If you’ve been interested in pursuing a freelance web design career, now is the best time to do it. The realm of freelancing has been continuously expanding over the recent years - so much so that Nasdaq reports that by 2020, 43% of the US workforce will be composed of freelancers.
You can also expect the competition to be very stiff with rising popularity of remote work - companies can hire freelance web designer located in a different part of the world. It can be challenging to land your first paying client. But with the right strategy and good website design freelancer dreams are made of, you can successfully jumpstart your work-anywhere career.
Build a professional website
If you want to be taken seriously, build an online portfolio that showcases how good you are. Freelance web designers need to prove to potential clients that they can get the job done and that they have a good track record of completing projects to their clients’ satisfaction. You need to show people that you are worth hiring.
If budget is an issue, you can start creating your site using a freelance website builder. A good platform like Strikingly, gives you a ton of template options that you can play around to create the perfect online portfolio. It only takes you a few minutes to get a free site set up and you have a lot of room to add more features to your page as your freelancing career grows.
Highlight your best work
When companies and clients look for a website designer freelancer or for a permanent position in their business, they want to see a history of projects that you have worked on. They want to know your style and if you’re versatile enough to take on the work that they require. With that said, you want to include your best work in your online portfolio.
Be careful not to fill up your website with ALL your projects, however. Clients don’t have the time to go through every single one of your past work. You want to show at 3-4 projects that you have worked on before and choose the ones you feel best represents your talents.
Your contact details should be easy to find
For website designers freelance work usually comes in through their online portfolio. If you want to make it easier for potential clients to book an appointment with you, add an online calendar feature on your website. Do not make it difficult for people to contact you. Make sure your information is readily available on the site.
Social media integration is a must
As a freelancer, you want to build your network and social media is one of the most effective platforms for doing that. Connect your website to your social media pages. Strikingly has social stream capabilities so you can keep your site updated every time you update your social pages. Share new website content, such as added projects on your portfolio, to your social media pages so people know that you’re not sitting idly waiting for a job to land on your lap.
Always remember that your online portfolio is a testament to your skills as a freelance web designer. The choice of color schemes, typography and visuals on your site will say a lot about the extent of your talent. Keep improving on your site long after you have launched it. Accept feedback from previous clients and other website visitors and learn from the website analytics data that the site builder provides. Keep working on your online visibility through your website so clients can easily find you. The road to freelancing success is long but all the efforts will be worth it once you start getting your first few paying clients.
