How to Get Web Design Clients: A Proven Approach

Have great web designing skills?

Awesome.

But that’s not enough anymore. The web design industry has gotten so competitive.

According to Statista, more than 24.7 million people are working in the development industry worldwide.

Is it too late and too saturated to start a web design/development company?

Heck No.

It’s never too late to start web design. Though it becomes crazy competitive,  The percentage of services conducted online is forecast to soar 10.5% in 2023.

The industry is also growing.

Is there a future for web design? No doubt about it!!!

All you have to do is learn is how to web design clients and turn that skill into a profitable business (or side hustle).

How to Find Web Design Clients Fast?

Here are #7 different ways to get the customer into the web designing industry.

#1 Carve out a niche for yourself

Instead of jack of all trades, master of none, narrow down one topic and then specialize in it.

Wondering why we’re saying this?

Web design is a broad-spectrum topic. Let me show you the branches of web design….

1. Graphic design

• Page layout
• Typography

2. User experience design (UX design)

3. Web Design Techniques

4. User interface design (UI design)

5. Responsive web design (RWD)

6. Adaptive web design (AWD)

7. Progressive enhancement

8. Tableless web design

9.  Software

• Adobe Photoshop
• Sketch (software)
• Adobe Illustrator
• Inkscape
• Affinity Designer

Can you master all your skills? No one could.

So, focus on one aspect and then try to become a Pro at it. When you try to target the whole niche, thinking that you’re missing out on the 90% opportunity, you’re actually putting the cart before the horse.

Sounds harsh, but it’s true.

And don’t forget….. Specialization demands a premium price. Rather be smart and prioritize one thing. People kept asking me this question, is it hard to get web design clients?

My answer is Yes if you don’t have any expertise. Specializing lets you:

Spend less time hunting clients. Instead, they come to you.

Can charge much higher than generalists.

You can make yourself a brand.

#2 Make a Portfolio to show your talent

Decide which niche you want to focus?

Great!

No, it’s time to make a portfolio to display your skill to the clients. Not just skill, it spotlights your-

• Experience
• Accomplishment
• Attributes
• And, of course, expertise

“A picture is worth a thousand words”– this classic trick always works. Clients who see your portfolio can imagine what you can do for them.

And most importantly, Web design is a visual Profession. So, having a portfolio is a must. So where to build the portfolio?

• Personalized portfolio website 
• Behance 
• Dribble
• Portfolio

#3 Choose a sales channel to reach out to prospective clients 

……Aka, lead generation.

First, decide which channel you will focus on to get clients. There are several ways to find web design clients. It could be-

• Direct project proposal
• Job boards
• Freelancing Marketplace 
• Cold pitching

Among them, Freelancing marketplaces are the most popular, and most web designers start their careers there. Let’s see some of the marketplaces that suit well for web designers-

• UpWork: Not just for web design, UpWork is the most trustworthy name for all freelancers. People love this marketplace because it makes the process easy for both buyers and sellers. The scoop:

• No extra cost to join 
• Dedicated categories for Web design
• High security of seller

• 99Designs: This platform is more specific for graphic designers and illustrators actually. They are famous for logo design. If your passion is graphics, this is a good deal for you. Here are some key advantages of this marketplace-

• An intuitive design posting process
• L:argest web designer marketplace 
• 60-day money-back guarantee

• PeoplePerHour: one of the most reliable websites for remote outsourcers and workers. Some key features of PPH-

• Freedom to choose your own rate
• Automatic invoicing
•  All are certified Proferssional.

• Fiverr: for web designers who have just started their careers, Fiverr is the best choice for them. It’s a suitable platform to start small and then go big.

• As gigs are low-cost, the orders are more frequent
• Most of the top freelance categories are websites and graphic design related
• Designed to promote newcomers

#4 Network wisely- Take Meetups and events as an opportunity to pitch

Networks Are Everything—More Important Even Than Talent.

-Forbes.

And in this digital era, it’s more effective than ever. Remember, two or more heads are better than one. And it’s like a social currency.

Go to local and international industry Events and meetups to increase networking. A deeper connection with fellow people in the industry will open a new door of opportunity for you.

You never know what could happen!!!!

#5 Use Google Maps and local+ basic SEO (only handy if you have websites)

SEO is still powerful.

If your main target is local businesses and companies around you, then this could be life-changing for your career.

The thing is, people’s buying pattern has changed and evolved a lot. Nowadays, they search everything on Google and as Google promotes local business, why won’t you take advantage of it?

How Do you Use Google Maps for your web designing service? Here are a few tips….

• Update your Google My Business Profile
• Add your Google Maps to your website
• Keep local citations up to date
• Focus on basic local SEO (or hire a part-time local SEO specialist)
• Add local schema to your site structure.

#6 Outreach like a PRO

A clever marketing technique that still works.

Though email marketing is the most popular one, outreach could be via phone or message. The best part is it gives you a giant pool of potential contacts.

How to get international clients for web development? Here is a sneak peek of the steps of outreach that have proven effective-

1. Try to understand your audience & their psychology
2.  Create an Ideal Client Persona
3. List Down Prospects(clients looking for websites)
4. Tailor your pitch
5. Test your emails before launch
6. Send a Cold Email

#7 Take advantage of word of mouth

64% of marketers agree that word-of-mouth is the most effective form of marketing.

And still, the best way to gain brand loyalty. People are more likely to trust recommendations from friends and family members than advertising.

So ask your existing clients to recommend you if they are satisfied with your work. Trust us- references and recommendations are the best forms of marketing.

….& the most sustainable one.

How Do We Market Ourself as a Web Designer?

Don’t forget that the market size of the Web Design Services industry is expected to increase 2.9% in 2023.

Some take that extra time to advertise yourself as a web designers. Trust us- it will be worth every penny.

Do awesome work

The golden rule is- Quality over quantity. Do some great work that establishes yourself as a brand so that people keep coming to you.

Leverage social media to capture leads

Don’t underestimate the power of social media now. It changed the whole marketing game. Promote your work on social networking sites. The best practice is to find which social media platform works best for your niche and then be active there.

Join local and international freelance communities

The freelance community is bigger than you thought. Join this community and let like-minded people know about your skill.

Pump up your skill to make yourself a lead magnet

Yes, nothing last forever. Upgrade your skill to stay up-to-date and desirable to customers.

And finally……Rinse & Repeat!!!!

“Build it, and they will come naturally.”

This philosophy doesn’t work anymore. You need to take charge of your work. Not just designing, now you have to think about promoting yourself. Practice the strategies we mentioned earlier and keep repeating them.