We’ve learned a lot along the way, and we want to tell you our shortcuts! Yes, that’s right. Becoming a profitable freelance graphic, web, or brand designer doesn’t need to take a long time.

 

It can — especially if you don’t take the initiative to learn freelance business skills. And for us, it did. But for you, it doesn’t have to!

 

We’re going to have a bit of fun in this freelance graphic designer inspired article. We’ve made notes and pulled together all the little bits into one place. This is the very best advice we have learned in the freelance world.

 

From working a 9-to-5 and taking the entrepreneurial plunge into freelancing, to having our own successful design studio in Austin, Texas today — we’re going to tell you the story.

 

But we’re going to use the tidbits of wisdom we received along the way and give you the top 12 tips for new freelance designers.

 

You can also sign up for our popular (and free!) $12k Client Attraction Masterclass to learn the 3 steps you need to take to attract $12k clients to your business:

1.      Stay Inspired

Because you’re a creative, we’re going to start where you shine.

 

Being creative is who we are. It’s in our blood. We went to design school, not business school. We’ve built a reputation with our former employers and our side-gig clients for great work. We have ideas!

 

So, here’s our first nugget — from one creative to another: Stay Inspired!

 

Keep the fire alive. Do what it takes. Feed your inner drive (check out our post on great graphic design blogs to follow!). Stoke the fire with everything that makes you strong. Do it. Do it every day. Never stop.

 

That’s it — shortcut number #1: You got into the creative industry for a reason Be creative and stay that way!

2.      Improve Your Business Skills

Our second tip involves the things you didn’t learn in design school. And, no, your first jobs likely didn’t teach it to you either.

 

We’re talking about business. How to start a freelance graphic design business. What to pay attention to. Where to put your energy.

 

So, shortcut #2 is: Learn Business Skills.

 

Focus on them. It’s where you need to lean in to learning more. Be a proactive student of small business.

 

Find out how small businesses become medium businesses. Study the giants. Look across industries. Pay attention. Wake up!

 

Great design skills are not enough. As a freelancer, you need to know how to close the sale, manage your finances, use marketing strategies that work, and so on if you want to make a living and be your own boss.

 

This isn’t the time to say, “yeah, okay, but I’m a creative at heart….” We know that. It’s a given. It’s what pushed you towards being a freelancer. You love what you do and you could just taste how that talent could provide you with a good living and a lot of freedom, professionally and in your personal life.

 

But, the rubber really does hit the road. Until you can say, “hey, do it like I do, I’m profitable, I’m fully booked out, I’m working with dream clients on incredible projects”…well, until then, choose to be a student of business.

 

Want an even faster shortcut? Our Profitable Designer Program has everything you need to start and grow your freelance graphic, brand, and web design business. Learn how to land high-paying clients, structure your sales calls, write proposals that clients say yes to, and more!

3.      Stay in the Game

There’s a world of difference between “moving on” and “quitting.” Likely, you’ve experienced both at some point in your life.

 

Now’s the time when you need to learn about the nuances. Moving on means you refuse to get stuck. Don’t get stuck with a client who is driving you nuts. Don’t get stuck with a contractor who has a toxic attitude. Don’t get stuck doing all the jobs your growing business requires. Move on.

 

If something’s broken, you fix it. If something’s stuck, you release it. Move on.

 

But don’t — Do Not — quit. Ever. Your dream and the freedom you can almost taste, right now at the start, can be yours… if you never, ever quit. Set goals. Alter them when circumstances change or things get stuck. But stick to the main point: a successful, thriving business of your own.

 

Don’t quit. Stay in the game. You can’t win the game from the sidelines, watching. You win the game by playing. Keep at it. Success takes longer than we expect it to – but we learn so much with every step. (And a hint: as you keep playing, you get better and better at succeeding! Check out our graphic design business programs to help you get there.)

4.      Identifying Cheap and Valuable Clients

Here’s our next shortcut: know the difference between cheap clients and valuable ones.

 

Cheap clients are contacting you for the best possible price. They want quality, but they want it for nothing. They might be really nice people or well connected. But they are all about the price and they want it low.

 

Valuable clients appreciate you and what you do. They are happy to pay your invoice and to do so without song and dance or delay. They are your “ideal client.”

 

But, how do you find valuable graphic design clients, you ask? It’s easier than you think…

 

Create a description of your dream client. Who are they? What industry, specifically? Are they older, younger? Do they have a certain income? A certain style? Do they own their own business? Are they a decision making manager at a larger employer?

 

Think about all the people you’ve enjoyed working with. What industries were they in? What are the similarities between them? Try journaling about this.

 

Or, think about it this way…. if I could only work with one client per year, this is the industry they would be involved in….

 

These are your valuable clients. They pay their bills. Trust us. You don’t want everyone. You want your dream clients! Learn how to uplevel your portfolio & attract those dream clients in our free workshop here.

5.      Know Your Price

Figure out pricing first. Focus some of your time and investment funds into mastering how to price your services with confidence. Focus on your revenues and the expenses will take care of themselves, as someone wise said.

 

If you can figure out how to best price your services, you will be profitable faster.

 

Pricing your design services is such an important topic that we created a course all about it. If you can wrap your head around why value-based pricing is so effective and changed the trajectory of our agency, from fledgling to thriving — well, then you’re well on your way to success, too!

 

Don’t sell yourself short. Figure out your pricing structure and set prices appropriately high. Don’t work for free. Learn how to package services well. Know what to say when a client wants to negotiate. And expect the professional respect for your expertise that you deserve.

 

This tip will ensure sustainable profitability for decades!

6.      Create Your Unique Support Structure

We’ve all heard that avoiding toxic people in our life is essential to holistic wellness.

