How to start a new business?

Hello,

I have just started my new web design business. I would like to ask others around DevShed how they recommend getting customers. I am a hard working entrepreneur willing to put in the time and effort to satisfy clients.

To those with a web design business: How did you get your company started and get customers? Do you recommend any web design/development directories?

My website is www.jwwebdesign.info.

Thank you for the help,
Jeff Wickenheiser
Web Design/Development
www.jwwebdesign.info

Moved from the Lounge.

Get some business cards and go out to local businesses. Pickup some nice clothes before you head out and make sure you've got a haircut. Look presentable and have the business card ready to give out and have examples/prices available. Heck, even call and ask to speak with the person in charge of said department (purchasing, IS/IT, etc...) and setup a meeting to discuss what you could do for them and how you'd be able to save them money vs. some leading local competitors.

Jefwic, I don't mean to offend you, but the site you have made is a bit flat, It looks like its abit rushed, which I can understand if you need to setup a business quickly. Many people concentrate on correct coding, (your html is perfect by the way mate!) but you need some creative flare to it.

I used to hate being creative, but now I feel quite relaxed with Dreamewaver, Fireworks, Flash and my graphic tablet, I have made some decent (ish) sites too.

[ many are examples or are unfinished ]

http://www.domwiz.co.uk
http://www.domwiz.co.uk/page (testing at the moment)
http://www.domwiz.co.uk/ecpsc2
http://www.domwiz.co.uk/test-pc
http://www.domwiz.co.uk/onboard
http://www.domwiz.co.uk/manpet2
http://www.domwiz.co.uk/hvcnew

All these sites take time and creativeness, look around the web for some inspiration,

http://www.eddx.com
http://www.freeimages.co.uk -- Light swirls !!!

If you like, I will take a look at maybe redesigning your site, and annotating how I do it, with some software.

If you want to email me or MSN, my details are:

dominic.weldon@gmail.com (email)
domwiz@hotmail.com (MSN)


Dom.

jefwic - search engines won't help. There's over one million sites for people doing web design or coding. refferals are a pain, it's likely you'll get zero turn around - and most jobs won't bring in refferals to new people from old customers.

I have a great recommendation for you.

Sign up tp sites like ScriptLance.com - these are sites well people seeking work post a project. You, the programmer, then post the price and time period you can do it in. You get the money in escrow and you don't get screwed over - plus you build refferals from positive feedback.

This is an excellent way for you to build work and actually make money - unlike the 99% of attempts to start a web design and realize they don't know much about the "business" end of it.

You will need to start at very competitive prices, but as you build positive feedback you can take on larger projects for a better price, because webmasters will pick higher prices with better feedback.

There's more sites like this one, just search around. This will be your number one way to bring in actual money!

Thanks for the help. If anyone has any suggestions, please post. I am harding working and wanting to get going with many clients as soon as possible, but know I will have to work towards this.

Thanks,
Jeff

christ man - have you taken a look at YOUR site reasontly?

it is SIHT

I'm normally too busy making others, thanks for the tactful composure, may we see yours?

p.s perhaps spelling correctly would aid your hostile front to be more likeable, or perhaps you're too clever to have to spell.

jesus.com

www.agnosticism.com

Hello,

Registered on scriptlance a few days and already made $150!
Can anyone tell me any other sites similar to scriptlance.com?


Thanks,
Jeff

I had some success attracting local design customers by mailing out flyers.

Christoph

Hey mate, try http://www.getafreelancer.com/
http://www.guru.com/
http://www.elance.com/c/static/main...tml&module=home
http://www.freelance.com/

There the best that i know of
Hope that helps!

you dont realy want to do this for a living, do you?

i was able to get this guy to let me do a site for him:

d3th.com

What is up with that site that you made....? Its crazy, I don't even know what its about and it is very odd looking.