Finding Clients As A Web Designer (6 Proven Strategies)
by Kyle Prinsloo Last updated Oct 21, 2023
Without clients, you have a hobby - not a freelancing business.
In this article, I’ll share some practical advice on how you can wave goodbye to that hobby and find work as a freelancer.
I’ll cover:
- Friends & Family
- Communities
- Freelance Platforms
- Google Search & Maps
- Outreach DM
- Partnering with Agencies
Let’s get into it!
👥 Friends & Family
Often overlooked, but a simple message informing friends and family you are now a freelancer and can help them with their websites and/or marketing can potentially result in a few clients or at the very least, experience.
When introducing your new freelance website design service to friends and family, it's important to convey your excitement and passion for this new venture.
Let them know that, as a freelancer, you offer custom website design services, creating unique and competitive sites.
Always try to get across some USPs when discussing your work, like that you use the latest tools to build user-friendly websites that meet each client's specific needs.
When telling your friends and family about your new journey, don't be afraid to ask for their support, and encourage them to recommend you to potential clients. This will help you gain clients and create a referral network for future projects.
😃 Communities
I find this the most underrated way to get clients.
It’s simple: join relevant communities, add value, help people, and opportunities will come your way.
Joining a web design-focused community can greatly benefit you in several ways.
It allows for networking with professionals with similar interests. This engagement can offer you insights, advice, and support from successful individuals in the community. It's crucial to stay updated with the latest trends and best practices in the ever evolving field of web design.
Actively participating in a web design community can showcase your skills and build credibility. Sharing useful content can establish you as an expert, attracting clients looking for skilled designers.
Active community involvement also increases the chances of referrals and new job opportunities.
Involving yourself in a web design community can promote your work and attract clients. Referrals among community members can create a continuous flow of opportunities for freelancers.
Andy, a member of Freelance Fam, says,
“The power of online communities, or what I refer to as digital neighbourhoods, is life-changing. Never before have you been able to opt into a selected peer group with the same goals and motivations as you.”
…and he reached $15,000 MRR within 6 months.
I’ve personally hired 3 people from within this community - it works!
🎯 Freelance Platforms
If you’re familiar with my freelancing journey, I share how I started on Fiverr and turned $5 into $10,000+ from my first client.
Freelancing platforms are not dead…
They work - even today - and it’s still possible to earn a great side or full-time income, and even 6-figures a year.
Around 70% of freelancers find work through online platforms and job boards.
How to Succeed on Freelance Platforms
Create an engaging profile on freelancing platforms for success. It serves as the first impression to clients, so it should highlight your skills, experience, and expertise.
Incorporate a professional photo, concise bio, and key accomplishments to outshine the competition and draw clients searching for your skills.
For success in freelancing, build a solid portfolio.
If you're new with little to show, create personal projects or work for friends and family to enhance your portfolio.
Good communication on freelancing platforms is crucial.
Respond to clients quickly, be clear, and set achievable expectations.
Keep clients updated on project progress, accept feedback, and be open to changes. This builds trust, secures ongoing client relationships, and increases repeat business and positive reviews.
To succeed on freelancing sites, keep boosting your skills and follow current industry trends. Learn new technology, participate in online events, and engage in web communities.
Today, I’m on goLance as it’s less competitive, the support is incredible, and they’re growing like crazy.
For more content on how I started and the strategy I recommend on freelancing platforms, watch this.
📍 Google Search & Google Maps
You want to find websites that rank at the bottom of the first page or have low reviews on Google Maps and pitch them your services.
This is what you search on Google:
- [service X city]
- X “near me”
Then here’s what we’re looking at:
Reviews (anything less than 3 / 5 and low quantity of reviews)
To help them, you set up an automated email campaign for their customers/clients 7 days after service, asking for a review.
Here's how:
Step 1: Select an email marketing platform like Mailchimp or AWeber for automation features.
Step 2: Design a review-request email template with a clear call-to-action.
Step 3: Set rules to send emails 7 days post service.
Step 4: Segment customer list for targeted campaigns.
Step 5: Regularly monitor metrics to gauge campaign effectiveness.
Step 6: Follow-up with customers who leave reviews to build loyalty.
Next, we look at:
Website
- Bad SEO
- Bad design
- No clear CTA
- Long loading times
If you struggle with knowing what a successful website should look like, watch this:
Now that we know what to do, let’s do it.
