Growing the Graphic Design Community

Build Your Graphic Design Career With FIVERR

5/19/2023

Here are three ways to use FIVERR as a graphic designer:

Freelancing: Graphic designers can join Fiverr as sellers and offer their services to clients on a project-by-project basis. They can create a profile showcasing their skills, portfolio, and expertise in various design areas such as logo design, branding, illustration, web design, etc. Clients can browse through available designers and hire them based on their requirements.
Portfolio building: Fiverr can serve as a platform for graphic designers to build their portfolio and gain exposure. By completing design projects for clients on Fiverr, designers can showcase their work and gather client testimonials, which can be valuable when pursuing other opportunities outside of the platform.
Collaborations and networking: Fiverr offers a community of creative professionals from various fields, including graphic design. Designers can connect with other professionals, collaborate on projects, or even subcontract work to each other. Networking within the Fiverr community can lead to partnerships, referrals, and the exchange of valuable industry knowledge and insights.

On Fiverr, graphic designers can choose from various seller categories to showcase their skills and expertise. Some common seller categories for graphic designers on Fiverr include:

Logo Design: Designers can focus on creating unique and professional logos for businesses, organizations, or individuals.
Branding Services: Graphic designers can offer branding services, which involve creating cohesive visual identities for businesses, including logo design, brand guidelines, business cards, and other brand assets.
Illustration: Illustrators can showcase their artistic skills by offering various types of illustrations, such as character design, book illustrations, digital illustrations, or custom artwork.
Web and Mobile Design: This category involves designing user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX) for websites, mobile applications, or other digital platforms.
Print Design: Graphic designers can provide print design services, including designing brochures, flyers, posters, packaging, or any other printed materials.
Social Media Design: This category focuses on creating engaging and visually appealing graphics for social media platforms, such as custom social media posts, banners, cover images, or profile designs.
Presentation Design: Graphic designers can specialize in creating impactful and visually appealing presentations for businesses or individuals, including slide design, infographics, and interactive presentations.
Photoshop Editing: This category involves offering various Photoshop editing services, such as photo retouching, background removal, image manipulation, or any other digital image editing tasks.
Infographic Design: Graphic designers can specialize in creating visually compelling and informative infographics that effectively communicate complex information or data.
Packaging Design: This category focuses on creating attractive and functional packaging designs for products, including labels, boxes, or product packaging concepts.

These are just a few examples of the seller categories available for graphic designers on Fiverr. Depending on their skills and interests, designers can choose one or more categories to showcase their services and attract clients.

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Getting Started as a Graphic Designer on Upwork

5/17/2023

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If you're ready to start earning money online with Upwork and expanding your graphic design portfolio, get started with the simple steps described below.

First of all, you’ll need to set up an account:

Visit www.upwork.com.
Click "Sign Up" and select "Freelancer."
Enter your name, email address, and create a password.
Read and accept the Upwork Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Click "Get Started" or "Create My Account."
Complete your freelancer profile by providing information about your skills, experience, and portfolio.
Verify your email address by clicking the link sent to your email.
Follow any additional steps or verifications requested by Upwork, such as phone or identity verification.
Once your account is set up, you can start browsing and applying for freelancing projects on Upwork.

Note: The process may vary slightly based on any updates made by Upwork, so it's always a good idea to refer to their official website for the most accurate and up-to-date instructions.

Once your account is set up, you can start browsing for jobs!
Here are the steps to search for graphic design jobs on Upwork:

Log in to your Upwork account.
On the Upwork homepage, you will find a search bar at the top. Enter relevant keywords related to graphic design, such as "graphic design," "graphic designer," or specific design categories like "logo design" or "web design."
Click the search icon or press Enter to initiate the search.
The search results page will display relevant graphic design jobs.
You can further refine your search by using filters. On the left side of the search results page, you'll find various filters such as job type, experience level, budget, and more. Use these filters to narrow down the results according to your preferences.
Review the job listings to find opportunities that match your skills and interests. Each job listing will provide details about the project requirements, budget, client reviews, and other relevant information.
Click on a job listing to view the full job description and project details.
If you find a job that interests you, click on the "Submit a Proposal" or "Send Proposal" button to apply for the project.
Write a compelling proposal that highlights your relevant experience, skills, and why you are a good fit for the project.
You may have the option to attach your portfolio or include samples of your work to showcase your capabilities.
After submitting your proposal, the client will review it along with other applicants, and they may choose to interview you or award you the project if you're selected.

Remember to tailor your search and proposals to match the specific requirements of each job and to showcase your unique skills and qualifications as a graphic designer.

After you’ve been hired for a job, be sure to review the process of billing/invoicing.

