Do you work a 9-to-5 job but dream of having your own freelance graphic design business, with happy clients who enjoy your creative work?

 

Do you think about having your own schedule and working as much (or as little) as you want? Does it occur to you that your employer is taking home profit on each project you complete, instead of you?

 

Pause for a moment and consider this question: Could it be that you’re already freelancing?!

 

Have you ever done a “side project”? Do you take on weekend projects for friends or family? Do you earn any of your household income from sources other than your regular 9-to-5 paycheck? If so, own the title of freelancer!

 

It’s already who you are…now, let us help you follow your dreams and build what you’ve started. Let’s create a freelance success story you are proud to tell everyone about!

 

Even if you’re slogging it out at an hourly wage wishing that your graphic design training was being used, it possible you simply need some help figuring out how to start a successful freelance business.

 

Let us be the first to tell you: it’s possible. You can accomplish your dream and become a successful freelance designer, and the time has never been better to start.

Commit to Your Creative Business

Mindset is critical to any undertaking. If you’re going to run a marathon, you need to believe you can, then train like crazy! If you’re going to become a full-time freelancer, you need to believe you will be, then work to accomplish your goal.

 

Starting a freelance business will change your life — and it will take you out of your comfort zone. You will need to learn about how to sell and how to ask clients for money. You will need to learn when to hold your boundaries and when to make exceptions.

 

All day, every day, you will be the boss. You’ll work on the creative projects you’ve dreamed of putting together!

 

Say it now: “I believe in myself, I am worth it, I will succeed.” There will be challenging moments, but how you frame them will make all the difference.

 

From here on, you’re going to choose to see every challenge as an opportunity to grow and get stronger. And, you’ll never quit.

 

There’s your first hurdle cleared already! You are a freelancer and you will succeed. Now, let’s build on your mindset foundation with some practical business tips.

Learn from the People Who’ve Done It

Everyone working in a creative field knows that there are others who know more than they do, have a bigger agency, produce top client work, and have more tread on their tires.

 

There are self-employed photographers, videographers, interior designers, copywriters, and graphic designers — all of them rocking a large following on social media and a stunningly successful freelance business.

 

If you’re a creative who is launching your freelance design business, the contrast between you and the celebrities in your field can feel overwhelming.

 

If you hang out on the YouTube channel of an industry titan for too long, you may even start thinking: they’re already dominating, they have thousands of followers, so why would I even bother figuring out how to get graphic design clients of my own?

 

Rather than doubting your vision or feeling overwhelmed, switch your mindset back to ‘learning mode.’ Reframe the titans you’re watching as an elder who can teach you the lessons they learned along the way.

 

Think about how much easier and pleasant learning will be if you simply pay attention to what they’ve already learned!

Make a commitment to learn from (and even befriend!) industry thought leaders, instead of dwelling on negative comparisons and emotions. The online experts have the success you want, and they’re sharing their stories to help you.

 

Choose to learn from those who have gone before you; they’re blazing a trail for you to follow!

 

Take notice of what industry leaders call “the secrets of their success.” We’ll let you in on one of the secrets we learned by doing this: the only difference between you and the graphic design leaders is a little strategy and a lot of persistence!

 

They were showing up, doing the work, and learning the lessons before you even started. That’s your gain, because you can learn from them now.

 

Choose to be a student of the masters. Learn the strategies they’re teaching, and then persist in following.

 

If you aren’t sure how to find, follow, and interact with the masters of graphic design, here’s another tip: social media is the great equalizer.

 

Don’t just stand on the digital sidelines — engage with the experts in your industry! Comment on their posts, compliment their work, implement their teachings, and raise your visibility within their communities!

 

As an added bonus, you’ll have a head start on your freelance marketing efforts and simultaneously increase the size of your own network.

Know Your Target Audience

Once you make the switch to a freelancer mindset, you need to think about who your clients will be. You need to know who is going to buy your services and what they want.

 

We like to refer to this process as defining your ideal client. You should be very specific and create a “snapshot” of who your ideal client will be. If you want to speed up this part of your planning process, we have an entire module on how to find your most profitable ideal client in our Money-Making Freelance Bundle.

 

Something that new freelancers don’t realize is that trading your 9-and-5 boss for your own freelance business is like going from having one boss to having many bosses! You need to keep every one of your clients happy and satisfied, every day! With greater rewards come greater responsibilities, after all.

 

The good news is, if you could please one boss at your 9-to-5, you can please your clients. Once you give them a good experience, they will be happy and satisfied, they will pay you what you’re worth, and they’ll give you the respect that your skills deserve. Heck, they’ll even refer you to others!

