Graphic design is a popular career field for those interested in visual art, and you'll find many successful freelancers as well. However, it can take a little time to get the ball rolling, and you might need to wait a while before you begin getting clients.

Even when you don't have graphic design clients, you can still grow your portfolio and showcase your skills. The great thing about doing this is that you'll simultaneously build your online presence, meaning that—eventually—you might be able to earn an income without working for others.

This article will identify the places you can showcase your graphic design skills if you don't have any clients.

1. Your YouTube Channel

If you enjoy flexing your creative muscles, YouTube is an excellent place to do that. You can use your platform to talk more about graphic design-related topics, which—alongside demonstrating your expertise to clients—can help you attract a like-minded community.

You can also talk about another topic if you don't want to discuss graphic design. In this case, you can still showcase your expertise with your thumbnails and headers. Moreover, you can add infographics and other visuals to your videos.

You'll need to consider several things when starting a YouTube channel, and you shouldn't expect to hit the monetization threshold for a while. Nonetheless, it's a fantastic place to build your personal brand and potentially open the door to more opportunities.

2. Your Personal Website

Having a website as a freelancer is a good idea if you want to build a profitable business. It's an easy way to share your work with others, and you can send a link to anyone interested in working with you. Even if you haven't yet signed your first freelance client, you can use your site to showcase any personal projects you're working on.

Besides showing your graphic skills, you can use your website to create a strong brand ambassador. You can talk about why you enjoy graphic design, and you should consider writing blog posts about your profession, too.

If you don't have coding experience, you'll find several easy-to-use website builders. Squarespace and Wix are two such examples.

3. Instagram

Instagram is arguably the best social media platform for sharing your graphic design skills. You've got plenty of options for highlighting how good you are, including single posts and carousels. You can also share the behind-the-scenes of what you do in your Instagram Stories.

While you may think Reels has little to do with graphic design, you can also use this feature to catch potential clients' attention. There are several unique Reels ideas you can try, such as showing the before and after for any personal project you complete.

Besides showcasing your work, you can also use Instagram to share your top graphic design tips with others who may wish to learn from you.

4. Pinterest

If you thought Pinterest was simply a place to save food recipes that you might cook "someday", now is a good time to reconsider that stance. In the third quarter of 2022, the platform had 445 million active users monthly, according to Statista. So, it's an excellent place to share your graphic design skills and get more people to look at your work.

Pinterest allows you to create boards and pins where you can showcase how good you are at graphic design. You can also add links to external sites, such as your YouTube channel or personal website.

5. Behance

Behance is one of the most popular places for creatives to gather online, and it's particularly popular with graphic designers. The app has over 20 million users and is owned by Adobe. You can share your work with others and allow them to not only view it, but also send their appreciation.

On Behance, you can create a profile where you outline the types of work you're open to accepting. Moreover, you can make a bio that talks more about what you do. The app also lets you go live, which is a great way to build rapport with potential clients.

Behance is a helpful starting point for looking for jobs within your field.

6. Twitter

Consider using Twitter to showcase your skills if you haven't yet built a client base. The app is a great place to have conversations with others in your field, and you can also use the pinned feature to highlight your best work.

Twitter is also a good platform for regularly sharing your work, and you can create threads to talk more about the process behind what you did. You can discuss each step, along with outlining what your inspiration for the project was.

You can also create a fancy Twitter header to show what you're capable of to clients that may visit your profile.

7. Your Newsletter

While we have advanced significantly in communication, email remains an effective way to connect with others online. And if you're a graphic designer, starting a newsletter is an excellent way to showcase your skills—even if you don't yet have clients.

In your newsletter, you can share your latest creations with your audience—and unlike other social media platforms, these people have given you permission to contact them. You can also use this medium to discuss your future plans and share the biggest lessons you learn.

Starting a newsletter is pretty simple, and you can use a tool like Mailchimp to manage your sign-ups.

8. Podcast Cover Art

Since we're talking about showcasing your graphic design skills, podcasting might not be the first thing you think of. But if you're strategic, you may find that it's a great way to stand out.

Podcasting is an excellent medium for talking more about graphic design skills, and you can network by inviting guests on your show. However, that's not the only way you can use this medium to demonstrate your expertise.

When you upload podcasts, you'll typically need to make cover art—and you can also create a cover for each episode you publish. If a potential client hears what you say and likes your cover art, they might just reach out to you for a potential collaboration.

Don't Wait for Clients to Start Showcasing Your Graphic Design Skills

Graphic design is a viable path if you're a freelancer, but growing your client list can take some time. However, you don't need to wait for someone else's permission to share your work; you'll find plenty of places to do so online.

Whether you choose social media, your own website, or something else, you can showcase your skills while simultaneously building an audience.