The Ultimate Guide To Graphic Design Side Hustles [5k+/mo]

Last Updated on February 9, 2023 by John Cirelly

Launching a graphic design side hustle can be a thrilling and profitable way to turn your love for design into a secondary source of income. To begin, you’ll need to sharpen your design skills, compile a portfolio, and identify your target audience. Let’s dive in!

How To Start A Graphic Design Side Hustle

If you haven’t gotten started, here’s exactly what you need to do to launch your graphic design side hustle:

1. Choose the work you want to do

Choosing between freelance client work and starting your own graphic design biz can be tough. Client work offers steady income and diverse project experience. But, starting your own venture gives you control over services, rates, and schedule, plus the potential for long-term growth and higher earnings.

Consider your goals and risk tolerance before making a choice. If you’re just starting, client work may be the way to go, but if you’re ready to take charge, a biz can bring bigger rewards down the line. The decision ultimately depends on your unique goals and circumstances.

2. Put together a portfolio

Whether you’re doing freelance client work, or selling products with your design on them, you’ll want to have a portfolio ready. This step is more important for those doing client work, but can still apply to those starting their own business.

A well-crafted portfolio, featuring a mix of personal and client projects, presented in a clean and eye-catching way, sets you apart from other designers and demonstrates your professionalism. Keep it accessible, up-to-date with your latest creations, and ready for viewing. A strong portfolio is a crucial investment in your side hustle’s success and your future as a graphic designer.

3. Understand who your customer is

Knowing your customer is vital for delivering standout freelance graphic design services. Grasping their desires, tastes, and expectations allows you to provide designs that fulfill their needs and surpass their hopes.

It also permits you to customize your messaging, pricing, and advertising plans to your specific target market, resulting in improved sales and customer satisfaction. Simply put, being aware of your customer is a pivotal aspect of a thriving freelance graphic design career.

Here are a few tips to help you find better graphic design customers:

• Ask questions – during the initial consultation, ask open-ended questions to gain insight into their design preferences, goals, and needs.
  
• Listen actively – pay close attention to what they are saying and what they are not saying.
  
• Research – gather information about your customer’s industry, competitors, and target audience to get a better understanding of what they may need.
  
• Review previous work – if your customer has hired a graphic designer before, take a look at the previous designs to get an idea of what they like.
  
• Offer options – present a variety of design concepts or styles and ask for their feedback to get a clearer picture of what they want.

4. Consistently get in front of your customers

Attracting new customers is vital for freelance graphic designers. Boost your online profile by crafting a polished website displaying your portfolio and optimizing your freelancing platforms to show up in related searches for your service.

Encourage satisfied customers to spread the word. On platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, positive reviews can skyrocket your business. Be sure also to screenshot your best review to include in future advertising you might want to do.

By executing these strategies, freelance graphic designers can consistently land new clients and expand their business.

Getting Clients For Your Graphic Design Side Hustle

Leveraging online platforms is vital for securing clients for your graphic design side hustle.

These platforms offer ample opportunities to flaunt your talent, market your services, and network with prospective clients. Having a presence across multiple platforms expands your reach and boosts your chances of luring in new clients.

Upwork

Upwork is a great platform for graphic designers seeking side hustles as it offers a vast pool of clients and projects to choose from.

The site’s user-friendly interface and robust payment protection system make it easy to secure and complete work, while the option to work remotely offers flexibility.

Additionally, Upwork’s rating system provides a reliable way for designers to build their reputation and attract new clients, making it a great place to grow a side hustle.

99 Designs

99 Designs is a popular platform for graphic designers offering a unique and effective approach to design projects. It operates on a contest-style format, where multiple designers submit designs for a client’s project, and the client selects the winning design. 

This model not only provides clients with multiple design options to choose from, but also offers designers an opportunity to showcase their skills and win projects.

The platform also offers a secure payment system and support, making it a great option for graphic designers looking to build their portfolios and earn extra income through side hustles.

Fiverr

Fiverr is a platform that offers a wide range of creative and professional services, including graphic design. It’s an attractive option for graphic designers seeking side hustles, as it provides a simple and efficient way to connect with clients from all over the world. 

Designers can create a profile, showcase their skills and portfolio, and offer their services for a set price.

The platform’s user-friendly interface and secure payment system make it easy to complete transactions, while the option to offer custom services provides flexibility.

With its large audience and growing community of freelancers, Fiverr is a great place for graphic designers to grow their side hustle.

Solidgigs

Solidgigs is a platform that helps freelance graphic designers find high-quality, pre-vetted job leads. It offers a monthly membership service that delivers a curated list of the best design opportunities from a variety of sources, saving designers the time and effort of searching for new clients and projects. 

The platform also provides valuable resources, including training, tools, and support to help freelancers grow their businesses. With its focus on quality job leads and support for freelancers, Solidgigs is a great option for graphic designers looking to build their side hustle and secure consistent work.

Dribble

Dribbble is a global community of designers and creative professionals, including graphic designers. It’s a great platform for graphic designers seeking side hustles as it provides a showcase for their work and an opportunity to connect with potential clients. Designers can upload shots, which are small screenshots of their design work, and receive feedback from the Dribbble community. 

