I am running my own web design company after finishing my computing degree. I now have 5-6 clients but nothing to make a living out of. Any idea, hint or tips to help me find work?
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Finding work
- Thread starter timmillwood
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< home-spun-philosophy >
I don't think there is any great secret apart from really working and doing a great job with your existing clients. The best form of advertising is word of mouth.
The right path is often the hardest.
</home-spun-philosophy>
Maybe you also need to communicate your differences from others a bit better, as in, what makes you special.
You can also do simple things like sticking a link to your a website showing your work in your sig. Mark Jadine does this. People might stumble across it.
I don't think there is any great secret apart from really working and doing a great job with your existing clients. The best form of advertising is word of mouth.
The right path is often the hardest.
</home-spun-philosophy>
Maybe you also need to communicate your differences from others a bit better, as in, what makes you special.
You can also do simple things like sticking a link to your a website showing your work in your sig. Mark Jadine does this. People might stumble across it.
Take every opportunity to get out in your local business community and network.
If you have local business clubs, join or attend as a visitor.
Give free seminars to the public or to businesses ("Email etiquette" "the 10 biggest mistakes businesses make on their websites" "how to do ABC on the Web", whatever.)
Make yourself known to graphic design firms, ad agencies, computer consulting firms, service companies and programmers, who may not have their own staff for web, or may have overflow work.
Write some technology and communications techniques columns for local newspaper.
Do some charity work for churches/schools/community organizations -- many business people sit on the volunteer boards of these orgs.
Carry business cards and practice practice practice your "elevator pitch" -- that is, the concise summary of what you do and why they would be interested in hiring you, delivered in 30 seconds (an elevator ride)
Build your portfolio and keep it 100% up to date.
If'n you got into computers and design with the hopes that you could spend your days in your home studio, and work would come to you, then go back to school and become a doctor. Running your own show means you have to be at least 50% of your time a salesman.
If you have local business clubs, join or attend as a visitor.
Give free seminars to the public or to businesses ("Email etiquette" "the 10 biggest mistakes businesses make on their websites" "how to do ABC on the Web", whatever.)
Make yourself known to graphic design firms, ad agencies, computer consulting firms, service companies and programmers, who may not have their own staff for web, or may have overflow work.
Write some technology and communications techniques columns for local newspaper.
Do some charity work for churches/schools/community organizations -- many business people sit on the volunteer boards of these orgs.
Carry business cards and practice practice practice your "elevator pitch" -- that is, the concise summary of what you do and why they would be interested in hiring you, delivered in 30 seconds (an elevator ride)
Build your portfolio and keep it 100% up to date.
If'n you got into computers and design with the hopes that you could spend your days in your home studio, and work would come to you, then go back to school and become a doctor. Running your own show means you have to be at least 50% of your time a salesman.
This is very good advice. About 80 - 90% of my web development work is from web design firms that don't have developers in house. Let them know you're there when they need you, do a good job for them, and you'll find them needing you more and more often.
Networking is definitely key -- make sure your web address or email is available (or at the bottom of each page) of every site you make. LinkedIn is a great tool as well. Do work for free (don't be taken advantage of, but build up that portfolio).
Good luck!!!
Good luck!!!
what kinds of sites are you making and what kind of degree do you have?
iow, are you using your degree or would you have been better off studying design?
Thanks guys for your help.
im trying to get out to as many networking places that I can, i think web design is very saturated at the moment and a lot of people are DIY web designers.
Most of my customers have been music related so far and have come via word of mouth, but I am working on a beauty studio and a sauce company at the moment.
My URL is http://www.spundesigns.com It does need a little refresh, any comments will be welcome but please dont slag me off!!
My ideas are to minimalise it, the front page and the portfolio look too busy. so i want to make it look like less without loosing too much.
I am also going to start doing mail outs and phone calls, even if it gets the name around. I love it when i say who I am and people say "Oh yeh, i have heard of you!"
im trying to get out to as many networking places that I can, i think web design is very saturated at the moment and a lot of people are DIY web designers.
Most of my customers have been music related so far and have come via word of mouth, but I am working on a beauty studio and a sauce company at the moment.
My URL is http://www.spundesigns.com It does need a little refresh, any comments will be welcome but please dont slag me off!!
My ideas are to minimalise it, the front page and the portfolio look too busy. so i want to make it look like less without loosing too much.
I am also going to start doing mail outs and phone calls, even if it gets the name around. I love it when i say who I am and people say "Oh yeh, i have heard of you!"
Are you the sole employee of your design company? Thats what I gathered at least from your first post. On your site I see the word 'we' used many times in reference to your company.
I would say you should be more honest to your potential clients if you are the only employee.
Boagworld recently had a good podcast on marketing your company: show 95
I would say you should be more honest to your potential clients if you are the only employee.
Boagworld recently had a good podcast on marketing your company: show 95
well i guess its one of these things.
We may sound good to some and bad to others, and the same with I.
You never know what to do for the better
We may sound good to some and bad to others, and the same with I.
You never know what to do for the better
well... putting my URL here changed my site from a 5-10 users per day to a 30 users per day site according to Google Analytics.
Shame none of them are customers.
Shame none of them are customers.
If they're prowling around in this particular forum, they probably are not in need of your services and rather after customers themselves.
I'll help
I just put up a forum on my website and have a marketing and public relations background. Feel free to post on that forum, and I'll give you some tips. You can find it at http://www.creativesculpture.com. I see you are in the UK. Even so I would check out the small business administration web links there is a ton of business information there.
My other favorite place is http://selfpromotion.com You must check this out.
what type of clients are you after? What do you have that others are not giving? We can continue this here, but lets also do it at my forum, as it is new and my posts to you may help others in the future.
I just put up a forum on my website and have a marketing and public relations background. Feel free to post on that forum, and I'll give you some tips. You can find it at http://www.creativesculpture.com. I see you are in the UK. Even so I would check out the small business administration web links there is a ton of business information there.
My other favorite place is http://selfpromotion.com You must check this out.
what type of clients are you after? What do you have that others are not giving? We can continue this here, but lets also do it at my forum, as it is new and my posts to you may help others in the future.