1. Brand yourself. Almost any company or organization falls apart without an established style. Without a notable personalized logo you will just fade into the background where literally hundreds of freelance designers wander.
2. Develop an effective internet portfolio. It is nearly impossible to be successful in graphic or online design without having an impressive web presence. Any possible clients or employers will need to see your work and most of them will choose to type in a URL and click what they want to see.
3. Make an equally effective print portfolio, business cards, resume, et cetera. This is somewhat a combination of the other two steps. Make sure you create a powerful tangible portfolio that you can give to people that want to see your work "in person". Also make use of your branding and identity to make business cards, stationery, etc. Any time you could slap your own personal logo on something, do it.
4. Be brave, bold, and professional. Don't be anxious to call people, offer services, email companies and more. Not too long ago, I was printing a job for a client and at the printing shop, a person complimented me on the design of the piece. After engaging in friendly discussion, he asked me for some tips on the piece he was printing for his own business. Even though I was short on time, I was happy to help him and once I got ready to leave, I offered my future services and gave him a card. Trust that people will appreciate your skills.
5. Go the extra mile for your customers. Word of mouth is a very powerful tool you have. Nothing could help you or hurt you a lot more than rumors and compliments spread by people for whom you have done work before. About 90% of the freelance work I accomplish comes from word-of-mouth advertising.
6. Take the smaller jobs first. Doing well at a small job for somebody may help open doors for your customer to do bigger, better things. I entered a logo contest for a specific organization and out of the four logos I entered, 2 tied for first place pick. They were so impressed, I offered to make their online page also. Comparable offers can be made for an organization's stationery, business cards, etc. Find an area of interest and then take courage and offer more.
7. Don't underestimate yourself. This goes together with Number 4. Remember to believe in yourself. Nobody will ever get a designer that thinks he might not do as good a job as the next guy. Remember to reflect your confidence in your pricing. If your work is good, charge good money for it.
8. Network. Graphic and web design are quickly changing. Every single day new methods and styles are made and the designer found sleeping on the job is left in the dust. Join social networks like twitter, linkedin, fb, digg, and more. Start a blog and continuously add meaningful comments on others' websites. Creating a reputation for yourself in the design world takes a while but can be done using social networking websites.
9. Practice, practice, practice. Nothing will show you how to increase in self-confidence and skill more than practice. If work is a bit slow, nail down some of those private projects you've been meaning to finish. Be part of a group at school or in the community where you'll be able to freshen your own abilities. Take part in design forums, contests, and workshops. Nothing can take the place of real life application and experience.
10. Pay attention. I like to bring a small notebook around with me. Each time I see an advertisement, picture, building, person, etc. that influences my artistic thinking.
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