As the new year approaches, it’s the perfect time to start something new.
Something about the fresh start really motivates us to dig deeper into the work we’ve been putting off and take on new challenges.
There’s no better time than now to start your freelance business. However, if you are starting a business from scratch, there is a lot to do. Understanding the broader landscape of small business success can be crucial at this stage. For example, only 34.4% of small businesses survive at least 10 years, highlighting the need to be well prepared for the challenges ahead.
Building a successful graphic design business takes a lot of work. Just thinking about it can be overwhelming. Where should you start? Looking at this as a massive undertaking can make it seem impossible.
I actually went through this process not too long ago, and although it seemed like a ton of work at the time, it went faster and better than I could have imagined .
I have found it extremely helpful to divide work into tasks. This made my progress easier to track and gave me things to celebrate along the way to help me stay motivated.
Here is the basic list of steps I took to go from absolute zero to a successful design business. I’ll also include some tips I’ve learned along the way.
Whether you want to start freelancing full-time, or maybe start transitioning to freelancing by doing it part-time, this is a great way to get the ball rolling.
Evaluate yourself.
A great way to start a project, especially one that could change your life, is to take the time to evaluate yourself. It’s a good way to assess your level of preparation and make changes that might better prepare you for success.
Some very good questions, specific to freelancers, would be:
- Do you have the time? (Are you willing to work long hours?)
- are you motivated? (There is no one else to hold you accountable when you work for yourself.)
- do you have the resources? (Workspace, software, some financial stability)
- Do you have a passion for freelancing and design? (This is perhaps the most important)
- can you manage an irregular income? By nature, self-employment is not as stable as working for another company. It can be a plus (you get the reward when you land big contracts, instead of your boss) and it can be bad (when things slow down, you’ll take a pay cut.)
Build a brand.
Your brand is the face of your business.
It’s what people will recognize, how they’ll set you apart from the crowd, and it’s the thing that will comfort people in its familiarity.
A blind Coca-Cola/Pepsi taste test published in 2004 proved this point perfectly, showing that people’s taste preferences actually changed significantly when the brand was present versus when it was hidden.
The process of creating your brand goes far beyond just putting your name on a card in your favorite color.
Choose the core values that you consider most important to you in business and in life and think about how they translate into branding.
I found that creating a “logo and branding guide” (example) for me it was a really good way to make sure I stayed completely consistent with the look and feel of my personal brand. Consistency increases brand recognition like crazy!
Once you’ve defined your brand, you can work from this guide as you begin creating your business assets (website, business cards, letterhead, invoices, social media profiles, etc.)
The result will be a brand that is completely consistent across the board.
Decide on your focus.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to do everything, but focusing on one area will help you improve faster and attract clientele.
Here are some of the most obvious ones:
- website creation
- Web development
- graphic design
- Branding
- logo creation
For more, Preston has put together the best list of “design niches” I’ve ever seen here.
Get to work!
The only way for people to know if you have what they’re looking for is to look at your previous work. If you don’t have one, that’s a problem!
Complete as many projects as possible to start building your portfolio.
Focus on projects that will look great in a portfolio to start. It’s these stunning portfolio pieces that will attract more work.
There is no denying that there is power in a name. Work with famous or important people whenever you can.
Working with big names can be easier than you think!
A great way is to keep an eye out for established professionals launching new startups. They will often be looking for new people to onboard and they are more likely to succeed than your average startup.
There are far fewer people trying to work with a company when it’s a startup than once it’s very successful, so reserve your spot early.
Do your best 100%, even when you think no one is watching. You never know when a project, which you consider low-key, might attract the attention of a high-profile potential client.
Keep looking forward.
Throughout this process, it is important to keep an eye toward the future.
Set viable rates for a professional, even if you’re not one yet. If you charge an unrealistic amount when you’re just starting out, you might end up with clients who expect those rates to continue and it will be much harder to change once you’re more established.
www.yourrate.co is a great website for calculating your hourly rate if you need help deciding where to start.
Never burn bridges, even those that no longer interest you at the moment.
Even if you can no longer work with a client or fellow designer, be pleasant. You never know when someone is going to tell another potential client what it was like working with you (good or bad!)
Word of mouth is your most honest advertising.
Now your turn !
What concerns do you have as you prepare to take on the challenge? If you are already independent; What tips have you found helpful in growing your brand?
Comments here.
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