According to a survey conducted by Portal Freelancer, Brazil is now ranked 6th among countries with the highest number of professionals who work for jobs, without an employment relationship with their employers. In addition, Trampos.co released data showing that most freelancers are designers (27%), followed by journalists (10%).
If you are also thinking about entering this universe and gaining good clients, having a less stressful work routine and the possibility of exercising all your creativity, in today's post, we have listed some essential tips for being successful as a freelance designer. Follow along.
1 – Training is essential for a freelance designer
Believe me, just because you are a freelance designer doesn’t mean you don’t need to invest in training. After all, professionals who work independently must be up to date with the technological advances in their field and be able to develop the requested work quickly and accurately.
Take advantage of the fact that your time is not as “square” as that of a professional with a formal job and look for courses, research trends and read a lot about your area, even looking for interesting ideas from professionals who already have a consolidated career.
2 – Always listen to your customer
We know that communication between freelance designers and clients is often difficult, especially if the professional has never worked with the public. However, this communication is necessary for the project to move forward.
Meeting the expectations of those who hired you is more important than defending your idea to the last breath. But you need to be careful – listening to the client does not mean accepting everything they say.
Keep in mind that you are the expert and must be open to suggesting changes and alterations to what you produce, but only with your client's authorization.
3 – Meet your deadlines
There is nothing worse for a freelance designer than delivering work late and without a justification. This point shows not only a lack of professionalism, but also an inability to measure the time needed to produce the contracted work.
Therefore, whenever you create your planning, add extra time to the entire process. This will ensure that, even if something goes wrong, the finished work will be delivered within the agreed deadline.
4 – Don’t forget about the customer after delivery
One of the biggest mistakes freelance designers make is forgetting about the client right after the delivery is made. To win over those who have already worked with you, become a consultant and show them, with attractive material, how you can make your business grow, sell more products or even attract more customers to your website with a new layout or the inclusion of new products.
For example, if the client is an e-commerce company that sells mugs, show more prints that are appealing and will increase your sales, and be prepared to produce each one of them.
5 – Invest in networking
Just because you are a freelance designer doesn't mean your friend in the same field is your competitor. Know that networking is essential for those who work without an employment contract. After all, you or the other professional may need help to finish a project or need to pass clients on to someone you trust.
This way, the recommendations are more assertive and the client will know that they really know professionals who can help them.
Check out more tips:
- Netflix series tips to watch on vacation
- Why market your work as a graphic designer
- 5 tips for setting up a home office
Did you like the content and want to know more about working as a freelance designer? How about selling your creations as decorative items? Learn more about Creativando Portal and learn how to take this next step in your freelance design career.
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