Hey guys, I've been a graphic designer working in the business for around ten years - I decided to pursure what I had a passion for despite having chances to pursue a lucrative career in finance. The road hasen't always been smooth, and working for yourself comes with it's pros and cons, so here is my advice for people looking to make a career in graphic design!
Know your software!
Just like a carpenter has his hammer the tools of a graphic designer is his software and you need to become proficient in using them. Generally you will be using Adobe suite such as Illustrator, Photoshop, After effects , etc. Now you don't need to be an expert in all of them, for example if you plan to mainly do branding and print design then you could get away with just using Adobe Illustrator, and you don't need to master a software - just good enough to add enough value for your clients. There is a plethora of information and tutorials available online - so even if you dont have a Graphics Design degree (I don't!) you can still learn and become great.
Specialize - at least in the beginning
When I started off I only worked on video editing and motion graphics projects, but now I do everything from print design, branding, television adverts, online marketing and even teaching skills to client employees. However in the beginning it is best to specialise especially if you are still brushing up on your skills and beefing up your portfolio; so you can provide a level of quality in your work. As you gain clients you can slowly offer more services to repeat customers.
Start off local - not online
In ten years of freelancing less than five percent of my work has been obtained online - nearly all of it has come from working with local clients and through word of mouth and recommendation. Frankly you will not be able to compete with designers in India who due to the exchange rate can charge 10% of what you would normally charge. The benefits for your clients to use you is that you share the same language and culture and are available and accessible - this is worth its price in gold - ask anyone who has had their product or service launch delayed due to going for a cheap online deal!
Be a tech geek
Almost as important as the software is the hardware you are going to be using. Being able to swap things, add in hard drives and tailor your setup to your needs will be invaluable. Some design jobs such as large canvas designs or motion graphic renders can be very demanding on your hardware - having a setup that allows you work more quickly and efficiently will pay off in the long term. Unless your using Apple comptuers I would highly recommend building a high spec machine which will pay for itself as it would probably last you 3-5 years!
Backup your work and portfolio!
I've lost nearly 50% of my portfolio due to hardware failures so always back up, whenever you finish a project or have done a considerable amount of work on it - put it on an archive drive on your computer - better yet put the masterfiles on a cloud if you have cheap access to the space.
The client is always right!
Well they arent actually! But where you work is concerned even if you think something looks better the way you have done it - remember that your job is to meet the clients needs not your own. On more than one occasion I've designed a piece of work which I thought looked great and spot on - only to have my client ask to change things around - this is fine and is vital to keep your clients happy. The majority of my work comes from repeat business - and the reason for this is because I do what my clients ask. Keep your clients happy - meet deadlines, keep them updated with any progress or delays - COMMUNICATE!
Network
Let your own networks know the services you offer; almost anyone looking to startup any type of business will need a designer at some point so reach out to your freinds and family and tell your clients to recommend you to their networks; I even provide a percentage discount for any paid work I obtain through recommendation - this gives repeat clients an incentive to promote you! That new client may become your biggest earner!
Understand there will ups and downs
When working for yourself - there will be weeks when you have no work and there will be weeks where you are overloaded. Be honest with yourself and ask yourself if you can stay the course - yes it is difficuly in the beginning but if you do a high level of work, stay on good terms with your client, you WILL get regular repeat business!
I hope that helps guys - give me a shout out in the comments if you need any further help or advice or you want me to work on something for you - some of the services I offer:
Motion Graphics, Print Design, Logo Design/Branding, Video Editing, Digital Photography, Product Photography, Online marketing for Ebay/Amazon, and more!