Trust us, we know what you dream about. You dream about a day when your freelancing business is so over-run with clients and projects that you have to start hiring additional contractors just to keep up with the load. You dream about a day when you can open your own office, found new branches, and slowly take over the world. You may also dream about Emma Stone occasionally, too, but that’s beside the point.

If you find yourself pining for more exposure and better clients, don’t fret about it. There are steps you can take to get your work into the public eye. We’ve compiled a few of our favorites below, and if you stick to at least a few of them, you’ll quickly find your business taking off!

  1. Keep a Blog: We know, the Internet is absolutely swamped in blogs and blogging material: Heck, you’re looking at one right now! But a blog really is a fantastic way to develop a network through readership. We aren’t saying you’ll be winning a Pulitzer, but you never know which of your ten dedicated readers will turn out to be the millionaire with an advertising contract in hand. Don’t be afraid to take baby-steps. We all have to start somewhere, after all!
  2. Cultivate Your Passion: When you’re not designing, take the time to work on a few “passion projects.” These would be art pieces you create entirely for your own education, or for your own pleasure. These kinds of crafts can go a long way toward fleshing out your deficiencies, as well as evening out the stress of managing a freelance operation. And in the best case scenario, your art may take off, allowing you to pursue it full time.
  3. Have a Card: In a more business-oriented sense, having a business card is one of the best things you can do for your exposure. Sure most of our communication is done via eMail these days, but think about it this way: The next time you’re at the bar with friends, and you make a new acquaintance, how do you know that card won’t be the difference between a stranger passing your name onto a new client, or even a direct and fresh connection that brings a heap of new projects? You just never know, and that’s the point, really.