6 Ways Freelance Graphic Designers Can Diversify Their Income

Struggling to create a steady stream of revenue? Check out these ways freelance graphic designers can diversify revenue streams.

Freelance graphic designers understand that it can be challenging to control their income. There are times where it seems they do not have enough hours in a day to handle all the tasks and projects they are responsible for. Sometimes, it seems like they cannot get or hold on to clients. No matter where you are in your career as a freelance graphic designer, you can appreciate the concept of diversifying your income. 

What Is Diversification?

Diversification means having as many revenue streams as possible. These can be income streams you actively work on or revenue streams that earn you passive income. Below, we will look at a mix of both to help freelance graphic designers diversify their income.

Work With Web Developers

Web developers are amazing at turning designs into functional websites but many of them are not good designers. Approaching web designers to collaborate with them is a great way to diversify your income. One of the best places to start is to talk to web development agencies, especially new ones. These agencies usually need designers who can produce high-quality designs and mockups in a short time.

If you decide to take this route, you must have a great eye for design and be able to pay attention to the smallest of details. Web developers you collaborate with will expect you to come up with designs. If you have a portfolio of some mockups or designs you have done in the past, find ways to have those online. Websites like Dribble are great to showcase your web design skills. 

Another way to make this work for you through cross-promotion. Get into an agreement with web developers to send them clients who need web development services and ask them to send you clients who need graphic design services. Everybody wins!

Merchandise

Another great way to diversify your income is to merchandise. You may already have great designs that are just sitting on your computer. You can turn those into merchandise and with some marketing, you will have a new revenue stream. The good news is that you can contract a company to print your designs on mugs, t-shirt, caps, and more and then drop-ship those to your customers. 

Starting a dropshipping business is one of the most common ways graphic designers and other professionals do this. When you have such a popular platform as your business’ building block, you will be able to sell quickly and securely using a platform that is easy to use, even if you do not have web development skills.

Sell Digital Assets

If you are worried about having an extra business to run if you start a dropshipping business, why not sell digital assets? When starting out, it is a good idea to have different types of designs ready so you attract lots of customers in a short time and get your name known. 

The good news is that there are endless possibilities and opportunities here. You could sell avatars, website designs, background images, t-shirt designs, and more. If you want, you can also focus on a niche like architecture, interiors, fashions, and more. As your venture grows, it is a good idea to add your assets to more platforms. This will spread your name further and land you new customers.

If you want to be successful in selling digital assets, you have to keep up with trends and post often. There are lots of designers doing this and your designs might get buried in the rubble as new trends come and go. Once you have a presence and your name starts becoming known, you can narrow your niche down and move to a niche marketplace like Creative Market. 

Teach a Course

As the gig economy keeps growing, the demand for good graphics designers keeps growing too. You can take advantage of this by teaching an online course. Teaching on platforms like Skillshare and Udemy has proven to be a way for graphics designers to earn a full-time salary. When starting out, focus on one subject and make it the best you can. Use your designs liberally and make the information as dense and valuable as possible. When people see your lessons are helpful and informative, they will be much more likely to share your lessons with others.

To ensure this works well for you, be active on social media, and have an email list if you have a website. Social media will let you market your lessons at no cost and you might be able to reach potential customers this way. An email list gives you a list of people you can email when you release new lessons. You can also use your email list to get feedback so that you can keep improving your lessons.

Write for Graphic and Web Design Blogs and Websites

Top graphic and web design blogs target a broad cross-section of people. This means that once you start writing on these blogs, you might reach new customers and find work that way. Many of these websites and blogs also pay very well for detailed guest posts. You can send pitches to these types of websites with an interesting topic you think their readers will love. If they like it, they will get in touch to let you know you can submit your writeup. Remember that top blogs receive hundreds if not thousands of pitches like yours so be patient if you do not get an answer right away.

Recommend Resources

If you already have a website and a strong social media presence, recommending resources where you get an affiliate payout is another great way to diversify your income. You can direct your readers and clients to the resources and make a percentage of what they pay for them. Remember not to trap yourself inside a graphics design bubble because clients who need graphic design services might need other services like web development or hosting services and you can recommend those too.

Conclusion

If you are a freelance graphics designer who does not have a guaranteed amount of income, it would be a good idea to find ways to diversify your income. Try to find options that do not require too much time and monetary resources so you can get up and running quickly. if you need something permanent, starting a dropshipping business or selling your digital assets are good options too.