Graphic designers can find opportunities to make money outside of their regular job. There are days when you do not have enough work for eight hours. Or, you may not have anything better to do after the work is over and want to make extra income.
How much time you can spend on work depends on your circumstances. But even if it is just an hour or two, you can still improve your financial situation. Look at the ideas in this article and get to work.
Idea #1 – Print on Demand
A print on demand venture is one of the best ventures for graphic designers who want to make money. The work revolves around selling custom-made merchandise with digital print technology on it.
A reliable product supplier should be one of your priorities. Printify is one of the best options on the market. The platform has more than 300 unique products, simple store integration, a global print network, a shipping calculator, and a mockup generator. Moreover, if you make custom t-shirts with Printify, you will not have to risk overspending on merchandise because there is no minimum requirement for placed orders.
Since you are a graphic designer, coming up with unique and interesting designs should not be an issue. On the other hand, running a store might be, especially if you have no prior experience. You can learn web development online, but maybe hiring a freelancer and turning your print on demand business into a joint venture would be a better option?
You could be in charge of new designs, and your business partner can take care of running and promoting the store. After all, you would attract more customers by advertising on social media platforms and investing in search engine optimization.
Idea #2 – Book Covers
The demand for book covers has grown ever since Amazon launched its self-publishing program. Writers no longer have to deal with publishing agencies and get rejected. Instead, they can publish their e-book directly on Amazon. The rise of Kindle and other e-readers also play a role in popularizing e-books.
Even if you hear how a book should not be judged by its cover, it is still the first thing potential readers see. And if an e-book’s cover is not eye-catching, it will be difficult to sell.
You could become a book cover designer. Look for authors who want a professional cover for their book and get in touch. You should have a steady amount of work if you find a few regular writers who need your services.
Idea #3 – Photo Editing
Photo editing requires more attention to detail than one might think. For example, many ecommerce stores need the best possible quality pictures of their products. And a professional with a high-quality camera is not always enough.
To get the most out of the pictures taken, brands are also looking for ways to manipulate product pictures. Zooming in and out, adding effects, cropping, and changing colors where appropriate can increase customer engagement when they see edited product images.
With your experience as a graphic designer, editing photos and mastering software like Photoshop will take time, but it should not be too difficult.
Idea #4 – Social Media Content
Brands that advertise on social media are emphasizing visual content. Videos, infographics, contest and giveaway announcements, and custom polls are just a few examples.
A wall of text does not get as much engagement because our brain finds it easier to process visual information. Put your graphic design skills and create social media content on the biggest platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Idea #5 – Logos
Brands need an identity, and elements like logos are imperative if these brands want to stand out from the competition. A logo is usually used as a social media profile picture and a favicon icon.
If a brand creates a marketing campaign, they want their logo to appear as much as possible. Custom-made merchandise, cooperation with other brands or influencers, and advertisements on giant billboards or TV.
But it is not easy to create a logo that stands out and has a clear indication of what the brand is about. This is where you come in as a graphic designer.
Get in touch with brands directly and find out if they want to refurbish their look. Also, there are plenty of logo design job ads available on freelancer websites like Fiverr and UpWork.
Idea #6 – Online Tutorials
You can create tutorials and sell them on Udemy, Skillshare, and similar platforms. Streaming on YouTube and Twitch Tv is also an option.
You can show off your skills by creating while you interact with the audience that watches the stream. Making money from donations and sponsorship deals should not be an issue if you entertain and provide valuable insights into the graphic design’s ins and outs.