How can a designer maximize their skills as a remote worker?

Question

Freelance

I'm interested in a delicate question - how can a designer maximize their skills as a remote worker? I'm talking about efficiency, when a person, being competitive, chooses paid work and does not waste energy on black.
Question of course to the design professionals who live on it. The first thing that comes to mind is entrepreneurial activity and an independent search for customers. Second, finding fat clients on freelance (doubtful). Third, the device to the company on a remote basis. Fourth, design development for sale (themeforest is a very dubious return).
The first point seems to me the most adequate, even if you have to tinker with clients.
What paths have you chosen? What (being an uninitiated front-end developer) am I missing?

Answer 1

From my point of view, the maximum return will be in case of investing efforts in creating your brand, personal visual style. But you have to sweat a lot to maintain this image in the long run.
Also, do not underestimate the exhaust from a narrow specialization - orders are more difficult to find, but it becomes possible to take most of them.

Answer 2

Although I am not a designer, but, in my opinion, the problem is not purely a design one, but any person who wants to earn money remotely. There is no correct answer to this question, IMHO - everyone chooses for himself what is closer to him. I, as a programmer, tried the first 3 options on myself. From experience I will say that the first 2 are almost the same, because Initially, it is easier to look for clients on freelance exchanges.
Well, as a result, I now work in the office, because. It’s almost impossible for me to work productively from home, there are no coworking spaces in our area, and renting an office alone - you can hang yourself out of boredom :)
But this is my experience, everything will be completely different for you. How, you'll only know when you try it. Good luck!
PS Do not forget that the 4th option, although doubtful, but once done can bring even a small, but constant income.

Answer 3

switch to part-time or hourly work