A recent report showed that in 2024, the graphic design industry was worth about $15 billion. The reports also indicated that the value of the graphic design industry would increase. These are a few statistics showing why graphic design is poised to become one of the most lucrative business fields.
It’s easy to see why – because a graphic design career is fun, you can work remotely or even as a freelancer. However, there is more to starting your own graphic design business for free than you would expect.
You have to consider various factors if you want to start a successful graphic design business for free. Fortunately, the guide below should help you choose the right journey for your needs:
Tips for Starting Your Graphic Design Business for Free
You are probably new to this field of business, and these tips should be helpful to get you started:
Work on Your Technical Skills
The list of technical skills you need for your graphic design business is immense. You need these skills as they are part of the value proposition you will give to clients. It may take you up to two years to become a master graphic designer.
The outcomes of the learning journey also depend on factors such as your drive and dedication. The best way to work on your technical skills would be to start by signing up for courses. You will also have to specialize in the following subfields of graphic design:
- Find courses that will help you to use software programs such as Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. Most of these courses exist online on platforms such as Udemy.
- Skills such as typography involve choosing suitable texts for a specific project. It can also involve text position, coloration, and positioning perspectives.
- Learn about design principles such as hierarchy, balance, repetition, and contrast. All these factors have a considerable impact on your technical abilities in graphic design.
- Problem-solving where you have to find ways of addressing challenges that arise for clients or during your projects.
Remember the Importance of a Mentor
A mentor will help enlighten you on all the aspects you need to consider when starting a graphic design business. There are some critical concepts in running such a business that you won’t find in the traditional teaching programs.
Choose a mentor that has at least five to ten years of experience in the graphic design field. The best part about it all is that finding a mentor is a simple process. Platforms such as social media and online discussion forums can be excellent places to start getting your head out.
Perform Basic Competitor Analysis
You need to map out the techniques that other business entities in the graphic design business are using. Doing this will help improve your knowledge base on the critical aspects of starting a graphic design business.
The list of data sources you can use to map out your competitors is immense. You can use online research publications, branded company websites, business documentaries, and any other similar resource. You can even take things further by posing as a customer for a specific graphic design business, so you get first-hand insight.
Perform Consumer Needs and Value Analysis
You also have to evaluate the specific consumer population and demographics you want to reach your business. Assessing the needs of your consumers can involve researchers such as search engines and social media. That is because these are powerful tools that can give you valuable data on consumer preferences.
Social media platforms such as Facebook have customized advertisement programs that often provide helpful insight. You also have to perform a basic analysis of the value proposition you expect to offer consumers.
That is because the value serves the same role an engine would do for a car – it’s the driving force for the business.
Create a Business Plan
The techniques you can use to create business plans today are immense. You can use online templates or design yours from scratch. Regardless of your preferences, creating a business plan will set you light years ahead in your journey to starting a successful business.
The business plan is also an essential resource for financing or stakeholders for your growing business. The plan has to be thorough, concise, and detailed. Here is where you should consider compiling details on your graphic design business competitors and consumers.
Resources such as Google Docs are excellent for creating a business plan. Remember that creating the plan will likely take several months, so be organized in your approach. You can use the various templates and guides online to help make the plan creation process convenient.
Work on Your Online Presence
Now that you have already handled all the basics involved in starting a graphic design business free, move on to your reputation. The report we mentioned earlier shows that 90% of graphic design professionals are freelancers. It’s an interesting statistic that offers the freedom you will have when running such a business.
However, an important question arises at this point, “how do you pitch to your clients or share your portfolio?” The answer to this question lies in your ability to create a good website. Or, you can also use professional websites such as Linkedin.
While it’s a process that’s best left for professional web designers, tools such as Wix can help you get started. You will have to buy a template and organize it to include the details of your business.
Your online presence also includes your reputation on platforms such as social media. Ensure you have consistent user handles, professional images, and relevant content on your social media platforms.
Conclusion
Be careful when you want to start your own graphic design business, even if it’s one of the best careers today. Be proactive in your approach to ensure the best results, and realize that starting such a business takes time. You need to build a good reputation with your clients and ensure your approach to achieving goals is concise.