The options for gaining attention as a graphic designer have skyrocketed in recent years. Not long ago, securing meetings was the only way to get work out there. Now, photo-based platforms like Instagram mean you can upload designs to a broader audience than ever. If there was ever a time to be in graphic design, you could say it’s now.

Despite the coverage you can gain from social media and sites like Instagram, you’re still cutting yourself off if you stop there. Though it may not be an obvious illustration platform, YouTube could also boost your design business. Though video is a little different than photographing your work; it could soon take you even further.

Many illustrators and graphic designers are now realizing the benefits of vlogging. ‘Day in the life of a graphic designer’ videos are pretty hot stuff these days. This style is so popular that designers like Franned have around 217,531 subscribers. That’s no small amount of potential clients and is a very tempting reason to delve into video for yourself.

Of course, many would argue that vlogging is an artform of its own. It’s certainly a time-consuming skill that can take up a lot of your time. So, why should you bother?

A Modern Portfolio

As a graphic designer, you probably already know how essential it is that you have a portfolio of your work. Being able to show clients what you do on demand is vital for securing jobs. They’ll want to see examples of what you can do for them, and get an idea of your style.

In days of old, this meant pulling out a physical portfolio which clients could flick through. More recently, it’s meant directing them to an online portfolio of still pictures. But, by vlogging your design journey, you could showcase your work in a more modern way.

By showing your stuff on camera, and filming projects you’re working on, you could bring your ideas to life in front of your client’s eyes. Clients can observe your working processes and get a first-hand impression of your style. This could give you a much-needed edge over your competitors.

Photo Credit: COD Newsroom-Flickr

Reach A Broader Audience

Another significant benefit of video is that it provides a chance to reach audiences you wouldn’t otherwise. Usually, you would have to rely on things like word of mouth or direct leads to your website. You would also be limited to a specific type of client. YouTube videos can help you break many of those boundaries.

If you keep your content relevant, reliable, and YouTube friendly, you could be popping up on the first page of YouTube search results in no time.

It may also pay to use something like this closed captioning service which would make your videos appealing to an even wider audience. As well as attracting entirely new clients, you may find that you appeal to an audience you’ve never considered.

Budding graphic designers, for example, may turn to your videos for advice. Equally, members of the general public may find your content interesting. If that happens, you could have the choice to branch out to things like teaching instructional courses or opening a shop to sell prints and products.

A Touch Of Personality

Personality is critical is any business model, and graphic design is no different. In fact, given that this is a creative field, you could say that personality is paramount to your success. Your work is, after all, an extension of you.

Revealing plenty of character to clients can take you far. Vlogging can help showcase your personality before you even get on the phone with a client. While you won’t be a fit for everyone out there, that’s okay and you may end up with less headache in the end as your ideal clients will have already judged whether you’re someone they could work with. That’s not something you’re likely to get from any other platform.

Extra Income

Booking your ideal client is the obvious goal, however, it’s also worth noting that YouTube in itself could earn you some extra money. If you get accepted onto YouTube’s AdSense scheme, you could receive money for advertisements.

You may also find that brands are willing to either pay or send you free products for mentions in your video and every penny can help when you’re freelance.

Bear in mind that you don’t need expensive equipment and editing prowess to make this work. Many YouTubers film using little more than their smartphones and a tripod. There are also plenty of free or affordable editing options out there. iMovie, for example, is a cheap and easy to use program. It even comes free with many Apple products. For non-Apple users, something like Lightworks is the ideal way to make videos for less.

Have you taken the leap into vlogging yet for your business? How has it gone for you?