How You Can Land Freelance Graphic Design Jobs

It’s not easy to get freelance graphic design jobs. It takes a lot of hustle and perseverance, but it’s possible if you know how to market yourself as a designer and how to approach potential clients. This guide will help you do just that.

How to Make Money as a Freelance Graphic Designer

Takeaways
Research potential clients and target industries to tailor your approach.
Build a standout portfolio showcasing your best graphic design work.
Network through online platforms like LinkedIn and design-focused communities.
Craft personalized pitches that demonstrate your understanding of client needs.
Consider offering a range of services to cater to different client requirements.
Stay proactive and persistent in your job search and outreach efforts.
Continuously update your skills to stay competitive in the freelance market.
Leverage testimonials and referrals to build credibility with potential clients.
Pricing your services strategically based on your experience and value.
Collaborate effectively with clients, delivering on time and exceeding expectations.

Table of Contents

Join Freelance Platforms

One of the most important things you can do as a freelancer is to join platforms where other freelancers congregate. There are many, but here are some of the more well-known:

Freelancer.com
Upwork
Fiverr
99Designs
Dribbble

Freelancer.com is one of the biggest freelance platforms around and is also used by employers to hire people for various projects. It’s very easy to use and has thousands of jobs posted on it every day, so if you’re looking for a quick way to get an influx of work while still maintaining your independence, this may be a good option for you!

Building a strong creative team is essential for successful projects. Learn how to hire a freelance designer even if you’re unsure where to start. Check out our guide on hiring a freelance designer when you have zero clue to find the right talent for your needs.

Build A Website

One of the best ways to get your name out there is by building a website. This is because having a website shows that you’re serious about business and it can help you land clients.

The good news is: it doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. There are many tools available that allow anyone who knows how to use a computer (and maybe Google) to create their website for free or at very little cost.

Use The Right Software Tools

You will have to use a graphic design software tool to create your designs. The best tools are those that can help you get the job done fast. The problem is that the market is flooded with software tools and it’s hard to know which one is right for you.

Here are some things you should consider when choosing your graphic design software:

Free or Paid? Some programs cost money while others don’t cost anything at all but you may need to pay for premium features later on. If possible, try out some free options first before deciding whether or not it would be worth paying for more advanced versions of the same program.

Otherwise, there won’t be any reason why someone else wouldn’t just do their own thing instead of hiring an expert!

Easy vs Hard? Some people like using easy-to-use programs because they don’t require too much thinking before making something happen… but sometimes these aren’t always ideal if efficiency matters most (and let’s face it: time spent working shouldn’t always feel like work!).

Other times though… maybe someone wants something more challenging because they enjoy learning new things every day – either way works!

Collaboration with clients requires timely decision-making. Discover tips for managing changes in client projects effectively. Explore our article on how long to wait before making changes to a client’s project and ensure a smooth workflow.

Stay Up To Date On Industry Trends And News

No matter what your field is, it’s important to stay up to date on trends and news in your industry. This will help you gain a competitive edge over less-informed competitors, while also establishing yourself as an authority figure in the field.

In many cases, staying up to date can be as simple as subscribing to newsletters or following the right social media accounts. However, if you want more specific information about what’s happening in your niche at any given time (or just like reading about trends), check out blog posts from professional designers and copywriters who are keeping tabs on what’s trending around them.

Build A Portfolio That Wows Your Clients

Whether you’re a designer or an illustrator, having a portfolio of your work is essential. It’s the first thing many potential clients will see and it’s also how they’ll decide whether to hire you. A good portfolio has to be easy to navigate, find and read because if it isn’t, then you won’t land any jobs.

Create A Killer Resume And Cover Letter

Once you’ve got your portfolio set up, it’s time to get some jobs. There are several ways you can do this, but one of the most important things you can do is to make sure your resume and cover letter are top-notch.

A killer resume is critical because it’s what employers use when deciding whether or not to hire you for a freelance graphic design job. So let me tell you how to land that killer resume:

Use an email address with your name on it (instead of Gmail/Yahoo/etc.) so they know that it’s really from you!
Use a template that has been proven effective by many designers before (like my [website](https://nathanroche.com/resume-template/) here). You want something clean and professional enough that catches their eye without seeming too boring or generic sounding like so many others out there today!

Embarking on a freelance design journey involves personal choices. Hear one designer’s story on how they decided to become a freelance designer and get inspired to follow your passion.

Go Through Your Existing Client List

The next thing you can do is take a look at your existing client list and see if any people have been happy with your work. If so, ask those folks for referrals. You don’t want to be a pest about this but it’s always good to show gratitude for their business and willingness to try new things.

Offer them free work or discounts on future projects if that helps in any way, but make sure that every time you talk with them about what’s going on in their lives, they know how much you appreciate the opportunity to work together!

And finally: Ask for testimonials from them; even short ones will be helpful when trying to land new clients!

Consult Friends, Family, And Colleagues For Recommendations Or Referrals

The easiest way to find a freelance graphic design job is by asking friends, family, and colleagues for recommendations or referrals.

You can ask for recommendations in person or via email or text message. You should always request permission before sending an unsolicited email about your services to someone you do not know well enough to ask for advice.

If you’re contacting someone through social media, make sure that what you post on their feed doesn’t take advantage of their generosity and overstep the boundaries of good etiquette (for example: if they don’t know you well enough).

How do I get started?

Asking someone who knows someone else who might be able to help me find a design client can be as simple as saying something like “Hey, could I get a quick referral from you?” The person may respond with a question like “Who do you want me to refer to?” Then just say “I could use some more people like [insert name here]! Who else works at [insert company name here]? Or maybe even say something like “Have any contacts at [insert company name here]?”

