Summary

• Set good patterns for your career as a freelancer.
• Use good business practices to create a steady flow of work and income
• Drop bad habits that could be freelance pitfalls

You can't tune into the news without hearing about the perils of bad habits—smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise—but what about good habits for designers, those that can pad your wallet, keeping bill collectors at bay?

If you're a freelance designer, positive behavior patterns, such as a steady flow of freelance work, can improve your workflow year-round and help you secure a steady income. The following are five productive practices shared by successful independent professional designers and real-world stories of how they've been used to drive freelance business.

5 Freelance Design Tips:

1. Spreading the Word
   
2. Banding With Others
   
3. Being a Savvy Self-Promoter
   
4. Creating a First-Rate Web Site
   
5. Providing Stellar Customer Service