How to Get Featured on Behance: 7 Tips for Creative Success

Probably if you are here reading this article you are passionate about design, photography, illustration, or other creative disciplines, you have probably heard of Behance, the leading platform for showcasing your work to the world. Standing out on Behance not only brings recognition and exposure but also opens doors to new opportunities and collaborations with industry professionals.

If you're new around here, let's begin by explaining what is Behance, and let me share with you my experience of more than 10 years using the platform!

What is Behance and how to use it?

You're probably wondering what Behance is and what is Behance used for. Behance Portfolio, launched in 2006, is a thriving virtual platform that unites creative professionals across diverse fields worldwide. As a portfolio-based social network, it enables artists, designers, and innovators to showcase their work, connect with peers, and explore a plethora of creative projects. Behance.net serves as a vital tool for creatives to display their skills through personalized portfolios, making it an ideal platform for freelancers and artists aiming to attract clients and collaborators.

Beyond self-promotion, Behance offers a rich source of inspiration by providing access to a wide array of projects from various categories, allowing users to stay updated on design trends and techniques. The platform fosters an interactive community where users can connect, appreciate, and even collaborate with their favorite artists. Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud enhances functionality and streamlines the process of showcasing design projects.

Behance's intuitive design and emphasis on visuals make it an effective platform for gaining visibility and recognition. Through engagement metrics like likes and comments, artists increase their chances of catching the eye of potential clients, collaborators, or employers. Overall, Behance is a digital haven where creativity thrives, connections are formed, and artistic visions find a global audience. Whether you're looking for inspiration or want to show off your artistic prowess, Behance offers a welcoming universe to explore the limitless possibilities of creativity. Among the different categories that you can find, the following stand out: Behance Graphic Design, Behance Branding, Behance Art, Behance Website Design, Behance UI/UX, Behance 3D, Behance Motion Graphics and Behance Digital Art.

How to make a Behance Portfolio?

To create a Behance portfolio and register, start by visiting the Behance website at www.behance.net. If you don't already have an account, click the "Sign Up" or "Join Behance" button on the top right corner of the homepage. Choose your preferred sign-up method, which can be an Adobe ID, Google account, or email and password. Fill in the necessary information, such as your name and email, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the registration. Depending on the method you chose, you may need to verify your email by clicking a link sent to your inbox. Once your registration is complete, log in to your Behance account.

To create your portfolio, click on your profile picture or username in the top right corner, then select "Create a Project" from the drop-down menu. Fill in project details, including a title, description, and tags. Upload your work, such as images or videos, and customize the appearance with cover images, layouts, and colors. Click "Publish" to make your project public. You can add more projects by repeating the process. Customize your profile by adding a picture, bio, and other information in your profile settings. Finally, share your work, connect with other creatives, and appreciate their work by clicking the "Appreciate" button on their projects. Your Behance portfolio is now ready to showcase your creative talents to a global audience.

Now that you have a more general idea, let's go to the next step:

Your portfolio on Behance is your letter of introduction to the world

In this article, I will present the seven most important points to achieve a featured spot on Behance and increase your chances of creative success.

It's important to keep in mind that all ongoing work and projects you share on the world's largest creative platform are your introduction letter and will speak for you once they're shared. For this reason, it's always important to take the necessary time to prepare all the content before sharing it. In this way, the impact it generates will be even greater, increasing your chances of gaining popularity, as well as getting job opportunities within the creative world or getting new clients.

Each of the points I'm going to outline below are aspects that I myself experienced and applied over more than ten years using the platform to showcase my creations and cv Behance. Regardless of their order, was very important and allowed me to collaborate with brands, magazines, and even work on amazing projects I never imagined. So if you want to know how to get clients on Behance and how to make a Behance portfolio of impact, read the following points carefully.

1. Showcase an Attractive and Professional Portfolio on your Behance Profile

Your Behance portfolio is your first impression, so it must be attractive and professional. Use high-quality images to showcase your projects in their best light and ensure they are well-organized. Group your work into thematic projects or categories to facilitate visitor navigation. Remember, the first impression counts, so make sure your profile homepage is impactful and reflects your creative style and personality.

It's also important to highlight that quality always beats quantity. It's of no use to upload many projects without the necessary depth and dedication, as their impact will be inferior compared to taking the time to prepare images, draft explanatory text for the work, and show not only the final result but also the different parts of your creative process to the entire community.

A piece of advice: The cover you use to promote your project is equally as important as the content within it. Remember that the cover is the first thing that is seen, and it's crucial for it to make an impact on the viewer, causing them to stop scrolling and decide to open your project or visit your Behance profile to discover more!