 

In business, it’s roughly the same. The difference is, in business, we don’t have a natural “family” or “home environment” nurturing us from the beginning.

 

So, you need to create your nurturing group. Find people who teach you what you need to know and do it in an inspiring way.

 

Don’t rush. Just observe.

 

Ask those who catch your interest for coffee. Develop a growing relationship from there. Ask someone to mentor you. Go where they’re going. Meet more people with wisdom to share, in concentric circles built off of a base of one, two, or three professional people you admire.

 

They don’t have to be in your industry, nor your dream client’s industry…. but they need to inspire you with their success, integrity, expertise, or warmth.

 

7.      Find Your Lane and Run Hard

Remember that dream client you figured out? Have that description close by. That’s your “niche client” and their industry is your new passion.

 

Plan on dominating that industry in your area. Know the names. Meet the people. Go to those places. Attend the events. Follow the social media. Post comments and interact. Offer to speak at industry functions. Build your reputation in a cross-pollination way that will make you seem knowledgeable, accessible, and valuable to others!

 

You have your niche. That’s your lane. Now, stick to your lane and run hard. (You can, of course, take projects and clients from other industries, but focus your attention on the one area you’re going to be the “go to” designer for!)

8.      Set Your Direction

Our next shortcut is about writing your direction down. It’s critical. Get it written down. Ideally, pin it up on the wall where you can be reminded of it. (Sure, putting it on your laptop or smartphone notes works too, but think about how you can keep it in front of you, as a constant reminder.)

 

You can change it any time. You’re the boss! This is what you’re going to figure out and write down:

• This year’s financial goal
• What you want to be making (per year) five years from now
• What your business’s purpose is (what service do you provide and to what niche industry?)
• What your mission is (why is it so important to you, today, to have your own business?)

 

That’s enough for now. You get the idea. You’ll have a concrete goal for what you were thinking this year and where you are headed. And you can revise it later this year, next year, and so on.

 

But, without it written down, it’s all just wishful thinking rolling around in your head. Quantify it. Make notes. Get it on paper. Put it on the wall. Think about it every day. Refine it. Own it.

 

And you will get there! (It’s scientifically proven that your goals, written down, are more likely to be achieved.)

9.      Finances are Your Friend

Make a choice, right now. You are not going to be afraid of financial information. Your business’s finances are your friend.

 

Having enough money is important, right? And, if you had more than you needed, you’d see that as a good thing, right?

 

So, get rid of your old ways of thinking about money and the bean-counting tools that we use to organize it and keep track of it. Those tools are your friends.

 

Treat your money like a friend you’re happy to see. Happy to talk to. Happy to learn more about. And, over time, you’ll become a bit of a financial guru. It might be hard to believe, but it’s a bit unavoidable, in a well-run and profitable business.

 

Know what your finances are telling you. Don’t shy away from them or hide. Embrace and engage them. They will warn you. They will encourage you. They will tell you the truth.

 

10. Don’t Sell – Serve

Here’s a straightforward shortcut that you’ll implement every day: Focus on great customer service.

 

Focus your advertising and marketing on how you provide great customer service (value to happy customers). Pivot everything you do off of the concept of having clients who love you.

 

Make it your daily goal to understand the world better from your customers’ point of view. Look at things through their eyes. Think about how your business can serve them better. Think about how you can anticipate needs.

 

That will give you the “wow” factor that is the secret sauce to so many enduring businesses. It’s fun and it hits your bottom line with positive vibes from day one!

11. Try Public Speaking (Yes, You!)

If you want to really dominate your niche industry, here’s a tip about a skill you might not currently have: Public speaking.

 

Yep, that’s it. But you don’t have to take a nerve-wracking public speaking course! We have a better idea and a 2-step process to recommend.

 

The first step is to register in some business development classes that you know have down-home practicality baked into them. Focus on learning the basics and improving on what you’ve already learned.

 

Now, in your classes, groups, or events: start speaking up! Participate in every way you can. Offer to answer, in a class. Give a presentation, if you have an opportunity. Talk about your business. Practice introducing yourself and your business to others. Speak a lot. Get out of your comfort zone.

 

It will get easier. At first, it may seem really hard. But then you’ll be asked to say something and you’ll realize — hey, I did it naturally… I didn’t freeze and I told them about my amazing business! I’m a public speaker now!

 

Bonus: when you’re a public speaker, clients will see you as an expert and will be willing to pay you those higher freelance graphic design rates you have been wanting.

Who knows? Maybe, like us, you’ll have a freelance design podcast one day!

 

12. Stay Connected to the Mothership

Okay, that was a lot of freelance business tips. We learned them along the way to get our graphic design studio to where it’s at today: signing $12k, $15k, $18k branding clients and beyond.

 

But, at the end of the day, you’re a graphic designer and so are we, so let’s add one more shortcut just for creatives..

 

Tie most of our advice together and find the group of industry professionals you want to learn from. You can get your daily dose of inspiration (our first tip, remember?) from our Instagram community.

 

You can also get great business advice and industry ideas for finding those valuable $12k+ clients you love to work with, growing your industry reputation as a designer, upleveling your portfolio to attract high-paying clients, and standing out from all the other designers out there so you get hired!

In addition to getting involved with Aventive Academy: subscribe to some other design accounts. Follow a few key designers on social media. Listen to some podcasts. Participate fully and get to know the people who are driving the creative vibes of our times!

 

Staying well-connected in the design industry will keep your inspiration high and will help you to effortlessly surround yourself with the best new ideas, trends, tools, and resources.

 

That is the biggest graphic design business tip of them all: focus on learning how to run your business and you’ll become a great designer… with a profitable freelance business giving you the career of your dreams!

 

Whether you are young or old, new to graphic design or ready to launch out on your own after a design career, our shortcuts will work their magic and help you reach your financial goals.