As a profession, graphic designers are in demand right now. However, this demand creates a saturated market with more and more people learning to become a graphic designer and joining the workforce.
The oversaturation leads to some designers struggling to find enough work to pay their bills. Thankfully, there are multiple ways to make money online. Whether you are looking to create a side gig or a passive source of income that requires a few hours every week once it lifts off, the opportunities are there.
Look at the ideas below if you need some inspiration. And do not feel discouraged if you fail in your first attempt. Move on to the next idea and take the experience you gained before to do a better job. Sooner or later, you should find a niche that brings you profits.
Idea #1 – Print on Demand
Experience in graphic design gives you an edge if you want to work in print on demand. Stores that have already established themselves are looking for fresh ideas, and graphic designers are one of the best sources for that, not to mention that they can create designs.
If you do not feel like joining someone and would rather start a store from scratch yourself, go for it. You can find a reliable supplier and start a direct to consumer tee shirt shipping venture. Sticking to the dropshipping business model is better because you will need to focus on customer service rather than inventory, shipping, and returns.
The 2020 custom t-shirt market statistics were great. In fact, the industry is projected to reach about 10 billion dollars worldwide by 2025. As you can see, the future is bright.
At the same time, you do not have to limit yourself to just t-shirts. Other merchandise can be just as profitable. Hoodies, caps, phone cases, calendars, and face masks have their place in the market.
Idea #2 – Photo Editing
Not every professional photographer is that keen to edit their photos. Since the work is monotonous and time-consuming, they would rather hire someone else to do the job for them.
As a graphic designer, you should not have problems adding effects, removing unnecessary elements, zooming in and out where necessary, and making other edits. Most photographers use Photoshop and other tools to edit photos. Regardless, even if you do not know how to use Photoshop, you should be comfortable with other photo-editing tools.
Idea #3 – Book Covers
Forget the old saying about not judging a book by its cover. People still do that, particularly when browsing through a collection of e-books on Amazon and wondering what e-book they should purchase.
Writers can self-publish and forget about dealing with traditional publishing agencies. However, if they want to sell their books on Amazon, they need to spend resources on marketing.
A book cover is the first thing that a potential reader sees. If they are not impressed, the odds of selling an e-book are rather low. That is why writers need a professional book cover, and they do not hesitate to hire a graphic designer who can deliver.
Idea #4 – Streaming on Twitch TV
Twitch TV is a streamer hub that seems to be growing every year. If you have an entertaining personality and would have no problem interacting with an audience, then streaming could be just the thing up your alley.
It may take some time to build a channel on Twitch TV, but you should manage it if you are persistent. And once you have enough viewers, you can monetize the channel by receiving donations, subscriptions, promoting sponsor products or services, and even starting a YouTube channel for stream highlights.
Idea #5 – Video Tutorials on YouTube
Speaking of a YouTube channel, you can focus on that instead of Twitch TV. Video tutorials are quite popular. Moreover, since so many people are trying to learn graphic design, you can create tutorial videos and publish them. Keep in mind, though, that the market is quite competitive, and your start may be slow. But then again, a similar thing applies to virtually every idea. If you do not spend time on it, making money is more or less impossible.
Idea #6 – Brand Elements
Brands want to stand out from the rest, and they are not afraid to invest money in a new logo or a slogan. Visually-appealing elements can become an instant hit. However, not anyone can create unique logos. You need to hire a professional graphic designer.
Look for opportunities to collaborate with brands that want to refurbish their image. If such an opportunity comes, do not hesitate and jump on board.
Idea #7 – Social Media Content
Businesses are emphasizing social media content quality a lot these days. They want to increase their presence on multiple platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. And it just so happens that interesting content is one of the best ways to attract more followers and increase engagement rates.
Infographics, banners, short animations, illustrations, caricatures, and even memes require quality. As someone skilled in graphic design, you can offer your services to brands that want to reach the next level on social media.
