by EmilyHow to Use Behance and Dribbble for Client Acquisition
In the world of creative freelancing, showcasing your portfolio on the right platforms is key to attracting high-quality clients. Two of the most powerful visual platforms for designers, illustrators, and creatives are Behance and Dribbble. While many use them as digital galleries, few truly understand how to turn these platforms into client acquisition tools.
At freelancerbridge, we help creative freelancers unlock growth through smart strategies. This article will walk you through how to use Behance and Dribbble not just to show off your work—but to strategically attract, engage, and convert potential clients into paying customers.
Long Description: How to Use Behance and Dribbble for Client Acquisition
Platforms like Behance and Dribbble are often treated as mere inspiration hubs or digital portfolios. But when used strategically, they become client magnets—bringing in work opportunities from brands, agencies, startups, and even global companies looking for freelance talent.
So how can you stand out among thousands of creative professionals and actually generate leads?
This blog post covers everything you need to know to transform Behance and Dribbble into consistent sources of client work:
Why these platforms matter for creative freelancers
How to optimize your profiles and projects
The types of content that attract attention
Engagement strategies to boost visibility
How to direct viewers into your sales funnel
If you're a freelance designer, illustrator, or branding expert looking to grow your client base, this is your complete playbook.
1. Why Behance and Dribbble Are Important for Freelancers
Both platforms are searchable, curated, and community-driven. More importantly, hiring managers and creative leads actively browse these sites to find talent.
✅ Behance Highlights:
Owned by Adobe and deeply integrated with Adobe products
Ideal for showcasing detailed project case studies
Strong visibility through curated galleries and tags
Great for branding, UI/UX, motion, and photography portfolios
✅ Dribbble Highlights:
More bite-sized, visual-first previews (shots)
Popular with startups and product teams looking for UI/UX talent
Premium Pro accounts let you enable direct hiring
Ideal for illustrators, web designers, icon designers, and mobile UI experts
2. Optimize Your Behance and Dribbble Profiles for Discovery
A well-optimized profile builds trust and helps your work appear in internal searches and curated categories.
📌 Behance Optimization:
Profile Bio: Include your specialty (e.g., "Freelance Branding Designer | Logo & Identity Specialist")
Location + Availability: Fill these out—they help with search filtering
Social Links: Include your website, LinkedIn, or contact form
Banner Image: Customize to reflect your niche or personal branding
Specializations & Tools: Choose relevant tags (e.g., Adobe Illustrator, UI Design)
📌 Dribbble Optimization:
Headline: Use keywords like "Freelance UX Designer for SaaS Startups"
Availability Setting: Mark yourself as "Open for Work"
Pro Account (optional): Gives you access to visibility boosts and job boards
Hire Me Button: Directs clients to contact you easily
Portfolio Website Link: Make it easy for clients to learn more or schedule a call
3. Structure Projects That Attract Clients
Posting high-quality work isn’t enough. You need to present it strategically to engage viewers, show your process, and sell your skills.
🧩 What Makes a Great Project on Behance:
Cover Image: Bold, clear, and compelling
Project Description: Explain client goals, your role, tools used, and outcomes
Process Breakdown: Show sketches, wireframes, moodboards, iterations
Results & Deliverables: Highlight before/after, impact, or client testimonial
Tags & Categories: Use all 10 tags and correct categories to increase reach
🧩 What Makes a Great Shot on Dribbble:
Consistent Style: Post designs that reflect your niche (e.g., mobile UI, icons)
Multiple Shots per Project: Show variations or different screens
Use Descriptive Captions: Add keywords like "Fintech app UI" or "minimal logo"
Add Attachments: Upload the full design as PNG or PDF for detailed viewing
Use Tags Wisely: Tags help Dribbble show your work in category feeds
4. Post Content That Attracts Ideal Clients
Many creatives post what looks cool. But clients care about results and solving business problems.
Focus on showcasing:
Problem-solving: Explain how your design helped improve UX or branding
Niche relevance: Post projects from industries you want to work with (e.g., healthtech, fashion, real estate)
Consistency: Post at least once or twice a week to stay top of mind
Calls-to-Action: End posts with “Open for new branding projects—let’s talk” or link to your contact page
5. Drive Engagement with Strategic Activity
Visibility matters. Here's how to boost your presence:
🔄 Behance Strategies:
Appreciate other projects (especially similar niches)
Comment genuinely on quality work
Follow other freelancers or studios—many follow back
Join curated galleries and submit your work for review
Use Behance’s Live feature if you have tutorials or process videos
🔄 Dribbble Strategies:
Engage on popular shots with thoughtful comments
Tag other creatives when collaborating
Reply to comments on your shots to increase interaction
Follow and message potential collaborators or clients
Use rebound shots to creatively build on trending work
Engagement increases your exposure on both platforms’ home feeds and search algorithms.
6. Guide Visitors Toward Your Sales Funnel
Your Behance or Dribbble profile should be a starting point, not the end.
Add clear CTAs and links to:
Your freelance website or portfolio
A contact form or booking calendar
A lead magnet (like a free guide or checklist)
Your LinkedIn or social channels for more context
Example CTA in a project post:
"Looking for a brand refresh like this? Visit freelancerbridge.com/branding to schedule a free 15-min consultation."
Make it easy and low-risk for potential clients to take the next step.
7. Use Behance & Dribbble Projects in Your Outreach
Don’t wait for clients to come to you—use your projects as outreach tools.
When cold emailing or replying to job boards:
Include links to specific relevant Behance projects or Dribbble shots
Mention insights from the project in your pitch
Highlight results (e.g., “This redesign improved the client’s bounce rate by 40%”)
This adds credibility and social proof—especially when pitching agencies or founders.
8. Combine Platforms for Maximum Impact
These platforms complement each other. You don’t have to choose one—use both in your content strategy.
How to combine Behance + Dribbble effectively:
Post full case study on Behance
Share UI snippets or teaser visuals on Dribbble
Link Dribbble shots back to Behance for full context
Use the best visuals from both on your personal website and social media
Cross-promotion drives more traffic to your profiles and boosts discoverability.
9. Behance & Dribbble Alternatives to Explore
While these two are leading platforms, you can also expand to:
Adobe Portfolio: Simple to build if you use Adobe Creative Cloud
Carbonmade: Clean and modern portfolio hosting
Cargo Collective: Great for editorial-style architecture and illustration
Instagram & Pinterest: For visual-driven discovery and community growth
Use multiple platforms to diversify your online visibility.
10. Consistency Is Key
You don’t need a giant portfolio to get started. What matters is quality, relevance, and consistency. Even one strong, well-written project on Behance or Dribbble can bring serious client leads.
Set a schedule:
Upload one new project every month
Post 1–2 Dribbble shots per week
Engage with 5–10 other creatives weekly
Revisit older projects and refresh tags, visuals, and captions
Clients need to trust that you’re active and available.
Conclusion
Behance and Dribbble are more than just portfolio spaces—they are freelance client acquisition engines when used strategically. By presenting your work with purpose, optimizing for discoverability, and guiding potential clients into your sales funnel, you can turn your creative uploads into consistent leads and projects.
At freelancerbridge, our mission is to help you turn your creative skills into a profitable, fulfilling business. Use these platforms with clarity and strategy—and your next big client could be just a click away.
