview of Steven Snell of
Vandelay Design, Steven discussed how the popular Vandelay Design
Blog was indeed intended to bring more traffic and clients to the Vandelay
Design portfolio. Well, that mission was very successful, and the blog changed
direction to fulfil the wants of a different audience, as a full-time design
blog.
Now, its
updated every few days and it's goal is no longer to bring portfolio traffic.
However, with a link to the portfolio and further information about the web
design business, there is no doubt it still does.
Chris
Spooner's blogging experience started with just some simple
experimentation, and as a place for him to simply explore and share. However,
the blog soon gained a lot of popularity, and now does great work in promoting
his portfolio as well.
So the
lesson to be learned is, no matter what reason a designer has to start a blog,
it can be a great source for traffic and a way to gain recognition in the
community. Not to mention, the additional income from selling advertising
spaces.
12. Get into the Community of Freelance Designers
Don't be
a freelancing loner. Getting involved in the community and meet other designers
and freelancing professional to grow as a designer.
Make
contacts within the community by blogging, joining a design network like Envato,
and using forums. One could also donate freebies to larger communities, or try
to do guest posts.
Below are
just a few ways gaining a strong social network in the community can help a
freelance designer.
- It creates a support group. Guessing that many freelance designers don't have many offline friends or family that do the same thing for a living, having an online support group for your field of interest can be very beneficial. Get into the design community to share, rant, rave, and get feedback as a designer.
- Learn new things. Following a blog regularly, being active in social networking sites, and participating in forums is a great way to improve your current abilities, and expand horizons. Instead of grinding away at what needs to get done or what needs to be learned for a current project, being a part of a community will help you to explore new things and find inspiration.
- Become an authority and let the clients come. Being the best designer in the world doesn't make that designer an authority figure. As skills and wisdom improve, others in the design community will reference a designer's work, portfolio, and services for them.
Attend Conferences and Other Face-To-Face Events
Attending
various design and other conferences is not only a great way to network with
other designers, but also a great way to learn new things and keep up with the
latest trends. Get to some conferences, and become a real person, rather than
just an online presence.
Below are
just a few popular conferences within the community.
An Event
Apart is an intensely educational two-day conference for passionate
practitioners of standards-based web design. If you care about your code as
well as content, usability as well as design, An Event Apart is the conference
you've been waiting for.
For Web
Designers, Creatives and anyone who cares about design.
Since
1997, we've helped thousands of Web designers learn what they need to know to
make better web sites, manage web projects, and get home at a decent hour.
As a
freelancer, we have the ultimate schedule for attending these events. In order
to truly succeed, freelance designers should attend these events to socialize,
learn, and grow their freelancing design career.
13. Reinvest the Income
It takes
money to make money, so when starting out, reinvest some of the income made
back into the freelancing business. It's tempting to pay off bills or buy
something nice once it can be afforded, but dedicate a certain percentage to
the business's growth.
Among the
many things that need to be maintained for a freelancing business are software
upgrades, hosting and domain renewals, desk space upgrades, stationary, and
more. In addition to maintenance items, though, some of the income may be
turned into a luxury web design item - for fun and for work.
Figure
how much of the income is actually needed for living expenses, and use either all of the
remaining profit, or a strong percentage of the profit to go back into the
business.
14. Get a Professional Space
Finding a
place to do work may help new freelancers differ play time from work time. On
another note, a good workspace is needed to keep organized and create an
effective workflow.
15. Keep Learning New Tricks
As the
final stage of the transformation comes into completion, there is only one more
thing that needs to be done to create and maintain the status of a
professional, freelance design career. That final step is to keep learning
. Designers should always be discovering new practices, techniques, standards
for client work - and also tweaking their own business along the way.
Conclusion
Hopefully,
this walkthrough can help most designers just starting out in freelancing go
down the correct path.
Because
everyone's experiences are different, for anyone who has already accomplished a
freelancing career, feel free to share further tips and advice for doing so.
It's always great to hear and discuss more tips.
Further Resources
You may
also be interested in these extra references:
A very interesting and comprehensive post by Carl
Heaton that aims to show you how to attract users and make them hungry for
more.
An ultimate list of freelancing resources.
A quick overview and lessons learned from a new
freelancer with 53 quick tips in freelancing.
A quick list of over 60 blogs and resource websites
for freelance web designers.
