Hello I've just joined today - good site. Anyways, i have been doing some graphic designing for personal use (i.e. wallpapers, bebos skins etc) for a few years now, and its come to my attention that alot of people are in need of banners, logos, designs etc for their sites or whatever use. I want to start offering my graphics for a good, cheap rate, but i need advice on how to start up, and build a good reputation. I've been told my work is very artistic and creative so i thought it may be worth while looking into this, so i've been looking at different threads on here. What advice/guidance can you give me on how to start up?? I'm currently working on a portfolio at the moment, so once that's done, what would be your advice?? Thanks
erm..if you want to start in this forum I guess you should start build your own portfolio.If you already have that, show it and make the forumers comment on your work..that will build your reputation then.. beside that, keep posting at this forum and share some knowledge with others..
reezluv is absolutely right. Consistency in delivering good product is essential to be a winner here. I'm a beginner as well and I'm currently building some samples. Portfolios come later cause they showcase work you have done for others. At a higher stage you can offer yourself for hire! Goodluck mate ...
Thanks you two. Good advice. One question - when making your sample graphics etc, what do you base them on? like do you just think of a name for something and the design a logo for it, or do you use existing stuff and draw logos for it?
you offer your services for free or at unbelievably low prices. people will contract you for work and you use their ideas to create what they ask for. look around here, there's people doing websites for $1. that's a camel in some countries i guess. anyways if you're just starting out, offer some services for free to a select few people on the notion that it is to be used in your portfolio. as you build it and you get better (this comes with time), you can increase your hourly and/or project rates and start to make some real money. $5 per website! all kidding aside, good luck and welcome to my world.
Thanks. I was thinking of doing that - offering services for free to start out with. One other question. I was directed to this forum from someone on a british forum - they are british, and i am british. Are there any british people that use this forum, or is everyone american, cos i noticed the rates are in dollars, say $5, but to me over here in rainy britiain, that would only mean £2.80 or so, which isn't much. Would i have to offer my stuff in dollars here?
if you want to start something for free..don't accept too much..you will suffer to do it..and for sure if you start receiving money from your customer you will know it.. for currencies it depends on your customer..If in this forum that has international customer from all over the world.in case they want it in dollars and don't want to accept other currency I think dollar is the best. but make sure the quality of your design is great and have a same level of satisfaction for the customer in this forum or on the net.My advice,2.0 design is the best for now..try to master it..you will love it and people around you also.But it's different for offline graphic business..you need to think of the quality of your output..that's all..
no not at all. but if you do, you can calculate what the total would be for what you want in GBP to USD. you can find up-to-date currency exchange rates at www.x-rates.com/d/GBP/table.html (i did a currency exhange rate thing the other day for a client. hell i might write one for you right now. gimme a sec. well here you go, www.ansimation.net/tmp/dp_shit/currency/ this fetches rates from x-rates so the exchange rate is up to date.