So, you wanna know become a creative freelancer?
If you’re thinking, “HOLD UP 🤚, I thought you were gonna teach me about branding my creative business? Or why my website should be filled with personality? 🤨”
I gotchu. You’ll want to browse the blog instead.
BUT, a couple weeks ago on my newsletter, I mentioned how I’ve been freelancing for about 2 years now (!!!) on top of offering my own services.
And they were so curious about it, SO, let’s start from the beginning, shall we?
Becoming a creative freelancer
I always thought I was going to be a lil’ corporate girlie working a 9-5 at some creative agency. The 20 something, fresh out of college in me wanted to live the Big Girl city life!!
OR, so I thought.
That was until after scrolling through job posting after job posting, applying for about 562 of them, only to be interested in about 3…and then hearing crickets…that I changed my mind.
Actually, scratch that. I kept applying but ya girl was feeling hopeless.
At the time, I was about 4 months post grad & had just finished up a Social Media Marketing internship with Oh Happy Dani, an Atlanta-based illustrator.
I fell absolutely in love with working for other like-minded creative women + working with a small team, but Dani was closing up shop & wouldn’t be needing any additional help.
And lemme be real, I was BUMMED.
Back to the job market I go 🤠
So I applied and applied some more & still heard crickets…
Until, I got an email from a non-profit Dani had collaborated with!
They wanted to work with ME?
Before that, I had never truly looked into the world of creative freelancing (ya know, because ya girl lovesss a consistent income LOL)
But since then, I’ve worked with about 6 different companies helping them with their client work & I wouldn’t change a thing.
SO, here’s a few things I’ve learned along the way 👇
WHERE TO SEARCH FOR CREATIVE FREELANCING JOBS?
Honestly, everywhere!
I know some people who have found luck in Facebook groups (either local creatives or just general business groups!)
For me, I’ve gotten jobs through LinkedIn, Instagram, or friends straight up sending me links to a job posting they think I’d be interested in.
For LinkedIn, I always paid close attention to how the job posting was being written. Did they seem fun to work with? Was the writing filled with personality? Or did it feel stale & boring?
Because let’s be real, most LinkedIn job postings are BORINGGGGGG. And filled with about 20+ bullet points worth of requirements & tasks you’ll do (that are likely wayyyy easier than what they’re making them seem).
For Instagram, follow fellow creative business owners you’d love to work with! You never know when they’ll post that they’re hiring! I see this allll the time & it’s how I got my internship with Oh Happy Dani + my creative freelancing job with the brand studio, Super Creative Co.
Lastly, tell your friends you’re looking for a creative job & if they find something that would peak your interest, to send it your way!
HOW TO STAND OUT & LAND THE CREATIVE FREELANCING JOB!
Stay true to you & show off your personality!
The great thing about creative freelancing is that you’re likely working with other creative women close to your age! At least, that’s been the case for me.
Show off your personality in your application, your cover letter, when replying to emails, on the interview, etc! (I’m 99.9% positive my cover letter landed me my most recent job, so I turned it into a reel)
Everyone they’re interviewing has the creative skills they’re looking for, but are they someone they want to work with?
NOPE, but you are 😉
BUT, HOW DO I MAKE CONSISTENT INCOME BEING A CREATIVE FREELANCER?
You don’t 🤠
LOL, kidding, but also not really.
While you don’t make consistent income being a creative freelancer, you definitely can make a consistent range per month as long as you plan accordingly.
As someone who originally wanted a consistent paycheck from a 9-5 creative agency job, that was scary to come to terms with!!
But, after having multiple freelancing jobs, I’ve come up with the best solution that works for me.
Keep a couple freelancing jobs on the roster! I like to have about 3.
Because you’re a freelancer, you’re usually working part time hours for these companies. That typically ranges anywhere from 5 hours per week to 15.
And the reality is one month, one of the businesses may have TONS of work for you, but the next month they don’t. So, it’s always good to have a buffer from your other freelancing jobs.
Find what works best for you + whatever your ideal monthly income is & go from there!
WHAT ABOUT THAT MONEYYY HONEYYYY?
All freelancing jobs are different!
Some charge by an hourly rate, some pay by the project, & others have a set retainer.
HOURLY RATES:
For hourly rates, the biggest pro is you set your hourly rate.
During the interview, they’ll likely ask you what your hourly rate is. Be prepared to come up with an answer!
Best thing I ever did? Ask what they were paying their other designers on the team. What they didn’t know? Is that it was 3x the amount I was originally going to quote.
I, of course, said “that’s perfect; it’s exactly what I was thinking!!” 😏
Flipping the script & asking them what their budget is works like a charm so you don’t sell yourself short.
Only down side to hourly rates? If you’re a fast worker, this isn’t going to be ideal for you. That’s why having multiple freelancing jobs on your roster is key.
PROJECT RATES:
For project rates, the company typically has those at a set price. Again, depending on how fast or slow you work, this could mean your hourly rate is actually lower.
But, the pro is that projects are usually booked a couple weeks in advance, so know ahead of time roughly how much $$$ you’ll be making that month.
RETAINERS:
As for retainers, I’ve never had a creative freelancing job that did these, BUT essentially the company pays you a set amount each month for working x amount of hours.
They’re essentially paying you for guaranteed time on your calendar. It also lets you know you’re always going to get x amount of $$$ per month.
For example, they’re guaranteeing you 40 hours/month for $1,200. So you know ahead of time, you’re at least making $1,200 every month.
With the unpredictability of being a creative freelancer, this is a great alternative, but it is more rare!
Remember, because you’re a freelancer rather than an employee, the company doesn’t owe you hours.
Pick up on the cues when a freelancing job starts to get a little quiet. Sometimes it may just be for a month, but if you notice a pattern, know it’s time to add another job to the roster!
GOT ANY MORE QUESTIONS?
I’ve absolutely loved being a creative freelancer and the freedom it’s given me. Similar to owning your own creative business, income ebbs and flows. Freelancing helps make that a bit more consistent rather than worrying when the next client is coming in.
If you ever want to chat more about it, I’m just a DM away!
