What It's Like to be a Freelancer vs. Full-Time Graphic Designer at a Company vs. Content Creator

Here's my experience with each type of job I've held as a graphic designer!
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If you're interested in other graphic design video topics, check out some of these:
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➝ PASSIVE INCOME
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KDP2: How to Find Keywords and a Niche: How to Make Money Selling Low Content Books on Amazon Series: • How to Sell Blank Line...
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➝ PHOTOSHOP
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[@GDHT]

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[@miketheprintman]

Another solid video, Anne. I'm just trying to get into doing content creation. It's definitely difficult to do with a full time job at the same time. I'd be too scared to try and freelance full time. Thanks for sharing on this topic.

[@GDHT]

Thank you so much!! Yes, it's so hard to build the content creation on the side...that's ultimately what made me quit I think...I always though 'I could do SO MUCH MORE if I just didn't have a job (well, freelance at the time).' And it was true! But very scary to make that leap.

[@noelmayeske2480]

Another excellent video! I'm enjoying each new one you do - it's like having a talented coworker to get ideas from! I was an inhouse marketing manager and designer (always wore both hats) for 27 years, then started my own business 3.5 years ago. I don't actually care for the term "freelancer," for someone doing project-based work as an ongoing business model like me. To me, freelancer always implies something temporary - a make-do until the next thing. So having been full-time salaried, and now having my own 1-guy business, I prefer my current status. BUT! As your video explains, it made a ton of sense to work in-house at the time. I often tell people, I learned almost everything I now do by working for talented managers and learning a ton. :) Also made almost all my business contacts, which has led to most of my business. I would say everything about having your own project-based business is better, other than acquiring enough business to make it work financially. How did you find business/clients when you were in that position?

[@GDHT]

Thank you so much!! I definitely think freelance can be considered full time AND an end goal - I don't see it as a temporary thing, but I can definitely see how it can be perceived that way. I think some companies see those of us working 'freelance' as someone who can't find a full time job, although that isn't true most of the time, imo. I think we've had very similar working experiences! I learned SO MUCH in my first couple jobs, which were production-based. They taught me how to absolutely FLY in the programs, and it's been so valuable. As far as acquiring business, most freelance was from previous companies and connections I had. But I did get a few clients from Behance. I had worked at an agency for a while, and I was putting my best infographics from work in my Behance portfolio. One day a guy messaged me on Behance about doing freelance infographics for his company in California. I ended up working for them consistently for 3 years. It's weird because I actually never met any of them in person, and I talked to them over the phone only once in the 3 years. A few other short-term clients came from Behance, but this was a while back so I don't know if it's still a good way to get clients.

[@noelmayeske2480]

@@GDHT great thoughts! I haven't tried Behance yet for that purpose - I will keep that in mind. So far, for projects that haven't "come to me" from a contact reaching out, I've found stodgy ol' LinkedIn to be valuable. If nothing else, it's a way to interact with clients (more so than fellow creatives, although I do that too) and just hi-5 them on successes they post about, which helps keep me top of mind if they later need the services I provide. And, working alone as I do, it also provides some work-type social interaction analogous to the former office environment I was in for so long.

[@GDHT]

I love that LinkedIn idea! I do think it's a pretty great platform for freelance and finding work in general. You could probably randomly share the projects you're working on so others can see what you're capable of, too!

[@allanm6246]

Content Creation😎

[@GDHT]

All the way!! :D

[@emmanuelealves7641]

Hello! Thank you for sharing your experience. I also started as a full-time GD and then became freelance. So, what made you keep going during the hard times, like when you worked a lot and won not so much in return, monetary speaking? Ty! 😊

[@GDHT]

Hi there! I think the hard times for me were when I didn't have much work at all. When I was new, sometimes there would be a 'lull' in freelance which always freaked me out...but then later I could see it was a natural part of the business, so it didn't bother me as much. On the other hand, when I got so busy that I couldn't handle everything, the thing that got me through was raising prices. That means some clients drop off, and some stay on at the higher rate, which balanced it out and allowed me to breathe a little! How about you? How do you deal with the ups and downs?

[@ভোমরা]

You need to see mrbeast editing type

[@GDHT]

What I need is a video editor! I know my editing kind of sucks, but I don't have much time to learn more... :)

[@loudmouthnewyorker2803]

The 3 dreaded letters that all freelancers hate = IRS.

[@GDHT]

Doesn't everyone hate that? :D