Share Your Expertise
Whether you’re targeting individual businesses or agencies that will provide steady work, it’s important to show that you are an expert in your field. Here are a couple of easy ways to get the word out:Blogging
The simplest way to show that you’ve got the goods is through your blog. The good news is that you don’t have to be an expert writer in order to share what you know. Just writing short, simple posts about topics your target audience cares about will do the trick. If you’re targeting small business, then write about the things you can do to help make their website a success. If you’re looking for a long-term relationship with an agency, focus on the technical and design aspects of your work.
Of course, you’ll want to share your writing through social media channels. If your site was built on WordPress, you can even automate the process of sharing your new posts. Your content doesn’t necessarily have to go viral in order to be of great help. The random person who finds your site may be the one who really needs to hear what you have to say.
Meetups
While web design is a global industry, you’ll often find great opportunities right in your own backyard. A local meetup is a great place to meet people who share an interest in web design or related topics. But it’s not just professionals who attend these events. From my own experience, I’ve met several business owners who want to learn about how things work or what makes for a great site.
These events are usually pretty informal and are really about getting together to share knowledge. Once you’ve been to a few meetings, you might consider volunteering to make a presentation yourself. Again, it’s a low-pressure atmosphere. Just be yourself and share what you know.
Build Your Reputation
This one has absolutely no shortcuts. But it is perhaps the best way to get your name out there. A great reputation will get you everywhere in this business.
The key to building one is really about doing great work and
providing clients with a great overall experience. Beyond building
beautiful, functional websites, it’s often the little details that make a
big difference.
Really, it’s all about the basics of customer service. Responding to
requests in a timely manner, for example, affirms that you care about
the needs of your clients. Even a simple reply stating that you’ll get
back to them shortly projects a positive image.
Being honest and realistic about pricing and deadlines are also
traits that clients value. Nobody wants to be told that their project
costs much more than the original estimate, nor do they want to wait for
days/weeks/months past a promised deadline.
There have been talented designers who have failed
because they weren’t responsive to their clients’ needs. Don’t be one
of them. Clients who value you and your work will gladly tell others
about how great you are. This is how you build your reputation, one
project at a time. It’s a process that may take some time, but can
really pay off in the long run.
Show Them Who You Are
Here’s a little secret: The “right person” is the one looking at your
portfolio, reading your tweets or latest blog post at this very moment.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll become a top client – they
may never become a client at all. But they’re the right person in that
moment because they’re looking at what you have to offer.
Your goal is to let them know who you are and how you can help them. Accomplish that and you will find the success you’re after.
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