As a graphic designer, I’m sure you’re aware how difficult and frustrating it can be to find prospective clients. You’ve probably even thought about calling it quits and finding a new hustle.
This article will share 26 tips on how to get graphic design clients! We’ll cover everything you need to include in your marketing strategy, starting from creating a buyer persona all the way to attending networking events. Follow these tips, and you’ll be on your way to finding more clients and growing your business!
26 Ways to Find Clients as a Graphic Designer
1. Start by creating a buyer persona
A buyer persona is a profile of your most ideal customer. It includes demographic information, such as age, gender, and income level, as well as psychographic information, such as interests and needs.
To create a buyer persona, you can gather data from existing customers or use secondary research to predict what your target market is like. A buyer persona will help you better understand who your customers are and craft marketing campaigns targeted toward them.
2. Make sure your design portfolio is the best it can be
As a freelance graphic designer, your portfolio is your biggest selling point, so make sure it’s the best it can be. Include both your personal work and any work you’ve done for clients. If you don’t have any client work, reach out to local businesses and offer to do a free project for them.
Make sure that your design portfolio appeals to your target audience – your buyer persona. Think about what they need, rather than what you want to include. Ask yourself these questions:
- Will this design help them sell their product or service better?
- Does it help tell their story?
- Will they need other marketing materials to go along with this one?
If you can answer yes to these questions, then it’s a good fit for your portfolio. Include relevant projects that have been completed within the last three years. Stay away from college projects, work that you did for high school classes or any freelance work that can’t be shown to potential employers.
3. Get a website
A website is a great way to showcase your work and attract new graphic design clients. It also makes you look more professional, helps establish you as an expert in your field, and makes it easier for interested clients to contact you.
But, it’s not just about having a well-designed website. The content is even more important. Writing engaging content can be a challenge for some designers, that’s why it’s always better to outsource it to freelance copywriters (if it’s an area you struggle with).
There are several online tools you can use to build your site, including Wix and WordPress. You can also outsource the word to a freelance web designer (for free) on FreeWebDesign.
Related: Bluehost vs Wix: Which is the best platform for building a website?
4. SEO
SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of optimizing a website for search engines. By SEOing your site, you can improve your ranking on Google and attract more visitors.
The majority of people only visit websites they see on the first page of the search engine results. Make it your goal to have your site among the top results for all searches related to graphic design services. If you’re not familiar with SEO, you can outsource it to freelancers who specialize in it.
5. Create a blog
A blog is a great way to share your work, attract new clients, and establish yourself as an expert graphic designer. You can also use your blog to share tips and advice for other freelance graphic designers. The key to a successful blog is doing plenty of keyword research to identify terms that people are frequently searching on Google.
For example, if you find that the phrase “how to create a logo” gets thousands of searches every month, you can write an elaborate blog post covering it, and then upsell your services to readers. You can create content around any graphic design topic.
If you’re not good at writing then you can outsource it to freelance writers and only provide guidance on what to write about. Most businesses with active blogs don’t do their own writing. Alternatively, you can also use an AI writing such such as Jasper AI to automatically write your blog content.
6. Offer free resources
Creating free resources is a great way to attract new clients. You can offer templates, tutorials, and other resources that people can download and use. This is one of the most effective marketing strategies for freelance graphic designers.
But you need to make sure that these resources are valuable and look great. After all, what good does it do to spend time creating freebies if they aren’t attractive and effective for your prospective clients?
7. Participate in online forums
Online forums are a great way to connect with other professionals and learn more about the graphic design industry. They are also a great place to find new clients for your graphic design business.
8. Create a social media presence
Social media is a great way to connect with potential clients and promote your business. Make sure you have a profile on all the major social platforms and post interesting content that will appeal to your target audience. Your social pages are part of your brand identity on the internet.
9. Submit your work to online galleries
Publishing your portfolio on online galleries is a great way to get your work seen by a wider audience. Submit your work to as many galleries as possible, and include a link to your website or portfolio. Some popular galleries for freelance graphic designers include Artsy, Dribbble, and Unsplash.
10. Offer free consultations
Many people are hesitant to hire a freelance graphic designer because they don’t know what to expect. Offering free consultations is a great way to ease their fears and show them what you can do. But there’s a catch. You can’t just offer a free consultation, go through the motions and then forget about it.
You have to follow up with all your free consultation clients, as well as those who didn’t take you up on the offer. If you don’t, it’s unlikely they will ever hire you for anything.
11. Paid advertising
Paid advertising is a great way to reach more people quickly and get new clients on social media or search engines. You can create PPC ads to target your potential clients, right as they’re researching graphic design services. That’s when they’re most likely to convert. The two most popular paid advertising platforms are Google Ads and Facebook Ads.
12. Freelancing marketplaces
Freelancing marketplaces are great places to get new graphic design clients. These platforms allow you to post your services and connect with people who need your help. The most popular freelancing marketplaces are Upwork and Fiverr.
