Webmaster forum - The next step

Author

The next step

Paul Watt

2006-11-19, 7:41 pm

Hey,
I've made the decission to try and make a living out of this web designing
malarky.
My question is (and I guess its a $1000000 question) how do you get clients?
I was planning on taking an ad out in my local papers,going door to door
with the shops in my local area,maybe even doing a mail shot to local
buisness.
I'm hoping to get some word of mouth buisness from my simon gogerly site,
seeing as he's in the music biz, i'm thinking up-coming bands, that sort of
thing.
Am I missing anything?

--
Cheers

Paul
le singe est dans l'arbre
http://www.paulwatt.info

GreatDomainz

2006-11-19, 7:42 pm

On Nov 6, 12:32 am, "Paul Watt" <pau...@wattio.NOSPAMfreeserve.co.uk>
wrote:
> Hey,
> I've made the decission to try and make a living out of this web designing
> malarky.
> My question is (and I guess its a $1000000 question) how do you get clients?
> I was planning on taking an ad out in my local papers,going door to door
> with the shops in my local area,maybe even doing a mail shot to local
> buisness.
> I'm hoping to get some word of mouth buisness from my simon gogerly site,
> seeing as he's in the music biz, i'm thinking up-coming bands, that sort of
> thing.
> Am I missing anything?
>
> --
> Cheers
>
> Paul
> le singe est dans l'arbrehttp://www.paulwatt.info

Join a few forums. There are thousands of potential clients at any of
the below sites.

www.namepros.com
www.dnforum.com
www.sitepoint.com

Many more are listed here: http://www.webmasterforumlist.com

Wish you the best!

Don.

William Tasso

2006-11-19, 7:42 pm

Fleeing from the madness of the jungle
Paul Watt <paulio@wattio.NOSPAMfreeserve.co.uk> stumbled into
news:alt.www.webmaster
and said:

> Hey,
> I've made the decission to try and make a living out of this web
> designing
> malarky.
> My question is (and I guess its a $1000000 question) how do you get
> clients?
> I was planning on taking an ad out in my local papers,going door to door
> with the shops in my local area,maybe even doing a mail shot to local
> buisness.
> I'm hoping to get some word of mouth buisness from my simon gogerly site,
> seeing as he's in the music biz, i'm thinking up-coming bands, that sort
> of
> thing.
> Am I missing anything?

Of course you are <g>, but the above is a good start.

How do you currently earn a living? Can you convert any existing contacts
into web site clients?

Bon chance.
--
William Tasso

http://williamtasso.com/words/what-is-usenet.asp

CJM

2006-11-19, 7:43 pm

It's worth checking if your local independant computer suppliers will allow
you to leave some business cards there. Often they will since it complements
their business.

There are a number of sites for indie developers to pick up projects, and as
others have already said, if you can turn contacts into clients you'll be
sorted. There are a lot of small businesses that just want a basic presence
on the web, so you might consider proactively approaching some local ones
that with dont have websites. Plenty will respond to a personal approach
from a local developer....

Good Luck.

Chaddy2222

2006-11-19, 7:43 pm

Paul Watt wrote:
> Hey,
> I've made the decission to try and make a living out of this web designing
> malarky.
> My question is (and I guess its a $1000000 question) how do you get clients?
> I was planning on taking an ad out in my local papers,going door to door
> with the shops in my local area,maybe even doing a mail shot to local
> buisness.
> I'm hoping to get some word of mouth buisness from my simon gogerly site,
> seeing as he's in the music biz, i'm thinking up-coming bands, that sort of
> thing.
> Am I missing anything?
>
>
Hmmm, the local chamber of comerce might also be a good starting point.
Other then that, maybe small local shops etc etc.
--
Regards Chad. http://freewebdesign.cjb.cc

Aaron Whiffin

2006-11-19, 7:44 pm

> I've made the decission to try and make a living out of this web designing
> malarky.
> My question is (and I guess its a $1000000 question) how do you get
> clients?
> I was planning on taking an ad out in my local papers,going door to door
> with the shops in my local area,maybe even doing a mail shot to local
> buisness.

Now we rely on reputation and Google AdWords and are very very busy ... but
when we started out we found that col calling local businesses worked,
fliers didn't, adverts in papers didn't, yellow pages didn't, emailing
current sites did ... but all depends on the market.

My advice, get a good Google AdWords scheme setup oncentrating on paying a
few £ for high quality clicks "web site designers yourtown" rather than "web
site design" for example ...

Matt-the-Hoople

2006-11-19, 7:45 pm

Quoth Paul Watt in alt.www.webmaster

> My question is (and I guess its a $1000000 question) how do you get
> clients?

Lots of good response already posted - but I'll add this:

Check out show #35 of Brendon Sinclairs Business Mix podcast.

Brendon interviewed a Brisbane Web developer for a half hour, on how he
built his business up from a one man show to himself and 9 employees in
just 11 months.

A lot of it focusses on selling Web site design services, but most of it
can be applied to any business where face to face selling is needed.

It is certainly worth a listen if you get chance.

http://www.tailoredpodcast.com/

hth

--
# www.mattlindi.com
# matt.lindi2@your_clothes_verizon.net
# remove _your_clothes_ to email me

Charles Sweeney

2006-11-19, 7:58 pm

Paul Watt wrote

> Hey,
> I've made the decission to try and make a living out of this web
> designing malarky

YES!! Go for it! Best of luck.

> My question is (and I guess its a $1000000 question) how do you get
> clients? I was planning on taking an ad out in my local papers,going
> door to door with the shops in my local area,maybe even doing a mail
> shot to local buisness.

Although the interenet is the thing these days, your clients could be
anywhere in the world, I think it would be better to start off locally.
There's still a hell of a lot to be said for the Yellow Pages, and for a
few quid more you get on their web directory. I used it for a hosting
company, and still get calls today, four years after running the ad!

Many folks reach for the Yellow Pages first. Give it very strong
consideration.

When you start up, do a press release in the local rag. The new dad,
with the baby site would make a nice angle here.

--
Charles Sweeney
http://CharlesSweeney.com