An exciting turning point in any designer’s career is landing their first client.

It indicates that your dedication and hard work in developing your skills will bear fruit.

Finding your first client can be a difficult and challenging process for many designers.

But it is possible to draw clients and start developing your design career with the appropriate mindset, abilities, and methods.

In this article, I’ll share my personal experience of how I landed my first design client and the things that worked for me.

I hope this article will provide you with some valuable insights and inspiration.

I Got it with the help of writing on Medium

I use Medium for networking and building my identity as a designer.

In 2020, I made the decision to give it a shot and started writing articles on design tips and trends.

I made it simple for potential clients to get in touch with me by including my Twitter handle and contact information at the bottom of every article.

I received an email from someone who had read one of my posts and was interested in hiring me for branding work after a few weeks of constant writing.

We booked a call, and I learned more about their branding objectives during our talk.

After the call, I wrote a proposal explaining my approach, timeline, and pricing and delivered it to them. They were impressed with my work and proposal and hired me for the project.

We kept in touch throughout the process. I made sure to keep them informed of my progress as well as any revisions to the plan or budget.

They were happy with the final piece after the project was over.

I was happy to have found a new client through Medium and proud of the work I had completed.

I then kept on writing on Medium and using it as a platform for networking and developing my identity. Also, I received other inquiries from potential clients who had read my articles and were interested in my services.

How long did it take?

It took me 4 months to get my first client through Medium with consistent writing in this field.

It may take only a few days, weeks, or months for some designers to secure their first client, but it may take many months or even longer, as it did for me.

To improve your chances of success, it’s crucial to remain consistent in your work and always enhance your skills and marketing techniques.

Networking, building a solid portfolio, approaching new clients, advertising your services on social media and design job boards, and reaching out to them are some tactics to improve your chances of getting your first design client.

How I handled my first client?

After several months, I got my first design client. I was waiting to see what would happen next and feeling both nervous and excited.

I was aware that managing the client well was crucial to completing the project successfully.

The steps I followed to deal with my first client are as follows:

#1: Set clear expectations

To be sure I understood the client’s requirements completely, I made notes and quoted what I had received. So that there would be no misunderstandings afterwards, I made sure to be precise and straightforward.

#2: Communicate regularly

Throughout the course of the project, I made sure to keep in frequent touch with my client. In order to show them that I valued their time, I provided updates on my progress and requested input.

#3: Be flexible

I tried to pay close attention to their comments and include as many of their ideas as I could into the design. Also, I was open to any changes to the project’s deadline or scale, and I always made sure to inform the client before making any changes.

The initiative proved successful in the end. The design was well received by the client, and I gained valuable knowledge about the process as well as the confidence to take on further projects in the future.

What are the key takeaways?

1. Build a strong portfolio: One of the most crucial things in your inventory for drawing clients is your portfolio. Make sure your greatest work is displayed.
2. Be sure to promote yourself on social media and other design job boards.
3. Send them an email or use another form of communication to get in touch. Make careful to customize your outreach and highlight how your experience and skills may help.
4. Always do your first 4–5 projects free or very low rates until you get good testimonials in your profile.
5. Be careful to define expectations clearly regarding the outputs, the deadline, and the price.
6. Update the client on the project’s status and respond quickly.
7. Be open to feedback and prepared to modify the design if the client isn’t convinced.
8. Keeping to the budget and deadline will demonstrate your consistency and skill.

By following these tips, you can increase your chances of landing your first or many more design clients and building a successful career as a designer.

Wrap up

Overall, my experience using Medium as a platform to build my identity and attract new clients was a great success. It allowed me to showcase my expertise as a designer.

Thanks for reading

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I’ll see you soon. Keep Designing.