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Many web designers struggle to find work because there are so many other designers out there competing for clients. If you are freelancing or running a small design studio you may have to actively seek for work rather than just sitting back and letting potential clients flock to you.
Even the best designers experience ups and downs in their workload, and most will be in need of new clients at some point. If you are looking for ways to increase the number of clients that you get, these 6 tips should be of some help.
1. Design a Good Portfolio Site
Many potential clients will have their first impressions of you formed while they are on your portfolio site. In fact, a good portfolio site can be a huge asset to a designer. You'll want to have quality work to display in your portfolio, and the site itself should be well designed.
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. Make it Easy to Contact You
Those potential clients who are visiting you portfolio site may want to speak with you about the potential of hiring you for their project. When this is the case, they should be able to get in touch with you very easily.
The most common approach for a designer's portfolio site is to include a form that can be used to contact the designer. Additionally, it is not rare for the designer to simply list their email address so potential clients can get in touch. What you choose is not as important as the need to make it easy.
3. SEO Your Portfolio
One of the most common ways for potential clients to search for a designer to hire is to use a search engine. Ideally, you're portfolio site will be well optimized and rank highly for relevant searches.
4. Blog
Blogs have been very helpful to many designers in terms of increasing exposure to their portfolio sites. Here are some of the benefits to adding a blog: First, through the blog you can reach out to people and show a bit more of yourself and make your portfolio site more personal.
Second, they are great for building links to your site and increasing the number of people that see your portfolio. Third, blogs tend to draw more search engine visitors than a portfolio site by itself.
5. Get Referrals from Clients
After you're finished working with a client (or any time during the project), take a minute to ask the client for referrals to any friends that may be in need of your services. If your clients are happy with your work they are very likely to have someone in mind.
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
There are a number of online job boards that list design and development related jobs. Some are full-time positions, some are part-time, and others are freelance opportunities. With many of these jobs you will be able to work from any location since you could design from your home office.
Even the best designers experience ups and downs in their workload, and most will be in need of new clients at some point. If you are looking for ways to increase the number of clients that you get, these 6 tips should be of some help.
1. Design a Good Portfolio Site
Many potential clients will have their first impressions of you formed while they are on your portfolio site. In fact, a good portfolio site can be a huge asset to a designer. You'll want to have quality work to display in your portfolio, and the site itself should be well designed.
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. Make it Easy to Contact You
Those potential clients who are visiting you portfolio site may want to speak with you about the potential of hiring you for their project. When this is the case, they should be able to get in touch with you very easily.
The most common approach for a designer's portfolio site is to include a form that can be used to contact the designer. Additionally, it is not rare for the designer to simply list their email address so potential clients can get in touch. What you choose is not as important as the need to make it easy.
3. SEO Your Portfolio
One of the most common ways for potential clients to search for a designer to hire is to use a search engine. Ideally, you're portfolio site will be well optimized and rank highly for relevant searches.
4. Blog
Blogs have been very helpful to many designers in terms of increasing exposure to their portfolio sites. Here are some of the benefits to adding a blog: First, through the blog you can reach out to people and show a bit more of yourself and make your portfolio site more personal.
Second, they are great for building links to your site and increasing the number of people that see your portfolio. Third, blogs tend to draw more search engine visitors than a portfolio site by itself.
5. Get Referrals from Clients
After you're finished working with a client (or any time during the project), take a minute to ask the client for referrals to any friends that may be in need of your services. If your clients are happy with your work they are very likely to have someone in mind.
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
There are a number of online job boards that list design and development related jobs. Some are full-time positions, some are part-time, and others are freelance opportunities. With many of these jobs you will be able to work from any location since you could design from your home office.
About the Author:
Steven Snell is a web designer from New Jersey. He runs DesignM.ag, a design blog that includes a job board for designers.
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