2. Fresh and Updated Content

The key to standing out on Behance is to keep your profile updated with fresh content. Regularly publish new projects and keep your audience engaged with your work. This not only demonstrates your dedication and consistency but also increases the chances of your profile being discovered by more people and potentially by the Behance curatorial team.

A good practice is to share your "Work in Progress." This feature allows you to share images in a similar rectangular format to what is used in Instagram Stories, where you can gradually showcase your progress before uploading the final project. This way, you keep your followers up to date and engaged with the creative process before sharing the final project.

A piece of advice: Over the years that I've been using the platform, I received several messages asking me when is the best time to post on Behance. The reality is that there is no formula or specific time that guarantees your project will have a better chance of being seen by the Behance curators team. So, I recommend that instead of worrying about the timing, you focus on sharing high-quality content that is tailored for the audience.

3. Tell the Story Behind Your Projects

Sharing the creative process and the story behind each project is essential for connecting with your audience. Through well-written descriptions and photographs documenting your work, you can provide an enriching experience for viewers. This not only creates an emotional bond with your audience but also showcases your passion and skills as a creative professional. In my case, I often reveal behind-the-scenes glimpses in many of my projects, allowing visitors to see the process and groundwork leading to the final graphic piece.

4. Use Relevant Keywords and Categories

To increase the visibility of your profile in Behance and Google search results, it's essential to use relevant keywords in the descriptions of your projects and in the ALT tags of your images.

To start planning the best keywords to promote your work on Behance, you should first go to the search bar at the top of the screen. There, you can enter a keyword that you consider is directly related to your project, and you will see how the tool automatically provides a list of suggestions composed of the keyword you entered and complementary words related to it.
The suggested results provided by the tool are the terms that people search for in relation to the initial keyword you entered in the search bar.

Keywords can be divided into three main groups, each of which will allow you to achieve different objectives:

Short tail keywords behance:

The first group is known as short-tail keywords. These are characterized by being keywords with high search volumes and high levels of competition for ranking. Generally, appearing in the top results for this group of keywords is a challenging task.
An example of a short-tail keyword would be "Photoshop."

Middle tail keywords behance:

The second group is known as middle-tail keywords. These keywords have lower search volume and moderate competition. They typically consist of 2 to 3 words.
An example of a middle-tail keyword would be "Geometric Digital Art."

Long tail keywords behance:

Within the third group of keywords, we find long-tail keywords. Their main characteristic is that they have fewer searches and less competition, making it even easier to appear in the top search results compared to the other two groups mentioned earlier. These are often terms used when working in a specific niche and usually consist of more than 3 words.
An example of a long-tail keyword would be "Digital Illustration of Orange Cats."

Research the most searched terms in your niche and strategically include them in your content. A strategy that often works well is to include keywords related to the project's theme, the software used, the graphic style, and any other words directly related to the project in question. This will improve the positioning of your project in categories, search results, and attract a more specific audience interested in your work. You can guide yourself with the following project as an example: Art Deco by DesignGeo

Finally, when choosing hashtags for your projects, consider using those suggested by Behance to improve the chances of more people discovering your work. You can add tags related to your project's theme, as well as tags relevant to the software you used to create your designs, such as: After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Blender, Cinema 4D, etc.

It's important to remember that today you can use up to 10 keywords per project, so I recommend that you use all 10 in case you have them and if you don't get there, don't add others just to add.

A piece of advice: Don't forget to add alternative text to each of the images you share in your project. This helps search engines understand even more about the subject of the work you're sharing. This way, you will achieve better rankings in searches for your projects, resulting in more views and interactions.

5. Engage with the Behance Community

Behance is an active and collaborative community. Participate in groups related to your creative interests and comment on projects that inspire you. By interacting with other members of the platform, you will increase your visibility and have the opportunity to connect with professionals in the same field. Furthermore, receiving feedback and opinions on your work will help you improve and refine your skills.

It's crucial to be realistic and provide genuine feedback to the projects we like. There's no point in coming across as robots, leaving the same comments on every project that comes our way. Take your time and discover amazing works to give feedback to, while also finding inspiration for your upcoming creations at the same time!

6. Promote Your Profile on Social Media

Never underestimate the power of social media in promoting your Behance profile. Share your featured projects on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. Utilize the reach of your followers to generate more visits to your profile and increase your chances of being featured by Behance. Personally, I've found that my Instagram profile has been the most effective tool for driving traffic, where I often share stories with links to projects so my followers can see the process behind each of my creations.

7. Be Original and authentic to increase your chances of getting a Behance featured badge

In a content-saturated world, originality is key to standing out. Find your own creative voice and be authentic in each project you present on Behance. Show your passion and unique creativity, as these qualities will set you apart from the crowd. Don't forget that the more you showcase your creative process, the better. Aim for your projects to have a minimum of 3 high-resolution images and a brief description to increase your chances of being featured in one of Behance's curated sections.

