10 Proven Strategies to Expand Your Graphic Design Agency Client Base

I still remember my early days as an entrepreneur….

Each client resulted from many late nights, endless back-and-forth, and the constant “no, thanks.”

Yes. In this competitive environment, getting clients for your graphic design agency can be a never-ending struggle.

However, it’s not about getting any clients. It’s about finding the right clients who will stick with you for a long time.

For that, you need the right strategy.

In this blog, I’ll share the 10 proven strategies that I personally used to build a strong client base and get from zero to profitability.

You will learn how to get leads and convert them into long-term clients for your graphic design agency

Let’s make growing your agency feel a whole lot easier.

How to Get Clients for Graphic Design: Table of Contents

• Find Your Niche to Attract the Right Clients
• 10 Best Strategies to Get Clients for Graphic Design Agencies
• Your First Step From Zero to Profitability!
• Get More Clients for Your Graphic Design Agency: FAQs

Find Your Niche to Attract the Right Clients

Before we get close to your ideal client, there are two things you need to set clear right now.

• What niche does your agency specialize in?
• Who are your Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs)?

So, about niche – when starting, it’s best to specialize in one or two niches. 

This will help you to focus on your resources and gain expertise.

As a result, you’ll naturally attract higher-paying clients who value your specialized knowledge.

Over time, when you grow and gain experience, you can branch out into other niches.

But how do you find the category to specialize in?

I suggest you start by focusing on your team’s strengths. 

Along with that, ensure to stay updated on the trends and see what aligns with your skills. 

If a promising niche requires upskilling, invest in training your team to capitalize on the opportunities.

And if you’re torn between a few niches, don’t be afraid to test the waters by running small projects or campaigns in each. 

This will help you understand demand and client interest before committing fully.

To make things easier, here are some of my suggestions:

Understanding Your ICPs

Now you know your strengths. The next step is to understand to whom you can benefit with your strengths. 

This is where understanding your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) and Buyer Persona can help you.

Your ICP defines the perfect type of client for your business based on traits such as industry, company size, and revenue potential.

Meanwhile, with Buyer Persona, it’s more about understanding the ideal customer as an individual.

This includes demographics, interests, pain points, and goals.

10 Best Strategies to Get Clients for Graphic Design Agencies

You now know your ICP and Buyer Persona. 

Next, you need to find the right strategies to convert them into your clients.

In the following sections, you will see all of the tried-and-tested strategies I’ve personally used, along with tips on how you can implement them effectively.

These 10 strategies will help you get graphic design clients:

1. Cold Outreach
2. Portfolio Website
3. Freelance Marketplace
4. Personal Branding
5. Building Communities in Reddit and Other Platforms
6. Paid Advertisements
7. Networking and Referral
8. Collaborations and Partnerships
9. Events and Seminars
10. Utilize Social Media Platforms

1. Cold Outreach

Cold outreach is when you contact someone you’ve never interacted with before to introduce your business or offer.

It can be done through various channels, such as:

• Emails (Cold email)
• Phone calls (Cold calling)
• Social media outreach

Cold calling is a proactive way to reach out to potential clients directly. 

While it can help you connect quickly, it’s often seen as intrusive and can be difficult to scale for a new agency with limited resources.

For social media outreach, you find and connect with clients on platforms where they’re already active. 

However, building trust requires a strong personal brand, and even then, it takes time to create meaningful connections. 

And if you ever get flagged as spam or, even worse – get banned, that’s the end of your social media journey. 

So, among the three methods, I recommend cold emailing as the most effective method for getting clients for new graphic design agencies. 

Sure, cold emails also have the risk of being marked as spam.

However, you can take various steps to avoid being marked as spam, such as using secondary domains, hyper-personalizing your emails, and following other best practices.

How Do We Get Leads and Approach Them?

Now, for outreach, how do you find leads?

Sure, you can always manually search for leads and then reach out to them. 

