Do you want to build a sustainable design business as a freelance graphic designer? It might seem like an impossible task, but it’s not. This blog post will provide 10 ways for becoming more successful and getting clients!
1) Say no to some clients.
With the introduction of cost-effective design software, anyone is able to become a graphic designer. Many people are teaching themselves the skill and attempting to break into the industry without any prior knowledge or education. Since they don’t know any better, they often offer their services at very low prices.
As a result, you should be wary of competing with these kinds of designers, as you may end up using too much of your resources and not making a profit. A viable business model should not involve taking jobs solely for the sake of exposure, or making next-to-nothing in order to increase your portfolio. Make sure to set reasonable rates for each job scope.
2) Start to build your email list.
Email marketing is one of the most effective ways to get your name out there and people will start paying attention as soon as they know you’re sending them valuable content. Whether it’s a monthly newsletter, sharing resources or even running product giveaways – make sure that all of this is on-brand with what you’ve been putting out into the world so far!
Start by creating an email list from those who have already subscribed to your blog posts through Feedburner (this is free). With every new post send a follow up email which makes it easy for readers to go back and subscribe again if they missed any previous emails.
3) Choose a niche and stick to it
Focus on a single niche and stick to it. Remember that you are not here for the quantity but rather the quality of leads, so don’t try to do everything at once! For example, if you want to provide professional social media design, then do not also offer logo design at the same time until you make your name and brand popular in the market.
4) Offer free consultation for clients
If you are not sure if a client is suitable for your services, then offer free consultation and ask them to fill in their requirements and design brief.
If they’re looking forward to investing money on the final product, then it’s better to take this step of consulting before providing any service!
You can create a questionnaire for the client to fill out, then you will have an idea of what they’re looking forward from your services. This way, even if there’s no free consultation involved in this process, you’ll still gain more than just giving away your service!
5) Create a growth plan for your business.
If you can create a growth plan for yourself, then it means that you’re already working on the right track to build a sustainable design business!
First of all, make sure that you develop and follow an effective client acquisition strategy in order to increase leads and grow your list of potential clients. Then, use marketing strategies like email marketing or content marketing in order to generate interest and attract new customers (clients). All this will help improve conversions when pitching projects to potential clients too!
6) Think like a businessman or businesswoman and take action
It’s very important to think like a businessman or businesswoman in order to become one. You are not only a designer or artist but also a businessman or businesswoman. You must be able to identify the necessary steps you need for getting clients as a freelance graphic designer, whether it is marketing or sales-related activities. Then, do your best at implementing those actions (tasks). If they’re not working out as planned then try something else until you find what works! Make sure that everything is measurable too so that you can track progress and see if anything needs changing along the way.
7) Join graphic design association to expand your network.
Another way to build your network is by joining a graphic design association. This means that you will get the chance to meet and work with like-minded individuals who share similar interests, while also expanding your business network. For example, if you’re based in Malaysia then you can join Malaysia Graphic Design Association (wRega). You can also consider searching for an international one such as the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) or National Association Of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP).
Doing this could mean more opportunities later on down the line because it’s easier to start relationships from new interactions instead of old ones too.
8) Affiliate with other freelancers who don’t have a conflict with your business.
You can collaborate with other freelancers that are not related to graphic design services. For example, freelancers who offer SEO, accounting, and photography. If possible consider setting up an affiliate program where they give you a referral fee or commission every time someone is hired via your link/referral code.
9) Active to share your thoughts via Social Media.
Leverage Social media to connect with other professionals. When you share your thoughts via the social network, it gives others a sense of who you are and what you’re about. This can help build an even larger audience for yourself when they learn that there’s more to offer than just graphic design services.
10) Keep learning new skills.
The world keeps changing and it’s important for you to stay on top of your game. Whether that means learning a new tool or software program, implementing an efficient workflow into daily tasks and projects, or attending conferences where like-minded professionals gather together… It all plays a part in helping you grow as an individual and business owner.
Conclusion
Building a sustainable design business is hard work, but with the right mindset and some tips for success, it can be done. There are many different paths you could take to build your own sustainable design business; however, there are key points that will help you get started on the path towards long-term sustainability from day one of starting out in this field. These 10 steps should give you a good idea of how to grow your own successful graphic design business by using tried and true methods as well as innovative strategies which have been proven time and again through real-life experience. If you want to get more clients, why not give it a try to signup on Artmeet and create your services? It is free! Click this link to do it now and get more exposure to potential clients.