Marketing your web business

feenster99

feenster99

feenster99

Associate
Joined
19 Jun 2003
Posts
1,680
Location
West Yorks, UK
Hi all,

I work for a small Web design company. We have a good set of skills between us, a decent portfolio and website and a good client list too.

I was wondering if other webbies could share some info on how you market your company - i.e., how do you get new work in? Do you send out letters/fliers or is it mostly word of mouth etc? We mostly send out letters and find we get a very poor conversion rate, so we are looking to diversify our marketing.

Any ideas?

Matt
 
This may be deemed as self promotion but I’ll reply anyway.

I do a bit of freelance web design and stuff. I've not once advertised but worked on existing clients and word of mouth which seems the best way to get business.

The obligatory freebee website for a good cause in the local town is always a good way of getting your name out there.

Sending letters wouldn't be my first priority for advertising. As with emails they are far too easy to dispose of. I would however give a company a call and try and tap into them and see if they really want or need a website. Be careful to do your research before hand otherwise you will look silly.
 
Well, we also do a lot of ringing around. I wonder whether it is really just down to there being too much competition in our area. Ah well, if there is no magic trick, I guess we must just keep slogging :(

Matt
 
have you thought about maybe looking at local business websites, and then coming up with ideas for a revamp - then sending that out to your potential client? Show them what you could do for them, and maybe you will get more work? Good luck! :)
 
There is definately no magic trick. Ten years ago maybe, you've just got to keep working.

I definately wouldn't consider doing web design as a full time job.
 
i run my own computer repair service and when i first started it was hard i felt like giving up after 3 months of trying to get the business in! but now i have 23 businesses under my name and i have served over 300 in home repairs in the last 9 months! but that was by will power and dedication. But yes do a bit of free lance work especially for small ish businesses then get them to help you out on advertising!
 
i'd look at some local, small-to-medium businesses' websites and put together a couple of PDFs redesigning the front page of their site. Then write them a letter, including the designs on a CD. Include the adobe reader installer, in case they don't have it. then give them a courtesy call, just to check that they've received your package (oo-er!), and ask what they thought of it.

it might be worth quoting a price for the sites that you've included, and detail the functionality of the site once it's completed. it might sound like a lot of work, but i expect you'd get a better conversion rate, and you'll have given those companies something to show their friends when they ask if it'd be a good idea to get a website done/re-done :)

might coerce their friends into getting one from you, too :p
 
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