Network With Fellow Freelancers And Exchange Referrals

Networking with fellow freelancers is one of the most effective ways to land freelance graphic design jobs. You can also exchange referrals with other freelancers, which will help you get in front of more clients and land new gigs faster.

Even if you don’t have a referral from another designer or agency (which is fine), there are still plenty of ways to network and grow your network organically. If you want to build up your network as quickly as possible, consider these tips:

Excelling in the competitive freelance graphic design realm requires strategic approaches. Elevate your freelance career with these 16 tips to dominate the freelance graphic design world and stand out in the industry.

Explore Online Forums For Job Leads Or General Advice

Forums are a great place to get advice, tips, and other general information about the industry. They can be a great way to find out how your peers are doing in their careers as well as what they think is important. You’ll also learn about the latest trends within the industry so that you can continue improving your skills.

Finally, forums are a great place to find like-minded people who want to help each other out. You might not need assistance right now but down the road, it may come in handy!

Make Cold Calls To Other Businesses

When you’re just starting, it’s best to take any opportunity that comes along. One of the easiest ways to do this is by making cold calls which means calling someone you don’t know personally and asking if they’d like to hire you for a job. This can sound scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how:

Find a list of businesses in your area that are relevant to what you want to do (e.g., graphic design firms)
Look up their contact information online or in the phone book
Call them up and ask who does most of their hiring
Ask if any projects are going on at the moment that needs someone doing freelance design work (or whatever else), and whether or not he/she would mind meeting with you for coffee so he/she can hear more about what kind of things you’ve done before (and why they should hire YOU).

Pitch To Publications Or Trade Journals

If you’re interested in getting your name out there, pitching to publications or trade journals is a great way to do so. It’s a good way to get a feel for the industry and can help you expand your network of contacts and build relationships with editors and writers who may be able to refer business your way down the line. And of course, most importantly, it allows you to showcase your work by putting it out there.

However, keep in mind that when pitching stories (or articles), it’s important not only for you but also for the publication itself that whatever article(s) is being pitched be relevant and interesting otherwise, no one will want them!

Attend Networking Events In-Person

Networking events are a great way to get your name out there. They’re also a chance to meet people in your industry, find new clients and learn from others who have been doing it longer than you.

Before you go:

Prepare yourself with research on the event organizer and attendees; You’ll want to know whether they’re offering any special networking opportunities (for example, if they’ve set up an open bar or happy hour). If so, make sure you keep track of how many hours it takes for alcohol to wear off so that when it comes time for business talk, you can stay sharp instead of slipping into “one more drink” mode!

Talk about yourself; But don’t brag excessively just give the basics on what kind of work you do and why someone should hire you instead of someone else. Be prepared for questions about why people should hire YOU specifically over other freelancers/contractors/whatever; this is where having done some basic research before attending comes in handy as well!

Entering the freelance graphic design field demands careful planning. Navigate the process with confidence using our guide on breaking into the freelance graphic design industry to kickstart a successful career path.

Build An Email List You Can Sell To Later On

As a freelancer, you’re always looking for new clients. It’s important to build an email list that you can use to promote your services and products later on. It also means that when people want to hire you, they can just get in touch through email instead of having to schedule a meeting with them first.

The best way would be to have a good reason why they should sign up for your newsletter (like getting discounts), so they won’t feel like it was just spammy marketing content that they were forced into signing up for.

Actively Seek Testimonials From Current Or Former Clients

You can get testimonials from current or former clients by asking them to write a short testimonial about you. To do this, simply ask them if they would mind writing a short paragraph on why they hired you and what they thought of your work.

Alternatively, you can create an online survey where the client can rate your performance on different criteria, such as how easy it was to communicate with you via email or phone calls; whether or not they were satisfied with the quality of your work; and so on.

Pitch For Pro Bono Work

Pro bono work is a great way to build your portfolio. If you can get some pro bono work on your resume, it will look really good in the eyes of potential clients and employers.

Pro bono work also helps you build your network and reputation. When people see that you did pro bono design for them, they will be more likely to come back with paid jobs in the future because they know that you’re capable of doing great work for them without charging an arm or leg (or at least not charging what they would normally pay).

Pro bono clients are usually very happy with their end product because they can’t afford to pay a lot of money just yet, but they still need something awesome so their website doesn’t look like garbage when compared to competitors’ sites who spent thousands on their online presence.

Create An Ad For The Sort Of Work You Want To Find

This could include the type of work you’re looking for (graphic design, web design, illustration) and/or who would be your ideal client (somebody who needs a logo designed for their company). Include your contact information and a link to your website or portfolio if possible. If possible, write this ad so that it appears on sites where potential clients might be searching for designers like yourself!

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this guide has been helpful to you. If you’re still unsure about which job to take on, I’d recommend starting with the first freelance graphic design job that comes up. That way, you can get your feet wet and see how the process works before moving on to larger projects with longer deadlines.

Once you’ve got a few under your belt, feel free to start browsing through our other tutorials to find out more about what it takes to become an expert designer or gain additional insight into design trends and industry news.

Further Reading

Here are some additional resources to explore for further insights on landing freelance graphic design jobs:

Flux Academy – How to Land Freelance Design Jobs Short Description: Discover practical strategies and tips to successfully secure freelance graphic design opportunities with guidance from experienced professionals.

LinkedIn – How Do You Find and Apply for Freelance Graphic Design Jobs? Short Description: Learn effective methods for identifying and applying to freelance graphic design jobs using the power of your LinkedIn network.

Dribbble – Where to Find Graphic Design Jobs Short Description: Explore a curated list of platforms and resources where you can find a variety of graphic design job opportunities to boost your freelancing career.