Arek Dvornechuck
Branding Expert
As a logo designer, getting new clients is crucial for growing your business.
As a logo designer myself, I am well-versed in the challenges and strategies of attracting high-quality clients.
When I moved to the US, I had to start from scratch—I didn't know anyone, and I had to rebuild my entire portfolio in foreign language.
I quickly found myself trying every possible method of getting clients.
That's why in this article, I share my insights and practical tips to help fellow designers navigate this competitive field.
Here are some effective strategies to help you find and attract logo design clients:
Having a strong portfolio that showcases your best logo work is absolutely essential, and I can't stress that enough.
While good portfolio alone won't get you hired on it's own, without one—you won't get hired for sure!
The most common dilemma faced by many designers is:
You need a portfolio to get clients, but you need clients to build a portfolio.
Think about it—the only thing that matters to your clients is whether you can actually do the job.
And the only way your clients can judge your ability to do the work, is by seeing your past work.
Make sure you include a diverse range of logos to highlight your versatility (unless you're niching down).
If you're just starting out, I encourage you to create conceptual redesigns—just to show off your skills.
Then share your work on portfolio platforms like Behance and Dribbble (it's a must!).
Also build your own website, which is extremely easy these days and it will make you look professional.
For example: Here's my Behance portfolio, and my Dribble portfolio, and you can also see my work on this website.
Once you have a decent portfolio, then join freelance websites like Upwork, Fiverr etc. to find logo design gigs.
There are plenty of websites to find freelance gigs, but they're all very competitive.
Client who go there also often look for the cheapest price.
However, you can give it a try in the meantime, while building your on Behance and Dribbble.
You can offer your services for a discounted price when starting out—just to build your profile.
Aim to deliver great work and aim for good reviews to build your reputation (and better portfolio).
If you do this right, it will help you gain more leads over time, although it might be hard at the beginning (very competitive).
Another option is to start attending local events and conferences, which can allow you to connect with potential clients in-person.
Consider here typical events for creatives, but also business networking events (Eventbrite, Meetup) and other industry conferences.
Remember that in order to get clients you'll need to build trust first, and there's nothing better than meeting people in person.
You can also engage with communities on social media, Facebook groups, and other forums like Reddit to showcase your work and find leads.
Just don't be spammy—Introduce yourself, share advice, be helpful and build relationships (it takes time).
My favorite way of getting logo design clients is through SEO—Yes it still works in 2024, but it's not as immediate as you might think.
SEO takes time and effort, you'll have to write quality and helpful content, but the upside is that when done properly—clients will reach out to you themselves.
So build a professional website—start a blog or podcast, or youtube channel—and strategically target keywords that can bring you leads.
To put it simply—You need to write compelling content targeting the keywords your potential clients may be searching for.
Just to give you an idea, I got my client Medihuanna because I wrote an article targeting the keyword "best cannabis logos".
In that article I simply feature some good examples of logos in the cannabis space, with a simple CTA at the bottom: "Need a logo?—Contact me!"
This improved my visibility on search engines like Google where clients who own cannabis businesses can find me easily.
Another way to build your portfolio is by offering discounted or free logo work for nonprofits, charities, and community organizations.
Heck, you can even DM people on instagram offering to remake their logo for a shoutout.
That way you kill 2 birds at once: you can build your portfolio, and you'll get exposure.
Plus on top of that, grateful clients may recommend you for future paid work.
Yet another good way of getting steady inflow of leads is to partner with other creatives: web developers, marketing agencies, and other professionals.
If all you do is logo design, and you partner with web designers for example.
That way you can refer clients to each other or handle bigger projects together.
Also build connections with other professionals, for example: your accountant, or tax guy—they can refer you when they see someone in looking for a logo designer.
Probably the best way to get clients is through satisfied clients referring you to other clients.
This is almost a guarantee to close that lead if they come from a referral.
You can even offer special discounts or rewards for referrals.
For example: I like to animate logos for my clients free of charge.
They're often so grateful as to give me a good review and recommend me to other business owners they know.
To sum up—Delivering exceptional service is probably the best way to get clients, but it's easier said than done.
Another great way to get clients is to write and share informative articles about logos and branding on other websites.
When I was starting out from scratch in the US, I approached blogs like CreativeBoom and HubSpot to contribute guest articles.
This can not only showcase your knowledge and attract potential clients, but you'll also get backlinks to your site (which is still #1 SEO metric).
Remember that persistence and consistency is key to establishing yourself as an expert logo designer and attracting high-quality clients over time.
Getting logo design clients is a journey that requires hard work, persistence, and a willingness to explore various avenues.
Designing only logos it is ok, but if you wanna make money these days—you need to offer more than just a logo.
By building a great portfolio, optimizing your online presence, and building relationships, you can significantly increase your chances of getting hired.
Remember, success doesn’t happen overnight, but with dedication and the right strategies, you can definitely achieve your goals.
I'd recommend you to focus on inbound marketing as your long-term strategy, but also try outbound techniques to get clients NOW.
Just look at me: I've been through all of that, foreign country, foreign language, didn't know anyone—but yet I've made it anyways!
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I'm a branding expert and graphic designer based in NY. I specialize in the development of brands: brand strategy, identity & web design. Need help with your project?—Get in touch
