It’s not easy being a designer. There are projects that you do for clients and sometimes projects that you do just because you want to create something new. Getting those projects out there can be the toughest part of all.
But it is not impossible. It just takes a little planning and work. Here are 6 easy (and mostly free) ways you can promote a design project. (And all of the examples are from designer portfolios.)
Social Media to the rescue
Social media sharing is one of the easiest ways to showcase your work. The catch is that you might not know how many people have seen it.
Portfolio Sites
While most of us already have portfolios, it is important to share and have an up-to-date presence on sites such as Dribbble and Behance. Designers frequent these sites. So do clients looking for new talent.
Post active projects – as long as they are not confidential in nature – and ask for feedback. Use built-in sharing tools on these sites to get your work out there even more.
Get influencers to share your designs
Sometimes you have to ask for a little help when it comes to promoting new work. Start with other friends in the design community. Ask them to share your work or project as well.
Then branch out. Ask some of the people who influence you online to share your projects. (What’s the worst that can happen … they say no?)
A little boost from third-parties can really help get your work out to an expanded audience that you may be unable to reach on your own.
Go out and Meetup!
While a lot of the promotion tips thus far have been online-based solutions, it is important to actually get up, get out of the house and meet people. Networking is one of the single most effective tools you have when it comes to self-promotion.
Create a well-designed blog
Make yourself useful and helpful. Create a blog that relates to your work. Write about what you do or the process of creating or even tutorials on how to do certain things. This will help you become and authority in your field while showing off your work.
Enter a Contest
Is your design work good? Is this a project that you are especially proud of? Enter it in a contest.
Awards and honors are a great way to help promote a project. (Everyone wants to be called an “award-winning designer,” right?)
Just entering a contest – even if you don’t win – helps your work get seen by more people. The judges of the contest, people who visit the contest website or view the entries and many others will see the work because it is part of the contest grouping. Look for contests that you think have a good reputation and would be proud to be a part of. Enter categories carefully and make sure to follow all the rules so that your work is not disqualified. And good luck!