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For many, freelancing and running a creative agency can feel like a rollercoaster—exciting but full of twists and turns. One minute, you’re flooded with projects, clients, and opportunities — and the next, you’re wondering where your next client will come from. While it’s valuable to keep up with trends and maintain your client roster, the reality is that building your practice is an investment — and similar to any sound investment strategy, it’s important to diversify your portfolio.
Whether you’re new to the world of freelance design or a seasoned vet, there are always ways you can tweak how to expand and grow your brand and bottom line. Let’s take a look at some ways you can get started.
Build and sell templates or digital products
One of the best ways to diversify your income as a freelancer or agency is by creating and selling templates or other digital products. With the rise of design and development tools, more and more teams are looking for ready-made, customizable templates that save them time and effort. As a freelancer or agency, you’re already well-versed in design and client expectations — this allows you to leverage your skills and cater to different industries and needs at scale. This not only creates the opportunity for passive income from template sales but can also become a way to attract new clients or speed up your time to launch by leveraging your own pre-made templates. Plus, listing your templates on platforms like Gumroad, Dribbble, or even specialized marketplaces like Webflow Templates, Notion Templates, etc., is a great way to showcase your expertise and reach a broader audience.
Expand your credentials and services
Another way to stay competitive is by investing in credentials and expertise. Nowadays, clients expect more and more from the freelancers and agencies they work with. For some, this may mean taking the time to get certified with your favorite tool; for others, this could mean broadening your skill set. For example, if you may have started your practice around web design and development, consider earning certifications in complementary areas like SEO, CRO, or joining an expert program like Webflow’s Certified Partner Program. Credentials and partner programs boost your credibility and allow you to offer bundled services that add more value—and more revenue—to each project and client. The more certifiable skills you have, the more indispensable you can become to your clients.
Offer educational content or training
As experts in the field, you need to build not only your brand but also your authority; one of the best ways to do so is by creating content. With the increased demand for online learning — creating courses, scalable guides, webinars, or workshops can be both profitable and rewarding. Channel your expertise in design to craft valuable content that helps others master the skills you’ve honed. This can transpire in stand-alone courses, content, or materials that you repurpose for clients. Whether it’s a step-by-step guide on building high-converting websites or a deep dive into design systems, educational offerings can attract and retain a new audience while generating recurring revenue. Plus, it’s a great way to give back to the community while boosting your own visibility and credibility.
Collaborate with other creatives
Lastly, one rising trend is collaboration. Collaborating with other creatives can be a powerful way to diversify your services and expand what clients you serve. By teaming up with adjacent designers, developers, or marketers, you can pool your skills to reach entirely new audiences and broaden your services. Often referred to as ghost agencies, these temporary teams can provide new ways to learn, challenge each other, and ultimately open doors to new client networks and opportunities. Say you have a client deeply interested in animation for their web project, but you don’t have experience building web animations — you can work with a fellow freelancer to expand your services and ultimately win the client together. Not only has this proven to be a great way to win more clients, but it’s often a cheat code for co-creating digital products, sharing expertise, and increasing revenue. Not to mention, it’s always fun to work with interesting people and build your own skill set along the way.
Conclusion
Now to bring this all home. In today’s competitive landscape, diversifying your income is a key strategy for any freelancer and agency. From collaborating with fellow creatives to creating templates and educational content— the possibilities to scale your practice can look different for everyone. For some, this might mean starting small and focusing on one new endeavor; for others, this may mean trying a few things before something sticks — either way, it’s important to start testing. Embracing these strategies will not only help to set you apart but also build a more resilient and adaptable business in the long term.
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About Webflow
Webflow is the leading visual development platform for building powerful websites without writing code. By combining modern web development technologies into one platform, Webflow enables people to build websites visually, saving engineering time, while clean code seamlessly generates in the background. From independent designers and creative agencies to Fortune 500 companies, millions worldwide use Webflow to be more nimble, creative, and collaborative. It’s the web, made better. Learn more at webflow.com.
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