With the incredible amount of competition that exists for web design services, many designers struggle to find new clients. If this is the case for you, we will look at 6 different things that you can do to help yourself avoid this problem by finding more work.
Every designer has buys times and slow times. Hopefully, the things that we look at in this article will help to keep you busy most of the time and to minimize the frequency of those situations where you need to actively look for work.
1. Market Yourself with an Effective Portfolio Site
Probably the most important asset to a freelancer or small design firm is the portfolio site. Most potential clients will judge you based on what they see from your portfolio. That includes both the work that you have done for other clients and the design of the portfolio site itself.
For many designers, the portfolio site is the single most significant source of leads. In this case, the site is always working to promote your business whenever a potential client is on the site.
2. Be Easily-Accessible
As people are visiting your portfolio site, some of them will want to contact you to find out more information about having you design their site. It should be as easy as possible for them to get in touch with you, or you may lose visitors and clients.
In most cases, a portfolio site will have a contact form that visitors can fill out to have someone get in touch with them or to request a quote. Another common approach is to list the designer's email address on the site. Whatever you choose, make it easy to find.
3. Optimize Your Site for Search Engines
Many of those potential clients that are looking to find a designer will be using a search engine to help in their quest. For this reason, it is important that your portfolio site is build to rank well in the search engines.
4. Include a Blog on Your Site
Many designers are effectively using blogs to increase the effectiveness of their portfolio sites. There are a number of reasons to consider blogging. First, a blog will allow you to show some of your personality and you may be able to get more interaction with potential clients this way.
Second, blogs are helpful for getting in-bound links to your site and for generally increasing the traffic at your portfolio. Third, having more content on a blog will give you a chance to get more search engine traffic.
5. Get Referrals from Clients
As you finish a project for a client, don't forget to ask them if they know of anyone that they would be willing to refer to you. Most clients are happy to help you in this way if they are satisfied with your work, and they will feel like they are helping out their friends by recommending you.
It can also be a helpful practice to stay in touch with your old clients and periodically check in with them to see if they need any work from you, and if they have any referrals for you.
6. Visit Online Job Boards
Design job boards are available online and they typically include full-time employment opportunities as well as freelance listings. In many cases you will be able to apply regardless of where you live.
Every designer has buys times and slow times. Hopefully, the things that we look at in this article will help to keep you busy most of the time and to minimize the frequency of those situations where you need to actively look for work.
1. Market Yourself with an Effective Portfolio Site
Probably the most important asset to a freelancer or small design firm is the portfolio site. Most potential clients will judge you based on what they see from your portfolio. That includes both the work that you have done for other clients and the design of the portfolio site itself.
For many designers, the portfolio site is the single most significant source of leads. In this case, the site is always working to promote your business whenever a potential client is on the site.
2. Be Easily-Accessible
As people are visiting your portfolio site, some of them will want to contact you to find out more information about having you design their site. It should be as easy as possible for them to get in touch with you, or you may lose visitors and clients.
In most cases, a portfolio site will have a contact form that visitors can fill out to have someone get in touch with them or to request a quote. Another common approach is to list the designer's email address on the site. Whatever you choose, make it easy to find.
3. Optimize Your Site for Search Engines
Many of those potential clients that are looking to find a designer will be using a search engine to help in their quest. For this reason, it is important that your portfolio site is build to rank well in the search engines.
4. Include a Blog on Your Site
Many designers are effectively using blogs to increase the effectiveness of their portfolio sites. There are a number of reasons to consider blogging. First, a blog will allow you to show some of your personality and you may be able to get more interaction with potential clients this way.
Second, blogs are helpful for getting in-bound links to your site and for generally increasing the traffic at your portfolio. Third, having more content on a blog will give you a chance to get more search engine traffic.
5. Get Referrals from Clients
As you finish a project for a client, don't forget to ask them if they know of anyone that they would be willing to refer to you. Most clients are happy to help you in this way if they are satisfied with your work, and they will feel like they are helping out their friends by recommending you.
It can also be a helpful practice to stay in touch with your old clients and periodically check in with them to see if they need any work from you, and if they have any referrals for you.
6. Visit Online Job Boards
Design job boards are available online and they typically include full-time employment opportunities as well as freelance listings. In many cases you will be able to apply regardless of where you live.
About the Author:
Steven Snell is a web designer from New Jersey. He runs DesignM.ag, a web web design site that includes a job board for web designers.
0 comments:
Post a Comment