Can you get work from Behance in 2022 ?
By now, many designers are aware that Behance is the one of the best platforms for creatives.
In my opinion, I believe it to be the best out there, compare to other platforms such as Dribble.
Behance, have an innovative team and are always adding new features to the platform.
New ideas to keep the platform alive and relevant are always implemented. Such as Behance Behance stories, Livestreams, Subscribers and even showcasing NFTS.
Despite all these new features, the question still stands ‘Can you get work from Behance in 2022?’
The answer is Yes! Behance is still a great place to gain work, and build long-term relationships.
However, more and more designers are using Behance, which makes it even harder to gain any success, especially in 2022.
So many designers are doing the same thing, but there is still many ways to get noticed by potential clients.
Don’t take my word for it, but I do believe those who have many project views, features and followers have a higher chance of receiving work.
And even then, I believe acquiring clients from Behance is more about quality rather than quantity.
Here are 5 ways to get work from Behance in 2022:
Work on your profile - Decide what your specialty is and let them know! This reduces the amount of competition.
Edit existing work - Working smarter not harder is the motto. Update any old work that you are not happy with.
Post new work - Post work that aligns with your speciality, and only the work you want.
Apply For Jobs - Behance has a jobs page that you can apply for freelance, part-time or full-time jobs.
Use the new features - Behance keeps a close eye on those using their new features and may result into greater exposure.
Work on your profile
Edit your Behance profile
If you’re a ‘graphic designer’, please understand the term is very broad. There are many ‘graphic designers’ especially on a platform such as Behance.
By just mentioning you are a graphic designer, you are increasing the amount of competition. This will surely make it more difficult for you to acquire new work especially in a large pool such as Behance.
The best thing to do is specialise - Read more about why you should specialise as a graphic designer.
Once you’ve decided on your speciality, its important that you carefully adjust your Behance profile bio/description and declare what you do.
This immediately reduces your competition. For example, saying “Im a graphic designer” means you’re competing with everyone else who calls them self a graphic designer.
Where as, saying “I’m a logo design specialist” immediately reduces the chances of clients finding alternative options.
I typically find that Behance is a place to get approached by quality clients who can afford your work, and see a great value in what you do.
These clients typically are certain of what they are looking for, and you only need to make it easy for them to shortlist your work.
In a nutshell, if you're a graphic designer struggling to find work on Behance, it’s really worth finally homing in on a particular area - Be A Specialist.
Edit existing work
Edit existing work on Behance
Being a freelancer is all about working smarter not harder.
Some of us may have many projects to showcase on our portfolio - which can be a bad thing.
And some of us may not have as much - This can defiantly be a good thing.
Regardless which person you are, its worth updating any work that is being showcased.
As designers, we are constantly growing, learning and improving our craft. Clients will only hire you for the good work you produce.
If there is work on your Behance profile that you did many years ago, and you are aware that you can make it better… Do It!
Updating work on your Behance portfolio can make a huge difference and allow you to receive more clients.
This is a smart way of marketing your business. Creative social platforms like Behance, Dribble and even instagram, are all FREE methods of marketing - Use them!
Don’t allow a client to pass by your profile, which includes old work that you're not happy with. Taking it off your profile can bring more benefits than keeping it.
Melinda Livsey, formerly graphic designer now brand strategist, had mentioned in a previous episode with Chris Do on TheFutur, how she updated her Behance profile and started receiving more project inquires - Click here to watch the video.
Even though this was many years ago, the principle remains; Quality work, attracts quality clients, especially on a very competitive and congested platform like Behance.
Post new work
Post new work on Behance
Posting new work is an obvious method to gain work from Behance in 2022.
As mentioned, I believe Behance is more quality than quantity when it comes to content, compared to platforms such as Dribble where its about finding the perfect balance.
Posting new work once in a while, keeps you as a designer relevant, as well as increasing potential client security when they hire you.
They feel more sure that you will deliver quality work at the end of the project.
Aligning with your new profile description/ bio, its important that you stay true to what you are claiming.
If you say you are a logo design specialist, post work that supports this claim. Go deep on the case studies, and projects.
Personally, I tend to have a strategy for posting on Behance. I focus on finding the perfect balance between quality and quantity and aim to post no more than 3 projects in one year.
I believe this increases my chances for receiving a feature. Few projects, mean more attention, increasing your chances of a feature from Behance Curators.
I always discuss the benefits of a Behance Feature. I now have 8/8 projects featured (2 un-featured, 4 single features & 2 with double features)
This has made a huge impact on my career and highly recommend aiming for features on Behance - Read more about how to get featured on Behance
Apply for jobs
Believe it or not, I only discovered this feature after 4 years of using Behance…
This feature is very useful as there are many job offers with a variety of different contracts; Freelance, Full-Time and Part-Time.
When I was going through tough times at the beginning of my career, this feature really helped and was fortunate to actually find a Freelance contract.
However, I must point out, I typically tend to find the majority of these job offers have an incredibly low budget. I wouldn’t rely on this method for work, unless your really struggling.
Im not sure why these offers tend to have really low budgets, but this feature is still very useful in 2022.
At the end of the day, being a freelancer is difficult, and it means your marketing has to be really good.
Clients should be coming to you, rather you going to them.
I also tend to find clients who approach you, are more likely to have a good budget that can afford your work.
Unless you are extremely niched, and approach clients who absolutely need what you do.
Use the new features
Behance are always adding new features to the platform. I believe Behance is and will be the No.1 place for freelance designers (If your init for the long-term).
The instagram story feature was recently added, and useful to show work in progress to your followers.
Livestreams was also added, this is my favourite feature. livestreams open doors to so many opportunities and can allow you to gain work from Behance.
Live-streaming my self on Behance, allows me to showcase my creative process to my followers. Also gives me an opportunity to speak with them Live!
Not only does this help my creative audience, but it also helps potential clients.
Being open with my creative process, gives even more security to potential clients. They start to see my thinking rather than just an end result.
Its likely clients may then feel more comfortable when hiring me as they will immediately be familiar with how I work.
If you’re a designer thinking about live-streaming on Behance; Go For It! It has only resulted in posssitives towards my creative career. I had also been offered an opportunity to work on a logo design course with Awwwards Academy. This door had opened only due to my livestreams.
The course had then led to more client work, which opened even more doors.
Overall, it is more than possible to gain work from Behance in 2022.
However, it is defiantly harder than before. More and more designers are joining the platform, resulting in more projects and even more noise.
Its difficult to be heard amongst the noise however, the result is surely worth it.
I have had quality clients from Behance, and have increased my visibility as a designer.
Behance isn’t for everyone, the same way Dribble isn’t for me. Its important to understand your creative style and how you work.
By knowing this, it allows you to use creative platforms such as Behance more effectively. But importantly, take time to study and understand these platforms.
Behance was and is a challenging platform to gain success, but just like anything, it requires hard-work and time.