Start freelance graphic designing business/ Do and don't you must know
Freelance graphic designing business can be an amazing, profitable occupation. However, it has its downsides, mainly, it requires persistence and patience.
In this article, I'd cover what does it mean to be a graphic designer, what does it require, what should you consider before becoming a graphic designer and comprehensive guide to establish your own freelance business.
I would also use many images and infographics to visualize my explanations better.
Freelance graphic designing jobs
As a graphic designer, there are many variations to expert. Like what is mentioned beneath:
Before skipping to the entire article, read objectively the next paragraph. Be certain that you really want this!
Graphic designer requirements
It is not that simple to open graphic design business… Otherwise, every graphic designer would start their own business.
Being an independent is tough. You would have to manage every aspect of the business such as: marketing, budget and time. You would have to acquire customers and grant them with the best service.
Meanwhile, you would have to trace changes in the graphic industry, learn new skills and keep the pace.
If you understand that developing the business would take time, like a marathon. You are persistent, patient, hard worker and blazed to success. Then, keep on reading!
Benefits of graphic design services
I think that the primary benefit of being a freelance in graphic designing is doing what you love the most. Getting up on Monday morning, in a scene of fulfillment is amazing!
Additionally, your life would become more flexible. You can be with your children in the afternoon. In the evening, you can keep on working when they are asleep.
You have the freedom to choose which customers you want, what niche to penetrate, what skills to master and how to manage your work.
Finding the best fields in freelance graphic designing
You would have to decide in which graphic designing fields you want to expertise.
Don't try to know everything because you would find yourself knowing nothing!
Research which fields you can be best at. This is the most important criterion you need to analyze.
Choose up to 3 fields to be an expert.
Then, you would have to follow the next steps:
Purchase the right infrastructure for your business growth. Meaning, buy a well-equipped computer, build for designing. Stronger computer for animation and 3D.
In the example below, it would be clearer what you should buy for your freelance graphic design business.
Furthermore, you would have to buy supporting software. The most common software are Adobe from Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator to Premiere and After effects.
However, there are other options, that you can pay less or even for lifetime and receive exactly what you need like:
Pixlr- similar to photoshop
Aicoosoft- similar to After effects. Lighter and simpler.
Crello- similar to Canva
For 3d there are the common Autodesk software like: 3D Max and Maya. But you can also try the free software: Blender.
Think also where you can find the right images for your projects. There are free websites such as: Pixabay, Pexels and Unsplash. I use Jump story where you don't need to be afraid of copyrights.
When you have the whole infrastructure, you can start operate your business.
Expertise in the most profitable and lucrative niches in graphic designing
This phase would determine the success of your business. It is that important!
Decide on 10 niches to penetrate.
In the image below there are concepts of the most profitable niches, you can select from.
Then, find out who are the 3 main competitors, market size, revenues and level of competition. Prefer niches with less competition and less dominant competitors. Then, choose among larger and more profitable niches. Cut down to 6 niches.
Utilize the SWOT model to reveal market opportunities. String the opportunities to your strengths, you have analyzed before. Avoid combination of your business weaknesses and market threats.
Find out in which platforms, both digital and off-line, you can reach the target audience.
Finally, analyze how much you would have to invest to penetrate the market. Select the niches with shorter barriers and less money to spend.
You should end with 3 to 4 niches. Additionally, stay with the main platforms you wish to market yourself.
Choosing one niche meaning leaving the eggs in one basket. You don't want that!
Setting graphic design primary goal
In the early stages of becoming a graphic designer, you would have to build your networking. Your primary goal would be to expose yourself. You would also need to place this target, if your business isn't growing.
Examples:
10000 followers on LinkedIn
2000 likes on Facebook business page
1000 visits in your website monthly
The last example is probably the best for your business. Potential customers need to know you and your expertise. You would need a website to show your professionalism. Next, Each process would be described regarding this target.
Creating graphic design business strategy
Next step is to build a strategy. You would want to reach 1000 visitors at the end of the year. Describe the actions you would have to execute to target achieving. Read here what are strategies and how to implement them.
Setting graphic design milestones
Afterward, you have to put milestones. The first month you would bring 50 visitors, the second- 100 visitors and each next month you would bring an additional 100 visitors. Meaning in 12 months you would reach 1000 visitors.
Execute freelance graphic designing action plan
Those are the operations you would do daily, weekly and monthly.
Before, reading the continuation of this paragraph, it is highly recommended that you would download the worksheet below. Hence, you would utilize both the examples below and in the worksheet. At the end, you could establish your own business action plan.
Primary target: let's say that you want to 1000 visitors a month on your website, at the end of the year. This is your primary target.
