A guide for designers on building a network
By: Sayan Sarkar
Tags: Marketing, Social Media, Designer, Marketing Startegies, Networking Tips

Picturing yourself as a designer almost always includes a dream lifestyle of working at your convenience and having clients run up to you. That’s a great picture. But there’s a slight catch: creators are not marketers, mostly. What you do best is making something beautiful out of some half-cooked ideas of your client. Not plotting elaborate PR campaigns.

The biggest challenge of being a freelancer is putting yourself out there. It is important that people know you exist and are the answer to their creative needs for them to approach you in the first place. And being a one-man show, you have to do everything yourself. Even your own promotion. If you’re worried about having to resort to the cheap, clingy and in-your-face promotion, don’t worry, there are better ways to market yourself.

Take a look at our step-by-step guide to building a network of your own.

1. Know yourself

Before you go spring yourself over the world wide web, you need to establish in detail what is it exactly that you are marketing, which is you in this case. So sit down first and outline everything. Who are you? Why do you do what you do? What are you offering to your clients? And what makes you stand apart from others. Jot it down, weed out the unnecessary bits and you are good to go.

#If you are looking for a good introduction creating marketing plans, check this out.

2. Research well before stepping in

Once you have yourself sorted, you need to figure out how you are going to reach out to people. The most accessible route to take would be the internet i.e., setting up a website and enlisting on various social media. Remember that just putting yourself up on social media won’t cut it, you’ll have to be using it regularly to generate interest and traffic.

So choose only as many platforms as you can manage. Moreover, choose the ones you are most familiar with and will best help exhibit your content. You don’t have to rely completely on the internet and can also indulge in on-the-ground marketing — whatever suits your needs.

#Promoting yourself on social media for the first time, check this guide.

3. Take the plunge

Now that you have the plan of attack ready, it’s time for action. ‘Go live’ and put yourself up on your chosen social media. All platforms offer unique ways to tell your story, so use them to the fullest. Follow the people you admire, ask your friends to join in. Make sure the ways to contact you for work are clearly listed and easy to find.

4. Keep at it and grow

Don’t be disheartened if you don’t immediately go ‘viral’. Establishing a network is a time-taking process that you need to actively work on. It’s understandable to not want to appear sales-y, but genuine interaction with people and things you appreciate is not PR. Appear human, express appreciation for things you like and provide value.

As for your own channel, post your work, side projects and things you are working on. WIPs are a great way to provide an insight into your work process, something a prospective client would be thoroughly interested in. Once again, keep at it and give it time.

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5. Approach people

Establishing yourself and becoming relevant on the platforms of your choice will still not mean much if you aren’t getting what you took all the trouble for — client interaction. It should be the bulls-eye of your marketing efforts. Look for establishing long-term relationships with clients and follow up yourself if you don’t hear back from them. Don’t be afraid to initiate conversations and ask for references and recommendations.

6. Keep it fresh

The biggest mistake you can make is to let your social media presence go stale. The pattern to your posting should be exciting and one that will keep your followers on their toes. You can even do a giveaway or fan-requested pieces if you can so afford. Occasionally, share the things you like that aren’t exclusive to your field.

Keeping an engaging presence on the platforms you chose to be active on is what leads to building a strong network. Keep experimenting, focus more on what works for you and discard what doesn’t. Develop effective ways to communicate with clients you are working for. Be open to new experiences. And that dream lifestyle may just become a reality for you.

This story is published in The Startup, Medium’s largest entrepreneurship publication followed by +409,714 people.

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