# Starting out as a freelancer - advice needed

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/starting-out-as-a-freelancer-advice-needed/240989>\
**Category:** design\
**Created:** [October 9, 2007, 7:53am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/starting-out-as-a-freelancer-advice-needed/240989 "2007-10-09T07:53:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dravalanche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8797f3/32.png) [@dravalanche](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/dravalanche)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2007, 7:53am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/starting-out-as-a-freelancer-advice-needed/240989/1 "2007-10-09T07:53:50Z")

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Hey Everyone. I finished studying last year and spent the second half of that year working for a small design firm but had to leave at the new year due to some niggling injuries stopping me from working there:hurt: So I took it kind of easy and doing a couple freelance jobs from home for the first half of this year. Despite looking for work in other industries (retail, blehh) I realized I can’t stop designing and that someone with 4 years of art/design school is suited to designing and not working a register ( which there was jack all work in)

Anyway I’ve got my ailments to a manageable level for working design and am currently working for a web company doing the occasional layout and for another firm doing print designs and promotions from home so I have a bit of money to pay the bills. But I now want to start advertising in my local area and in the paper so I can freelance locally and work from home. I live in a smallish area but there is a bit of commercial enterprises and shops around who would need work with web and print design. I think I’m at a decent level to design for small businesses and individuals.

So basically I wanted advice from peeps how to advertise to people (newspapers + direct to clients), showing my skills and any do’s and don’ts for starting out when going it alone. I have been doing freelance for the last 18 months in some way but now want to expand. A lot of my work has come to me and I’ve never really had to seek it, which I want to change. I’m interested in how to approach businesses and say “you need a website” or " your website is garbage, I can build you a good one" ( not in those exact words) and getting the work.

if any one can pass on advice it would be rad  
Thanks