The graphic design certainly is a competitive industry, and it can be hard to find new clients when you haven’t had much experience. Starting off as a freelancer is never easy, and it can be challenging to establish yourself as an artist. In this article, we’ll provide you with some tips and tricks to help you get noticed as a freelance graphic designer. Interested? Then keep on reading.
Set up your social media accounts
Social media has rapidly one of the biggest industries in the world, with over 4.5 billion people engaging in major sites. Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter are currently the most popular platforms, and many businesses have begun to use them to their advantage. As a freelancer, you can set up your own page as a type of portfolio, where you can show off your designs. Potential clients can also contact you through this, and your work can be shared and distributed all over the world.
Create designs for other websites
If you enjoy art and have some great unique ideas, why not sell them on other websites? Many offer free signup and pay you a commission if one of your creations make a sale. From shirts, water bottles, magnets, and stickers, the options are endless, and you can include your own name. You can even design your own face cover, to make wearing protection stylish and unique. Try looking at Etsy or Redbubble to get yourself started.
Enter in a few competitions
Graphic design contests/competitions are a great way to get your name out there, as it gives you the opportunity to display your work. Even if you don’t win, you might attract the eyes of potential clients, who will contact you in the future. If you do, then it’s a great thing to add to your portfolio! You can find competitions on Freelancer.com and Design Crowd.
Keep learning
Even the most successful graphic design artists in the world still keep learning, so it’s essential you keep practicing to further your skills. This way, you can show that you are improving to potential clients, and create new work that hasn’t been seen before. There are many great free lessons online, or you can choose to pay for a course. The more advanced qualifications you have, the easier it will be for you to get noticed.
Be unique
Since the graphic design industry is so competitive, you want to find a way to stand out from the crowd and be unique. Try finding your own particular style, so that your work is easily recognizable. The more different your work and art is, the more people will want to hire you to help make their business stand out. Check out these graphic design hacks to get yourself started.
Get recommendations/reviews from your small freelance jobs
While you might think your small freelance jobs are pointless, they actually pay a very important part of getting yourself noticed. For example, every time you complete a job or task on Freelancer.com, your employer can leave a review on your page. The more reviews you get, the more likely you are to be hired by other potential clients. You can even copy great reviews onto your portfolio so that others can see how reliable you are.
Offer a discounted service
If you want to stand out of the crowd even further than a great idea is to offer a discounted service on your platform. This can draw in potential customers as they feel they are getting a great deal. From here, they may continue to hire you if they like your work. For example, you could offer a discounted first-time service or two for one special.
Understand that some things take time
Lastly, one of the most important things you need to remember when trying to get noticed as a freelancer is that some things take time. You don’t want to get disheartened if you’re not picking up enough work, so try and stay as positive as possible. This way, you can continue producing great quality work and stay on top of your game.
By following the above, you’ll soon be on your way to becoming one of the most successful graphic designers ever. Just make sure you keep practicing and building up your portfolio so that you can show off your fantastic work. Just remember that with hard work and perseverance, you can do this! Good luck!
