Step 1: Build your portfolio
If you plan to use your strengths to attract potential customers, then a strong portfolio is a must. Although it may be tempting to show all the recently completed projects to the client as a portfolio, you need to display them selectively. The cases shown need to contain actual projects and examples. These items and examples are the most intuitive and persuasive display for you as a freelance designer; the cases shown should have a focus. (For example, if you focus on graphic design projects, don't include too many Internet design projects in your work, such as website design, etc.).

Step 2: Create a brand
Start building your brand as soon as possible. Buy a domain name, create your own website, public account, Weibo, etc., and establish an online image promotion as a designer. When you are playing a thousand personal brands, you need to consider whether to carry out follow-up work in the name of an individual or a company. Both options have advantages and disadvantages. Build your own brand and make it the basis for your business as a freelance designer.

Step 3: Build your own authority
An important factor in building a brand is to establish your own authority in the field of design, especially to obtain industry recognition and support. You can write articles on design topics, use social media to highlight the design works of interest (your or others' work), and build connections in the industry. Participate in more related design activities, expand your circle by participating in socializing, and show your professional knowledge and works to others.

Step 4: Create a social circle
Even if you have a job now and just have the idea of becoming a freelance designer, you still need to develop your own professional social circle (you will generate a lot of business through these powerful connections). Think about who your target customers are, and then establish contact with professionals who are now working with these target customers. You can develop your social circle by joining professional organizations or groups, or spending some time in the daily contact process. And find a person in this space who is consistent with your planned route and has already obtained some influence as a mentor (and when you have the ability to guide others, be sure to seize the opportunity to give back).

Step 5: Develop plans and goals
If you are only planning to use freelance designers as a sideline, then you do not need a complete business plan. But you still need to consider the breakeven of time cost and labor cost.
If you want to be a freelance designer, you need a practical and complete business plan and goals. How much income do you need to know to balance your income and expenditure? How about cost in terms of labor, time, software and marketing? What services and outsourced resources do you need?
Creating a measurable goal can help you determine whether your plan is effective. If the freelancer's lifestyle does not suit you in the end, you also need to make a backup plan.