Finding new Website clients?

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SaphriX

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I need a bit of help...
I've recently gone on my own designing websites.
I've gone the route of staying away from Worpress and the likes (for now) and sticking strictly to HTML and CSS coding so that I can freshen up on code and syntax.

What I'd like to know from the pros out there... I'm having a bit of trouble finding business.
Any help?

Just so you know, my site's only been up for about 2 months so it isn't ranked highly on search engines yet (if at all), so business through search engines is nil.
I've listed on most directories I can find. I've advertised on major classifieds sites. I've even gone through small business listings looking for businesses who either do not have a website or have an outdated site that needs updating and eMailed them directly.

Before I go out and pay GOOGLE, FaceBook, print pamphlets and go pounding the streets, does anyone have any other ideas that have worked for them?

I'd really appreciate some advice.

~Kevin
 
get any sites you have designed to say in the footer:

"designed by me" with a link to your website.
 
Chevron said:
get any sites you have designed to say in the footer:

"designed by me" with a link to your website.
Click to expand...

But for this, he needs business. Without business, he can't put the link. Without the link (according to you) he gets no business.

Try odesk.com and elance and pimp yourself out there. Also, themeforest.net allows you to sell your own designs on there. Try that.

Also don't snub wordpress that much, clients (who are stingy mother****ers) would like a once-off cost where they can update their sites themselves. Also perhaps get your own reseller hosting where you can host them. I used to host my clients for free if they used my services providing their website isn't something like kalahari.net

Then if they don't want to use my services anymore and choose someone else, I give them a month's notice and a copy of their source and turn off their site after that.
 
Thanks Chevron, I do agree completely. That's a brilliant reminder of why you need to do that.

Well, here's the thing... I am, but I'd need to do a lot more sites to get new business and I need new business to put that in the footer.
Kind of like a vicious circle...
 
Look at going into Joomla websites as well, additionally start creating a new page or editing old pages on your website daily, this will help push you up the rankings. Unfortunately it’s a catch 22, Adwords helps but you need money to advertise
 
Thanks envo, at this point I'm pretty much ready to pimp myself out anywhere for the business.
Good point on the hosting.
 
Domains.co.za (Wayne) said:
Look at going into Joomla websites as well, additionally start creating a new page or editing old pages on your website daily, this will help push you up the rankings. Unfortunately it’s a catch 22, Adwords helps but you need money to advertise
Click to expand...

New mission from now on.... New page, new content every day!

Thank you!

Wish that crossed my mind sooner!
 
One thing you could also try to do is affiliate with people like Wayne from domains.co.za and get on a list of "approved designers" (if they do have a list like that) whereby any new hosting/website customers gets a nice little email from them saying "hey, try out designer xyz, website design from R2000" and then you guys can decide how much of a kick-back domains.co.za gets as an example.

Do that with other hosting companies without their own designers etc and you'll get a steady stream of design requests IMO
 
another idea can be contacting people who make wedding stationary (or do wedding planning/photography) and sell them the idea of commemorating the wedding, how the stationary/food looked like and photographs the couple approves on it with a litte bio on each of them and how they met and the proposal etc

they'll refer you the business, in turn they get links back (photographer/stationary by etc) and so do you.
 
SaphriX said:
New mission from now on.... New page, new content every day!

Thank you!

Wish that crossed my mind sooner!
Click to expand...

You could try and get an adwords voucher that will help offset some of the cost of advertising, and track the referrals based on what you spend. Dude I know built his hosting business like that and spent MAYBE R500 a month and got new business through it all the time.
 
envo said:
You could try and get an adwords voucher that will help offset some of the cost of advertising, and track the referrals based on what you spend. Dude I know built his hosting business like that and spent MAYBE R500 a month and got new business through it all the time.
Click to expand...

+1

Google are still offering R600 free AdWords credit if you spend R200.
Check it out, and if you do decide to try this route, keep us posted on the results, i'd be interested to hear.

https://services.google.com/fb/forms/adwordsfreetrialza/

Also, if you want to look at increasing your SEO ranking, here's a great 10 chapter article about SEO - Great, easy read:
http://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo
 
Envo, great idea... I like the "If they do lists like this" piece. Maybe I should approach him.
Envo, your 2nd post... Great idea... A wedding planner and stationers website with portfolio.
Envo's on a roll :) I've registered with AdWords today and will see what happens.
Unfortunately, Grave, I already registered before filling out the form on your link and noticed a disclaimer '*Note: Existing Google AdWords customers are not eligible for this offer.'... I'm going to fill it out anyway and see if I still qualify considering I only registered and gave my card numbers today. I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Anything I learn, I'll put up here.

One thing that did get me my first client was by befriending a blogger with quite a few subscribers and asked him to post an advertisement for me.
This was the outcome http://nubbi.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/saphrix-netmedia-will-put-you-on-the-map/
 
Forget about emailing companies. They'll just treat them as spam.

What you'll have to do is actually meet some people face to face and knee to knee.

Start with family and friends who have businessess. For those that don't offer to do a blog for a small fee.

Networking is the key. Go out and meet people.

You wont make money online unless you can stand out from the hundreds of website design services.
 
WaxLyrical, I know what you mean. I've eMailed hundreds, if not thousands, and have had no response.
It's futile! 'AAARRRGH' :(

True about the networking though, I've gotten more 'Yes's' by offering my garden service a site, my dog parlour a site, even my hair stylist. Yes, I try to be a Metroman :)

As a young business, I'm trying not to spend much money on advertising... Alas, it seems inevitable.
 
SaphriX said:
WaxLyrical, I know what you mean. I've eMailed hundreds, if not thousands, and have had no response.
It's futile! 'AAARRRGH' :(

True about the networking though, I've gotten more 'Yes's' by offering my garden service a site, my dog parlour a site, even my hair stylist. Yes, I try to be a Metroman :)

As a young business, I'm trying not to spend much money on advertising... Alas, it seems inevitable.
Click to expand...

Ye, meeting people is better than just mailing them, that's why I said "approach" instead of mail. Tech savvy people running hosting companies would/might actually respond to it, but a phone call is better (and then don't talk to a drone, talk to as high up as you can go)
 
oh and I didn't mean for the wedding planners/stationers. I meant for the couples. You will use the wedding planners/stationers to punt you to their clients. They then get referenced on each individuals wedding web page and gets a marketing kick like that while you do websites and host them :)

I'm betting you can get 100 hosting clients in 24 months and at least 20-50 new clients in your first year. Weddings are insane. And if you keep it cheap enough (not too cheap) and it looks great for the couple (catered to their style), then they have a living memento of their special day. 100 hosting clients at R25 a pop? Each paying R3k for a nice design and website?

A friend of mine who does stationary did 90 weddings last year November. Just for November. Math, bitch ;)
 
envo said:
Math, bitch ;)
Click to expand...


Ha ha ha ha!! Yes, indeed!

But you're right. That makes sense. At first I was following the route that every other designer does... Small Businesses. I haven't thought of anything else yet.
Tomorrow, I'll start punting this idea to Wedding Planners and Stationers.

On a side note.... Coming from a guy who has been married and divorced... and almost married again. OMG that is a lot of weddings for one month!
I thought I was bad for wanting to marry everyone, but that's a lot for one stationer (Is stationer even the correct term?)
 
skimread said:
you could try a freelancing site and responding to jobs posted
Click to expand...

How many many South African companies use a freelance site for their websites?

I know business is business and money can be made, but how many people want to sustain themselves and grow their business by doing work for others?
I know it sounds contradictory, but you know what I mean.

I've done this without growing my brand. Unfortunately.
 
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