The absolute number one question almost every new designer asks: “How do I get my first design clients?” After starting my own freelancing journey at the beginning of the year, I’ve been able to meet my starting client goal almost completely because of these steps. While I am definitely no expert, I’m here to share what I’ve learned so far and what has caused the most success.
Spread the word
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: tell. everyone. you. know. This is by far the best advice I can give to those wanting to get their first design clients after starting their freelance business. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. Tell your friends, family, coworkers, professors, neighbors, social media followers – everyone!
The more people you tell = the more people talk = more potential clients. I read once that 64% of marketers agree that word-of-mouth is the most effective form of marketing, and I’m not surprised.
People trust people they know, and if people they know and trust are recommending you? Jackpot. Not only that, but if you’re going around spreading the word about your design business, you’re bound to run into somebody who are either in need of your services, or know someone who is in need of your services. So far, almost all of my clients have come from word-of-mouth. Trust me, don’t skimp on this.
Don’t be afraid to make friends
Repeat after me: Other designers are not the enemy. When you’re first looking for design clients, it’s easy to view your fellow freelance designers as solely competition. From one designer to another, don’t fall into this trap. While you don’t want to overwhelm yourself by following hundreds of other designers on Instagram (quickly leading to harmful comparison habits), make sure to be open to making designer friendships. Not only will you get easy access to peers who might have advice to share with you, but there will eventually come a time when someone might not be able to take on a client – and can pass that opportunity onto you. There are plenty of reasons why a designer might turn away a client, and that easily can become a referral for your services instead.
However, please remember to be genuine and clear when making friends online. There is nothing more disheartening than having a conversation that starts with what you think is friendly chatting but quickly turns into “So do you want to partner with me and refer me to unused clients?” This might just be my opinion, but I would be much more drawn to the person who starts the conversation off with “Hi Karlie! I love your work and would like to offer myself up to partner with you on client referrals. If you need some time to get to know me and my work first, I totally understand. Looking forward to getting to know you!” Keep in mind, we’re both hustling business-owners, so leading with your intentions not only comes off as more honest, but it also respects my valuable time.
Don’t skip the website
This one might seem obvious, but please don’t overlook the importance of having a website. I’ve observed a lot of accounts lately who think that an Instagram account is the only thing you need for a freelance design business, but that is sadly not the case. Having your own well-designed website sets you up to look significantly more professional than your peers. This might be a hot take, but starting a business transaction over an Instagram DM, as opposed to an inquiry form on a website, sets the client up to not take you seriously. In a world where problem-clients run rampant, the last thing we need to do is give a client a reason not to view us as professionals.
Not only should you include an inquiry form, but you also need to be displaying your work on your website. While Instagram does automatically serve as a natural portfolio of your work, having your projects displayed on your website will 1) make you look more professional, and 2) allow people to view your work without needing an Instagram account. Your portfolio is crucial in allowing potential clients to visualize what the end product could be, and show off your skills.
While you might not specialize in web design, there are plenty of low-cost website builders out there that provide great templates. My personal favorite is Showit – and I will advocate for this site ‘till the day I die. Fun bonus: use my code “designbykarlie” when you sign up to get a FREE month on your subscription!
Bonus tip: create a referral program
To boost your word-of-mouth marketing strategy, maybe consider creating a referral program. A referral program is simply a way to entice people to spread the word about your services. I’ve seen a couple ways designers go about this, but the majority of programs offer participants a certain amount of cash after referring you to a client.
For example, I will send you $50 if I sign a client who tells me they found out about me through you. But please remember – make sure to clearly state that you will only send the money after the client signs a contract to work with you. Otherwise, you could be handing out cash left and right for each time someone refers you – even if you don’t even end up booking those clients. (Ps. If you are curious and want an entire post on how I run my referral program, let me know in the comments!)
All in all
There’s no way I can cover all the ways to get your first clients in one blog post, but these are definitely the first tips out of my mouth any time someone asks. Taking the leap to start your own freelance business can be intimidating, but I’m here to encourage you that these methods will make a difference! Just remember to tell everyone you know, to not be afraid of making designer friends, and make sure to have a professional website. And If you want even more advice on starting your freelance journey, check out this post. Good luck! You got this!
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