But it’s a time-consuming process, something no entrepreneur can afford, especially one running a new agency.

Instead, I recommend using a lead generation tool like Saleshandy to streamline the process.

Saleshandy is an all-in-one cold outreach automation software that allows you to prospect and engage with your leads through personalized emails.

When reaching out to prospects, personalization is what sets you apart.

That’s where your research guided by your ICPs and buyer persona comes in handy. 

You can start by highlighting something they’re doing well, whether it’s their website design, branding, or social media presence.

Share how you can help take their efforts to the next level with your expertise.

Frame your services in a way that solves their problems and provides clear value.

In short, make them an offer they can’t refuse.

Since we saw that cold emailing is the best option among the three outreach methods, let’s look at some cold email templates.

Even if you go for the other two methods, you can still adopt a similar approach for them.

Initial Email

Subject: A fresh take on [Prospect Company]’s design

Hi {{First Name}},
I noticed [Personalized Achievement] at {{Company Name}}—congrats on all the success!

Many lead generation agencies hit a ceiling due to [Pain Point], leading to missed opportunities and revenue.

We specialize in helping agencies like yours scale by [Solution]. For example, we recently helped [Client Name] increase their qualified leads by [Percentage or Number] in just [Time Frame]. This allowed them to focus more on closing deals rather than chasing leads.

Interested in learning more? Let's schedule a quick call this week.

Best regards,
{{Your Name}}
{{Your Title}}
{{Your Company}}

However, not everyone will respond to your first cold email. But don’t feel down because of that.

You can send a follow-up email. This template can help you:

Follow-Up Email

Subject:Still thinking about [Prospect Company]'s

Hi [Prospect Name]

I wanted to follow up on the email I sent a few days ago about [specific positive aspect, e.g., the standout branding on your social media]. 

It’s such a strong foundation, and I wondered if you’ve thought about applying that same level of polish to [specific area for improvement, e.g., your email campaigns, product packaging].

If this is something you’d like to discuss, I’d be happy to share some ideas. 

No rush—just let me know if it’s worth a quick chat.Best,

[Your Name]
[Your Agency Name]

You can follow this sequence in your follow-up emails:

2. Portfolio Website

A portfolio is essential for any graphic design agency.

While platforms like Behance or Dribbble are great for visibility, having a dedicated portfolio website sets you apart as a professional.

With a website, you have full control over what to show.

This means you can include customer stories, testimonials, case studies, and even a blog that addresses the pain points of your ICPs.

Also, make sure to optimize your website on SEO and keywords to rank higher.

Speaking of ranking higher, here’s a cheat code: target very niche topics like graphic design for healthcare providers or branding for eco-friendly startups. 

These topics often have lower competition, making it easier for you to rank better and attract highly targeted prospects.

Don’t forget to place CTAs like Get a Free Consultation or Let’s Collaborate throughout your website.

Furthermore, you can share these links on social media to get engagement.

Lastly, regularly update the website with your latest work, case studies, testimonials, and other types of content to keep it relevant and appealing to prospects.

3. Freelance Marketplace

Freelance marketplaces are fantastic platforms for new graphic design agencies to find clients. 

However, these marketplaces can be highly competitive.

Offering competitive pricing initially can help you stand out as you build your reputation.

To get attention from clients, make sure to showcase a well-organized portfolio with designs tailored to your target audience. 

Along with that, write a concise, engaging description that highlights your expertise and style and mentions how you can solve clients’ problems.

If you have any relevant certifications and skills, ADD THEM.

Lastly, don’t forget to use a professional photo or logo that reflects your brand. Ensure all visuals are cohesive with your agency’s identity.

As for work, you can use the platform filters to find projects that align with your niche, skills, and preferences.

Also, taking constructive feedback and showing willingness to make adjustments will improve the client relationship and satisfaction.

You can start looking for freelance work from the following platforms:

• Upwork
• Fiverr
• Freelancer
• Dribble

4. Personal Branding

When I say Tesla, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?

