Table Of Contents
Why You’re Not Getting Clients
You’ve worked hard to become a great designer.
You know Figma, Webflow, Branding, Colour theory…
You’ve put in the hours.
But the clients? Crickets.
Here’s the truth no one tells you:
Just being great at design isn’t enough anymore.
If no one knows you exist.
If you aren’t putting yourself out there.
If you’re not actively marketing your skills.
Then how can you expect clients to magically appear?
Design is a business.
And like any business, it needs visibility and trust before people buy.
So let’s fix that.
My Strategy For You to Get Clients (Even if you have zero right now)
Getting clients isn’t about waiting.
It’s about actively putting yourself in front of the right people.
Here’s how:
1. Use Your Network (Without being that pushy salesperson)
Your first few clients are already in your network
You just haven’t reached out yet.
Here’s my approach:
- Reach out to people you know (past colleagues, uni friends, family, LinkedIn connections).
- See what they’ve been up to and give a genuine compliment and engage in real conversation.
- Most importantly. Don’t sell to them. Instead, say something along the lines of:
“I’m currently looking to take on a few new design projects. Do you know anyone who might need help with branding or web design?”
When people aren’t put on the spot to buy, they’re more open to referring you.
And those referrals? They’re 10x easier to convert than cold leads.
2. Strategically, Work for Free
I know, I know.
“Never work for free!”
But here’s the reality: if you’re smart about it, a strategic free project can skyrocket your career.
Don’t waste time doing free work for random businesses.
Instead:
- Offer a branding or website overhaul to a company you admire and are passionate to work for.
- Reach out and partner with someone in your industry who has an audience you want access to.
- Partner with a social media or PR agency on a free trial basis. They need websites and design work constantly.
Your goal isn’t just exposure.
It’s to align yourself with brands and people who can 10x your visibility.
3. Get Eyeballs on Your Work (The right way)
When I first started I posted a lot of content without much purpose.
It really struggled to convert.
Do this instead:
- Choose one visual platform (Instagram, TikTok) and one written platform (LinkedIn, Twitter, Medium).
- Showcase the work you want to get paid for. Want branding clients? Post branding breakdowns. Want web design work? Post site redesigns and case studies.
- Don’t just post pretty visuals—explain the results. How did your design increase conversions? Improve user experience? Build brand trust?
People don’t buy design. They buy the outcomes that you’ve created.
4. Be a Helpful Human Online
Want an easy way to attract clients without chasing them?
Start helping people more.
- Answer design-related questions in Reddit, Twitter, Facebook Groups, LinkedIn comments.
- Join entrepreneur communities—not just design groups (your clients often aren’t designers).
- Offer solutions, not sales pitches. Over time, people will naturally see you as an expert—and clients will come to you.
5. Partner With Agencies and Freelancers
This was a big one when I first started out.
Who do you know that already has clients that need design work?
They could be:
✅ Social media marketers
✅ PR agencies
✅ Advertising firms
✅ Copywriters
✅ SEO specialists
Reach out and say:
"I specialise in [branding/web design]. I’d love to collaborate or be your go-to designer for clients who need this. Do you have a referral system in place?"
Referral partnerships and white-label design work can bring in consistent clients without the constant self-promotion.
6. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone
Most designers are quietly hoping someone will discover them.
That’s not how this game works.
You need to be a megaphone for your services.
- Go to industry events, conferences, and networking meetups.
- Tell people what you do (every chance you get).
- Show up online, share your work, and talk about your process.
The more visible you are, the more opportunities you will create.
7. Sell the Solution, Not the Service
Most designers pitch design. But as mentioned above, clients don’t care about design—they care about results.
Instead of saying:
❌ “I offer branding services.”
Say:
✅ “I help businesses increase their brand authority and attract premium clients through strategic branding.”
Instead of:
❌ “I build websites.”
Say:
✅ “I create high-converting websites that turn visitors into paying customers.”
Always connect what you do to a pain point or desired outcome.
That’s what makes people buy.
My Investigator Mindset (How to Win Over Clients on a Call)
So after implementing the above.
You’ve now got someone interested in your services, great!
When talking to the potential client, don’t just pitch straight up.
Investigate.
Think of yourself as an investigator at a crime scene.
- Ask questions.
- Look at things from different angles.
- Dig deep into their business struggles.
- Find the real problem(s) beneath the surface.
- Get them problem aware.
- Help them come to realisation of how big the problem is.
- Sell the solution.
Clients don’t always know what they need.
If you can uncover their true pain points, you become invaluable.
And with that, closing the sale becomes easier.
Your Next Steps:
Get Out There and Get Those Clients
Clients aren’t going to find you if you’re hiding. You need to:
✅ Use your network (without being salesy).
✅ Do strategic free work that builds your brand.
✅ Get eyeballs on your work (the right way).
✅ Be a helpful human online.
✅ Partner with agencies and freelancers.
✅ Step out of your comfort zone.
✅ Sell the solution, not the service.
You don’t need to do everything at once—just pick one and start today.
Need help with your website or personal brand? I can help.
I talk about topics like these and much more in my weekly newsletter. Sign up today below.
