Bad time to be a jobless designer/ help getting started doing freelance?

Recently got let go from a sign shop I was doing the design work for for the last 3 1/2 years. Now find myself having to contemplate different careers and starting over as I don't have the money to sit around home and do nothing.

I really want to stay in graphic design, but there are just very few jobs available in my area (Iowa). And I don't have any experience doing freelance work and would know how to get started in that.

Anybody have any suggestions to get started to freelance design work? websites? I've tried a couple and nobody seems willing to take a chance on people just because they don't have experience doing freelance.

Recently got let go from a sign shop I was doing the design work for for the last 3 1/2 years. Now find myself having to contemplate different careers and starting over as I don't have the money to sit around home and do nothing.

I really want to stay in graphic design, but there are just very few jobs available in my area (Iowa). And I don't have any experience doing freelance work and would know how to get started in that.

Anybody have any suggestions to get started to freelance design work? websites? I've tried a couple and nobody seems willing to take a chance on people just because they don't have experience doing freelance.

I've been freelancing for the last 5+ years & to be honest with you, the first 2 1/2 years were very rough trying to get my name out their & build a client list.

Branding yourself & getting your name seen is the #1 priority & should be focusing at least 3-5 hours per day for your first year on your marketing / branding campaigns. Granted this is assuming that you already have the skill sets in the field you are branding for.

As a freelancer you'll also need some kind of online presence / portfolio / or just examples of your work as a reference to potential clients.

There are many places for a freelancer to generate income & get a client list started. Keep in mind that most your good project work will stem from repeat & referrals. If it helps, I compiled a list of places I either used in the past or still currently use in my spare time to get started. I think all the sources being in one place might help you kick start a little better, cutting down on your research time.

You can view the list of currently 74 sources of freelance income here:: (Sorry, Link removed, please ask moderation or administration here for help)

The list consists of the following freelance categories:
Design / Development related classifieds
Freelance Directories
Freelance Brokers
Freelance Auctions
Forums with Design Contests
Moderated Design Contests
Artist / Graphic Communities
Consignment sites to sell your designs on

I hope my list comes in handy for you, if you have any additional places I may have missed or if you find any dead links, please let me know as I like to keep the list as current & up to date as possible to help newer freelancers find work .

Edited by scorpionagency, 24 October 2009 - 10:55 PM.

Just added a few more, so now there's 80+ sources

Edited by scorpionagency, 15 October 2009 - 05:11 PM.

wow, looks like you put a lot of time into helping people just like me out.
Thanks a lot. I will definatley be on the site a lot