 

When you’re figuring out who your target audience is, you’ll want to think about the types of jobs you’ve done before. Which ones did you enjoy? Which industries did you think about wistfully? What do you admire and feel a surge of creativity around?

 

That’s where you should focus your attention. Your ideal client is likely right there in your answers.

 

Keep it narrow. This is called ‘niching-down.’ In theory, you might be able to serve every business or person needing your graphic design services, but you won’t. It’s critical to focus so potential clients see you as an expert.

 

Who will you target, where are they hanging out (social media-wise), and what is their service need? Answer those questions, write it down so you can focus on it clearly, and begin to plan how you’ll reach out to your new target audience!

Creating an Amazing Portfolio

In a freelance graphic design business, there’s a key promotional element that you can’t overlook. We’ve already stressed that it’s important to establish who your ideal client is, but once you have that nailed down, your number one priority is your portfolio.

 

Clients are going to hire you based on your portfolio. There isn’t another way to get freelance clients — there’s no shortcut. If you want to run a marathon, you have to put in the miles.

 

For freelance business success, you need to have a professional, appealing portfolio and it needs to be accessible to your target audience. (For more details on creating a portfolio that lands clients, check out our free workshop on how to improve your graphic design portfolio.)

 

Let’s talk about your current portfolio. Is it doing the job? Is it complete? Is it targeted? Do you have one?!

 

There’s your starting point. Unless you said a quick yes, you bet! to each of those questions, you need to start with creating an effective portfolio. You’ll rely on it for years, refreshing it along the way, but this task is where you must start. Put the time in now and the successful outcome will follow.

Focus on Maintenance

Okay, you’re ready. You have a success mindset running, you’ve established your ideal client, and you’re ready to perfect your online portfolio. You are officially a freelance graphic designer now!

 

What’s next? Maintenance. Once you have an asset (your business), you need to maintain it. Well maintained, your business will have the foundation it needs to grow.

 

Here are the 4 steps to maintain your freelance business:

 

Grow Your Network

The more people who know who you are, what you offer, and that you’re good at what you do….the more client potential you have. People can’t buy what they’ve never heard about.

 

Grow your network by being online and prioritizing relational in-person experiences. You don’t need to sound like a professional salesperson (in fact, you don’t want to sound “salesy”).

 

You just want to be the first name that pops up when someone says, “Who is the branding (or design, or logo, or whatever you do) specialist in our area/industry?”

 

Get connected and get your freelance business name out there!

Practice Saying No

Success requires prioritization, and focusing means you’ll have to learn to say, “no.” Now is the time to determine that you will pay attention to the things that really matter, rather than getting pulled into distracting trends or shiny attention-grabbers.

 

Know what you’re about and focus your attention there. This means knowing your core services (not every little thing a potential client asks about), your industry niche (not every possible sector), your ideal networks (not every event in town), and your key social media platforms (where your ideal client is hanging out).

 

Say “No, thanks, I can’t be distracted right now” to everything else.

 

Think about how you’re going to learn what is a priority. Focus on experienced resources that will teach you what you need to know and how to implement.

 

Our course package, The Money-Making Bundle, has detailed instructions whether you’re still preparing to take the freelancing leap or already have clients but need to learn how to grow.

Build Your Brand

Your brand is your reputation. It’s what people think and feel about your creative business before they even meet you…and you need to build it, consistently.

 

As a graphic designer, you know these truths. If you are using rainbow colors one day and black-and-white colors the next — you’re not going to impress potential clients. Your agency brand will feel weird and wrong.

 

Building your brand is a one-time, essential task that you’ll apply every day. (And you know that you can change and update it in the future!)

 

Document your brand just as you would for a client. Know your parameters, stick to them, replicate them with class and consistency, and watch your reputation (and freelance success) grow!

Keep Learning

We hope today’s article is inspirational for you. You aren’t alone and your freelance dreams are attainable. We’ve given you the initial strategy and the mindset required for persistent and successful results.

 

You don’t need to worry about being perfect today, because perfection doesn’t really exist anyway. What will set you apart is your willingness to take the leap and make a start.

 

Once underway, you’ll keep paddling hard, just like the rest of us, learning from freelancers who’ve gone before and building your business into a reality. Believe in yourself and get started!

 

Come join us in the fun of freelancing…the hard work, the creative output, the great clients, the hurdles jumped, and the career reality that’s waiting for you.