Behance is one of the most powerful platforms to build your creative reputation, connect with peers, and land freelance opportunities. But with thousands of designers posting daily, how do you ensure your portfolio stands out and gets noticed?

We spoke to artists and designers who consistently attract attention and clients to uncover the habits, mindset, and presentation techniques that help their work rise to the top.

1. Fill Out Your Profile 

First impressions matter — a complete profile helps potential clients and collaborators quickly understand your skills. Optimize your Behance profile by adding a profile photo and a short description of what you do, and links to your website and social media accounts to build credibility. Uploading a banner image also helps to add a professional polish to your page. 

Connecting your LinkedIn account not only adds a “Verified on LinkedIn” badge, it also builds trust — an important signal for clients searching Behance for freelance designers.

2. Curate Your Best Work 

Your portfolio is only as strong as your weakest project, so focus quality over quantity. Showcase complete, polished work that not only represents your skills, but are also indicative of the type of projects you want to be hired for. Your portfolio should go beyond just showing the  final designs. Tell the story behind your work with compelling visuals and clear, strategic thinking.

“Understand your strengths and what you or your team do best. Identifying your unique value is the first step to creating work that stands out,” advises Excel R. Florendia, fo-founder of Studio Moara. “Take the time to combine your insights and research into high-quality projects.Your portfolio should go beyond just showcasing the final result—tell the story of your process, ideas, and research through engaging visuals and thoughtful presentations.” 

Branding Banh Theory by Studio Moara

3. Show Your Personality

Don’t wait for the perfect client project — create your own. Use passion projects to explore new styles, challenge yourself creatively, and attract like-minded collaborators. While client work shows you can deliver professional results, personal projects show your creative instincts and unique point of view. Personal projects are a great way to demonstrate what excites you creatively, explore styles outside your usual commercial work, and attract the kind of clients you want to work with.

“Behance values ​​creativity at its finest; they don't require every project you upload to be commercial and real,” says illustrator Jose Villacrez. “Many of the projects I initially published are personal, and it was thanks to them that I secured large projects. Remember, you never know where someone's eyes might end up with that project.”

36 Days Of Type - 2020 Animals by Jose Villacrez

4. Tag Your Work 

Tags and keywords help Behance’s s search algorithm surfaces your work to the right audience. Use accurate and relevant keywords — we recommend adding around 5-10 keywords in each project that includes the creative field (ex. Branding design, 3D illustration), industries (ex. Fashion, tech), and visual or design style (ex. minimalist, brutalist) to boost your project’s visibility.

You can also tag the tools you used, which helps your work appear in tool-specific searches and galleries, and adds valuable context for those viewing your project.

MOHSENX NATURAL TOOTHPASTE by João Marcos

5. Engage Authentically

Behance is first and foremost, a community of creatives. “Interacting with other designers and leaving thoughtful comments can help you build connections and increase visibility,” says branding designer Anastasia Statsenko.

Start by following designers whose work you admire. Appreciate projects you enjoy – it’s a simple way to support fellow creatives and can spark reciprocal engagement. Leave thoughtful comments that show genuine interest — a specific note about what you love, be it the choice of typography or color palette, or the story behind the project. Genuine connection is often the first step to a future collaboration.

OUNCE BAR | LOGO DESIGN & BRAND IDENTITY by Anastasia Statsenko

6. List Your Freelance Services 

If you’re looking to attract qualified clients, make it easy for them to understand what you offer. 

Use Behance’s Freelance Services feature to showcase what you offer, whether it's logo design, packaging, or motion graphics. Set expectations clearly with project types, pricing, and timelines, and use projects from your Behance portfolio to give potential clients a clear idea of what you can deliver. 

7. Keep Up With Your Portfolio 

Your portfolio is a living, breathing entity. Keep it updated with your latest projects, and remove any work that’s no longer relevant to our career trajectory. Keeping an updated portfolio shows that you’re active, evolving, and ready for new opportunities.

Jose also stresses the importance of responding to client inquiries on Behance in a timely manner: “Offering a timely response to the client is the best way to close a deal. Responding quickly demonstrates your interest and appreciation for the client's time.” Jose aims to respond within 3 hours, and this has helped him close 75% of client projects. “It's important to understand that leaving the client hanging for even a day can be critical to securing the project,” he adds. 

Vittae Soft Peach by João Marcos

8. Boost Your Projects 

If you’re a Behance Pro member, use the Project Boost feature to increase your project's reach — especially if you're looking to get noticed by art directors, agencies, or clients actively hiring. You can create a custom audience and track reach, impressions, and appreciations to see the direct impact of each boost. 

“The boost significantly helped, not only by attracting more views and engagement but also by sparking comments on the project and people sharing valuable positive feedback,” shares graphic designer Irene Demetri.

Soul Yoga Graphics Collection by Irene Demetri

Standing out on Behance is all about strategy, consistency, and connection. As Excel says, “Building a presence on Behance is a rewarding journey of patience and dedication.” From optimizing your profile and showcasing your best work, to engaging with the community and promoting your services, Behance gives you all the tools to attract the right opportunities.