How to find clients as a freelance animator in 2021

Being unable to find clients is every freelance animator’s worst nightmare. Here’s how to avoid it…

Being a freelance animator comes with flexibility, independence and the chance to be your own boss. It also comes with challenges. One of the biggest is finding clients. While studio animators might have stricter hours and less pay per project, they rarely have to find clients. If you’re a freelance animator looking to find a client who’s interested in your animation, here are our top five tips…

1. Make sure you're easy to find

Instead of waiting to be discovered, make your website easy to find. Your domain should make it clear who your are and what you do. On your website, you should include your showreel, any relevant previous work, and an easy way for clients to contact you.

If you feel as though you don’t have enough past projects to show, you can always complete some relevant personal work. Spending your free time animating will ensure your skills stay sharp, and help you focus on the kind of content your clients want to see.

Making sure you're easy to find someone finding clients as a freelance animator

2. Decide who your ideal client is

How to find clients as a freelance animator

If you’re struggling to find work, your answer to this might be ‘anyone who’ll take me.’ However, taking time to find your client niche pays off. Firstly, knowing who you want to hire your services will help you target your search. Does your ideal client use Facebook? LinkedIn? What kind of industry do they work in? Where would they be likely to see your work? Secondly, having an idea of what your ideal client looks like will help you refine your work. If you’re looking to market to large corporations, for example, it might be time to take that short children’s animation off your portfolio.

3. Network online

The Internet is the best place to start when trying to find clients. Joining animation groups on platforms like Reddit and Discord is excellent for not only building industry contacts, but also for securing referral to interested clients. As well as social media, many freelance animators try a ‘cold calling’ technique when searching for clients. Research local firms and companies in your area and get in touch. If you’re polite, advertise your skills and include past work you’ve done, you may well get some positive results.

networking online to find clients as a freelance animator

If you’re looking for a place to connect with animators and clients, check out the Start A Studio Community! Sign up for free to get job opportunities, meet animators, learn new skills and much more.

3. Network online

The Internet is the best place to start when trying to find clients. Joining animation groups on platforms like Reddit and Discord is excellent for not only building industry contacts, but also for securing referral to interested clients. As well as social media, many freelance animators try a ‘cold calling’ technique when searching for clients. Research local firms and companies in your area and get in touch. If you’re polite, advertise your skills and include past work you’ve done, you may well get some positive results.

If you’re looking for a place to connect with animators and clients, check out the Start A Studio Community! Sign up for free to get job opportunities, meet animators, learn new skills and much more.

4. Brush up your marketing skills

If you want to find clients, don’t stop at your website. Market yourself across as many social media platforms as possible. Some marketing ideas could include:

Sharing past work/ current projects on an Instagram page

Offering tutorials for other animators on a YouTube channel

Showing your animation process in TikTok videos

Putting your services on social media is completely free, and it will hugely increase your chance of being commissioned. Make sure your socials are linked—your website should direct to any other platforms you use. Check out our different articles on how to use Tiktok, Instagram, and YouTube to market yourself and your business.

5. Have examples ready

When you eventually land a client, they may want to see several examples of your work. After you’ve decided who your ideal client is, get to work listing the kind of animations you’d expect them to commission. Rather than focusing on one time-consuming project, create animations that are relevant, short, and easy to expand. If you do your client research, you should be well prepared for when your marketing work pays off!