10 Golden Keys For Success As A Freelance Creative

Written by: Courtlyn Jones, Executive Contributor

Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.

So, you’ve finally done it! You decided to quit your traditional 9–5 job and build your career as a freelancer, putting your goals and dreams first. Congratulations! I’m so proud of you. Or maybe, you’re still on the fence about it and need a little help deciding if this is right for you. In collaboration with The Design Database’s web developer, Idris Lasisi, we have put together this road map to guide you on your way to success.

Define your goals

A successful freelancer should always have a clear understanding of what they are setting out to do. It is crucial to have your goals set. What do you wish to achieve? Have a clear understanding of what success looks like to you.

How do you do this?

Start by creating an organized profile for yourself. For example, when building your account profile on The Design Database or any freelance platform, create a clear picture of what you are offering to your customers. Craft a profile that clearly defines your talent and skills. Your profile should contain your skills, qualifications, testimonials, etc. This will define your marketability.

Next, work on building your network and securing recommendations.

It is important that you build a good network of colleagues and clients. Try attending workshops and other professional events that will connect you with potential customers. There are tons of virtual networking sessions all over the internet now. You may even want to check out networking groups for start-up founders. They are a great target audience because they’ll need your help building their brand. Also, be sure to seek recommendations from your satisfied customers. With The Design Database’s community forum (which we are currently rebuilding), you’ll soon be able to take live courses and attend networking events directly on the platform. Stay tuned!

Finally, work on developing a good brand for yourself. You need to have a clear understanding of your own brand. To do this, you will have to take into consideration what customers value about you and your services. And on that note, let’s jump right into Step 2:

Find a profitable niche

A successful freelancer should find a specific area of their skill that they can specialize in to attract more customers. One common mistake that new freelancers make is to offer services that are different from what they know. Finding a niche where you are the most knowledgeable and have experience will help you succeed. It is important to use your existing expertise as a foundation to your freelancing career.

Identify your target clients

It is important to identify the type of clients you want to attract. There are basically two types of clients: casual and premium. Casual clients are people who have needs and are willing to use their budget to solve them. On the other hand, premium clients are those who have higher expectations and are willing to pay more for your valuable service. Premium clients are more demanding, but they’ll pay you the big bucks because they know they’re demanding. However, I still always say make sure you know your worth and don’t ever let a client disrespect you.

Set strategic prices for your services

The price of your services will determine your level of success. In order to set strategic prices, you will have to consider what your target clients are willing to pay, the cost of your resources, and the value of your service. A strategic pricing will help you define what services the market is willing to invest in. Note: One disadvantage of a low price is that you may not be able to attract more premium clients.

Build a high-quality portfolio

This one should be obvious! Your website is the most important tool that you can use to market yourself. A professional looking and easy-to-navigate website will help boost your confidence, as well as the confidence that clients have in you and your work. Your portfolio will help demonstrate the quality of your work, build credibility, and lead to more business opportunities. Your website should include details about your specific services, pricing, and contact information. Make sure to include testimonials and client reviews, if you have them.

Show what you can do

It is essential for a freelancer to show their potential clients what exactly that can do. A portfolio site should include examples of your previous work, such as design concepts, writings, case studies, and any other professional outputs. Potential customers will assess the quality of your service based on the examples on your website. Don’t feel obligated to only show your final pieces. Show your drafts too. Clients like to see your thought process because it shows how your brain works and if it aligns with what they are also envisioning. It’s all about synergy!

Thoughtfully choose your first clients

Who is your target audience? You have the freedom to choose which clients you work with. It is important to choose your first clients wisely. You will be building your portfolio with them, so choosing clients that are likely to provide positive feedback and testimonials is a good idea.

Mention potential clients in your content

Customers will be more likely to connect with you if you mention them in your content. People like to feel important and what better way to make them feel that way than to mention their businesses. When you mention business names in your content, you are more likely to get more customers looking at your profile. Think about dream clients that you would love to work with. Maybe create a mock project tailored to them and their brand and include that in your portfolio or on your social media and tag them or send an email.

Learn how to pitch yourself

Hate to break it to you, but just because you’re not interviewing for a corporate job anymore doesn’t mean you stop having to pitch yourself to people you want to work with. Let’s razzle dazzle them! A freelancer should be able to sell themselves. Self-marketing is the disclosure of your strengths, which gets you the attention you need, while creating confidence in your value. There are several ways to market yourself. For example, you can send out an email introducing yourself to your potential customers or you can work on your social media presence. If you need inspiration, check out other designers’ or freelancers’ Instagram accounts and see how they’re marketing their work and building their brand.

Don’t mix your day job priorities with freelance business

If you’re choosing to stick to the 9–5 life but want to moonlight as a freelancer until you find enough clients, then this step is for you!

Freelancers need to make a clear distinction between their day jobs and their freelance business. A freelancer should NOT mix their freelance work with their day job. This is important because you will need to spend a lot of your time and energy on your freelance business. This will include building up your client roster, attending networking events, and creating your portfolio. Even though, you may be using your day job as a source of resources like equipment and money, it is important to keep these two things separate.

Keep your freelance client work organized and in different folders than your other work. Set aside time in your schedule to work on certain projects without interfering with your day job. Whether you decide to work at nights or on weekends, find a clean way to keep the two from colliding.

This also keeps your mental health in check.

I hope this road map is helpful. Check out my other articles to learn more about me, The Design Database, and the ups and downs of working in the creative industry.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. You may also visit my website for more info!

Read more from Courtlyn!

Courtlyn Jones, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine

Courtlyn Jones is a graphic designer and creative entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Founder of The Design Database, a new online platform and community designed to be a support system for Creatives (artists, designers, illustrators, photographers, writers, and more). With her platform, Creatives can connect with clients who are looking to hire now, connect with other Creatives in the community to form partnerships, gain inspiration, and make new friends, and also host and sell their work. She has partnered up with other amazing businesses who share the same mission as her to support Creatives by providing tools and resources to help these independent workers be successful in their careers. Her mission is to help create change in the creative community and bring people together because she believes that when Creatives come together, true magic happens!