If your answer is Elon Musk, that sums up personal branding.

Today, people tend to trust individuals more than traditional brands.

As a tech entrepreneur, I know now is the perfect time to grow your personal and agency brands.

That’s because growing your personal brand will help to set your agency apart from competitors. Because there’s only ONE YOU!!

No one can reflect your personality, values, and expertise.

Hence, whenever people hear your name, they’ll think of your agency, and vice versa.

By sticking to your niche, you will be able to attract the right audience for your agency.

Be consistent and active on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) by sharing your work, insights, and interacting with other experts and your audience. 

Share your design process, knowledge, and more to keep your audience engaged. You can create content like:

• Tutorials
• Behind-the-scenes looks at your projects
• Success stories or case studies

Your personal brand should authentically reflect who you are.

Maintain consistency in tone, style, and the type of content you share to build a recognizable identity over time.

5. Building Communities in Reddit and Other Platforms

Communities are excellent spaces to understand your client’s pain points and connect with potential prospects. 

They are also a great platform to build both your personal brand and your agency’s reputation while attracting new clients.

You can start by joining communities related to your niche. However, if you are confused, check the following Reddit communities:

• r/DigitalMarketing
• r/SEO
• r/Entrepreneur
• r/Graphic_design

Apart from Reddit, you can find similar groups on other platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.

Make sure that your replies authenticate your experience and work. This builds your brand and positions you as an authority in your field.

Once you’ve established yourself in existing groups, consider creating your own community focused on solving specific problems for your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP).

This will help you connect with your ICPs better and convert them to your clients.

Building and participating in communities is a long-term strategy, but trust, visibility, and client acquisition rewards are well worth the effort.

6. Paid Advertisements

Paid advertisements are a powerful method to reach your targeted audience.

You can use them to drive traffic to your portfolio or social media platforms effectively.

Here’s how I would suggest using the following ad platforms:

• Google Ads: Promote your website content or portfolio by targeting niche-specific keywords. With this, you will be able to convert many niche-specific leads.
• Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram): Use it to showcase your work, client testimonials, or any value-added content. This platform is best for visually appealing graphic design campaigns.
• LinkedIn Ads: I would best recommend using it to reach professional audiences, especially if your niche includes B2B services

To maximize your reach, combine the long-term benefits of organic SEO with the immediate impact of paid ads.

This integrated strategy ensures consistent visibility and scalability.

Also, keep track of your budget. I would recommend starting small and slowly scaling based on the results.

7. Networking and Referral

Networking is essential for any professional, and if you are an entrepreneur, it just becomes a part of your daily routine.

Many of the methods I’ve mentioned so far involve networking somehow. 

It’s about maintaining good relationships over time and building enough trust to ask for referrals confidently.

For agencies in their early stages, referrals can be a powerful way to grow your client base.

In return, you can offer discounts or reward them through affiliate programs.

For those who don’t have any referrals to offer but still want to help, you can ask for a shoutout on their platforms.

Remember when I asked you to be social media and communities?

These shoutouts can help you get traffic to your channels, and when they see you are active, that builds further trust and credibility.

There’s no doubt that networking and referrals take time. 

8. Collaborations and Partnerships

Partnerships and collaborations are considered one of the best options to find high-ticket clients.

You can collaborate with other agencies to offer them help during high-traffic times or whenever they need an extra hand.

A successful partnership not only exposes you to the work your collaborators or competitors are handling but also gives you insights into what’s needed to impress and retain clients.

At the same time, these partnerships help agencies reduce their workload, making it a win-win for both parties.

However, collaborations between agencies only happen when they have high trust.

Your networking and work experiences as well as being active on other platforms, will be helpful here.

Apart from that, you can cross-collaborate with others, such as copywriters, video editors, or photographers, to offer a better bundle deal for clients. 

Why?

Most of the time, companies prefer all-in-one solutions that meet multiple needs. 