The platform also has a job board where companies can post design-related job opportunities, making it easy for graphic designers to find new projects and clients.

With its focus on design and its growing community of creatives, Dribbble is a valuable resource for graphic designers looking to build their side hustle.

Behance

Behance is a platform for creative professionals, including graphic designers, to showcase their work and connect with potential clients.

It’s a great option for graphic designers seeking side hustles as it provides a platform for designers to display their portfolio and reach a large audience of potential clients.

Behance also has a job board where companies can post design-related job opportunities, making it a valuable resource for graphic designers looking to secure new projects and grow their side hustle.

DesignCrowd

DesignCrowd connects clients with talented graphic designers. It operates project-wise, where clients describe their design requirements and receive multiple designs from a talented pool of designers. 

This approach offers businesses a fresh perspective and a diversity of design possibilities, and at the same time gives graphic designers the chance to flaunt their skills and win projects. The platform’s safe payment system and helpful support ensure a smooth and secure experience for graphic designers seeking side hustles.

Referral Program

Referral programs can be a valuable tool for freelance graphic designers looking to grow their client base. 

By offering incentives, such as discounts or bonuses, to existing clients who refer new business, designers can tap into their existing network and reach new potential clients.

This approach not only saves time and resources on traditional marketing efforts, but also leverages the trust and credibility of the referring client. 

Additionally, designers can also offer incentives to partners, such as web developers or marketing agencies, for referring new business. Utilizing a referral program can be an effective way for freelance graphic designers to expand their client base and grow their side hustle.

Cold Email

Cold emailing can be a powerful technique for freelance graphic designers to reach new clients and secure new projects. By crafting targeted and personalized emails, designers can introduce themselves and their services to potential clients and effectively communicate their value proposition. It’s important to research the recipient and tailor the email to their specific needs and pain points. 

Following up with a phone call or additional email can also increase the chances of securing a response and building a relationship with the potential client. While this manual personalized outreach can feel daunting, you’ll have significantly better responses by adding this personal touch to your messaging.

Starting Your Own Graphic Design Side Hustle Business

As a side hustle entrepreneur, you enjoy independence in shaping your services, determining your rates, and forging your own identity. Unlike client work, where your work may be confined by project bounds and client needs, starting a side hustle gives you more control and flexibility. Let’s delve into various side hustles that don’t require dealing with clients.

Print on Demand

Print on Demand (POD) is a lucrative side hustle option for graphic designers, allowing them to sell their designs as physical products without having to handle inventory or shipping. It works by partnering with a POD platform, such as Teespring or Redbubble, that handles the production and fulfillment of the products. 

Designers create designs and upload them to the platform, which then sells the products on their behalf. Every time a product featuring the designer’s design is sold, the designer earns a profit, typically a percentage of the sale price. With no upfront investment and the ability to reach a global audience, POD offers graphic designers a low-risk and scalable way to monetize their skills and grow their side hustle.

Etsy Printables

Etsy Printables is a popular source of income for graphic designers looking to sell digital products as a side hustle. Printables refer to digital files that customers can download and print themselves, such as wall art, planner pages, and journal templates. 

Designers create and upload the printables to their Etsy shop, and customers can purchase and download the files instantly. This eliminates the need for designers to handle physical products or shipping, making it a low-risk and efficient way to monetize their skills. With its large audience of consumers interested in handmade and unique products, 

Etsy Printables offers graphic designers a valuable platform to grow their side hustle and reach new customers.

Graphic Design Blogging

Blogging can be a lucrative side hustle for graphic designers, allowing them to share their knowledge, showcase their skills, and reach a new audience. Designers can start a blog on platforms such as WordPress or Blogger, and write about topics related to graphic design, such as design trends, software tutorials, and portfolio showcases. 

By providing valuable content and building an audience, designers can monetize their blog through advertising, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing. Additionally, blogging can serve as a platform to promote their services and attract new clients for their side hustle business. With its potential for exposure and income growth, blogging can be a valuable tool for graphic designers looking to grow their side hustle.

Creating a Graphic Design Course

Crafting a graphic design course can be a profitable and fulfilling side hustle for graphic designers. By imparting their mastery and experience, designers can aid others in acquiring the skills necessary to capture a particular style or technique.

Designers can assemble their courses using platforms such as Udemy, Skillshare, or Teachable, and reach a worldwide audience. The course can encompass various subjects, from design principles and software techniques to portfolio creation and freelance work. 

By providing valuable content and delivering it in an accessible and captivating manner, designers can establish themselves as a thought leader and monetize their course through sales and promotion. With its earning potential and professional enhancement, creating a graphic design course is a smart move for graphic designers seeking to expand their side hustle opportunities.

Wrapping Up

There are tons of ways to start your graphic design side hustle journey. Whether you’re going all in on freelance client work, or doing print on demand during the weekend, there’s truly something for everyone.

Do you have a graphic design side hustle? Let us know about it in the comments below!