Marketing yourself as a freelanceer

y3k_designs · 02-09-2010, 03:18 PM

Hey everyone,

So please allow me a few minutes to explain a bit about myself and the internal war that I've been waging against myself now for about a year or so....

Though I am an artist at heart and love what I do, I have been extremely interested and blinded by affiliate marketing and all the internet money-making schemes out there today. I signed up to about 4 free sites that really in the end were a waste of time and wouldn't pay dividends unless I had a "downline" of like 2000 people! Problem with this is, I am really not pasisonate about selling other people's products and/or taking a year to build up an unstable business that statistically fails 95% of the time!

Time to get inspired about what I am truly passionate about, and move on....

My freelance career began around college, as I began taking in odd jobs wherever I could find them! I began making a few independent movie posters, business cards, etc. After college I began to really get passionate about growing a legitimate business and molding my freelance into a profitable career. Problem was, the work was slow and payment was peanuts! I didn't know how to properly charge clients and sometimes got tangled up in 2-3 projects at once working for a lousy client who demanded countless revisions and paid poorly.

Over the last 2-3 years this slowly began to change....

I began to take my freelance more seriously and began to mold my skills into a more professional and organized business. I had a streak of jobs pour in last year for about 2-3 months and then it dried up almost overnight. I have since joined up a few freelance websites and entered design contests but bagn to get frustrated at my inability to take on steady jobs.

Now, I am starting to re-assess my business model and start from scratch in a sense. I have fortunately built up a very nice array of clients and jobs which are showcased in my portfolio....and am now of the mind that I need a complete website makeover that is more professional and less "college'esque".

I also am doing some market research into some popular and productive freelance sites and resources so that I can have a streamlined system of finding work. Right now I sort of just float around the same 2-3 websites bidding on jobs, but realize the importance of properly marketing myself into MANY different avenues to find work. I am beginning to develop my business mind instead of relying solely on my creativity! I want to be able to utilize both now and become the most successful freelancer I can be. Once I get established as a more professional freelancer I will go on the books hopefully this year and take advantage of the great tax benefits of operating a legit business from my home office.

So, long story short, anyone have any ideas, suggestions or feedback on places to properly market myself as a freelance graphic designer?? I want to develop an organized, streamlined system moving forward to being in as many jobs as possible. Hell, I would actually like to have a small team to handle overflow and web jobs as soon as possible!

Thanks,
Gregg

J_Frye · 02-09-2010, 03:45 PM

I think you answered your own question in your last sentence.

Try American Express Small Business to get you started.

PrintDriver · 02-09-2010, 04:42 PM

You are going about this wrong.

Freelancing that makes money IS a business.
You should start with a business plan. You should set up your company legally in the state you are living in (permits, naming, bank account). You should have some investment capital even if it is only enough to get you the computer and software you need right now. You should speak to an accountant. You should talk to a lawyer about your client contract language.

Just surfing around bidding on various low-bid design sites isn't going to get you the clientele you want. You need to work on a marketing program that is active rather than passive.

I'm also curious about your skill level. What programs you use. What sort of management skills you have.

y3k_designs · 02-09-2010, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrintDriver

You are going about this wrong.

Freelancing that makes money IS a business.
You should start with a business plan. You should set up your company legally in the state you are living in (permits, naming, bank account). You should have some investment capital even if it is only enough to get you the computer and software you need right now. You should speak to an accountant. You should talk to a lawyer about your client contract language.

Just surfing around bidding on various low-bid design sites isn't going to get you the clientele you want. You need to work on a marketing program that is active rather than passive.

I'm also curious about your skill level. What programs you use. What sort of management skills you have.

I appreciate the honest response PrintDriver. I would like to make clear that I DO in fact intend to turn my freelance into a sole proprietorship business this year, ones the business plan begins to unfold.

I am curious as to pick your brain about this statement: "You need to work on a marketing program that is active rather than passive." What would you suggest to bring in some volume?

As for my skill level, I am versed on ALL Adobe CS4 software and have been using Photoshop/Illustrator since 2001. I am still very novice at Dreamweaver and Flash and have no desire to learn web programming at this time, which is why I work with as web partner who handles the back-end of site design. I use InDesign on a daily basis so I'm pretty much covered on all the major industry software.

And as for the management aspect, I am completely self-motivated and very capable of managing a steady workflow/deadlines/etc. How would you respond to this beginners' business model?

PrintDriver · 02-10-2010, 12:15 AM

Nine years of using software. Knowing the software doesn't make you skilled

Being self-motivated and saying you are capable of handling a steady workflow and deadlines is not the same as being able to handle a design team, being part of a larger team in which graphic design is only an aspect, motivating a client or truly being able to multitask.

Realize that no one is looking for a designer on a reverse auction site. They are looking for what they want as cheap as they can get it and they don't care who does it. Putting a website portfolio up and hoping people roll in to look at it is passive as well. Joining an organization with reputation that also handles client/designer contact may help but I don't know anyone that is on one. AIGA has a peer reviewed system, if you think you're good enough. I don't know their rate of return though. Unfortunately I have no solid marketing advise for you other than the tried and true Network, network, network.
Face time, not online.
I'm old school.

coop · 04-03-2010, 03:19 AM

Can you please elaborate on Network, network, network?

Should I ask small business owners? Leave cards? If you don't mind, what do you personally do to find new clients and market yourself?

Sorry, I'm new school

asdfghjkl · 04-03-2010, 05:42 AM

I have start an small business. May by your suggestion helpful.

y3k_designs · 04-07-2010, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrintDriver

Nine years of using software. Knowing the software doesn't make you skilled

Being self-motivated and saying you are capable of handling a steady workflow and deadlines is not the same as being able to handle a design team, being part of a larger team in which graphic design is only an aspect, motivating a client or truly being able to multitask.

Realize that no one is looking for a designer on a reverse auction site. They are looking for what they want as cheap as they can get it and they don't care who does it. Putting a website portfolio up and hoping people roll in to look at it is passive as well. Joining an organization with reputation that also handles client/designer contact may help but I don't know anyone that is on one. AIGA has a peer reviewed system, if you think you're good enough. I don't know their rate of return though. Unfortunately I have no solid marketing advise for you other than the tried and true Network, network, network.
Face time, not online.
I'm old school.

Very cool, and much appreciated. It's weird, I find that freelance opportunities always come in waves. I am experiencing a high-volume wave right now and capitalizing on it! This is an exciting and challenging new avenue for me, as I build up towards incorporating my work into a real business in the next month or so.

BJMRGTIVR6 · 04-07-2010, 07:30 PM

I don't have much to say freelance wise as I am just a word of mouth, local design person. I volunteer at church with design too. All of my clients are within driving distance.

Anyway, I looked at your site and the text--way TOO MUCH, too small, not great as a serif type and not great Reversed!

somewhat slow on my machine too. Good luck on freelance!

y3k_designs · 04-07-2010, 07:43 PM

Too much text? The only real text is when you actually click the HOME page and of course my CLIENTS and testimonials....?

I am not a fan of serif fonts other than in print publications, especially for websites that use a newer, web 2.0 feel. BIG design no-no. The font size is pretty web-standard, time to have the eyes checked? And what do you mean by reversed...as in white text on a black background? Explain that one to me...