How to Land Your First Web Design Clients (Without Overthinking It)

It’s easy to think getting clients is about flashy portfolios or running ads. But in the beginning, it’s much simpler than that.

Most of the time, your first few projects come from people already around you—not from cold outreach or perfect branding. It starts with being helpful, showing up where it counts and making it easy for someone to say, “Actually, I could use help with that.”

If you’re starting out and wondering how to get real work on your plate, here’s a clear and honest way to approach it.

1. Start with people you already know

Your first clients probably won’t come from strangers. 

They’ll come from people you already know—friends, former colleagues, acquaintances, even local businesses you pass by every day.

Reach out, not with a pitch, but with a helpful observation. For example:

“Hey, I noticed your site loads slowly on mobile. Want me to take a quick look?”

It’s not pushy. It’s a low-pressure way to start a conversation. And it shows you’re thinking about their business, not just trying to sell yours.

Not sure who to contact? Put yourself in spaces where opportunities happen. Join coworking meetups, Webflow forums, LinkedIn groups, forums or even local networking sessions. Be friendly. Be curious. When people know what you do and that you’re good at it, they’ll keep you in mind.

And don’t underestimate small jobs. A simple one-pager from a friend might lead to a referral two months later. That’s how momentum starts.

2. Create a simple portfolio and get yourself seen

Once people know you exist, they need a place to learn about what you do. Set up a basic portfolio—even if all you have right now are passion projects, concept mockups or favours you did for a friend’s brand.

Keep it simple. Focus on showing the work, explaining the problem you solved, and adding a sentence or two about the impact. Your site doesn’t have to be complex, but it does have to exist.

Next, make yourself findable. Use SEO basics—add your name, location and service areas into your portfolio copy. For example, "UX and Web Designer based in Singapore helping businesses improve conversions with clear, functional design."

Social media also plays a role here. Post consistently, even if you’re just sharing sketches, mockups or project notes. People like to see how things are made, not just the polished end result. Platforms like LinkedIn, Behance, Dribbble and Reddit are good places to start. You don’t need to post everywhere—pick the one you’ll stick with.

3. Focus on solving real business problems

Clients don’t care about your layout choices as much as you think. They care about what your design does for them.

Before talking about colours or components, understand the real goal.

Is it more bookings? Faster load time? A site that looks professional so people trust them more?

If you know what matters to the client, you can talk in their language:

“I’ll help you get more signups from your homepage”

instead of

“I’ll redesign your homepage.”

This mindset shift makes you valuable—not just as a designer, but as a partner who’s thinking about outcomes.

You can even share small suggestions before you’re hired. Spot something they can improve? Mention it. It shows initiative and builds trust early, which often leads to a signed project.

4. Take on small projects and do them really well

Don’t wait for the perfect project. Just start.

Offer to design a landing page. Or do a website audit. Or help a small business clean up their mobile experience. These aren’t glamorous, but they’re real. And they’re often where you learn the most.

What matters is how well you do the job. Good work gets shared. Good experiences get talked about. That’s how your name starts to spread.

Also, smaller jobs are quicker to complete. That means you can show progress faster, get testimonials sooner and build a portfolio that reflects actual client results. These wins add up.

If you’re looking for client-ready inspiration, Landingfolio has great examples of small but high-performing landing page work.

Do the work well. Keep it sharp, clear and useful. That’s how you build trust and a reputation that opens doors.

5. Make it easy for clients to say yes

A lot of potential clients will ghost you, not because they’re not interested, but because they’re unsure what working with you looks like.

Clarity solves that.

Package your service in a way that’s easy to understand:

• What’s included
• What it costs
• How long it takes
• What the process looks like

Even a one-page PDF or Google Doc with this information helps. Include a few samples of past work and a short timeline. When someone is clear on what they’re buying, they’re more likely to buy.

And once they say yes, keep the experience simple. A smooth onboarding process—briefing form, payment details, kickoff call—shows you’re organised. Fast replies, clear communication and no-nonsense expectations go further than a slick website.

Clients talk about the experience they had working with you more than they talk about the design itself.

What actually matters when you're starting out

Getting your first web design clients isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about doing real work, making it easy to work with you, and proving you care about their business as much as your own. 

Start with what you have. Reach out. Show your work. Speak in outcomes. And once you get that first project—do it well enough that it leads to the next.

If you found this helpful and want more resources on UX and web design, stick around. We regularly share practical tips, real project takeaways and behind-the-scenes insights.

And if there’s a brand or product you think could benefit from clearer UX or a sharper website, reach out—we’re always up for a conversation.