Strategy: publishing on social media. Uploading marketing content that helps small businesses gain more customers. At least 50% of the content would refer to the website.
Milestones: the first month you would bring 50 visitors, the second- 100 visitors and each next month you would bring an additional 100 visitors. Meaning in 12 months you would reach 1000 visitors.
Action plan to reach the milestones:
First build a website. I've watched Ferdy Korpershoek and Adam Preiser. They are one of the best in this field of website building.
I also recommend building the website through the Phlox page builder which you can buy for a lifetime. It integrates with Elementor.
Find around 5 customers. You can publish your services through small businesses and entrepreneurs groups on LinkedIn or Facebook. Grant them with free service or low cost. Ask in return to advertise your work on your website, social networks and for publishing good reviews. You can WiserNotify application to receive professional review.
You would also have to search keywords. I recommend doing that with Ubersuggest and Frase.
I recommend also to spy after your competitors. Analyze what content they upload and do it better. I'm using Social Animal, a great software.
Open Facebook business page, personal profile on both LinkedIn and Twitter. Think what added value you can grant your target audience. Write it on both your brief and summary. You can read my LinkedIn profile to get an idea how to do it.
Then, join up to 30 groups on Facebook and more than double on LinkedIn. I've added my groups recommendations in the checklist underneath.
Each day, you should ask connection requests to potential customers and optional business corporations.
Pay attention, that you can automate the connection request. I use Texau. In my experience it works great on LinkedIn. Don't try to use it on Twitter because your profile would be locked. After a few times, it would be forever!
Publishing on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter at least 3 times a week. I recommend using Content Studio which you can automate some posts publishing. I'm using it. It is probably one of the best programs to manage your social network publishing.
Additionally, one of the posts should be a video. It stands out your expertise in a much more powerful manner. You can upload interactive videos. This would probably receive more engagement and leads. Try Intercatr software.
Here are some concepts how to manage your content:
When, uploading the posts, asking to join groups, connecting or following be aware of the restrictions. On each platform there are specified game rules you should notice.
Probably it might seem overwhelmed. You would have to organize your time management. You can use Google Calendar but in my experience it is not practical. I recommend using Nifty which would remind you exactly what you have to do each day.
By the way, if you search for a free tool, you can try Asana. But it would be limited.
Summarizing everything you have read, it is important that your target audience would visualize you as an expert. Hence, they can trust you. Yet, it is not enough. Your customers need a basis to buy your product. For that particular reason, you need to differentiate your product or company.
Forming freelance graphic designing differentiation
Probably it might seem overwhelmed. You would have to organize your time management. You can use Google Calendar but in my experience it is not practical. I recommend using Nifty which would remind you exactly what you have to do each day.
By the way, if you search for a free tool, you can try Asana. But it would be limited.
Summarizing everything you have read, it is important that your target audience would visualize you as an expert. Hence, they can trust you. Yet, it is not enough. Your customers need a basis to buy your product. For that particular reason, you need to differentiate your product or company.
Publishing graphic designing content with examples
After you have comprehended who your niches are, the added value and you have established the framework of the business plan. Now, think of the content you want to deliver, business model, sign-up agreement, customers' recommendations and measuring tools.
Next step is to think about the content uploading. Stick to the topics you would like to be an expert.
If you have decided that you want to be a specialist in 3d animation, 2d animation and video editing. Then you would have to write about this world and how it can contribute to business growth.
Here are some examples:
How to earn money as a freelancer in graphic designing? Choosing a business model and collecting money
After customers would be exposed to your content, they probably would want to know how you can work together. They would want to apprehend how much you would charge, your business model!
The easiest way is to charge per service, monthly subscription or even annual. However, you can think out of the box and try other great business models.
You can utilize these examples, if it matches your business requirement.
When the customers are eager to buy your services, you would have to send them an agreement.
You can use Simply Docs to build your own contract, search on the Internet for excited agreements or rent a lawyer. Don't try to do it by yourself.
You would also have to charge the money.
You would need a bank account.
A way to charge the money like PayPal, Stripe, 2checkout or Payoneer.
You would also have to send invoices. You can try Invoice quick.
Pick marketing measurement tools
Last piece in the basis of your digital business infrastructure is measuring.
You have to analyze if the content you deliver has the outcome you expected.
Remember the milestones, how money visitors you have to attract to the website daily, weekly and monthly.
You would have to use Google Analytics, Search Console and I also recommend Data Studio. You can use Google Tag Manager to combine each Google asset in one place easily.
Opening Google Analytics, Search Console, Data Studio and Tag Manager, try to watch Measure School and Love Data who are great. Also, watch this video to establish your Google Search Console account.
Don't forget that you need a measuring business plan. Use the checklist below to build your own measuring system.
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