13. Offer discounts
Many people are hesitant to hire new graphic designers because they’re worried about the cost. Offering discounts is a great way to make your services more affordable and attract more clients.
Some designers will offer a “first project” discount of around 10% to new clients. If you are just starting out, this can be a great way to get some experience and build up a portfolio without breaking bank.
Offering discounts on print work is another common marketing strategy for freelance designers. Digital files tend to cost much less than printed products. If you have a client who really wants something printed, try giving them a discount for ordering multiple copies.
You may also want to set lower prices for your early clients since they are helping you build up your portfolio and your reviews (which are essential to get graphic design clients). Once you have a few happy clients, you can use them as references for future sales.
14. Build up your ratings and reviews
Ratings and reviews are a great way to show potential clients that you’re a credible graphic designer. They also serve to let your existing clients know that you’re still actively helping people. It’s a win for everyone involved.
Many businesses are now including reviews as part of their digital marketing efforts due to its proven track record. The easiest way to get reviews is by simply asking for them from your past clients. Positive reviews will give you more credibility and social proof than anything else.
15. Participate in design contests
Design contests are a great way to get your work seen by a wider audience. Contestants are usually required to submit a portfolio, so this is a great way to get your work in front of potential clients.
While freelancing is more about getting paid for work, graphic design contests are all about exposure. The more people who see your work, the more likely you are to win a contest, and the bigger your audience is, the more clients you’ll have access to.
Since selection is often done by popular vote, contests also allow you to gain exposure to other graphic designers, which should broaden your horizons.
16. Get interviewed by design blogs and podcasts
Getting featured on design blogs and podcasts is a great way to get exposure for your graphic design business. Contact some of the popular design blogs and podcasts and offer to do an interview. If you have an interesting portfolio or a unique story to tell then they would most likely be happy to host you.
17. Word of mouth
One of the best ways to get graphic design clients is through word of mouth. Talk to your friends, family, and colleagues and let them know what you do. When someone needs a graphic designer, they’ll think of you.
However, if you try to do it all yourself and don’t get help from your friends and family, you miss out on a huge opportunity.
18. Ask for recommendations
When you finish a project, always ask your clients for recommendations. This is a great way to get new leads and attract more business. Most people would be happy to recommend good graphic designers to their peers.
Always keep in mind that an unhappy client probably won’t recommend you. Make sure to always go above and beyond for your clients. Do everything necessary to ensure that they’re fully satisfied with your services. Chances are, you’ll need them again for future projects.
19. Attend trade shows
Trade shows are great places to connect with potential clients and learn more about various industries. Attend as many trade shows as possible and you’ll most likely come across people who need your services. Don’t forget to carry along your marketing materials, including your business cards and brochures.
20. Reward people for referring clients to you
Reward your clients for referring new business to you. This is a great way to show your appreciation and attract more referrals. You can offer them a discount on their next project, or a gift card to a popular restaurant or store.
21. Collaborate with agencies and influencers
Collaborating with agencies and influencers is another great way to get your work in front of a wider audience. Reach out to some of the agencies and influencers in your area and offer to collaborate with them. Your partnership can be in the form of cross-promotion; you promote their services to your network and they do the same to theirs. It’s a win-win for everyone.
22. Use cold outreach to get clients
Cold calls and emails are a great way to get in touch with potential clients. Although it may seem daunting at first, it’s one of the most effective marketing tactics.
Send out personalized cold emails to people who might need your services (your buyer persona). LinkedIn is one of the best places to find them. Its userbase largely consists of small business owners and professionals from various industries. This article goes over some ways to find prospective clients on LinkedIn.
23. Don’t forget to follow-up
When you reach out to potential clients, don’t forget to follow up. Most people are busy and might not have time to respond to your cold emails right away. Follow-up a few times to make sure they see your messages.
24. Network with other graphic designers
Networking with other freelancers is a great way to build relationships and stay up to date with the latest trends in the design world. Attend local meetups and networking events, and connect with other designers online. This is a great way to build relationships and get new leads.
25. Network with professionals from other industries
Building relationships is essential for success in the graphic design industry. In addition to networking with other freelance designers, you should also network with other professionals from other industries. It’s one of the best ways to find new clients.
You can attend local networking events, or join an online networking group. The goal is to build awareness for your graphic design services and actively ask for referrals.
26. Showcase your work on Instagram
Instagram is a great platform to showcase your work and get graphic design clients. Make sure you have a professional-looking profile, and regularly post photos of your best work. Use hashtags to reach a wider audience, and connect with other designers on Instagram.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve gone over how to get graphic design clients. Whether you want to network with other professionals or collaborate with agencies and influencers on a cross-promotional campaign, there are many different marketing tactics that can help your business grow.
It’s important not to forget about cold outreach as well! Sending personalized emails is an effective way of connecting with potential new leads in the industry. In order for these strategies to work though, it’s necessary that you follow up after initial contact. Some people are just busy and you need to follow up multiple times before you get a response.
Make sure also not to overlook trade shows either; they’re one of the best places where professionals come together from various industries and connect face-to-face.
