10 Ways to Land Your Next Paying Client

When you first take the leap as a full-time freelancer, one of the hardest things is finding work, especially consistent and good paying work.

One of the biggest questions I get is, “How do you find design clients?”

The first 3 months of my business I earned $0. However, that’s when I started to do EVERYTHING I could to land myself a design gig, and it worked! Almost 2 years later, I now have a steady design business, where I work 20 to 30 hours a week, with clients I love. So here are 10 ways to land your next paying client.

1. Set Yourself Up For Success

Make A Website
If you are a designer looking for freelance clients you NEED A WEBSITE that showcases your WORK! People will hire you based on your past design work, so make sure you have this set-up before you start emailing people. Also, if you have a website then random people from Google can find your website and send you a message on your Contact page. So setting up a website is number 1!
Create a LinkedIn Profile
Your LinkedIn profile should show your employment status and past experience. This is essentially your online resume. Make sure your LinkedIn account can be found on your website as well.
~ I’ve found lots of design work through LinkedIn, so make sure you have an account and updated regularly!

2. Send All The Emails!

Send An Email Blast To Family & Friends
Make a list of all friends, family members, classmates, profs, past employers, coworkers etc. and send them a sweet and simple email saying that you have a design business that offers specific design services, and share a link to your website! If some people reply with interest then make sure to send them a follow up email.

Send An Email To Agencies & Companies In Your Area
Make a list of all companies that would be interested in hiring a freelance designer. Ex) design studios, interior design businesses, marketing agencies, advertising companies, banks, media companies etc. Find their email and send them a sweet and simple message letting them know that you’d like to work with them and if they have any opportunities available. Make sure you include a link to your website.
Send An Email To Remote/Online Design Agencies
Look into remote or online design business and send them an email to see if they are looking for freelance designers to work with!

~ That’s what I did, and I nailed down a SWEET job as a Squarespace Brand & Website Designer for GoLive HQ.

3. Tell People What You Do On Social Media

Update Your Social Media Accounts
Add a line in your Instagram profile that says you’re a Graphic Designer and that you have available bookings for that month. Also, make a post or share a story telling people what you can do for them, and that you’re available for hire.
Make a post on Facebook telling people what you do and that you’re looking for work. Make sure to link to your website here as well.
Start Blogging or Posting on Pinterest
If you start a blog, and post about topics that will attract your ideal client, then over time you will build a following and those people will want to work with you! With each blog post, share an image on Pinterest that links to your blog post, this will bring more traffic to your website, which means more potential clients!

4. Slide Into Those DMs

Use Instagram to Find Work
Follow designers and brands that you would want to work with and send them a direct message telling them that you love their work and want to know if they are looking to hire a designer?
~ I scored a sick job as a designer for a travel magazine in Australia through those sneaky Instagram DMs!
Use LinkedIn to Find Work
Find out who are the Art Directors at the companies you’d love to work with and then send them a message directly! Tell them who you are and that you’re keen to work with them, then link to your website portfolio.
~ Many many many of my freelance gigs have come from LinkedIn messages.

5. Get Your Name On The List

Sign Up with Creative Talent Agencies
Yes, they will take a cut, but they will find work for you! Go online and search for companies in your area that do this. Get your name on as many lists as possible, since lots of Marketing and Design Agencies use these services to find freelance designers. Believe me it’s worth it.
~ I applied to a bunch of Toronto creative talent agencies and I landed so many high paying gigs! It was a life saver. I signed up with Creative Niche and Creative Circle.
Sign Up to Online Design Directories
Popular online designers and companies will create a directory for other designers/creatives looking for work! (Some require a 1 time fee and an application.) This is a great way to get on a list so that other people can find you! I’ve recently signed up with ilovecreatives, Square Design Guild and Squarespace Circle Experts.

6. Word Of Mouth Marketing

Tell People Face-to-face
In your everyday conversations with people try to tell them that you’re a designer looking for work. You never know the conversations that you might have and people who might send you work!

Chat To Local Businesses
Go to your local coffee shop, yoga studio, or boutique shop and if you notice they are in desperate need of a brand refresh or a better website then give them your business card. This is a great way to get the conversation started and to let them know you’d love to work together!

7. Apply To All The Jobs

Ask Your Past Employers
Reach out to your past employers and ask if they’d be interested in sending you any design work to do remotely? You’ve worked with them before so they know you and trust you.

Apply To Jobs On Indeed and LinkedIn
Apply to design jobs, even if they are not remote, and ask them if they’d be interested in hiring you as a freelancer or for remote work? If they really love your work they might be open to it!

Follow Companies You Love on Instagram
Lots of companies will post on their instagram if they are looking to hire a new designer. Make sure you are following them so you can be the first to know and apply ASAP!

8. Check Out Freelance Websites

Sign up to a freelance design website to find work online! Sign up to Fiver, Freelancer, Upwork, and People Per Hour. This is a great way to get your name out there and find some more design work.

9. Make Designer Friends

Become Friends With Other Talented Designers
Find and befriend designers that you love and admire! Most designers have lots of inquiries coming their way and if you tell them you’re looking for work they can send potential clients your direction!

~ I love this method! I have lots of designer friends who have sent me tons of design work and vice versa. I highly recommend you tell other designers you’re looking for work so they can add you to their list of designers to outsource work to.

Get Featured In A Blog Or Podcast
If you know someone with a popular blog or podcast, ask them if they’d be interested in having you on their platform. You can always trade some work for this exposure and it will be totally worth it if you land 1 client from that opportunity.

10. Mix & Mingle With Other Creatives

Go To A Conference
Conferences are a great way to chat with lots of amazing creatives and make lasting connections! Look up local creative conferences or book a ticket and invest in that dream conference! You can definitely find potential clients at conferences.

~ I went to Design Vaca in 2017 and it was AMAZING! I met so many wonderful designers and learned so much about starting my own business!

Join A Co-working Space
Co-working spaces are a great way to meet other creatives and collab on projects together and get paid!

~ I’ve worked at 2 co-working spaces and they are amazing to make connections. I met a photographer and an art director and they both hired me to do some work for them.

Try A Creative Meet-up Event
Some co-working spaces have community events, or you can always try Meet-Up or Creative Mornings and find a group that’s near you and check it out! Make connections with people and you just might land your next design gig.
Join Lots Of Facebook Groups
There are so many groups on Facebook for entrepreneurs, designers, freelancers and people looking for remote work or freelance work! Join these groups and get the convo started. Introduce yourself, share advice and make those connections. It can totally help you land some awesome design work.

Any time you feel stuck in a freelance rut and need clients ASAP, always refer back to this list and implement 1 to 3 of these methods until you land your next gig!

If you need some encouragement to chase after your business/career dreams then I highly recommend these AWESOME podcasts from my blog post 10 Business Podcasts You Need In Your Life!