Starting freelancing! Any advice from those out there already successfully working in this industry?
#setup #equipment #freelancing #graphicdesign #design #creative #work #instagram #tiktok #careeradvice
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- There are lots of great comments here! Something I would add is thinking about your personal brand. Unfortunately, freelancers are ten-a-penny! There is a lot of competition. So, think about how you present and sell yourself. Brands can be difficult to copy if developed right, as there are so many intangible assets (such as personality and ethos). So, it may help you stand out from the crowd and show why you're right for the organisations you dream of partnering with.
- Your best bet to getting clients is through your own network. Social media is great but consider it as your top of the funnel (=the coldest leads).My freelance advice has been recently featured on Creative Boom among other golden nuggets. Read here and good luck!https://www.creativeboom.com/tips/experienced-freelancers-share-their-tips-for-anyone-going-it-alone-in-2021/
- Hi Catriona,Some of the stuff in here might help:https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/work-get-vikki-ross/Good luck!
- I've been working as a freelancer for over 6 years now and I can easily say the beginning can be hard. Besides making sure you get clients and creating a decent income for yourself, there's also a mindshift that has to happen, especially if you've previously worked in 9-5 jobs. You suddenly become your own boss, you make your own decisions on how to run your business, what services you offer, how you price them, where you find clients, what your boundaries are, the insecurity of your income and its fluctuation, and so much more. Don't worry, you'll adjust them along the way, so you don't need to have everything figured out at the start. But it's so rewarding at the same time, and once you create that mindshift from a 9-5 job to being your own boss and everything that comes with it (which takes some time, but it's worth it), you actually start enjoying that uncomparable freedom.While I agree networking is gold, that can take a while for you to actually start generating income. My recommendation is to start building your profile on freelance platforms such as Upwork, or more design focused platforms even. Having your own website def helps, being part of relevant groups on social media as well. Once you start landing clients, do your best and deliver quality services (and keep on perfecting them), communicate well, be reliable and trustworthy, and love what you do. If there's no passion involved, just personal goals and income bars, clients will feel that. The more you treat their business as your own, the more likely it is they won't let you go, but most importantly, they will end up being the promoters of your freelance business and recommend you further. That will be the point when you won't be searching for clients, but they will be searching you. And that's a win-win situation.
- Bascially do everything the guys below say. Network, shout about what you're doing, ask questions and be as active as possible. Get an accountant ASAP, but if you can't afford one right away, for the love of god put some money aside for TAX!! ;)And finally, don't be too hard on yourself. It's tough to switch over from full time work and there will be an adjustment period. It's natural. So give it a good year to get into your new mode of working.Good luck!
- Network, network, network. Meet people face to face if you can because that's how you will build working relationships. Also make sure you communicate well - absolutely key in creating and maintaining trust. Look at Stephen Coveys 7 Habits, always think about the bottom line (money), create a survival budget so you know the least you need to bring in financially. Join any local creative support hubs. Do not buy equipment you don't need - there's this weird vanity within the graphic design world; a kind of fetishisation of kit and cool. Also, be yourrself. There is such a low bar to entry for graphic design and web design and marketing that there is a lot of competition so to repeat myself... make sure you are meeting people and networking - people 'buy' people after all and if you consider there aree masses of graphic designers out there... what will make someone buy your services... it's you and your arttitude they will buy.
- Get a fantastic accountant and don’t get a cheap accountant. :)
- Freelancing interms of making income would mean creating a business model, sector type of clients you will work with to bring in an income.Those social platforms are ok, but their just social connections where I see creatives using social media for fame. It’s important you invest in yourself with a website on annaul budget plan with domain email to have a professional apperence if you plan to work with brands.Create a business portfolio showing casestudies and work use this to send to clients, and a portfolio/CV showing projects use this send to agencies/agents for get freelance work they will represent you.Have a day rate and hourly rate, don’t scared to mention or say your happy to work a budget. The project could be good but the budget can be small it’s a project that could be tangible piece in your portfolio in the future.Social media might be one of those things might end up taking up too much of your time, rather than focusing on the design aspect.I have 3 macs:Latest mac cost me near £7,000, mainly as I run 3D and motion graphics whilst using Octane =PMBP 16.0 SPACE GRAYPROCESSOR 2.3GHz 8-core Intel Core i9GRAPHICS Radeon Pro 5500M with 8GBGDDRMEMORY 128GB 2666MHz DDR4 memoryHARD DRIVE/SOLID STATE DRIVE 1TB SSD
- Your best bet is platforms like dribbble and behance.net.Firstly build a good portfolio (upload your best work there) then use that portfolio to get clients.Also you can try upwork.com
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