Freelance basics to $10k/month

As I’ve seen, Many designers start freelancing because it gives them freedom: no boss, no office, just a laptop and creativity.

However, that same freedom comes with pressure. When you have to figure out everything on your own—clients, finances, systems, and growth as a freelancer—it can be overwhelming.

The hardest part is?
Building an online presence,
Sharing your work,

• Getting clients so you can grow your business and earn a living.
• And here’s the thing nobody does: Think of freelancing as a business in the first place.

• Build a real system so you’re not keeping everything in your head.

Because when things aren’t in place, you feel like nothing is working. And results? You have no clients and leads but nothing works, even when you try harder.

One year ago, I was in the same position—no proper system, just a few lucky breaks. My portfolio brought in clients, but what if you’re just starting? What if you have nothing yet?

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Here are steps that can change your life:

Define your services

Most portfolios struggle because they try to do everything—logos, websites, apps, branding, and so on. When clients want to work with you and land on your site, they get confused. You come across as a jack of all trades, and that's when confidence drops.

Instead, focus on one thing. It can be website design, app design, or landing page design. Your copy and design should speak the same language.RetryClaude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

Make a simple portfolio

Your portfolio must have four things:

YOU, your work, and how you can help—with a clear CTA.

Designers often overcomplicate their portfolios. But the truth is, you don't need 20+ projects. You need 2–3 strong case studies. And even then, you don't need deep breakdowns. People don't read. They scan.

You have 3–5 seconds to grab their attention. Look at bruno.co or offmenu.design—outcome-focused, not process-heavy.

Shift your mindset

If you act like freelancing is a side gig—"I'll make money whenever I want"—that's the biggest problem. I've heard it too often: "It's not working, I think I'll go back to a job." But this isn't a freelancing problem. It's a mindset problem.

You need to think like a business owner. Like a CEO. You're not just doing client work. You're running an operation. Set boundaries. Charge your worth.

Build your operating system

Every real business is run by a system. Freelancing should be too. You need a place to track clients, leads, proposals, and invoices.

If you're trying to remember everything—who to follow up with, what to send, what's unpaid—you won't be able to focus on growing your business. —Build your system.

I don’t use expensive tools. I use my Notion CRM OS. That’s how I built my 6-figure business.

Use CTA as a superpower

Just posting your work isn't enough. You need to tell people what to do next. Each time you post something online, include a call to action.

If you don't have a website yet, create a form for people to reach out to you.Let people reach out. I've built tons of automation and forms into my Notion CRM OS—and I teach it step-by-step inside the course.

Lastly, If you take these actions—they’ll help you grow your business:

1. Define your services.

2. Create a simple portfolio.

3. Set up systems for your freelancing.

4. Post content with a call to actions

If you found this helpful, share it with other designers who might need it too.

See you in another one!
Let's grow together 🙌