10 Creative Ways to Market Your Design Business on a Budget
Marketing your design business doesn’t have to mean massive ad budgets or a full-time content team. At its core, marketing is simply about letting people know what you do—and showing them how you can help. At Function, we’ve grown our design studio using practical, low-cost tactics that are rooted in connection, storytelling, and showing up consistently. Whether you’re just starting out or want to scale intentionally, here are 10 ways to market your design business on a budget.
Article written by
Danielle
Marketing
✍️ Use a Blog (Yes, They Still Work)
A blog gives you a space to share helpful, search-optimized content that builds trust with your audience. It also helps boost your visibility through SEO and gives potential clients insight into how you think and work.
Want to attract better-fit leads? Focus your content on educating your ideal client. Write blog posts that answer questions, walk through your processes, or highlight your expertise.
Need inspiration? Check out our post on how to use automation to streamline your client workflow.
💗 Be Genuine on Social Media
Social media can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to be a full-time job. We keep it simple at Function: we post our work, stay authentic, and connect with people we’d genuinely want to work with.
✨ Tip: You don’t need to go viral. One post seen by the right person can lead to your next great project.
👯♀️ Collaborate With Complementary Creatives
Reach out to photographers, copywriters, developers, or other creatives to form partnerships or package services together. Some of our best long-term clients came from community memberships and peer collaborations.
🙋♀️ Reach Out First
Don’t wait for dream clients to come to you—send a warm, personalized pitch their way.
You can:
Compliment their existing brand or website
Offer insights or ideas
Share your work and explain how you can help
📌 We booked one of our biggest clients this way. Just be kind, specific, and human.
📫 Just Say “Hi”
Pop into someone’s inbox—even just to say you admire their work or would love to collaborate. Stay top of mind for the next time they need design support.
You can also reach out to past clients with a quick check-in and let them know you’re booking new projects.
➰ Start a Newsletter
Not everyone who visits your website is ready to hire you—but that doesn’t mean they won’t be later. Set up a simple email list to keep leads in the loop.
Share:
Case studies
Behind-the-scenes updates
New offers or availability
Tip: Include a lead magnet like a checklist or mini-guide to encourage sign-ups.
☁️ Share Your Dream Projects
Manifest your dream clients by telling the world what they are! Share your design bucket list on your website, newsletter, or social platforms.
Are you dying to design packaging for a local brewery? Or work on branding for a climate non-profit? Say it out loud.
👉 At Function, we’re currently dreaming of working with a sustainable, local coffee shop or bakery. ☕️
🎙️ Start a Podcast
If writing or social media isn’t your thing, consider starting a podcast. It’s a great way to:
Share your perspective
Build credibility
Lead listeners back to your services
Bonus: it’s content you can repurpose across platforms.
👀 Look in Unlikely Places
Not all marketing happens on Instagram. Explore:
Reddit threads
Slack communities
Facebook groups
Fun fact: We found our first highest-paying project on Reddit. Seriously.
🌟 Make Something New
No client work to show yet? No problem.
Create a concept project for your dream client and share it as a case study or portfolio piece. Just be transparent that it’s a conceptual design—it still showcases your skills, strategy, and visual direction.
Check out our post on how to attract clients by showcasing the right work for more on this.
Let WillowSpace Help You Market Without the Burnout
At Function, we put our marketing on auto-pilot by creating amazing client experiences—and WillowSpace makes that possible.
✨ Try WillowSpace for free and see how easier processes can lead to more referrals, smoother projects, and a more sustainable way to grow your business.
