Finding web design clients

Hello all...

I would very much like to start doing some freelance web design/development to make some money to supplement my main income (through my job)

I have the skills required and have done a few sites for a hand full of clients before, but how do i really find new clients who were not previously known to me?

Open to all low cost suggestions.

Thanks

 

Register on websites for freelancers like Upwork.com.

 

The cheapest solution is to promote yourself on social media - If you can't afford to have a website then atleast make a Facebook page to present your services to the world. You can register on freelancing websites but you will have to show patience as it may take time might be several months due to huge competition there.

Other very effective solution is to contact your existing clients and ask them for more work or request them to refer you in their community. You can also spread the word in your community.

Definitely there are so many other things but you will have to invest on them.

Cheers

 

You can register in Freelancing Website like Freelancer, UpWorK (Previously Known As oDesk) , Guru, Elance, Toptal etc.
You can start your website/Blog and start attracting visitors regarding your area or expertise and start getting prospects who might be interested in your services.
You should take active participants in Group in Facebook and Google+ regarding your Work area and offer suggestion and advice for free. This will establish you as a known face in your niche. You will get leads and prospects as you continue this activity.

 

You would find more success and profitability finding a niche to market to. For instance, instead of General Web Design create Web Site templates for Hair Salons and provide a complete solution from web design to hosting to updates & maintenance. Charge a design cost and a monthly service and management fee. ie: $1,200 design (negotiable) and $299 fixed monthly. 30 clients yields a 100k+ residual income plus over $36k in up fronts. Competition would be lower due to you focusing on a specific niche and it will allow you to become a master in the niche in terms of what salons want. You could have already made templates with interchangeable widgets for scheduling appts etc. It also allows you to market in Hair Salon specific magazines and ezines, forums, web sites, groups, and even directly to the business by using something as simple as Google to find clients.

I'm against General Web Design. I personally feel it will give you the starving artist syndrome.

 

Very good idea and I'm 100% agreed. Just need to find a niche that have enough business.

 

But what will be the way to get 30 clients as I believe it will not be any easy thing. Any idea/thought on it?

 

I Actually never really considered this, but i like it as a concept very much. I have actually done a few websites in the construction industry and find that many building companies where I am from have quite outdated websites. Some definite potential there thanks for the suggestion!

 

Niche is right. Lets assume you live in a city with say 100,000 people. If you look up business directories you might discover 50% of businesses don't have their own website at all. It is an easy business to walk into with a set focus in mind.

If you send over some of your designs and portfolios we might be able to help.

 

All you need is Yellow Pages to find the businesses.. or search google... If your objective is 30 clients to make 100k then it starts with direct mailers.. contacting the salons by phone... advertising in magazines directly for salons.. adwords.. banners on hair salon web sites etc. It's not easy but it is entirely possible with effort.