graphic design, freelancing, illustration, advertising, web design

That’s great that you receive plenty of enquiries through your blog. It’s similar for me, and I’d highly recommend anyone with a website, to incorporate a blog.

You rank very well for graphic design-related terms, Tara. Well done!

Thanks David, I have been taking some of your advice about not getting blacklisted by Google - some good advice you have. It is a bit of a mind field so I have my fingers crossed all is OK. I’m glad to hear you’ve turned your problems with Google raning around.

Hi Tara,

thanks for the links and your recommendations too!
I will be working through recruitment agencies in London and find this the easiest way to get steady work in along with assignments through networking. It’s also a good way to quickly build/extend a portfolio since you will be working for a variety of clients/companies on short-term projects.

[ps the third link ‘creativematch.com’ doesn’t work ]

Hi Tess - good luck with the freelancing. Thanks for letting me know about the link too - should be fixed now.

Hi Tara,
Rafael states some valuable concerns in his article — many online marketplace sites attract providers from India and Eastern Europe. That being said, some clients prefer hiring someone who is a native English speaker (or completely fluent in English) or who is in the same time zone (to ease communications), so you might still consider posting a profile. on oDesk (http://www.odesk.com), you’ll find providers from all over the world — not just the regions Rafael stated. Clients can search by time zone or even country, so you might get some clients who are looking to work with someone based in the UK. Many American-based providers, for example, have done very well on oDesk, despite competition from abroad. oDesk is free to join and there’s no cost to browse through jobs.
~Michelle, oDesk

I’m not a paid freelancer, but I’ve done some unpaid work for people, all who contacted me through my blog. It really is a good way to find new people. Word of mouth is also good, and link exchanges will bring traffic to your site, and these visitors will then see that they can hire you, etc. etc.

Networking = good

This takes a little time, but one great way to get some pass-along work is to build some relationships with busy designers online. Once you feel like you have a relationship established through exchanges on your blogs, etc., you could e-mail them, and let them know that you are currently looking for some freelance work. If they are turning down clients due to lack of time, ask if they would give out your name as an alternate. Be sure you have a top-notch portfolio on line so they feel confident in recommending you.

People like to work with people they know. Get to know as many people as possible through forums and blog interactions. Remind them regularly that you do graphic design work if they ever have a need.

[…] again, Tara has posted a very insightful piece on her graphic design blog. If you’re a freelance graphic designer or web designer, it’s definitely worth reading. […]

I must say, freelance designers like me really have a tough time finding design work. The pricing’s bad at times as well.

There’s also Authentic Jobs (Cameron Moll reviews each one before it’s posted) and Freelance Switch’s job board. I’ve never used them myself, but I think the jobs are legit, though many jobs online nowadays are for web designers/developers I really think the best way to find work is like everyone says: networking. Go to events (like holiday parties or tradeshows), even if you don’t feel like it, talk and get to know people. Sometimes job opportunities come in the most unusual and unexpected ways.

Hi Tara. I work at Elance and thought I could provide some helpful info.

Almost half of the providers on Elance are actually in the U.S., although we have excellent providers from all over the world. The businesses and people looking for your expertise on our site are relying on qualified and talented providers to get good work done, so it’s not just about the lowest bidder.

A strong online profile definitely helps businesses and people looking for help to make a decision, and as a provider, you choose the projects that you feel are a good fit for you. Most providers say it’s the relationships they build that are most important in the long run, as they build their careers online.

I hope you decide to give Elance a try. And if you do, let us know about your experience.

Hi Michelle, thanks for your suggestions

H Rachael, I would always worry about doing free stuff, unless its for a charity, in case it devalues your work, but it sounds like it has worked for you. Networking and blogging is a good idea.

Hi Randa, the idea of swapping possible work contacts is a good one. As well as through blogging this works well locally - a local friend and I usually let each other know of opportunities if we are unable to take them.

Hi Design Pinas, I think when you start out its hard and then gets easier.

Hi Cyndi, thanks for your feedback on Elance. I have used sites like Elance to find coders to help me with code for my blog etc and have had mized results. Some people are excellent and some you just can’t ever get hold of and a project takes forever to get finished. I have looked at work on Elance and in general the amounts being paid for work are no where near what most freelancers in the UK would need to make a reasonable living.

Hi Lauren - sorry your comment was held in moderation. I agree, in general I thinking blogging/online portfolio, simple writing emails and letters and networking work best.

I’ve recently started doing freelance work to pay for college, and I really dislike those bidding sites. I’d really rather not bid on fifteen different projects and contact fifteen different people and then have them pass me over for someone who’ll do it for $30.

So, I’ve had some business cards printed and I’m going to try doing it locally (i live in a semi small town, 200k+ residents, with only one graphic design agency). Wish me luck getting clients.

I’ve just found this blog, what a usefull blog it is too, well done Tara - theres lots of information tips and advice here for us freelancers.

During the last 7 years of freelancing I have only experienced a few ‘dry’ periods where there is not much work. These days my work comes from referrals and repeat business however, in the early days, I did use agencies for short term contracts. I’m going through a ‘dry’ spell at the moment so the advice with regards to these online bidding sites and freelancing networks is proving insightful.

I came across a site today offering to design logos at rock bottom prices.
How are we supposed to make a living with competition like that?

Hi Graham, glad you’re finding it useful. I removed the cheap logos link - no offense, but we don’t really want to give them any promotion

Good point Tara, no offence taken.

Selling logos for £25 or less is cheapening the whole industry.

Well Graham, anyone who sells logos for £25 is no real competition at all,as the only people who will purchase at such a price probably wouldn’t pay more anyway. Quality comes with better design pricing. Consumers still pay large amounts of cash for designer clothes when cheap alternatives exist for £25

“You get what you pay for”. A motto I swear by

Hi Tara,

Really nice and useful site!

I found useful to start to Bid in Rent A Coder couple of years ago and once I got worth clients I continue working with them offline RAC.

A very dissapointed thing with Rent a Coder is the arbitration system that almost always is in favour of the Buyer so be aware.

Regards

Another new website to find freelance jobs is

www.yourfreelance.co.uk

It’s also good to look for some work at forums like Digitalpoint or Sitepoint. The amounts people pay on these sites aren’t the best you can get, though.

There is a wealth of knowledge here. I have even begun to reference it on my blog

This method must work, so I will try harder. I need work!!

There is a wealth of knowledge here. I have even begun to reference it on my blog “here”

Randa Clay, that sounds like some good advice. I’m a few years out of design school with little work and little-to-no contacts. Everyone seems to get jobs from networking, so I must be doing it wrong, or networking with the wrong people. I have begun to reach out to people to feature on my blog, so to maintain those contacts is something I could do.

This method must work, so I will try harder. I need work!!