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How Can You Earn Money Sitting At Home?
It is not simple to take the initial step toward becoming a freelancer, but it may transform your life when you embrace this lifestyle and choose to be your own boss. Not only are you liberated from the limitations of a 9 to 5, but you may also set your own rules and work on your own schedule.
It enables you to work from anywhere, making a job from the convenience of your laptop, which is ideal for people with itchy feet.
Freelance Graphic Designer
From the standpoint of the worker, becoming a freelancer is also the healthiest and most fulfilling alternative since social isolation and working from home become the new normal. As demand for independent workers soars has never been a more profitable moment to pursue self-employment than now. Indeed, freelancers may earn up to £400 per day, if not more.
Although many graphic designers work for businesses on an in-house basis, many already work as freelancers, which means that if you choose to become self-employed, you can rest assured that there are clients out there who will hire you; all you need to do is get started.
How can you differentiate yourself from the competition and set the appropriate rates to get you recognised while still providing you with a decent living wage? Whether you want to pursue a career as a freelance graphic designer full-time or part-time while maintaining your current work, read below on how to become a freelance graphic designer in 2021.
1. Conduct research
Self-employment and establishing your own business without thoroughly researching the sector, comprehending what you are getting yourself into, and scouting out the competitors puts you at risk of failing before you have even begun.
Additionally, examine online portfolios and the criteria that experts adhere to while showcasing their work. There is no harm in emulating them to give yourself the best possible chance. The rates you will charge clients are critical to consider. Again, spend time perusing the advertising of other graphic artists to determine their rates. Keep in mind that everything is relative.
Although there is no standard charge, they frequently vary according to expertise and reputation. Begin small enough to attract consumers but large enough to earn a living income. From there, you may gradually boost your rates as your experience grows.
2. Identify your niche
While reading in the news that freelancers are in great demand, particularly this year, is encouraging for those just starting out, it also implies that there are likely too many graphic designers offering their services and bidding for the same work.
As a result, you must distinguish yourself and your abilities from an oversaturated market. To accomplish this, the best place to begin is by identifying your niche, your area of expertise in graphic design. From there, you may develop your brand and concentrate your efforts on your area of expertise.
If you have previously worked for a firm, you undoubtedly already have a notion of your area of expertise – so leverage it.
Consider which parts of graphic design you love and, more importantly, which ones you excel at as a newcomer. If you are stumped as to what they may be, consider the following specialties:
Visual Identity: This may include logos, typography, and colour palettes – everything associated with branding and creating a complete visual identity and idea for a firm.
Packaging: tiny but formidable, the packaging is a critical component of branding and product development. The packaging of an item may make or break its success. From cereal boxes to shampoo bottles, confectionery to cosmetics, businesses of all sizes rely on skilled individuals to bring their products to life.
As our media consumption shifts away from ink on paper and toward digital, the need for graphic designers to create online guides, e-books, brochures, social media assets, and email marketing templates has never been greater.
3. Keep learning
Along with researching the graphic design freelance industry and updating your toolkit, make time to brush up on your own skills and knowledge. Set aside time for self-improvement once or twice a week, allowing you to read articles, watch tutorials, attend webinars, or take online courses in your niche. For an in-depth study of graphic design, try the online course by Blue Sky Graphics.
Investing time, money, and effort in your own education will ultimately benefit you. You can have as many new tools and programmes as you want, but you must be able to use them.
4. Establish your brand and boost your online visibility
Having a stellar freelancing brand comes with the territory of being a graphic designer. It is the perfect way to demonstrate your ability and, if done well, could help you see success early on and get you noticed.
Here are some of the best ways to get your name out there and put your stamp online:
Self-branding: Concentrate on creating a great website, simple but recognisable logo, social media and maybe even merchandise. The key is to be consistent and for clients to associate your branding with you and your work. Include your contact information and rates across your platforms, too – taking a multi-channel approach to your business opens you up to gaining more clients that interact with different platforms.
Build an online portfolio:
Build an online portfolio: proving your credibility as a graphic designer is hugely important in getting your first clients and building your online presence. People may be reluctant to hire you if you’re brand new with no evidence of past projects and work. Use the platforms you have created – your website and social media – and freelancing platforms you may use to exhibit your work and client reviews. It is the best way to give clients an insight into your ability.
Be compelling:
Be compelling: we spoke earlier about investing in the right programmes and online courses to help further your career. This also applies to how you advertise yourself, so invest in a copywriter who can write a compelling, inviting description to draw clients to your profile. It may seem like an unnecessary extra cost, but it is an opportunity to sell yourself and could be the difference between receiving orders and receiving nothing at all.
