It’s that time of year again. Time to think of the last few cards you have received, and begin planning for the next batch. Well, maybe not quite yet. Maybe you should consider what exactly you are doing to make money in the first place, before you start depending on freebie cards to pay the bills. We’re not saying you shouldn’t design some cards to boost your business. We’re just saying you might want to have a back up plan.
Here’s how you can get a job writing cards – tips and tricks for card designers.
Pick A Niche
One of the things that makes the Card Designer job so appealing is that it really is a job that only suits certain people. Designing cards requires a specific set of skills, and with the right knowledge, understanding and experience, you can design some amazing things. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of card designers out there whose work I enjoy and respect. However, there are often times when you won’t know what will impress your clients more – fancy colors or a funny saying? Maybe a picture of a puppy might just make them chuckle. So, as much as possible, you want to find a niche that suits your skills and interests. If you can become known for particular cards or designs, then you can really boost your freelance career. Just remember, the design of a card doesn’t necessarily have to be complex. It just needs to fit the requirements of the job. So, in choosing your niche, make sure that you are aware of the specifics of what is needed. Also, make sure that the design of the cards you choose suits your personality. You don’t want to get a job and then be completely unable to express yourself, because the cards you designed didn’t match what the client was looking for. So, in short, make sure that you choose a niche, that suits both your skills and interests.
Know Your Audience
Designing cards is all about understanding your audience. Who are you trying to reach with these cards, and what do they need? Well, in the beginning, you probably won’t know the answers to these questions. So, don’t worry, take your time and do a little bit of research. Check out demographic information about your customers, and try to find out what would make them feel more valued as a customer. Do they have a sense of humor? Are they more interested in technology or nature? These are all important elements to consider, and without them, you can’t ensure that your cards will reach your audience. Luckily, there are ways for you to find out what would make them feel more appreciated. You can ask for feedback and opinions, analyze sales and use various tools and platforms to get a better idea of who your audience is. Remember, everyone is different, and no two businesses are the same. This is why it is so important to find out what would make your customers feel valued as customers. This will give you a much better idea of what would make them feel appreciated as people, and this is what you should aim for. Your customers are the people who make your business; you wouldn’t want to annoy or upset them, by sending them cards that don’t match what they want. So, take the time to find out what would make them feel valued as customers, and you will get a long way to pleasing them.
Make Use Of Technology
Speaking of customers, you want them to feel valued as customers, you need to make sure that they feel appreciated as people first. So, how do you do that? Well, simply make use of technology. With social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, it’s possible to send out personalized messages to people – and what’s more, you can do it at scale. With the right software and some clever automation, you can achieve amazing results; simply set the software to follow the guidelines laid out in the previous point (niche and audience), and you will see improvements in your conversion rates, almost immediately. The nice thing about technology is that it is always expanding, changing and evolving, so you can ensure that you are always a step ahead of your audience. Sending out personalized messages on social media has become so commonplace that people have begun to expect it. This means that you can use social media to send out automated messages, with the perfect pitch, at the right moment. So, if you’re looking to get a job writing cards, and you want to take advantage of technological advancements, then consider using tools like SocialOomph or Pardot to get the job done.
Grow Your Portfolio
Besides all of the above, you also need to make sure that you are constantly improving your portfolio. This means that you are constantly adding to your design resume. No one is going to randomly pick your brain and ask you to design a card for them. However, the more you can show, the better. To that end, consider adding more cards to your portfolio, whether it’s for yourself or for others. There are many different ways for you to do this, whether it’s through free online courses, taking a class or even just buying a book on design and learning from it. Designing cards is much easier to learn than you might think, and there are plenty of online resources, both free and paid for, that can help you learn the basics. Also, make sure that you are adding value to the world; if you can’t find a way to make a difference, then design for a different purpose. Make the world a better place, or at least make them chuckle. It’s up to you.
Getting a job writing cards is much easier than you think, as long as you follow the right steps. Make sure to take your time, learn as much as you can and don’t be afraid to ask for help. You’re going to go somewhere, make something amazing and valuable, and earn yourself a nice little income. Good luck!