Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ayelet Werner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Ayelet, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

My first client came to me from my Instagram! It took me around 4 months to get my first branding client, as expected when just starting out and having no experience at all, and I felt wildly unprepared and nervous. I had been working so hard on growing my social media that I actually forgot completely to prepare for working with real clients! I didn’t have a system or process and I didn’t really know what to do, but I winged it and everything worked out! I look back at that experience with gratitude, pride and hard-core cringe because I have learnt so much since then and grown as a designer, but you’ve got to start somewhere! My advice to anyone wanting to start freelancing is; to make sure you’ll be financially ok if, for a few months, you’re not making any money because it can be hard at first and prepare yourself for working with clients beforehand!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My name is Ayelet. I am the human behind @designbyayelet on Instagram! I am a brand designer who loves creating fun, exciting, bold and vibrant branding for businesses that love to have fun! I love to help small businesses find their unique look and vibe to set them apart and be the best they can be!

I started my Instagram, @designbyayelet, on a whim in July 2021 and am so thankful to say that it has been incredibly successful! In just over a year after I started my account, I reached 100,000 followers and have had the most incredible support and opportunities!

On a personal note, I am a huge yogi and bookworm, love a good coffee, and think dogs are *literally* the best!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

100% Instagram and social media! I think more and more people are taking to social media to hire and find designers, marketers, copywriters etc. It’s such an amazing place to be able to connect with potential clients and fellow people in your field. Remember one thing though: Always be authentic, honest and kind. Show yourself and genuinely connect with your audience (whether clients, fellow people in your field or friends). People buy from people and then the best way to seal the deal is to be kind, and caring and show that you genuinely care about helping people.

Another little piece of advice: When working with clients, always go above and beyond for them. The happier they are, the more they will refer you to others and the more opportunities you will get! Don’t discount word-of-mouth, that can be a great way to get clients too.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Oh wow yes!

For organisation and productivity: I love Notion! Notion is the best content management system out there, I really wouldn’t be able to function without it. I also love buying templates and digital products that will make my life and process easier – invest in yourself!

Social Media: Content planners! Meta Suite is great! There’s also an app called Capcut which is great for video editing (TikToks and Reels). Also, don’t sleep on Pinterest! It can be a great source of client work.

Financially: I definitely recommend investing in an accountant or some kind of accounting software because taxes and all that stuff can be *a lot*, it’s such a relief to not worry about it anymore! I would be completely overwhelmed (and probably in trouble for not knowing anything about taxes) without my incredible accountant.

There are probably loads more too but those are my top recommendations!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.designbyayelet.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designbyayelet/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DesignByAyelet