So, providing graphic design services alongside other complementary offerings adds significant value.

Furthermore, you can cross-collaborate on social media platforms, posting about the experience of working together.

This will expose you to their audience as well as them to yours.

Continuing this partnership will improve trust, as well as both parties will be able to offer better bundle deals.

It’s always best to start small and then extend your collaboration. 

9. Events and Seminars

Hosting or participating in webinars, seminars, events, and expos are an excellent way to connect with potential clients. 

You will be able to interact with your ideal customers, understand their pain points, and offer them the right solutions.

Ultimately, all of it results in building meaningful connections.

You can also take things a step further by hosting your own events.

Collaborate with industry experts to offer valuable insights to the audience. 

This establishes your credibility and provides an opportunity to showcase how collaborating with your agency can help them achieve their goals.

10. Utilize Social Media Platforms

An active social media presence with a good following is often perceived as trustworthy.

Don’t believe me? Try searching for your favorite brands and competitors.

I bet you’ll naturally feel more inclined toward those with strong follower counts and engaging content.

That’s why I recommend using social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, Behance, and Dribble to showcase your work and attract clients.

Some time ago, if a client was interested in working with us, they would ask for our email address.

Now, new-age clients first ask for an Instagram ID!

That’s because Instagram and Pinterest’s visual format makes it easy to understand your services, and if they are interested, they can always check Behance and Dribble to learn more about your portfolios.

Additionally, use LinkedIn to build connections with individuals in your industry.

Along with that, make sure to add necessary hashtags, especially the ones related to your niche.

Pro tip: Add niche-specific hashtags like #GraphicDesign, #Branding, or #LogoDesign to increase visibility among prospects searching for inspiration or solutions in your area.

Keep in mind that social media is a long game. Hence, post consistently. 

Post design tips, case studies, customer testimonies, before-and-after project transformations, and client testimonials.

Doing so will offer a wide range of content for your audience. Don’t forget to engage with your audience. 

All of this will highlight your design skills and demonstrate your ability to showcase your expertise.

Your First Step From Zero to Profitability!

Starting your agency from the ground up will be challenging. I know the struggles of the initial days, especially to get the right client. 

But keep in mind, NEVER compromise on quality.

No matter what strategy you choose, ultimately, it’s your work that matters to please the clients.

I hope you were able to choose the right strategies suitable for your business. However, if you want my suggestion, go with cold outreach. 

It’s the best strategy to gain clients quickly. As you get better, you can switch gears to inbound-led outbound strategy.

What’s that you ask?

Inbound-led outbound sales leverage the insights and data gathered from inbound strategies, like webinars or SEO-driven traffic, to enhance the precision of your outbound outreach.

This approach helps you target the right audience and close deals faster.

Ultimately, start with one strategy that suits your niche and your ICPs well. Then, you can slowly expand to other strategies. 

Always remember that success comes from consistently delivering value, building relationships, and adapting to new opportunities.

How to Get Clients for Graphic Design: FAQs

1. How do graphic designers get customers?

I have shared many strategies in this blog. But if you are looking for a short and simple answer, it’s mainly through cold outreach. While many graphic designers can attract customers through a mix of targeted strategies, cold outreach is the most effective one. It includes cold emails, cold calls, and even Linkedin outreach. 

2. Where can I find clients for graphic design?

You can start from freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and others. Or check what your competitors are doing and approach similar brands through cold outreach. I have mentioned more methods in the guide.

3. How do you get your first client as a graphic design agency?

You can start by asking from your networks, and if that doesn’t work, try checking freelance platforms. You can also approach your favorite brands or even check communities to see if anyone is having issues that your agency can solve.

4. How do I market myself as a graphic designer?

You can start by interacting in the communities and sharing tips, suggestions, and solutions. This will help you show your expertise as a graphic designer. Along with that, try creating content around your niche and expertise. Sharing this content across social media platforms can also help in building your personal brand.