Leaving the confines of your old design department for freelance life can be as scary as it is liberating. A boss might not be breathing down your neck, and you get to work during your most creative hours, but freelancing as a graphic designer also comes with pitfalls you’re likely unaware of.
Here are the seven most dangerous ones and how to avoid them.
Not insisting on getting paid based on one’s skills and capabilities is among the most common and harmful mistakes newbie freelance graphic designers make. There is a twisted logic to it – you’ll undercut the competition, get more clients, and raise rates later. However, this just leads to a race to the bottom and devalues the profession as a whole. Not to mention how it attracts penny pinchers.
Research the going rate for your experience level and niche, and price your services accordingly. Once you’re more experienced, you can both charge more and better decide whether to charge hourly or per project. You may even want to offer tiered services to make pricing easier while attracting a broader client range.
So you’ve landed a client and are eager to start designing, only to realize halfway in that you’re dealing with a tyrant who’ll likely shortchange you or delay payments. Contracts are made to avoid such messes.
A clear understanding of responsibilities and obligations benefits everyone. The client knows when to expect progress updates and deliverables, while you get to determine the revision amount and set payment expectations.
Success as a freelancer depends on building a reputation as much, if not more than, on honing your skills. All else being equal, clients will always go with the person who has the stronger portfolio or who was referred to them by a previous satisfied client.
Get yourself out there. Regularly update your portfolio with your latest projects and create a personal website. Become active in various graphic design communities and contribute by publishing articles or showcasing previous work, and highlighting your process. Don’t neglect real-world networking opportunities either.
Most clients aren’t familiar with design principles, let alone the language used to communicate them precisely. Since they can’t express themselves precisely and you’re not a mind reader, it’s on you to make sure you’re thinking what they’re thinking.
Clearly define a project’s parameters, such as the scope of work, revisions, etc. Don’t hesitate to ask follow-up questions or offer explanations if something remains vague. Always document what you’ve agreed upon, either through email or communication software, to minimize ambiguity.
Actual design work is your core responsibility, but it’s not the only one. As a freelancer, you’re also a marketer, consultant, entrepreneur, and accountant. All these roles demand your attention. Not having a plan will set you on the quickest path toward missed deadlines and burnout.
Structure your workdays in blocks, and group similar tasks together to maintain flow. Calendar and time-tracking apps are great for long-term planning and weeding out tasks that take up time but do little to advance your projects.
In-house colleagues use protected networks with company devices backed by an IT team. You’re on your own when it comes to cybersecurity. Careless freelancers who don’t see it as a priority risk exposing sensitive client data, not to mention the resulting legal and reputational fallout. Luckily, being cyber-resilient is a matter of reliable tools and best practices, none of which cut into your design time.
For example, password security is a major concern that’s easy to address. You use dozens of digital tools that require accounts and may also need to access clients’ websites or social media profiles. Using the best password manager available is ideal. These tools generate unique and strong credentials for each account and ensure they can’t be compromised through weak or reused passwords.
Deliverables need to be protected, too, especially if you like to work remotely. Never risk transferring them through unsafe public Wi-Fi! Public networks are often unsecured, making it easy for hackers to intercept and steal sensitive data as it travels between your device and the internet.
That’s why you should consider getting a reliable, free VPN. This way, you can protect any connection with sophisticated encryption, guaranteeing secure file transfers and client privacy by preventing anyone from snooping on your online activity.
Design trends change quickly, to say nothing of client whims. A steady stream of work now is no guarantee for the future, especially if you remain unaware of how AI and other disruptive factors are reshaping the graphic design landscape.
Keep up with industry news and set aside time each week to do tutorials or try your hand at emerging styles. You should also be open to broadening your services and generating passive income through courses or templates so that losing a core client isn’t as impactful.
