According to fiverr.com, the most popular services to offer in graphic design are minimalist logo design, illustration, website design, architecture and interior design, image editing, t-shirt and merchandise, industrial and product design, AI artists and social media design.
You may have noticed that there are relatively new names in this category, which is a clear indication that graphic designing keeps evolving. This therefore means that the only way to pace up is to keep learning and practicing. That which you did in class may have now been outdated and irrelevant. Upgrade yourself right online without necessarily going to a traditional brick and mortar class. Today it is not so much important to show where you learnt your skills but rather your work paves the way for you as you demonstrate by sharing samples of your work to the market.
What graphic designing is all about
Graphic design is the skill of being creative to graphically present a concept or message that the customer will understand. It is a means of communication that uses visuals to convey a message. This includes emoticons, logos, drawings, cards, emails, social media skins, and the list is endless. We see graphic work all around us in our everyday life. Some are printed on billboards, paper but most are on our digital gadgets.
For each of the already mentioned popular graphic design services, a designer will need some software, even though freehand designs are also appealing, to quickly produce a design that the customer would critic and send back for review. Don’t be discouraged by review requests, they are part of the game and help you grow.
How you can get noticed by clients
Being original in your production will make you stand out and attract customers who like your work. Once you have chosen your area of specialization, be ready with samples to show to your audience. If you have not yet had an order that you can show to your clients, create one that you are confident it displays your utmost skill on the field.
Make an effort to learn on visuals that captivates business owners and non-commercial entities. Think long term and never stop learning new methods of making your designs more appealing to your audience. Make time to review and upgrade your profile to enrich it as you go.
When you do get attention from a client, be flexible to accommodate opinions from your target audience as they show interest in your sample work. Professionally interrogate the brief that your customer will give you in request for service. You soon will be a preferred freelancer for some clients and they will be proud to recommend you to others.
How much to charge
The answer is on how you rate your work based on its demand, your experience, type of design and your target market. Graphic design is not a commodity or a product that has an exact way to be measured or priced. You may want to layer your product and price it with gradual additional features to suit a wider pricing for clients. As an experienced designer, you will know the features that add value to your product such as colour, size, delivery format, etc.
You may want to limit the number of revisions because improving a graphic product never ends. Some customers will keep requesting for additions or alterations even when the product is fit for use. Whatever the case, do not outprice yourself. If you are new in the field and less experienced, try to be competitive in your pricing as this will help you get jobs that you later on use to showcase your skills.
Key components of your gig
Your gig should be your catch net. Know that the client has an objective(s) to meet, scope and milestones of each design project. Your gig description should help the customer define that which you should do, the audience of the graphic, key messages that they user wants to send across and the audience persona.
Grade your possible outputs with varying prices. Some customers will like your style but be limited by budgetary constraints. The good news is that a ‘custom offer’, which is usually outside the structured outlay is a possibility. In this way, you can discuss and agree on what you are capable and willing to offer to your clients.
What makes graphic design important
We live in a visual intense society. All around us are illustrations, images, packaging, signage, websites, apps and social media aimed at attracting the attention of the public. The notion that images speak louder than words seem to be more prevalent today. Graphic designers therefore communicate easier and effectively by creating memorable visual stimuli. This then makes graphic designing a lucrative service in the freelancing industry.
How I can help you
I know that often times start up freelancers think they have no chance in the market of highly skilled players. However, you do have a chance if you make an effort to be noticed. Things may not turn out to work as quick as you would like for them to but if you keep trying it will eventually work. Who knows, you might be one of the lucky people who get their success just when they start.
I offer the following you to you:
- Continuous updates through posts, videos and audio clips on how freelancing works in general, which I will post on this blog and some of my other social media profiles.
- Later in the year 2023, I will offer a course on how you can learn a skill of your choice (graphic designing in this case) and create yourself some money by selling your newly learnt skills.
In that light, I encourage you to register your email for us to get connected and possibly discuss our journey on a one-on-one basis where required.
