Finding new clients as a freelance graphic designer is a necessary evil.
Finding new prospects is just as important as setting your design fees or creating an amazing portfolio.
From online marketing to volunteer work, promoting a freelance graphic design business effectively can raise profits and build your brand simultaneously.
In this post, you’ll learn about:
Promote your graphic design services online.
Join graphic design forums. Write articles and submit them to the leading graphic design websites.
Make insightful comments on freelance writing, copywriting, and publicity blogs. Connect with other freelancers to develop package deals using both graphic design and copywriting skills.
Create an online portfolio.
A portfolio is an important sales tool for graphic designers. An online portfolio can promote your services to new clients that live in other states or countries.
Keep the number of design samples in your portfolio to a minimum. Use this valuable tool to expand your freelance graphic design business from local to international.
Start a graphic design blog.
Blogs are a great way to inform new clients about your design approach and aesthetic. Clients that are unfamiliar with graphic design services can visit your blog for informative posts and basic information.
Promoting your blog as a teaching tool and design resource is a simple promotion tactic that will yield measurable results.
Register for a freelance talent agency.
Creative Circle and Aquent are two agencies that hire freelance graphic design talent. Use these resources to expand your client base.
Use staffing agencies to boost your client experience while developing a stellar reputation as a freelance design professional.
Donate your expertise to a non-profit organization.
Use your freelance design services to help those in need. Offer to design a logo for a non-profit organization with similar values as your company.
Mentor a young graphic designer. Give a seminar at an art or trade school to inspire young design talent to pursue a career in graphic design.
- Look for opportunities outside of traditional advertising to promote your freelance design services.
- Submit your designs to advertising contests and national award programs for recognition.
- Join a professional association of graphic design talent to explore new methods of promoting your freelance graphic design business.
- Create a simple, 10-page free e-book to inform new clients about the effect quality graphic design has on sales, marketing, and revenue.
- Commit 30% of your time each day to market and promote your freelance graphic design services to new and existing clients.