Standing out on Behance is not an easy task, but with dedication, creativity, and a solid strategy, you can achieve it. Present your work professionally, share your creative process, engage with the community, and use relevant keywords to improve your visibility.

8. Types Behance Badges categories

Below are all the categories from Behance in which you can achieve a feature badges.

Software

Illustrator Draw: Create freeform vector designs on your mobile device with Illustrator Draw. Turn your ideas into illustrations wherever inspiration strikes.
Illustrator: Create fantastic vector art in Illustrator. Make logos, icons, sketches, typography and complex illustrations.
Photoshop Mix: Cut, combine and create stunning images anywhere: Photoshop Mix brings fantastic Photoshop editing to your mobile device.
Photoshop: Create anything you can imagine with Photoshop, the best imaging and design app in the world.
Photoshop Sketch: Create expressive drawings anywhere, using Photoshop Sketch. Get all the textures and fusion effects you would achieve on paper.
After Effects: Create incredible motion graphics and visual effects with After Effects, for movies, TV, video, and the web.
Premiere Pro: Create stunning videos virtually anywhere with Premiere Pro. Edit and create professional productions for film, television, and the web.
Lightroom: With Lightroom, your photography moves with you. Organize, edit and share your photos from anywhere.
InDesign: Create stylish layouts on the desktop or on the go with InDesign, the industry-leading design and layout toolset.
Experience Design (XD): Go from idea to prototype faster with XD, the complete website and mobile app design tool.

General categories

Behance: The best of Behance. Projects presented today by our specialists
Advertising: The most engaging copywriting, art direction and creative direction across print, interactive, broadcast media and more.
Architecture: From residential interiors to the cities of the future, browse the best interior design, architectural photography and visualization today.
Crafts: Fin the best craft work by top artisans, including woodworking, ceramics and paper work.
Fashion: Explore the most cutting-edge fashion in the field today, from styling to models to makeup.
Fine Art: A diverse collection of the most creative fine arts projects: sculpture, painting, drawing, and more.
Game Design: Discover how well-designed games are put together, from the animation to the character designs.
Graphic Design: The best graphic design work, including poster, logo, branding, music, packaging and more.
Illustration: View illustration work in its many forms – including everything from sketchbooks to murals to character design and more.
Interaction: Find curated interaction design work from cutting edge UI/UX design to detailed iconography creative work.
Motion: Watch amazing short films, motion graphic reels, and endlessly entertaining animated gifs.
Photography: From studio portraits to epic alpine landscapes, browse the best photography, retouching and photojournalism today.
Product Design: Browse tangible real-world products, from fields including automotive, jewelry, toy and industrial design.
Sound: Listen to full-length studio albums, video games soundtracks, or sound design for motion pieces.
3D: Three-dimensional digital art designed with specialized software.
Creative Challenges: Browse selected community projects and get inspired to take on the daily creative challenge.
Aero: Easily create, share and view interactive experiences in augmented reality. No programming knowledge is necessary.
Fresco: Created especially for artists and focused on their needs, Adobe Fresco combines vector and raster brushes with Photoshop favorites.
Substance 3D Stager: Produce and render next-generation 3D scenes in your own virtual studio.
Substance 3D Sampler: Create 3D materials and lighting environments from real images with Sampler's AI-based scan processor.
Substance 3D Painter: Create 3D model textures in real time with this industry-leading application.
Substance 3D Designer: Design 3D materials, models, and lighting environments with the full control of node-based creation.
Capture: Transform the world around you into assets for all your creative projects with Capture. Create brushes, vector shapes, materials, patterns and more.
Dimension: A new way for designers to create photo-realistic product images and mockups, and more.
Stock: Access stunning, high-quality images, graphics, videos, templates and 3D content, contributed by the Adobe creative community.

9. Extra: Get more followers, likes and views on Behance

Each of the points that were listed above is what you need to keep in mind when thinking about getting more likes, views, and followers. Creating good content, sharing it professionally, interacting with the community, and sharing it with as many people as you can is the formula that will allow you to start generating movement and interactions of all kinds in your portfolio. Remember that nothing happens immediately, and hard work and patience should be your pillars when it comes to achieving your goals on this social network. That’s the key to grow and get noticed on Behance!

Remember, originality and authenticity are your greatest allies for shining on such an influential platform like Behance. Now is your moment to shine and have your creations recognized by the world!

I hope that all the information based on my experience helps you grow and achieve your dreams. I invite you to visit my personal portfolio on Behance, discover my projects and get inspired.