Not just anyone can make money as a graphic designer. While it is possible for creative individuals to master their skill by doing their own designs, it does take both talent and promotion to really earn a living designing. If you’re serious about expanding your skill set so that you are more marketable to a larger market, you can make profits by selling your designs or accepting projects. Here are some tips so that you are prepared to make additional income putting your graphic design skills to work:
Sell Digital Files Online
One way to get a name for yourself is to start selling digital files. If you can create images, textures, or fonts, you can sell the digital files online. There are a few ways to sell the images. You can either join a marketplace where the company will promote your files for you or you can run your own site, optimize and sell your files for 100 percent of the profits. People and companies will buy rights to use the image and you can make a passive income for years after you’ve designed the image.
Take on Projects as a Freelancer
One of the most difficult things about being a freelancer is finding clients. There are plenty of clients who need a designer to create a logo, an ad, or art for their web page. One way to get regular work by promoting your design portfolio is to sign up for a freelancing website where you can show off your talents and get matched to clients who are just right for you.
On the best freelance websites, you can add some of your past designs, set your own rates, and request reviews from past clients. You may take on small projects to start, but with a comprehensive portfolio and positive reviews, you can make a decent living. Some of the popular freelancing sites include oDesk, Elance, Freelancer, Microlancer, PeoplePerHour, and 48HoursLogo.
Earn a Degree and Get Hired by a Design Company
You can make money on the side as a designer, but you can also earn a living getting hired on as a designer with a design firm or a corporation. Most employers that are hiring a designer in-house are looking for someone who has a large portfolio or a degree. If you do not have much experience designing on a professional level, completing a formal degree program might help you get a foot in the door.
By taking a graphic design training program, you can learn about the principles of design and what types of software you will be working with. Being artistic by nature is important, but to really succeed you need to have more than just a creative mind. Enroll in a certificate program or an undergraduate program and you can start applying for in-house graphic design jobs.
The first step to making a living as a graphic designer is to build a portfolio. The portfolio is like a resume for designers to showcase their skills. Every time you finish a project that you are proud of, adds an example from the project to your portfolio. With the right training and the right marketing skills, you can make extra money on the side doing something that you really enjoy doing.
coined from http://www.graphicdesigndegreehub.com/faq/how-do-i-make-money-as-a-graphic-designer/