7 Ways to Get Your Design Work Noticed

If your a talented designer looking to get your design work noticed in order to gain some more clients then we’ve got some top tips ready for you…

If your a talented designer looking to get your design work noticed in order to gain some more clients then we’ve got some top tips ready for you. With an increasing number of people working online as designers, getting your work at the forefront and standing out of the crowd is not always an easy task.

The good news is that with the right strategy, you can quickly begin to turn things around and get yourself noticed as a credible leading designer in your industry. When it comes to standing out, your online presence will play a huge part in getting yourself and your design work noticed. Here are some of the best strategies to use.

#1. Create a Visually Appealing Portfolio:

When hiring a designer for any kind of design work the first thing that most clients will want to know is where you have worked in the past and which examples of your work are available for them to view. Setting up an online portfolio will enable you to create a base for your online presence which your current and prospective clients can use to see examples of your best work. They will also be able to find out more about what services you provide.

Your portfolio will be the first impression that many new clients will have of you so it’s important to invest as much time and effort as you can into getting it just right. A visually appealing portfolio with high-quality images and videos to showcase your work is a great start. You will also want to ensure that your design portfolio site is user-friendly, has a short loading time, and is responsive to mobile devices. This will improve your reputation as a designer right away. 

#2. Showcase Your Expertise:

In addition to finding a designer that is good at what they do and produces excellent work, you’ll also find that most clients are looking for somebody who is a proven expert in their industry. Adding a blog to your portfolio site can be an excellent way to showcase your knowledge and skills. You can use blog posts to write extensively about topics that best show off your knowledge and expertise. This will enable you to position yourself as an expert in your industry. This also provides you with the perfect platform for providing valuable tips and advice that your readers can use in the future.

#3. Be Active on Social Media:

Maintaining an active presence on social media can be key to building more followers and improving your presence online. Providing your portfolio link will encourage followers to share your work. Being active on social media provides additional exposure for your name, your brand, and your work.

Having consistent branding across all popular social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn make you look professional. Instagram, in particular, is a great platform for designers to use when showcasing their work as it allows you to upload pictures of your best projects, including hashtags that will allow others to easily find your posts.

#4. Consider Email Marketing:

Sending marketing emails may have gotten a bad rap in recent times due to spam. When done correctly, it can be a very powerful tool for increasing your reach and popularity as a designer. As long as you play by the rules,  sending marketing emails to those who are happy to receive them can be an easy way to word out quickly about your latest work.

One good way to do this is to include an email newsletter sign up option on your site. Allowing visitors to sign up for future newsletter updates is a great way to spread the word about any special deals and offers that you might be running in the future.

#5. Market Offline:

Don’t forget that the effort you put into marketing your design work offline can have a huge effect on your online presence. For example, exhibiting at a trade show can be an awesome way of showcasing your best work to business owners and directors who might be looking for somebody like you to work with for their own company designs and more.

There are several savvy ways to market your design work offline too. Giving out business cards and flyers, using display posters and billboards in your local town is an awesome way to get noticed.

Don’t forget about telephone marketing. Many people do still prefer to talk to a person on the end of a telephone. You can get some very powerful results from calling up business owners to speak to them about the services you offer.

#6. Get Noticed:

Getting noticed with some big names in design and business can be key to putting your work out there and earning credibility as a designer. Sharing your portfolio with a well-respected art and design magazine or working with business owners to create a business piece that mentions your work on a high-traffic business blog  can be one of the best ways to earn credibility. As a result, people who may not have heard of you in the past may be more willing to work with you. 

Guest posting on popular business and design blogs is a great way to partner up with big brands. You may also choose to work on something newsworthy to get your story and name picked up by journalists.

#7. Enter Competitions and Contests:

Last but not least, entering medium to large design competitions and contests is not only a lot of fun; it can also be a great way to get your work out there as a serious contender and put your name at the forefront of the design world. Don’t forget that for budding designers, competitions and contests aren’t just about winning. Entering and getting your work in front of the judges can be one of the best ways to present your work to the experts who could be key influencers.

Even if you don’t win, being a runner-up can often go a long way in these types of competitions. Even if it means being noticed by somebody else who enjoys your work. The key here is to take the time to study the rules and requirements for the competition and come up with something that is unique and will stand out from the others.

If you found these tips useful, we’d love to hear more from you!