I'm thinking of emailing some local companies to look for freelance jobs. So my plan was to look for those that looks sort of 'in need' of a website redesign, although I can't really think of how to word it without sounding insulting!

Does anyone else ever use this technique to get work? I wouldnt mind hearing a few tips of what to say, if anyone has any. If not, I'll just say what I feel is right!

There isn't one, you can guarantee the ugliest, most dysfunctional website you find will have been thrown together by the bosses son/daughter/nephew/niece!

Been there, done that! ( broomheads.com )

Haha ouch, now I have a headache!

or maybe tell that company outright some suggestions that would make their web sites look better. make some sort of letter of proposal.

There is no easy way to say your website needs a complete makeover delicately. If at all possible show the work you can do through your website, pictures in an email or website urls you have designed.

I have another suggestion, volunteer your services to a local charitable organization, this seems to be very successful, and word by mouth is one of the best advertisements, people will be calling you.

You might say that a few changes in the website would make it more effective for customers and profitable to the business. They are always interested in profit...

Yeah Really... probably the good way of saying that to reconstruct your website..

Don't tell them their website sucks (they might feel you're critisizing their judgement), but tell them how you might improve their business by updating some of the design (or doing it all over). Just make sure you know how and why it should be done so you got all the answers before they even need to ask the questions.

what happen to your site.. last month it went good to search engines and now drop into the low rank... why don't you give it a time to optimize it well build more quality link backs... it helps your site a lot.

Interesting thread! I got sent a link to a friend's site that he had evidently made himself and was pretty proud of. I looked at the code and had never seen such a mess - I thought my first attempts at html were bad, but this guy had (I think) made his site in Word and saved it as a web - page or something. It's just so bad.

I have been thinking for ages how I could approach him to re-do the site (for a small fee, you understand!) - I'm no techie wizard but I could do it 1000x better than how he has, but I can't figure out a way to do it tactfully...

Will be watching your tactful replies with interest!

The way to approach something like this is by pointing out all the good things you can do FOR them - you don't say 'your site is bad' - you say "I can improve this for you", then you have to give them the business advantages for what you're offering.
The question on their mind is always going to be 'what can you do for me that'll make my business better?" - translates into 'how can it help my bottom line'

Tell them exactly why you're contacting them. You've seen their site and you have recommendations on how to improve it and show them ROI.

Just make sure you do it legit. Prepare a well crafted report with details on the current site and how you will improve it.

Beyond just making a site look better, I would personally take the approach of explaining how to make the sites more usable. Often I've found that website owners (as they should), care more about function than form. Nice designs quickly lose their flavor if the process of using them is too difficult.

Rather than preparing a report beforehand (which could potentially waste a lot of time), I would email them and offer them a free basic assessment of how to maximize or improve their particular website's earning potential. If they accept, then you do it and also prepare a quote that you can send along with the assessment.

Thanks for the tips. I think at the moment I will do some free work for any charity organisations that are interested. I could do with making more of a name for myself I think!

"its good..... but you can make it better.."

somethin like that..

Focus on the positive not the negative. Tell them what your services could improve for them, not what they have done wrong. Tell them how a more professional website can help the be more competitive in the market during hard times when people are researching more before buying, or something to that effect.

Let me know how it works. I have been calling businesses with no website, but havn't had any success.

Very true... I am convinced with the above given suggestion and support. Really.. by making ourselves as a negative, we must prefer and focus on positive things in life. And try to be patient while the good thing happens to us.

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Originally Posted by aartig

Very true... I am convinced with the above given suggestion and support. Really.. by making ourselves as a negative, we must prefer and focus on positive things in life. And try to be patient while the good thing happens to us.
Concept Cars

Wow thanks for that input. lol.

Back to the question in hand... We used this similar approach in some email marketing, and got some great responses. The best method i feel you can use it to personalise each email and give them a few "quick wins" ie: stuff that you can change relatively easily to make a great improvement.

By giving them advice for free etc, you can help them to trust you and your services.