General Discussions

**live4u120** · 08-01-2009, 08:48 AM

I'm trying web design, but customers aren't coming to me. How can I get some clients?

**NewBreed** · 08-01-2009, 11:49 AM

Hello, I am currently struggling with the same thing. I'm trying to get my portfolio built and a respectful resume built. My suggestion is doing craigslist ads and try going to odesk.com. If you haven't asked friends and their friends/family make sure you do! Make sure you show them some of your previous work or just a sample template so you can sell yourself.
Hope you get some clients soon. Good luck.

**ewomack** · 08-01-2009, 03:43 PM

1. Do some free work and wow people (you can volunteer for a non-profit and possibly use it as an in-kind tax break: check with an accountant).
2. Work cheaply. Undercut the competition. But don't work too cheap.
3. Build portfolio.
4. Call local businesses and see if they need websites. If they do, give them a good deal.
5. Advertise.
6. Yelp about your business every chance you get.
7. Do more sites, increase prices slowly.
8. Eventually, with some luck, you'll build a community of clients. You have to have something that the others aren't offering, and with the current glut of webmasters, the competition is rough.

**Brian07002** · 08-01-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewBreed

Hello, I am currently struggling with the same thing. I'm trying to get my portfolio built and a respectful resume built. My suggestion is doing craigslist ads and try going to odesk.com. If you haven't asked friends and their friends/family make sure you do! Make sure you show them some of your previous work or just a sample template so you can sell yourself.
Hope you get some clients soon. Good luck.

Craigslist is not so hot, I'll tell ya that much.

**The-Pixel** · 08-01-2009, 10:29 PM

Well they are not just going to come to you. You have to take the first step and go knock on some doors. When I was first starting out I did free design work to get my name out. Now I'm thankful that my business is well established that I have people who actually contacted me directly from my website asking for a free quote or to purchase a service.

I would strongly suggest getting some business cards and passing them out. The best forum of networking is by word of mouth (nothing is strongly). Also, I see many web designs / graphic designs sticking to one service (web design) and turn away logo designs, banners, business cards, etc. Never EVER! turn anyone down. If you do not know how to do it - then you learn it! This allows for you to really be a one-stop-shop. Best of luck!

**The-Pixel** · 08-01-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian07002

Craigslist is not so hot, I'll tell ya that much.

Craigslist went down the crapper big time!

**Giselle** · 08-02-2009, 04:03 PM

Hello Hunter,

I am going to suggest the same thing as Ed, volunteer your services to some charitable organizations or perhaps just one, word to mouth is the best advertisement and it's cheap too! That way you don't have to prove yourself to anyone because they can see for themselves first hand what kind of work you do. Volunteering has been proven to be very successful, I know the Doctors, Lawyers and Dentists out our way use this technique to launch themselves.

Best Wishes to You!

**Jocke** · 08-02-2009, 06:16 PM

Hm, maybe there would be a market for me to setup a business to catch clients for you guys? I think I could pretty easy get some customers with the right site and I could take a small fee for every customer I get.

**emofree** · 08-02-2009, 09:57 PM

I agree on doing a free work or non-profit work this will test out your mental patience when doing a real paid job.

**Aadriyah** · 08-02-2009, 10:01 PM

Word of mouth is the best choice if you're new in the biz, you can tell your friends that you offer this kind of service so that they can spread it too with their other friends or acquaintance but before that, you should atleast have a portfolio with you!

**TFG Trading Co.** · 08-02-2009, 11:02 PM

Get some brochers and business cards. Try and find the mom and pop shops that may not even have a web site, and explain how it can bring up there sales in these bad times. If your pricing is right they should bite. I did this in another kind of business worked great, because usually the owner works in the store so you dont have to wait around for someone to call you back.

Good Luck

**victoriaphee** · 08-03-2009, 09:10 AM

You should have an impressive portfolio and do some advertising using ads sites, press release and social media

**NewBreed** · 08-03-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian07002

Craigslist is not so hot, I'll tell ya that much.

I've already got a client and it's only been a few days. Of course I get a bunch of other scammer's emailing me, but I'm willing to trade a few spam emails for a client.

**Psyclone** · 11-07-2009, 02:34 AM

Also, do remember that persistence is key. Keep your name out there, make sure you're not forgotten about. People may not come to you the first time around but they may need work at some point and say "hey...I remember coming across this one place...let's do a search". Just keep pushing yourself and you'll get the clients you're hoping for.

**Alex Carlson** · 11-07-2009, 03:05 AM

Do some advertisement using ads sites and try to find small small shops that may not even have a web site, and explain how it can bring up there business in these bad times.Find the most relevant keyword for your website and optimize with the keyword.