Curate a Portfolio That Speaks to Your Clients

Before outreach even begins, make sure your portfolio is client-facing. That means it’s not just a gallery of beautiful visuals—it’s proof of how your design work solves real business problems.

Focus on showcasing:

• Complete brand stories (not just logos)

• Before/after visuals

• Clear context: what the problem was, what you designed, and the result

Add a short, compelling description under each project to help clients understand your role and process. Remember, clarity wins.

Make the First Move—But Make It Meaningful

Cold outreach works, but only when it’s thoughtful. Instead of sending templated messages, do your research. Compliment something specific about their business, and then briefly explain how your design could help improve their brand experience.

Where to try:

• LinkedIn (DMs with intent)

• Instagram (reply to Stories or recent posts first)

• Email (customized outreach with portfolio link)

Pro tip: Don’t ask for work—offer value. “Here’s how I’d refresh your packaging for Gen Z” is more powerful than “Do you need a designer?”

Leverage Niche Communities and Platforms

Your next client might not be scrolling Behance—but they’re probably in a Slack group, newsletter, or online forum related to their industry.

Find and participate in:

• Reddit communities like r/Entrepreneur or r/smallbusiness

• Slack groups for indie founders and DTC brands

• Niche newsletters and comment sections

• Product Hunt, Indie Hackers, or Founder-led Discord servers

Being part of the right communities means you can offer your design expertise organically, without hard selling.

Ask for Referrals—But Make It Easy

Past clients or collaborators can be a goldmine for new leads—if you guide them well. After delivering a successful project, ask:

“If you know anyone else building a brand or business that could use strong design support, feel free to pass along my info or this link.”