Head over to Google and search for:
- Florists near me
- Optometrists near me
- Vein removal in X city
- Landscapers in X city
- Dentists in X city
- Electricians near me
- Painters in X city
- Architects in X city
- Brick pavers X city
- Deck installers X city
- Garage door installers X city
- Storage facilities X city
Once we've found potential leads to reach out to based on our review and website improvement criteria mentioned earlier, it's time to reach out to them and pitch our services.
There’s a detailed process to follow here, and I cover it all step-by-step in this video:
📧 Cold Outreach
This is when you send a direct message on social media to prospects.
It can be:
A simple DM (along with a simple follow-up) like:
Hey John, I recently helped Bob increase his XYZ by X. Would you be interested in a call to see if we can help you as well?
Can result in life-changing outcomes.
The same strategy applies to cold emails.
I recommend using LemList to automate follow-ups…
Let's see how
Lemlist is an automation tool for managing follow-up emails, saving time and ensuring consistent communication with potential clients.
Users create campaigns to send emails based on certain triggers, and can customize each email in a user-friendly interface.
Advanced features like A/B testing and email tracking are provided for optimizing engagement.
This automation can particularly benefit freelance web designers or developers in securing more work opportunities by maintaining timely and personalized follow-ups.
🤝 Partnering with Agencies
One of the best ways to learn and get paid is to partner with agencies.
Agencies often look for talent to help them when they have an overflow of work and don’t want to hire someone full-time.
If you have a good portfolio website and you can show what you’ve done, it’s easy to pitch them your services.
How to pitch your services to an established agency
When pitching your services to an established agency as a freelance web designer, it is important to approach the process strategically.
Here are some steps to help you pitch effectively:
- Research the agency:
Before contacting, study the agency's services, clients, and brand. This will help you adapt your pitch to their needs, proving that you have researched thoroughly.
- Highlight your expertise:
Highlight your skills and expertise. Show your portfolio, emphasising relevant projects. Mention any specific technologies or languages you're good at.
- Understand their pain points:
Determine the agency's web design issues. They may need more expertise, resources, or improved skills. Present yourself as the problem-solver and explain how your abilities can meet their needs.
- Offer collaboration opportunities:
Portray yourself as a collaborator, not a competitor. Show how your freelance services can enhance the agency's team and boost their project quality. Stress your adaptability, accessibility, and eagerness to work with their team to reach common goals.
- Provide testimonials and references:
Include testimonials or references to establish trust and credibility. This can ease any concerns of working with a freelance web designer and developer.
- Showcase your communication skills:
Good communication is key with agencies. Show your clear and quick verbal and written skills. Highlight your grasp of teamwork, feedback, and deadlines.
- Be professional and concise:
Be professional and succinct when pitching. Make a compelling pitch that shows your value but avoid too much detail. Keep your pitch concise.
Follow these steps and you will increase your chances of successfully pitching your services to an established agency.
Here's an example pitch you could adapt...
Subject: Collaboration Opportunity - Freelance Web Designer & Developer
Dear [Agency Name],
Hello, I'm [Your Name], a web designer and developer with [X] years of experience. Your agency's portfolio has inspired me with its innovative and creative work.
I'm looking to collaborate on exceptional websites and applications. My broad freelance experience may complement your agency's services.
I specialise in [mention your areas of expertise, such as responsive web design, front-end development, user experience, etc...]
I am proficient in [Web Technologies] and have experience working with popular content management systems like [CMS Platforms]. I am also well-versed in responsive design principles, ensuring that the websites I create are optimised for all devices.
I have technical skills, teamwork, and attention to detail. I ensure on-time, on-budget projects. I prioritise clear communication and long-term client relationships.
Check out my portfolio displaying my recent work. I am open to collaborations and can provide more work samples if required.
I appreciate your consideration for this partnership. I respect your agency's work and think we can create impressive digital experiences together. I am eager to talk about how we can reach our common goals.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Contact Information]
Jary, a member of my community used this strategy recently:
“Hey Guys,
I wanted to share an underrated method I learned from Kyle’s course to get clients.
Which is reaching out to other dev agencies.
Doing this helped me land a 1-Year contract with a local agency this past summer.
Hope this helps!”
And that’s my 2c on how you can find clients as a freelance web designer.
What do you think?
Anything to add?
Join My Community
If you are looking for freelancers to journey with, join Freelance Fam.
We have amazing things happening every month and it has helped so many people already.
That's it from me. I hope you found this helpful.
Cheers for now.
Kyle
