A person who needs product cards posts in a chat once. After that, they talk to whoever gave the first reply that felt clear and to the point. So finding clients for marketplace infographics comes down to three habits: knowing the right chats, telling a real request from an empty one, and replying on time.

According to Leadolovets data for the last 30 days, open chats contained about 120 messages from people looking for infographics and product cards. That is about 25 a week on average. About 55% of them came from people ready to order right away. This is a lower estimate, and the real number of requests may be higher. Below you will find where to look for them, how to pick the ones worth answering, and when to reply.

Where to Look for Requests for Cards and Infographics

Start with seller communities. According to Leadolovets data for the last 30 days, about 90% of the people looking for cards and infographics post there. Sellers sit in these chats to swap experience. They drop their request for a designer in the same place, between questions about supply and packaging. If you are wondering where to find clients for marketplace cards, the answer is simple: where sellers are already discussing their stores. The same goes for listings on a specific platform such as Wildberries: look for its sellers in their own chats.

The rest is spread thin. Freelance and contractor-search chats account for about 5%, and niche and city chats also for about 5%, according to Leadolovets data for the last 30 days. Treat them as a supplement, not a foundation. Niche chats are useful if you specialize in one category, such as kitchenware or clothing, because people there ask for cards for exactly that category. City chats make sense when you are ready to work with a client in person. Freelance chats get requests fast, but they are also full of other contractors, so competition is higher.

Requests turned up in about 25 chats according to Leadolovets data for the last 30 days. That means you do not need to join hundreds of chats. Pick five or six, and check each one before you stay:

  • Are there recent, real requests for a designer in the feed?
  • Is the chat made up entirely of contractors advertising themselves?
  • Do the rules allow replying to such requests?
  • Do members answer each other, or do they only read?

A chat made up of service offers will not bring you a client. The client simply is not there.

How to Tell a Real Request From an Empty One

A real request starts with a task. Common openings in the messages we found: "need a couple of cards made," "need several cards made," "looking for a designer," "need a designer," "need an infographic." Phrases like these already show what needs doing and roughly how much. About 55% of the messages found were written by people ready to order now, according to Leadolovets data for the last 30 days. So more than half of the requests are worth handling right away, without long hesitation.

I'm launching a new kitchen product and need a couple of cards made. I have the photos, I need infographics. Who's up for it?

Everything is here: the situation, the number of cards, the available material. The signs of a ready buyer are:

  • the category or the product itself is named;
  • the number of cards or slides is given;
  • photos exist, or the person is ready to send them;
  • they ask to see examples or to name a price.

Now the opposite case.

How much does an infographic cost, in general?

Without a product, a scope, and a task, you cannot answer that question honestly. Reply briefly and ask for details. If the person never comes back, you spent a minute, not an hour.

Also pay attention to the reason for the request. Designers are usually sought in two situations: when a new product launches and when conversion drops. In the first case, offer to build a full set from scratch. In the second, start by looking at the current card and redoing the main photo.

When to Reply: Timing and Speed

Requests appear throughout the day. According to Leadolovets data for the last 30 days, in Moscow time about 40% are posted in the afternoon, from 12 to 18. About 30% come in the evening, from 18 to 24, about 20% in the morning, from 8 to 12, and about 15% at night. Messages most often appear around 15:00. If you have little time for chats, set aside a window in the middle of the day rather than the evening, when many people have already finished work.

Overnight requests do not go away. A person posts in a chat at night, then opens it again in the morning to see who answered. So start your morning with the chats and work through what piled up. Often nobody has replied to those messages yet, and yours will be the first one with substance. A simple routine looks like this:

  • in the morning, go through the overnight requests;
  • from midday to evening, check the chats every hour or two;
  • in the evening, reply to whatever appeared after 18:00.

Urgent markers such as "urgent" or "today" did not appear in any of the requests we found: 0% according to Leadolovets data for the last 30 days. People do not demand an instant reaction. So a reply an hour later, in which you say what you do, ask one question about the task, and show a similar piece of work, beats a fast one-line template. Speed matters, but substance matters more.

Example 1: A Couple of Cards Needed

This is the most common situation. A person is launching a new product, has photos or at least a sample, and is looking for someone to put together the infographics. The message usually looks like this:

We're launching a new home product and need a couple of cards made. Can anyone recommend someone?

The category is named, the scope is clear, and there is no deadline. Only the details about the materials are missing. A good reply is short and has three parts: what you do, one question about the task, and an example of your work:

Hi! I make cards and infographics for home products and can take this on. Do you already have photos of the product, or do you need a shoot? I can show a similar piece of work if you're interested.

Why this works better than a long reply. The question about photos shows you are thinking about the task rather than sending a template. It also narrows the conversation right away, because whether photos exist affects both the scope of work and the final price. A link to similar work in the same category removes the client's main fear: getting good-looking slides that do not fit their product.

What should not be in the first message: a list of all your services, a price table, and a story about your studio. The client does not yet know whether they need you, and they will not read three paragraphs about you. If they reply and the conversation gets going, give the price and timeline in the second or third message, once it is clear how many cards are needed and how complex they are.

Example 2: Conversion Dropped and the Main Photo Needs Redoing

The second typical situation: a card already works, but orders have gone down. The seller does not always know the cause, and often asks for advice rather than for a contractor:

Can anyone recommend someone to redo the main photo? We get views, but orders have dropped.

Messages that ask for a recommendation make up about 10% of requests, according to Leadolovets data for the last 30 days. It is easy to go wrong here by replying "contact a specialist, I know a good designer" and talking about yourself in the third person. It is better to say directly that you can take it on and to suggest a first step right away:

I can take on the main photo. Send me a link to the card, I'll take a look and tell you what exactly is worth changing.

Two details matter here. First, you ask for a link. That gives you a reason to continue the conversation and to see the real card instead of guessing. Second, you do not promise a sales increase. A drop in conversion can have many causes: price, reviews, competitors, stock. The photo may be only one of them. Say honestly that you will assess the card and tell them what to change. That wording sounds calmer than big promises, and it is easier to believe.

What Not to Do in Your Reply

The first mistake is replying with generic advertising and a price list for everything at once. In seller chats such messages get scrolled past quickly, and sometimes deleted along with your access to the chat. The person was looking for a designer for a specific task, and a reply along the lines of "we make cards, banners, video, prices below" does not show that you read their request. Answer what they wrote.

The second mistake is promising a result. Phrases like "this card will boost your sales" cannot be guaranteed. You are responsible for the quality of the cards: readability, slide order, how the benefits are presented. Buyer behavior is outside your control. Also avoid sending private messages without an invitation if the chat rules forbid it. First give a short reply in the thread, and suggest moving the conversation only once the client shows interest. A few more rules:

  • if someone asks for video or store management and you make cards, it is better to skip that request;
  • if they ask for something you have no examples of, do not pass off other people's work as your own;
  • if the task is vague and the client does not answer your clarifying questions, do not keep the conversation going beyond two messages.

It is better to answer fewer requests, but to the point. That builds your reputation in the chats as a contractor people can point to the next time someone asks for a designer recommendation.

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