Start Freelancing

Building the Freelance Design network

I think that most work comes from referrals and repeat orders. It has certainly been the case with me and the companies I have worked for. So it is important to give that extra effort with every commission you take on. Friends and family are good starting point.

Show them what you can do and get them working as a mini sales force. They will be keen to help you out. For example a few years a go I put my details on Friends Reunited. I got contacted from someone I was at school with. He had a company and was starting others and I managed to get to design the Logos, promotional material and websites for the companies. Also he has referred me to other companies. Network with as many people as possible.

Building a good contact directory sounds like common sense but can be neglected. I made this mistake, I used to write numbers down on small pieces of paper and lose them. People would say “I might be interested in six months time so call me then”. You need to store these reminders. Names, Email contacts etc. A program like Filemaker Pro would be a good way of doing this.

Email spamming is not a good idea, If you want to do an email campaign to promote your work I would recommend setting up a email permission based newsletter for subscribers from your website. Another good way of getting contacts is to call companies that you want to do business with and ask who is the Marketing director or the best person to send promotional material to. Then follow up with a call to try and arrange a meeting.

Once you are face to face you can show them what you are really about. Also it will give you a chance to suss them out also. They might necessarily be the right client for you. Get in touch with as many business schemes and free courses as possible. Princes Trust and Business link are good for the UK.

If you are Interested? Fill in the enquiry form or email me at gp@gordonpowles-media.com

Gordon Powles Media is a Registered member of the UK Web Design Association (UKWDA), a not-for-profit organisation established to encourage and promote industry standards within the British web design sector.