Web Design: How to find freelance work

With the current demand for web designers, freelancers are out in force to find work to add to their growing portfolio. Freelance web designers are in a strong position to network and market themselves to clients in order to find a project, however the industry is competitive, so how do freelance web designers find work?

Start with a small client base

Start small when it comes to creating your network as it is good to establish regular customers before expanding your client base. Having a smaller network allows you to create and maintain relationships with current clients, therefore creating a strong bond and regular web design activity. This can help freelance web designers to establish themselves in the web design market through word of mouth from their current clients. Referrals from clients will put your freelance web design business on the map, highlighting your key skills and who your target audience is.

Working with a small client base often allows you to spend more time on your projects rather than juggling multiple jobs at one time. This will create a better overall product for your client and will be great to add to your portfolio. Your portfolio will become key in attracting new work, so make sure that it stands out and targets a specific audience. Once your freelance web design business starts to grow, you can expand your portfolio too so it fits a wider client base. Your portfolio should include a section about you and what you enjoy doing as well as a projection of your successful work. This will let your clients get to know you.

Promote your freelance business on social media

With the online presence of businesses rising, freelance web designers need to seize the opportunity to get in contact with businesses and see if they need help setting up a website. To attract clients, promoting yourself through social media is a popular, quick, and successful way to make yourself known.

But which social media should you use and what are the benefits? Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook are the usual suspects when using social media and are seen as more professional platforms. LinkedIn is a professional networking social media platform, giving freelancers the ability to reach out to individuals or businesses who may be in need of a freelance web designer through its messaging service. It is also used widely by clients and recruiters to find professionals who can complete projects for them, so it is wise to have a profile on here highlighting all of your key skills in order to be found and approached by them for relevant work.

Twitter offers the ability to reach a broader audience, using hashtags to promote your services and joining in with other relevant trending hashtags to get exposure. Facebook can also be used to find work, with approximately 1 billion daily active users, there is plenty of opportunity to find a gig or connect with industry influencers on this platform. You can also create a business profile to promote your services and enable clients to find you here.

Instagram and Tiktok have increased in popularity throughout recent years, with viral dances being the go-to for Tiktok. The demand for videos and photographic content is just as important as written promotion, so perhaps create these pages to show off your previous web designs in a more engaging way. Videos can show behind the scenes what you’ve been working on and show the process of how you complete web design projects.

Network and socialise with other freelancers

From word of mouth to networking on forums, socialising with freelancers and other like-minded individuals can profit you greatly. Interacting with other freelancers in the same field can help you expand your web design skills and even sometime open up new work opportunities via referrals, should they not have the capacity to take on any new projects.

Networking on different social media groups or forums can be a valuable way to ask for advice while also sharing your skills to benefit others. The Freelance Forum is an advantageous tool for freelancers from all sectors to come together and ask questions, whether this is about running a freelance business, or specific to your sector or skills.

Go to live conferences and creative events to introduce yourself to the web design industry. You are more likely to make an impact in person and engage in eye-to-eye conversations, leaving your mark on people and creating deep connections.

Find work experience

Finding work experience as a freelance web designer is a successful way to make your way into the industry. Whether you have had experience at University or similar, finding a workplace willing to train you in areas of web design puts you ahead of the game. Clients are more likely to engage with a freelancer who has experience rather than a freelancer who just has knowledge.

Work experience in web design will help you decide which area of web design you want to go into, for example if you want to advance a career in front-end or back-end web design. Work experience may also offer courses, training, as well as one-to-one sessions on how to progress your career as a freelance web designer.

Through a combination of online presence, work experience, networking and nurturing clients, freelancer web designers will give themselves the best chance to find new projects.

More on web designing as a freelancer.