In this financial climate many designers are moving from working in a firm to doing freelance design work.
You could be one of them.
Perhaps your firm has already started downsizing and you are looking for online freelance work; or maybe the writing is on the wall and you are getting prepared.
You probably already have design skills or are taking steps to learn to use software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and more.
Whatever your situation, there is plenty of work for freelance graphic designers.
Here’s how you can tap into that market and have a successful design career working from home.
Getting Work As A Freelance Designer
Getting work as a freelancer is as much to do with marketing and promotion as with ability. So if you want freelance designing work you will need to learn to sell yourself and your skills at every opportunity.
One way to do this is by setting up a website which showcases your design talents. This is your virtual shop window which shows what you can do and lets potential clients know how they can get in touch with you.
Networking with other designers, publicizing your services with a press release, advertising and blogging are other ways to promote yourself.
You can even try cold calling but you can make this more effective by getting information from freelance job boards. Here’s how it works.
How To Find Companies That Are Looking For Freelance Designers
Search for companies which are posting opportunities for freelance design work on job boards such as FreelanceSwitch, Smashing Jobs, Krop, Design Mag and Sitepoint (don’t neglect Elance and Guru, either).
Check for those that post opportunities regularly; this means they might be open to contracting freelance graphic designers. Search for their contact details and prepare a pitch that can get you some time with someone who can make a hiring decision.
That is the smart way to cold call and can also lead to more income than simply bidding for small jobs on the freelance job boards. Combine the two and you should be well on your way to having plenty of freelance design work and a well paid career as a freelance graphic designer.