Here's an overview of the process of invoicing and getting paid on Upwork:

Setting up payment methods: Before you can start invoicing and receiving payments, you need to set up your payment methods on Upwork. This includes linking your preferred payment method, such as a bank account or PayPal, to your Upwork account.
Hourly Contracts: If you're working on an hourly contract, you'll need to use Upwork's time tracking software, Upwork Desktop App, or the Upwork mobile app to track your time. The time you log is used to generate the invoices automatically.
Fixed-Price Contracts: For fixed-price contracts, you'll negotiate the payment terms and milestones with the client before starting the project. Once the agreed-upon milestones are completed, you can submit the corresponding invoices.
Creating an Invoice: To create an invoice, go to the "Contracts" section of your Upwork account. Find the contract you want to invoice for and click on it. Then, click on the "Request Payment" or "Create Invoice" button. Enter the amount to be invoiced, specify the payment schedule or milestone, and add any necessary notes or details.
Submitting the Invoice: After filling in the required details, review the invoice and ensure that all information is accurate. Once you're satisfied, click on the "Submit Invoice" or similar button to send the invoice to the client.
Client Approval and Payment: The client will receive the invoice and have the opportunity to review it. They can either approve the invoice or request revisions if needed. Upon approval, the client will release the funds to Upwork, and Upwork will process the payment.
Receiving Payment: Once the funds are released by the client, Upwork will transfer the funds to your Upwork account balance. From there, you can choose to withdraw the funds to your linked payment method or keep them in your Upwork account for future projects.
Withdrawal Options: Upwork offers various withdrawal options such as direct bank transfers, PayPal, Payoneer, or wire transfer. Select the withdrawal method that suits you best and follow the instructions to initiate the withdrawal.
Payment Processing Time: The time it takes for the funds to reach your account depends on the withdrawal method you choose. Different methods have different processing times, ranging from a few days to a week or more.
Service Fees: It's important to note that Upwork may charge a service fee for each payment received, and the exact fee structure can be found on the Upwork website.

Happy Job Hunting!

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Using Upwork To Launch Your Graphic Design Career

5/17/2023

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Are you a graphic designer who is struggling to find clients, build your portfolio, or make money online? Here are five benefits for a graphic designer to use the platform Upwork to start your career...

Five benefits for a graphic designer to use the platform Upwork to start your career:

ACCESS TO A GLOBAL NETWORK
Upwork is a global freelancing platform. That means they have millions of clients worldwide. As a graphic designer, you have access to that entire network.
WIDE RANGE OF PROJECTS
Through Upwork you are also going to find a wide range of design projects. Upwork caters to clients that have diverse design needs. As a graphic designer, you have the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects to help you expand both your skills and your portfolio.
FLEXIBLE WORK HOURS
A huge benefit of Upwork is flexible work hours. You can set your own schedule, and you can work on projects that fit your lifestyle. You can take on as many or as few projects as you have availability for.
WORK FROM ANYWHERE
With Upwork, you can also work from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. No more being tied down to an office or one location every single day!
SECURE PAYMENT PLATFORM
Upwork also has a secure payment system. That means you can get paid for your work - on time and without any issues. The platform protects both clients and freelancers, so you can rest assured you will get payment for your work.

Upwork also provides tools and resources to help you succeed as a freelancer. You can use the platform's internal messaging system to communicate with clients, you can access project management tools, and you can take advantage of the community to connect with other freelancers and learn from their experiences.

Let's go over some of the types of design projects you may find on Upwork:

LOGO DESIGN
Clients often seek graphic designers to create the unique and impactful logo's that represent their brand identity. Logo design projects may involve creating a brand new logo from scratch, or refreshing or redesigning an existing logo.
WEB DESIGN
Businesses and individuals frequently require web design to create visually appealing and user-friendly websites. This can involve designing the layouts, selecting color schemes, creating graphics, and ensuring a seamless user experience.
BRANDING & IDENTITY DESIGN
Client's often need assistance developing their brand identity. That can include brand guidelines, typography, color palettes, creating consistent visual elements across various platforms and templates, and other marketing collateral.
PRINT DESIGN
Print design projects involve creating designs for materials such as posters, flyers, brochures, business cards, packaging and more. Graphic designers may need to collaborate with the clients or printers to ensure materials meet the requirements for printing.
SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS
With the increasing importance of social media marketing, there is a demand for graphic designers to create engaging and eye-catching graphics for social media platforms. This may involve creating post images, cover photos, banners and other visual content for social media marketing campaigns.

These are just a few examples of the types of design projects you can find on Upwork. As you can see, it's a vast variety of projects suited for freelancers of various abilities. The platform offers a diverse range of opportunities, allowing designers to showcase their skills while working on projects that align with their interests and their expertise.

Tune in for Part 2 Where I show you how easy it is to sign up for Upwork and start on your first project!

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Online Resources for Getting Started with Graphic Design

5/12/2023

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If you are a beginning graphic designer, I understand how hard it is to get work. Below are five ways designers can earn money online, generate business, find clients and build out a portfolio.

Let's go over a few options of what's out there for designers:

Upwork
FIVERR
99designs
Craigslist
Google Business

Follow me on YouTube, TikTok or Instagram for a deeper dive into each of these platforms. This is about designers supporting designers in a DIY world where everyone thinks they are a designer... but not everyone has the creative eye. So those who do, you need to LEARN THE SKILLS and figure out how to support yourself and market yourself in the industry.

I have been a designer for 20+ years. I've gone from figuring it out on my own to having client's refer me where now I don't have to search for work, because it just keeps landing in my lap. And that's because I present fantastic work, people like working with me and I have honed my skills over the years.

So now I am here to share what I have learned with those who are starting out so that we can continue to build up the next generation of creatives and make sure you are equipped to function in the industry and create beautiful design.

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