Promoting a Business

Sally-san

Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2018
Messages
22
So I started a Web Development company a few year ago and I'm struggling to bring in new clients. Even though we can build beautiful websites.

I'm looking for any advice.

It's called Pixel Friendly, the quality of our site should speak for itself if any one is interested.
 

dunkyd

Executive Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2009
Messages
5,626
What could you do for my homemade site ? Tangotrading.co.za.
 

Dirtdiver

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2016
Messages
546
So i looked at Pixel friendlies website. Its good but the meet the team part..needs better pics of the staff:whistling:
 

^^vampire^^

Expert Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2009
Messages
3,877
Website looks good, much better than what is usually served up by people trying to build web businesses.

What I did when I started out is checked out businesses on gumtree and contacted them if they didn't have a website or their website wasn't looking so good and built up a portfolio. From there you get business from referrals or people that see you have a larger portfolio.

Also, spend some time scouring the web for businesses that have old and outdated websites. Either mock up a minimal solution that you can contact them and showcase or try set up a meeting to discuss a new website with them.
 

Trompie67

Expert Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2015
Messages
1,424
So i looked at Pixel friendlies website. Its good but the meet the team part..needs better pics of the staff:whistling:

Crap copy. WTF does this actually mean:
As a team of passionate developers and designers who strive to produce quality interactive and functional design. We offer variety of services ranging from web development to corporate identity packages. We use code and visual design to develop a professional image and shape your brand towards recognition.

Front page, second paragraph & it's meaningless copy. FAIL.

3 blog entries - last one was 18 months ago. FAIL. Do not bother with a blog if you cannot be bothered to keep it updated.

Projects - 1 client? Seriously? Plus it's a 1 page site. Hardly a project. Not even a link or click-through, just a name.

Sorry guys, you've got loads of work to do on your own site before I'd let you within 100 miles of any of mine.
 

Dirtdiver

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2016
Messages
546
Crap copy. WTF does this actually mean:
As a team of passionate developers and designers who strive to produce quality interactive and functional design. We offer variety of services ranging from web development to corporate identity packages. We use code and visual design to develop a professional image and shape your brand towards recognition.

Front page, second paragraph & it's meaningless copy. FAIL.

3 blog entries - last one was 18 months ago. FAIL. Do not bother with a blog if you cannot be bothered to keep it updated.

Projects - 1 client? Seriously? Plus it's a 1 page site. Hardly a project. Not even a link or click-through, just a name.

Sorry guys, you've got loads of work to do on your own site before I'd let you within 100 miles of any of mine.

:) You murdered them. I was trying to be so nice. You went straight for tough love, guess you need that sometimes.
 

GhostSixFour

Username approved by US Airforce
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
16,747
I tried running your site through https://testmysite.withgoogle.com/intl/en-gb twice, and it didn't even complete once. Not sure what you're doing on the site, but something is fukky.

Also, you helped the dojo set up a website, but never added some analytics? Why not? Did you not think that helping them grow their business would in turn help you?
 

Polymathic

Honorary Master
Joined
Mar 22, 2010
Messages
29,798
Your website for starts to pretty poor especially considering you guys are devs, looks like something you'd see back in 2012. Screams laziness to me.
 

RedViking

Nord of the South
Joined
Feb 23, 2012
Messages
58,139
I don't think it looks too bad. One of the better "web designer" websites and looks similar to the latest trends and some videos I've watched on Udemy.

I would allow for more space between the different sections, it looks a bit busy. Maybe add some demo sites to 'portfolio' because you only have one client so far.

Also apply your 'arsenal of marketing techniques marketing skills' to your own website, and it should speak for itself.


Well done for taking the leap and starting your own business.
 

CamiKaze

Honorary Master
Joined
May 19, 2010
Messages
14,846
Crap copy. WTF does this actually mean:
As a team of passionate developers and designers who strive to produce quality interactive and functional design. We offer variety of services ranging from web development to corporate identity packages. We use code and visual design to develop a professional image and shape your brand towards recognition.

Front page, second paragraph & it's meaningless copy. FAIL.

3 blog entries - last one was 18 months ago. FAIL. Do not bother with a blog if you cannot be bothered to keep it updated.

Projects - 1 client? Seriously? Plus it's a 1 page site. Hardly a project. Not even a link or click-through, just a name.

Sorry guys, you've got loads of work to do on your own site before I'd let you within 100 miles of any of mine.

And it also looks very busy and like they tried to squeeze everything into 1 page.
 

Markd

Expert Member
Joined
Oct 8, 2009
Messages
1,677
1. The pictures of the team are pretty bad / not good enough quality. You guys need to clean up a bit, get into a bright area with some uniform background, and take multiple pics, and then choose the best one. Your bio's are really brief and we have no idea who we're dealing with. Looks like some kids right out of school with no experience. If that's what you are, you don't want to be portraying that necesarily. Juice up the experience / backgrounds / projects etc.
2. Copy. I get it - you're devs. But I've seen this EXACT thing before. A couple guys start a thing and neither of them can type english properly. The page is littered with grammatical errors which make you look pretty unprofessional at the moment.
3. Irony. If you're going to do online marketing, shouldn't you know how to do it for your site? Not converting your click-throughs? Business isn't about sitting back and waiting for people to phone you. You need to actively hunt the business down, engage, meet, present, close. This is difficult when you're not used it, but probably the most effective way you have of growing. You need to learn to sell.
4. Other avenues. Why not spend some bucks to become a premium freelancer on Freelancer.com and start small/cheap to get some real experience under your belts. Experience (any experience) and time will see you evolve your portfolio and hopefully put you in a better position to compete.
5. Have you worked out who you're actually targeting? You should try figure this out and tailor everything you do to that audiences needs.

* Lastly - why is your site "South African" Web Development & Design - that's not really relevant to anyone. Take it out and go global, boys.
 
Last edited:

CamiKaze

Honorary Master
Joined
May 19, 2010
Messages
14,846
So I started a Web Development company a few year ago and I'm struggling to bring in new clients. Even though we can build beautiful websites.

I'm looking for any advice.

It's called Pixel Friendly, the quality of our site should speak for itself if any one is interested.

Hi,

I'm really interested in knowing what your feedback was to your development team. :)
 

ArtyLoop

Executive Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2017
Messages
7,777
So I started a Web Development company a few year ago and I'm struggling to bring in new clients. Even though we can build beautiful websites.

I'm looking for any advice.

It's called Pixel Friendly, the quality of our site should speak for itself if any one is interested.

The problem is as follows-
Building the thing is one problem. Maintenance thereof is another.
Also you are facing competition from the fact that this is now common knowledge. There's tools out there that allow even old Spanner Koos at the local mechanic shop to roll a pretty website with his poor grammar where he sells his biltong and old tools.
 

xt50

Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2017
Messages
28
I would to have a website for my company in the near future. Do you use wordpress templates or actually code ?
 

Trompie67

Expert Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2015
Messages
1,424
I would to have a website for my company in the near future. Do you use wordpress templates or actually code ?

Silly-san seems to have gone away.

From the 1 pager for them and their 1 client - both look like they are templates.
 
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