How to Market Yourself as a Freelance Designer
Once you decide to make the leap into the world of freelancing, there are a few important steps to take into consideration to ensure you gain a steady flow of clients.
The world of design has rapidly changed in the last two decades, mostly due to the tremendous growth of the web design niche. Salaries earned by contemporary designers are growing, as well. As reported by PayScale, the average salary for this niche in the US is about $50k per year. Seniors can make much more, while beginners are between $35k and this figure. On the one hand, it’s a fair salary. On the other hand, it’s significantly lower than the salaries earned by web developers.
That’s why many web and other designers decide to go their own way, i.e. to leave steady jobs and become freelancers. If you’re thinking about freelancing and remote work, find out more about marketing yourself in the next few paragraphs.
1) Turn to social media networking
Using social media is the fastest way to earn public interest in everything you do. If you post your personal photos and videos to your private accounts, why wouldn’t you do the same for the sake of your new career? Facebook is a great starting point for this matter. It has the largest number of registered users from different parts of the world. Hence, the number of potential clients and collaborators is pretty high. Focus on designers’ groups on Facebook to connect with your colleagues and potentially find your first freelance projects. It’s also a practical strategy to feel the pulse of the market and see what you have to offer to them.
The next logical step is to create a LinkedIn profile. That way, you can connect both with fellow designers and with business executives. The latter is especially important as you find potential clients in the future.
2) Go to freelance platforms
In an ideal-case scenario, a freelance designer lands up to three reliable clients who constantly provide them with new projects. By doing so, you won’t put all your eggs in one basket, i.e. you’ll reduce the risk of not having enough work to make ends meet once your project is over. In that light, freelancer designers should register to freelance networks. For starters, you can try Upwork and PeoplePerHour or target narrower platforms, directed strictly at designers, like DesignCrowd or 99designs.
What’s important for this kind of freelancing is to possess a high level of individuality. According to a current master in design management, contemporary designers need to combine artistic and managerial skills. As a freelance designer, you’ll have to be able to negotiate with clients, give them project estimates, and perform project tasks in line with agreed terms. Freelance platforms are valuable for gaining this kind of experience and becoming a versatile design freelancer.
3) Showcase your skills
There are two types of freelancers: the ones who have worked for companies and quit to become freelancers, and those without any previous work experience. Either way, you’ll need to prove that you have the necessary qualifications and skills for the projects you bid and apply for. In theory, experienced freelance-turned-company workers have more items to showcase for that matter. In practice, many of them are restricted by the terms and conditions of NDA-agreements. On the other hand, inexperienced beginners might not have any finished projects.
That’s why it’s necessary to do some design work on your own. If you want to start working using a certain tool, like Adobe After Effects or Illustrator, create a project on your own to show what you can do. This will allow potential clients to have an insight into your skills. What’s more, those less experienced will be able to improve some of their skills that way.
4) Locate your target clients
Working as a remote freelancer designer means competing with a large number of similar professionals on a global scale. The greatest advantage of this kind of work is the fact that you can charge more than you would earn in a local company while your clients can pay you less than they would pay their local designers. This win-win combo is one of the reasons why freelance work is gaining popularity as we speak. That’s why it’s crucial to locate your target clients. For instance, if you live in the Czech Republic and target clients from the UK or Australia, you should see how much British and Australian designers charge for their work.
After that, you can calculate your rates, which will be lower than those offered by domestic designers from those countries, but still high enough for you to ensure a comfortable living. Do your homework for several countries and select one or more locations where you’ll target your potential clients.
Freelance and remote work is becoming more and more interesting, especially in the design niche. Those planning to go that way should learn how to market themselves and acquire clients. If you follow these guidelines, you’ll be closer to the goal of ensuring a steady income and a sustainable future in this field.
Jennifer Hahn Masterson is the Lead Content Strategist at Spread the Word Solutions, holding an MA degree in business communication. She is always doing her best to help her clients find their place in the ever so competitive business arena, insisting on long-term sustainability rather than on some questionable get-rich-fast scheme. You can check her out on LinkedIn.