How do I attain a client base for web design

[AntiFreze]

..

 

[Darthvoy]

you may want to try craigslist. I've gotten quite a few business customers there.

 

[Hyperblaze]

Checked out your site. First big turn off was you using html and not a scripting language (asp/php)

Your site looks like it was also built using a CMS. To me that doesn't show credible skill.

Also showing fake portfolios.....When you get real sites, link to them

What I say might sound harsh. Do you have any web developing experience?

 

[CrazyLazy]

Various freelancing sites are a good start, digitalpoint, craigslist, etc. The pay will be crap but it's a good way to build up a portfolio and clients. You also might want to look into buying freelance leads.

 

[Mo0o]

Judging by the "Cali clowning around" design... I dont think you're going to have much luck. It's interesting that people seem to think web design is still so amateur that people with very little exprience can just go in and make some money as a part time gig.

Your best bet is to just make websites for people you know who are doing you a personal favor by hiring you rather than someone w/ more expreience or just buying a template.

 

[Crono]

http://www.ifreelance.com/

- Offer your services free to schools, businesses, and other organizations. You can build a better portfolio that way, and you will get recommended to others if you do a good job.
- Find a niche within web design. Like catering to small businesses or cheap/quick web designs for business projects.
- Offer free templates on template websites. You might get interest in full, for-pay work that way.
- Put up listings on relevant forums (hosting, business talk, etc) that allow advertising. You might have to pay in some cases, but it will be worth it.
- Do aggressive SEO for keywords within a niche (which means you would first have to find a niche within web design).
- Bundle web design with web hosting. Offer this on a "sister" site.
- Improve your skills and take on internship. You can make connections this way. Connections -> clients

EDIT: And what Hyperblaze said. HTML + CSS is fine, though, if it's professionally done. www.pairedcreative.com is a good example of clean, professional design (guy who owns it is AT member).

 

[Q]

Originally posted by: Mo0o
Judging by the "Cali clowning around" design... I dont think you're going to have much luck. It's interesting that people seem to think web design is still so amateur that people with very little exprience can just go in and make some money as a part time gig.

Your best bet is to just make websites for people you know who are doing you a personal favor by hiring you rather than someone w/ more expreience or just buying a template.

QFT sorry

 

[Hyperblaze]

If you want to make money on the side, my best suggestion would actually be to build a site that offers a service that people are willing to subscribe to.

This requires web design and development skills.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Hyperblaze
Checked out your site. First big turn off was you using html and not a scripting language (asp/php)

Your site looks like it was also built using a CMS. To me that doesn't show credible skill.

Also showing fake portfolios.....When you get real sites, link to them

What I say might sound harsh. Do you have any web developing experience?

hate to break it too you but backbone <> looks and sales.

 

[Hyperblaze]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Hyperblaze
Checked out your site. First big turn off was you using html and not a scripting language (asp/php)

Your site looks like it was also built using a CMS. To me that doesn't show credible skill.

Also showing fake portfolios.....When you get real sites, link to them

What I say might sound harsh. Do you have any web developing experience?

hate to break it too you but backbone <> looks and sales.

backbone == functionality

all the people I've done work for have wanted functionality with the look and feel.

A site might look very nice, which originally captures the interest, but what keeps it is the functionality.

 

[RU482]

things to know...why would someone want to pay to have a website? To promote something! Do you understand the concept of internet marketing...or marketing in general??? That is the prerequisite to be a web "programmer" (intentionally in quotes) these days.

 

[AntiFreze]

hmmm, thank you all for the response. Some answers...

The cali clowning around was a site i did for a friend of a family for free. They drew me a picture by hand, and I recreated it. Would it be better to remove that site?

I'm using html, because there isnt a need for it to be a dynamic site. It's a simple portfolio site. PHP/.NET would seem like a pretty overuse of a programming language for a form and some pics.

I wouldn't consider those "fake" sites. They clearly say templates on them. I was thinking that I could give some sort of an idea of my design skills (however lacking they are). Should I remove the templates?

No, that site was not built with a CMS, I designed that by hand, and marked it up. (minus the JS).

I have some knowledge of PHP but am currently learning C# for my normal job, should I list that?

Thank you all for your response, I really do appreciate it. I really want to focus on local businesses, specifically restaurants (since I'm such a foodie). I'll work on the SEO for that aspect.

 

[AntiFreze]

Also, whats the policy with web design that I've done at previous companies? I have several websites that I did while at a banking company. Are those off limits to list on my site?

 

[Krynj]

I'd start by having a decent website. No matter what services you can offer, if your site is ugly (which it is) nobody's going to want to give you money. Add some Flash. Make your site interesting. You're not going to impress anybody with what you've got now.

You might as well have an all white page with black text that says "contact me for web design." You gotta sell yourself and your potential.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Hyperblaze

backbone == functionality

all the people I've done work for have wanted functionality with the look and feel.

A site might look very nice, which originally captures the interest, but what keeps it is the functionality.

building a website is much like a painting...for some a smack of paint in the middle of a white canvas says more than a Dali.

I have built sites for treasure hunters, financial / commodity brokers, parts of the Chicken Soup of the Soul publisher and a lot of their Reading Etc storefronts, mortgage portals, various people that offered services, I forget many I have done there has been some much.

For some a simple HTML setup of three to four pages is perfect. It shows there service, their rates and MOST IMPORTANTLY how to get in contact with them. You can do a lot with basic HTML and the nice thing is you don't need much to serve the pages.

Don't get me wrong though an website with a nice coded backend is a whole different experience and for many businesses (esp an online store) it's required.

However, someone going to Pete the Plumber's store is not expecting to be entering a theme park and if they did get that experience it would be more confusing than helpful.

I am going to be designing a tennis instructor's site. They are not sure if they will be on a php or asp based hosted, both or neither. They don't want to pay alot for the maintenance as they are getting a good stream of business already...they just want to fill in some of the gaps and provide something for clients that have stated "I couldn't find you online and lost your number".

I will probably do this in all HTML, maybe some scripts running for eyecandy, but so far I see no programming needs on this project.

 

[AntiFreze]

Originally posted by: FetusCakeMix
I'd start by having a decent website. No matter what services you can offer, if your site is ugly (which it is) nobody's going to want to give you money. Add some Flash. Make your site interesting. You're not going to impress anybody with what you've got now.

You might as well have an all white page with black text that says "contact me for web design." You gotta sell yourself and your potential.

Thanks for the advice, I'll start redesigning my site and adding some Flash to it to draw attention. I'll also remove the Cali Clowning Around site. The only reason I added it was because it was my only really working site I did since starting freelance. I thought something was better than nothing and it probably isnt.