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Ugh 🙁 Marketing! Really?

If I have to talk about myself like a brand one more time, I might just delete my entire portfolio

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Marketing Yourself as a Freelance Motion Designer

Written in collaboration with Luca Render, a fictional persona representing real-world motion designers.

If I have to talk about myself like a brand one more time, I might just delete my entire portfolio.”

That was the thought running through my head when I stared at my inbox full of unread messages from clients who clearly didn’t get it. Not the work, not the process, not the story I was trying to tell. Just “Can you do this cheap and fast?”

I’m Luca Render. I’ve spent the last few years refining my skills in motion design and 3D rendering. And if you’re anything like me—creative, precise, a little introverted—you probably hate marketing yourself. Or at least, the way everyone says you’re “supposed to” do it.

But here’s the thing: if we don’t learn to market ourselves, someone else will tell our story for us—and they won’t do it right.

Why Most Creatives Suck at Marketing (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)

Let’s face it: most of us got into design and animation to create, not to write LinkedIn posts or spend hours perfecting an elevator pitch. Marketing feels like wearing someone else’s clothes. A bit stiff. A bit fake.

Worse, we’ve been told that great work speaks for itself. But in a crowded market full of amazing reels and stunning renders, “just doing great work” isn’t enough. You need to help people understand why your work matters, without making them feel like they’re on a used car lot.

Reframing the Word “Marketing”

What was the first shift I made that changed everything?

I stopped calling it “marketing” and started calling it storytelling.

Your portfolio? That’s a visual story.

Your LinkedIn post? That’s a micro-narrative.

Your client outreach message? A human connection.

I realized that every time I felt gross about marketing, it was because I was pretending to be someone I wasn’t. When I started communicating like I design—structured, purposeful, and with a bit of edge—it clicked.

marketing yourself as a freelance motion designer
marketing yourself as a freelance motion designer

Luca’s Top 3 Marketing Strategies (That Don’t Feel Gross)

1. The Visual Journal Technique

Start treating your social feeds like a sketchbook. Share bite-sized process clips, behind-the-scenes notes, failed concepts, and happy accidents. The goal? Show the evolution, not just the highlight reel.

2. The Quiet Flex Case Study

Instead of bragging, tell a story. Who was the client? What was the challenge? Why did your approach work? Keep it concise, genuine, and use your visuals to let the results speak for themselves.

3. The Human Filter Rule

Before you post or pitch, ask: Would I stop scrolling for this? Would I message me back? This one question helps cut the fluff and keep your message authentic.

Positioning: Standing Out Without Yelling

Clients don’t hire you for your tools—they hire you for your perspective. And that means your bio, your homepage, your “about” blurb—they need to reflect that.

Here’s a tip:

Bad Positioning: “I’m a motion designer passionate about storytelling.”

Better Positioning: “I help indie game studios turn mechanics into motion that feels alive.”

Precision builds clarity. Clarity builds trust. Trust leads to clients.

What You Can Do This Week

If you want to dip your toe into authentic self-promotion, here are 3 micro-missions for the week:

  • Post one behind-the-scenes process shot (even if it’s rough)
  • Write a one-line bio that says what you do and who it helps
  • DM someone whose work you admire, and tell them why

These won’t feel like marketing. However, these strategies build momentum, and momentum in turn creates confidence.

 

Final Thought

Marketing isn’t about being louder. It’s about being clearer. If you’re willing to treat marketing the way you treat design—strategic, creative, iterative—you’ll not only attract better clients
 you’ll finally feel like you’re in control of your own narrative.

marketing yourself as a freelance motion designer

Journal Entry: Luca’s Inner Dialogue

“Today, I sent a proposal that actually sounded like me. No jargon. No fluff. Just what I do, how I do it, and what problem I solve. Weirdly enough, I didn’t cringe after hitting send. That’s new.”

Luca Render

3D Generalist and Freelance Motion Designer

How Copywriting Can Transform Your Business

COPYWRITING

how copywriting can transform your business

The best copywriters are the ones who not only know how to string words together, but are also experts on their industry. And as a business owner, copywriting on behalf of your own business can help you be more articulate, persuasive, diverse, and competitive.

How Copywriting Can Transform Your Business >>

TEAM BUILDING

build your team like you are building a racing teamBuild Your Team Like You are Building a Racing Team

The best businesses, however, are full of talented people who have a personal passion for the team’s goals. Passion motivates people to do their best work for your business, but passion cannot be developed as easily as talent.

Thus, the best way to build a motivated team is to hire team members who are already motivated and create an environment full of opportunities to hone their craft and continue to develop their talents.

Build Your Team Like You Are Building a Racing Team >>