Nowadays going freelance is a very hot topic in the town, in the year 2021. A lot of artists work as freelance illustrators and it is the creative freedom that anyone can ever desire. Also at the same time, it comes with responsibilities that can make you independent and sort of hesitant. If you are a person who is wanting to become a freelance Illustrator, here are your tips that will help you to get started on the right path. But also understand that going freelance is not as easy as it looks. You have to keep these tips in mind and you will be good on your way to become successful.
Researching
It’s important to research the scope of any job whenever you look forward to any particular career. The very first step is to understand the success and the job details. You can become a freelance Illustrator without any dedicated degree in illustration. A lot of freelancers in this industry are not illustration graduates. You have to understand that the clients will not judge you by your illustration degree, they’ll judge you with the quality of work you’ve showcased in your portfolio. When you start to work as a full-time freelance Illustrator you have to understand that you won’t have a regular income. That’s the reason you have to make savings that will last at least a few months without any additional earning.
Work on your portfolio
As mentioned above you have an Idea of the freelance illustration job, now let’s talk about your portfolio. You can start with a professional user-friendly website that displays your past experiences and skills which will help you to earn the trust of potential clients. When we come to talk about the content included in the portfolio, avoid quantity over quality. Aspiring Illustrators will be tempted to upload many samples of their work, but the wiser thing will be to choose one of the best samples, which are related to the position you want to get hired for. For instance, if you want to become a children’s book Illustrator, you have to feature cartoon characters in this particular situation. You have to showcase the former so that you can grab the attention of the children’s book author.
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Search for jobs
Once you get done with your website, it’s time to start looking for jobs. Nowadays, you will find many ways to find freelance illustration jobs and illustration marketplaces are a good idea, to begin with. If you are interested in working with the publishing sector, then you will find thousands of authors who are looking for designers and illustrators for their books.
Get active on social media
This might seem surprising but being a freelancer, also means that you have to market yourself constantly. There is no better place other than social media platforms to market yourself and target a large audience. Image-based sites like- Instagram, can be very essential for illustrators if they are used correctly. In today’s time, everyone is active on social media platforms, scrolling down stories and new things which are introduced. You can consider this opportunity because people will also find you while scrolling through the social media platforms and ask you for your services.
Work on client relationships
Developing good relationships with clients is very important to grow as a freelancer. Don’t forget to consider customer loyalty, to make this more clear let’s take a situation. At the beginning of your job you will be more concerned about attracting new customers rather than getting the same customers again, however, the clients which are repeating are responsible for a good proportion of your work. So you need to understand and keep customer loyalty in your mind. Pitching creatively and personally, can help you to gain customers’ trust, also keeping in touch with your clients after completing the work is also important to increase your networking.
Financial management
After giving the list of steps to become a freelance Illustrator it is time to talk about a practical piece of advice that is financial management. Hiring an accountant will help you to manage your finances. The newcomers in the field tend to hire an accountant which can help them. There is also an alternative if you wish to apply for agency and representatives: these people will take off your burden in exchange for a commission. They will handle the task of issuing invoices, chasing payments, drafting contracts, and many other related things. Consistently tracking your finances will help you to budget and prepare you for difficult situations.
By: Varsha Yadav
Also Read: Skills To Turn Into A Successful Freelancer In 2021
