peaks and troughs

[stifflegs]

Does anyone else find working as a freelancer you go through periods of being really busy to then a few months later wondering if you'll ever be commissioned ever again!

I started out as a freelance graphic designer several years ago, I was reasonably busy at first but feel its trailed off now. Do you need to be constantly marketing yourself or maybe I'm just a bit rubbish...

I hear you. Also freelance GD as of two years ago. But I'm rubbish at marketing myself, so almost entirely word of mouth/ex-clients etc. Do you have website/blog/Facebook page to market yourself through?

I've a website and a blog (which I'm a bit lax about updating...) I really want to update my skills though perhaps I should use this non busy time to focus on that. Do you think it may be the recession as well?

Probably. Though in my own case I'd say it's just crap marketing. There seems to be a lot of awful design out there which has been paid for - so it may be a case of just banging your drum a bit louder. Skill update is a great idea - I've picked up a few volunteer projects as well, just to keep in the rhythm. Why not have a go at Elance if you're on the lookout?

I've been a freelancer for 17 years and it has always been feast or famine. The six months between July and January were dead for me, then BANG, it got very busy. But between July and January I was starting to look for something in-house, I was so worried. I had never had such a dearth of work before.

Oo it's good to know other people go through quiet period too, phew! What is Elance?

Ppl put up their projects and you can send quick proposals to win them. They hold the money in escrow for you and provide some basic project mgmt. software. Picked up some logo design and brochure projects on there when I had a dry period last year - quick and efficient. Check it out elance.com link

Thank you for the link, going to look into that...

Hi

Marketing freelancer of 1.5yrs, so not exactly the same, but thought I'd share my thoughts.

I am constantly on the hussle for profile raising opps, new biz opps etc. But even then I have crazy busy periods and then lulls. Seems to be the nature of the beast..definately one of the downsides to freelancing from my perspective. Feels like a rollercoaster sometimes!!

Would also recommend the online freelance sites. I on this thread a while back about peopleperhour.com.

Not that you are asking for marketing ideas, you might already do this and this might not suit your clients but could you create something "of the moment" eg an infographic or ebook template and use that as an hook to tap up you previous/current clients? "Look at this amazing xxx - have created, could I do the same for you? Could offer a fixed 'summer special price' etc. You might create the demand for something they didn't even know they needed!

I just think promoting design (like lots of services) is about catching people at the right time?

Would agree that now could be a good time to write a batch of blogs ready to upload each week.

Hope the lull ends soon.

Ws

Thank you Watersign, that's great advice! Going to look at people per hour too.
I work in a very niche area of design, (publishing) and am
Always a bit worried its on it's way out,
So am quite keen to show I have a varied portfoilio that they might not be aware of. But that is a fantastIc idea to email former clients with little bits of previous work etc I think it's just making the effort to market myself and show all the areas I can work in with help
To increase my profile and remind peo keep up with the blogging too!

Ahhhhhhhhhh sorry that sent too soon! (on iPhone and feeding Dd1) Anyway good luck with your marketing business and thanks again for the advice!

No worries.

A friend is a publishing design person. She started creating artprint things to diversify (as she had similar concerns to you re the industry) and is now so busy she has taken on a junior.

I still there will still be a need for nice looking pages/images, just maybe electronic rather than print.

Good luck with it all.