How to find new clients after relocating to a big city?

Hi folks,
Just moved to a big city and wanted to start promoting my webdesign business. Seeing how I am the only employee, does anyone have any advice on how to find potential clients?

What are some tricks? I was thinking of going to the city's chamber of commerce website and then mass mailing some peeps from the business directory. I figured I'd send emails to those who do not have websites listed.

How about conventions? Shows? Help! I don't know how to get my foot off the ground. However, I do have years of experience in doing websites for clients, I just have only done them for local clients in my small home town.

Thanks and I look forward to any tips and advice you all can share

 

Be careful with emailing. It could get you blacklisted. Plus I doubt that it would do you any good. I get scores of emails daily telling me how I need a new website presence, logo etc. I have actually looked at few of those sites and they look really nice, but I would never do business with a company that does that. You might send out postcards instead.

Does the Chamber have a newsletter that you can advertise in? Or maybe in your local community - do they have a small paper?

 

I would send them a formal letter, telling them about what you offer, links to previous works, customer referals and a special price for the first customers in the city.

 

Hope I don't get blacklisted, I just did a "hit" today on the local chamber's website.

Out of over 50 sent, so far 5 serious inquiries. We'll see how it goes on Monday when everyone returns to work....

 

You can also work as a freelancer for some time if u r free and want to earn some cash.

 

You could also try the local Business Network (BNI or Yellow Tie).
Another thing is getting to know people, I know it sounds kind of dumb but talk to everyone.

Talk to your neighbour (just casually), ask them what they do, be interested, tell them what you do. Things like these can turn into "oh, my brother runs a business and is looking to get a website", at that point you hand over a card

 

Advertising in the local paper can help alot.

 

This would be excellent, but i doubt that this is an affordable option at the beginning.

 

If you spend a couple hundred bucks for a one week ad, you could easily get a dozen clients and the first one will pay for the advertising. You've got to spend money to make money.

 

Working as a webdesigner myself. I find that print ads are usually somewhat ineffective unless the ad is large and remain in that paper for some time.
Few people are going to go looking in the local rag paper for a webdeveloper.

Most work (of mine and other developers I know) is from building relationships. You want people to say "I know a guy" and you want that guy to be you.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, get your name out there, talk to people, ask them what they do, tell them what you do and opportunies will present themselfs.

 

That's what I am looking for.....so how do I get "out there" and get my name out???

 

Well, being a computer person I found it hard as I didnt really talk to people much. When I was still studying I worked as a video store clerk which helped me develop my talking skills.
I first started with my mothers art class which she runs a few times a week in a studio at my home. I would talk to the students every now and then, even if its just a passing "hi, how are you?" as I was on my way out.

When I got the chance I asked them what they did, and told them what I did and in most cases, as I said before people are like "oh my brother/cousin/husband/me is looking to get a website made" and I would take it from there.

Its a little hard to get out of your comfort zone to talk to complete strangers, but soon you will estabish a nice little network.

The best way to get "out there" is to... well.... get out there. Go places, meet new people, let people tell you their problems because you might just be their solution.