# 90-Day Earning Roadmap (After the Course)

**Course:** Graphic Designing Mastery — ARTTECHES Nexus | **Instructor:** Ali Akbar Shah

> Honest statement: **earnings depend on your skill level, portfolio quality, market demand, communication skills, and consistent work. No income is guaranteed.** This roadmap gives you a realistic week-by-week plan — it is a system for effort, not a promise of money. Some students get their first client in week 3; others take months. Both are normal.

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## Weeks 1–2: Polish Your Portfolio

- Select your 6–8 best pieces (see Portfolio-Creation-Guide.md).
- Re-export everything cleanly from CorelDRAW: sharp PNG/JPG, correct spelling, proper alignment.
- Write short case studies (problem → process → result) for your 3 strongest pieces.
- Set up Behance and publish all pieces with good covers, titles, and tags.
- Goal by end of week 2: a portfolio link you are proud to send to anyone.

## Weeks 3–4: Set Up Your Profiles

- Create your Fiverr seller profile + your first gig (see Fiverr-Profile-Guide.md).
- Create your Upwork profile + portfolio items (see Upwork-Profile-Guide.md).
- Write your service price list (see Pricing-Guide.md) — research real market prices first.
- Prepare your message templates (see Client-Communication-Templates.md).
- Tell people around you (friends, family, local businesses) that you now offer design services. Many first clients come from your own network.
- Goal by end of week 4: live profiles on both platforms + 10 people told about your services.

## Weeks 5–6: First Outreach

- Send 5–10 thoughtful Upwork proposals per week — only to jobs you can truly do well.
- Share one portfolio piece per week on your social media (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, WhatsApp status) with a simple caption about the service.
- Offer a small, clear service to 3–5 local businesses (e.g. "I design menus, price lists, and social posts for shops"). Visit or message them politely.
- Goal: first conversations with potential clients, even if they do not buy yet.

## Weeks 7–8: Win and Over-Deliver on First Orders

- When the first order comes: communicate fast, deliver early if possible, and include one small extra (e.g. an extra file format or a matching social post).
- After happy delivery, politely ask for a review (see the testimonial template).
- Save every finished project back into your portfolio — replace weaker pieces.
- Goal: 1–3 completed orders and your first reviews.

## Weeks 9–10: Build Momentum

- Raise your gig/package prices slightly if demand is steady.
- Follow up with past clients (template 5 in Client-Communication-Templates.md) — repeat clients are easier than new ones.
- Add 2–3 new portfolio pieces from real client work (with permission, labeled honestly).
- Keep learning: 30 minutes a day studying designs you admire and practicing weak skills (e.g. Bezier curves, typography).

## Weeks 11–12: Stabilize and Plan Retainers

- Offer monthly packages (e.g. the Social Media Monthly Pack from Pricing-Guide.md) to clients who order repeatedly. Monthly retainers give steadier income than one-time gigs.
- Review your 90 days: which service sold best? Which clients were best? Do more of what worked.
- Set a goal for the next 90 days: a skill to improve, a service to add, a price level to reach.
- Keep your portfolio updated — it is never finished.

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## Daily Habits That Matter More Than Talent

1. Check messages twice a day and reply fast.
2. Spend 1 hour on outreach or proposals, even on days with no orders.
3. Practice design 30–60 minutes daily — skill compounds.
4. Track everything simply: clients, prices, deadlines, in a notebook or spreadsheet.

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## If Nothing Has Sold by Day 90

Do not quit — diagnose:
- **No views?** Improve gig titles, tags, and thumbnail images.
- **Views but no messages?** Strengthen the portfolio — replace the weakest 3 pieces.
- **Messages but no orders?** Improve your replies: faster, clearer, with a relevant sample attached.
- **Still stuck?** Ask a working designer for a portfolio review, or offer 2–3 discounted projects to local businesses to build real client proof.

Consistent, honest work over months beats shortcuts every time.

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*Remember: this is a plan for effort. Your results will depend on your skill, portfolio quality, market demand, communication, and consistency. Keep going.*