Have your own design blog or considering starting one? Here is a look at 10 options that you’ll have to monetize the blog.

The second post in a four-part series. This one takes a look at how designer’s can improve their business with online networking.

Developing and maintaining a strong network can be one of the most productive things you do as a freelancer, even though it will not directly bring in any money for your business. Your network has the ability to improve your business in just about any way you can imagine, and today we’ll start the series by taking a deeper look at the role of networking.

If you’re a freelance designer and looking to get more clients, blogging may be just the right solution.

Web design blogs provide excellent opportunities for designers/developers to use their experience and knowledge and gain exposure to new audiences by writing tutorials and articles.

Developing a portfolio site is a priority for freelance designers, and online portfolios are often one of the primary methods for marketing services and generating leads for new design work. However, from my experience, the quality of leads that you receive through your portfolio can vary greatly.

Can you become a designer with little to no formal training? Certainly, but don’t expect it to be simple. Much of your potential for success depends on how hard you try.

Freelancing by nature tends to be a career that isn’t going to put you in the spotlight. The vast majority of freelancers earn a living in relative obscurity. How much does name recognition factor in to the level of success for a freelance designer? Is it possible to have a highly successful career without developing strong name recognition? And does name recognition always lead to success?

One of the biggest challenges for new designers and freelancers (and even for those who aren’t new) is simply getting their work seen. You may be able to produce an excellent level of quality, but if no one sees it you’ll probably be wishing you had more work. Here is a list from my experience of a few things that can help to increase exposure to your portfolio.

Dealing with ups and downs in terms of your work level is part of being a freelancer. Yesterday we looked at ways you can maintain a more stable income as a designer, but for those unavoidable times when you’re just not as busy as you would like, it’s good to have a plan. Just because you don’t have as much client work as you would like doesn’t mean that there is nothing positive you can do for your business. Here are some things to keep you productive.