How to Make Extra Income Online as a Graphic Designer

Graphic designers are in demand a lot these days. However, with demand comes competition, and not every graphic designer is in a good financial situation. Even having a regular 9 to 5 job might not cut it, particularly when the worldwide economy suffers due to the ongoing pandemic.

At the same time, many businesses and even individuals are moving to the internet to look for new ways to create a source of income. If you feel like you are not making enough money, or have more free time than usual, then why not spend it working? 

Here are neat methods to profit online if you have graphic design skills. And remember that if your first idea fails, you can move on to the next one and try until you find one that works.

Method #1 – Custom Merchandise Store

Custom merchandise is a popular business model for ecommerce entrepreneurs. And it is no secret that unrelated brands benefit from the idea as well. T-shirts, mugs, and other products are a good marketing tool if they are visible to many people. 

As far as starting a print on demand store from scratch goes, prepare to invest some time. You have an advantage over those who struggle to create interesting and unique designs if you are skilled in graphic design. You can also make swag with personalized apparel. The best printer for your business, and the best printing supplies, can be obtained from reliable suppliers, like Ecofreen.

T-shirts are the usual choice when it comes to products POD store owners start with. There is flexibility with more than just what you put on a t-shirt, but how you can put it. For example, your design can be printed on the entire t-shirt or just a small part of it. You can also choose the back of the t-shirt. Such variety is an excellent way to keep merchandise fresh and exciting.

Method #2 – Social Media Content

The social media content you see is not necessarily the work of personalities behind the profiles. More often than not, influencers and other celebrities hire an agency or an individual and leave the social media page management in the hands of others.

You can be one of those who maintain the social media presence of others by creating engaging content, such as infographics, polls, and giveaways. Checkout this social media marketing guide to get started.

Method #3 – Teaching

Online education continues to grow at a rapid speed, and it is not just because of students who are stuck at home and have to learn remotely.

Adults are also looking to upgrade their skill set and find better opportunities for work in the future. As someone who has graphic design experience, you can also create and sell courses on platforms like Skillshare and Udemy. Or, as an alternative, create tutorials on YouTube and monetize the channel.

Method #4 – Blogging

Blogging as a graphic designer may be tricky as there is not that much content to cover, and you may lack writing skills. At the same time, blogs with just plain text do not cut it anymore. People want visual information that is easy to digest. 

Infographics are one of the best pieces of content in terms of value and how an average person approaches it. They find it easier to absorb information in the form of an infographic than a text.

Thus, you can start a blog that emphasizes visuals rather than the text and see where it goes from there.

As for monetization methods, you have a couple of options. Some bloggers prefer ad networks and affiliate links; others rely on crowdfunding pages like Patreon. Combining a couple of methods is also an option, so long as it works and does not make the reader experience worse.

Method #5 – Photo Editing

Photo editing is monotonous, so it is not that surprising to see professional photographers leaving it to others. As a graphic designer, you should be familiar with Photoshop and other photo editing software. Or, at the very least, it should not take too long to figure out how they work.

Adding effects, cutting unnecessary parts, zooming in and outs, removing dots and other unnecessary elements are what photo editing is about. If the job sounds like something up your alley, try and see how it goes.

Method #6 – Book Covers

Book cover designers are in demand because of Amazon’s self-publishing program. Writers do not have to deal with traditional publishing agencies and can release their e-book directly on Amazon.

Despite the saying that one should not judge a book by its cover, an e-book is unlikely to attract attention if the cover is lackluster. 

You could become someone who specializes in designing book covers. Finding even a couple of writers who publish regularly should give you plenty of extra work and an opportunity to make extra money.