eCommerce Tycoon

**kidtrini** · 02-20-2007, 11:43 AM

Hey guys,

I may be going a bit far in asking this question (people may not want to give out their secrets), but what is the best way to generate a steady stream of customers for your own website design firm? The reason why I ask is because I'm working with a friend that is having a hard time generating a steady stream of customers for his business. This is what I've suggested to him simply from what I've researched on the Internet:

1. Leverage Your Website: Use your website to capture visitors email and begin building an email lists. Of course, this assumes that SEO has been done to the site, etc.

2. Create some sort of affiliate program that will utilize your contact list and customers to become reps of your product (i.e. offer 5-7% on a referral).
3. Partner up with other design firms that will complement your services (web only firm teaming with a print only firm). Provide referrals back and forth through this system.

4. Purchase verified leads for web projects. This can be competitive depending on the lifetime of the lead.

5. Direct mail promotion. This can be costly, so what I suggested using business cards or postcards instead. Depending how you word it based on the space that you have on the media, you can put a promotion that is only redeemable by phone or the email opt-ins through the website.

6. Bid on projects through freelance websites. Only drawback that I’ve seen is the amount of bids and the price undercutting.

7. Focus on a specific type of web product and try to specialize in that area. What I've seen lately are company's trying to be everything to everyone and getting killed on price. I suggest focusing on one area of web development (i.e. 'retail e-comm) and charging a premium price since that is your specialty.

These are some of the ideas that I’ve come up with. Does anyone have any experience with these types of marketing techniques? What has and hasn’t worked for any of you?

By the way, I’m not trying to promote any marketing products or looking to steal anyone’s ideas and put them in an e-book to sell. Just want a meeting of the minds and help other entrepreneurs jump-start their business. I'm actually talking to some web designers to get their two cents on this subject and will get back with everyone to let you know if I found out any new or 'startling' information.

Thanks everyone.

**yasha78** · 02-22-2007, 11:47 PM

1. Create a portfolio, make site attractive, offer free assessments and mockups
2. Google AdWords - get some interested traffic going
3. GetAFreelancer.com - get some projects, even while making no/little money at first
4. Always keep a rolodex of contacts from past projects and offer referrers 10% referral fee.

It's a painfully slow business, but if the talent is right, with sustained effort it could succeed.

**montyauto** · 02-25-2007, 11:23 AM

So far as my exp the Google Adwords and Email Marketing are the best effective ones.
However if we have small ad budget then FREE posting is the good choice untill we get sufficient amount and knowledge to do the paid advertising.

**livechatdir** · 03-05-2007, 04:00 AM

I'd say for a new business Google Adwords is the best place to start to get rolling from day one, however, considerable thought should also be given to long term strategies such as SEO, elance etc.

**kbtsup** · 03-06-2007, 12:31 PM

Increase search engine exposure to get organic vistors. You must have some unique products, services or ideas. Do some SEO, submit articles, forum posting, list your site on directories, go PPC on yahoo SEM or Google Adwords. submit press releases, go for blogging, submit your blogs, submit free classified ads, submit to serach engines... submit...submit

Let people know you exist.
Let people know you exist for a reason.

**Jawie** · 03-06-2007, 12:48 PM

Send informative messages to your email files for them to inquire about the site. Involved in a free advertising or even in a paid advertisement to boast your informations about your topic.

Then allow links to other sites related for a much more traffics.
Have an easy and interesting content of your site. This can help people in their surfing.

Have a good plan on this things.

**blue-dreamer** · 03-06-2007, 02:17 PM

You might want to try local ads in newspapers, like the two liner small ads. They are usually quite cheap and can bring some enquiries.

**Junije** · 03-06-2007, 05:56 PM

I agree, offline marketing is good try.
It could work for you...

**zhengwei76** · 03-12-2007, 02:11 AM

two suggestions except ads promo:
1.add live chat function to your website so that could chat with your visit instantly.
2.install affiliate tracking soft and develop more webmasters to promotion your site.

**amyangel** · 03-12-2007, 05:08 AM

you just think of how to let people know about your site

**BruceWayne** · 03-12-2007, 05:25 AM

We have to consider also of improving our product and services. in that way old visitors or customer will stay from us.

**livechatdir** · 04-04-2007, 09:54 AM

Besides, since a lot of people mentioned adwords, which is really imporant in driving some quality traffic (though very expensive these days), I'd say that having:

1. the right landing page with the right content.
2. capturing their name in a newsletter.
3. Possibly proactively interacting with them in real time using tools such as LivePerson Live chat, cobrowse and engage
4. Following up the leads properly

will get you most our of your adwords campaigns.

**kbtsup** · 04-04-2007, 01:36 PM

competition is fierce, has to be unique whatever we have to offer

**pd32131** · 04-09-2007, 04:34 PM

There is also a service called Blogitive (go to http://www.blogitive.com) which really helps your search engine ranking (they have agreements with blogs to post one-way anchor text links to your site for $20 per link...it's expensive but it works, because they post your anchor text links in the middle of a blog that has your targeted keywords in it....I've heard it works wonders, but it's expensive).

**newwalkingman** · 04-13-2007, 12:29 PM

You must have your own strategy for your customer,make sure that it will be effective.Do not develop many services you must be the best with your service.

**tanjh** · 04-19-2007, 10:14 AM

Writing articles and submitting them to article directories is one of the top methods. And it's completely free...

**alistdirector** · 04-20-2007, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kidtrini

Hey guys,

I may be going a bit far in asking this question (people may not want to give out their secrets), but what is the best way to generate a steady stream of customers for your own website design firm? The reason why I ask is because I'm working with a friend that is having a hard time generating a steady stream of customers for his business. This is what I've suggested to him simply from what I've researched on the Internet:

1. Leverage Your Website: Use your website to capture visitors email and begin building an email lists. Of course, this assumes that SEO has been done to the site, etc.

2. Create some sort of affiliate program that will utilize your contact list and customers to become reps of your product (i.e. offer 5-7% on a referral).
3. Partner up with other design firms that will complement your services (web only firm teaming with a print only firm). Provide referrals back and forth through this system.

4. Purchase verified leads for web projects. This can be competitive depending on the lifetime of the lead.

5. Direct mail promotion. This can be costly, so what I suggested using business cards or postcards instead. Depending how you word it based on the space that you have on the media, you can put a promotion that is only redeemable by phone or the email opt-ins through the website.

6. Bid on projects through freelance websites. Only drawback that I’ve seen is the amount of bids and the price undercutting.

7. Focus on a specific type of web product and try to specialize in that area. What I've seen lately are company's trying to be everything to everyone and getting killed on price. I suggest focusing on one area of web development (i.e. 'retail e-comm) and charging a premium price since that is your specialty.

These are some of the ideas that I’ve come up with. Does anyone have any experience with these types of marketing techniques? What has and hasn’t worked for any of you?

By the way, I’m not trying to promote any marketing products or looking to steal anyone’s ideas and put them in an e-book to sell. Just want a meeting of the minds and help other entrepreneurs jump-start their business. I'm actually talking to some web designers to get their two cents on this subject and will get back with everyone to let you know if I found out any new or 'startling' information.

Thanks everyone.

1. ADWORDS
2. ARTICLE MARKETING
3. SEO

That's all there is to it, but you cant sit around planning things all day, you need to JUST DO IT! Get to work!-see my motivation thread