How to get more clients for my graphic design business?

[MBE2017]

Any sites you recommend? Sri g in mind I haven’t got a lot of money to use

take a look a my websites home page now. I’ve cleaned it up. Would you say it
Looks a lot better?

Sorry, No.

Look at other websites and see how they carry a similar theme throughout. Personally I like clean looking sites, maximum of 2-3 fonts, white background etc. In website design, and I am no expert, but less is more.

 

[fisicx]

Any sites you recommend? Sri g in mind I haven’t got a lot of money to use

take a look a my websites home page now. I’ve cleaned it up. Would you say it
Looks a lot better?

Not really. Look at your site on a phone.

Delete everything except the portfolio. Nobody cares about you.

But….

You aren’t going to get any clients from the website because nobody knows you exist. You have to go out and look for work. Freelancer sites are a good place to begin. Or do as @Shopclicks suggests and go knocking on doors.

 

[Paul FilmMaker]

Delete everything. Start with a very simple and plain layout and make your portfolio the focus. Each project should link to a new page where you tell the story. Make sure you have clear calls to action, reviews, testimonials and trust marks.

Maybe do some online courses in marketing. You will be spending more time on this than you will doing graphic design.

This. Make it simple and effective.

 

[ssmgraphic100]

Sorry, No.

Look at other websites and see how they carry a similar theme throughout. Personally I like clean looking sites, maximum of 2-3 fonts, white background etc. In website design, and I am no expert, but less is more.

Well that’s your opinion

 

[ssmgraphic100]

Well these are all your opinions. Thanks for your feedback. I’ve taken some of it on board. But I’ve had some better reviews than you lot. Everyone’s got their own opinion on how to do things. And il get there in the end

 

[fisicx]

But I’ve had some better reviews than you lot.

In which case you should soon be getting plenty of work. Good luck with your business.

 

[MBE2017]

Well these are all your opinions. Thanks for your feedback. I’ve taken some of it on board. But I’ve had some better reviews than you lot. Everyone’s got their own opinion on how to do things. And il get there in the end

I seriously wish you the best of luck. You are totally correct, these are just our opinions, which after all you did ask for. None of the comments were made in any belittling manner, I appreciate hearing conflicting opinions can hurt egos at time.

I’m sure you will get there in the end, but as business people being asked for opinions we tend to be straight talking, trying to be helpful. Those options are not always welcomed.

 

[Annoying Donkey]

Well these are all your opinions. Thanks for your feedback. I’ve taken some of it on board. But I’ve had some better reviews than you lot. Everyone’s got their own opinion on how to do things. And il get there in the end

Reviews don't pay the bills.

When your reviewers start paying you, then you've nailed it.

My suggestions:

Start with people you know. Anyone in business you have a pre existing relationship with. At least get them to review your sales pitch.

If they have a list of customers that match your target prospects, then sell them on the benefit of you making an offer to their customers... If you can't persuade them on the benefit of their introducing you, maybe a profit share will do it?

Alternatively create a giveaway report (lead magnet) which you give to your friendly business owner. Include an introduction (to you and your business) from the business (list) owner. Brand the report with your website address and contact details. Perhaps even have a specific offer page included, "specially for customers of... ".

IMHO free is a bad idea. If your work is worth having, it's worth paying for. Instead you could offer a money back guarantee if not satisfied. Better than working for free...

 

[Shopclicks]

IMHO free is a bad idea. If your work is worth having, it's worth paying for. Instead you could offer a money back guarantee if not satisfied. Better than working for free...

It's called 'sweat equity'. It's the effort you make when you have no money, no portfolio and no clients. The OP has put nothing else into the idea but time. This is what they should have done before trying to build a website.

 

[MBE2017]

It's called 'sweat equity'. It's the effort you make when you have no money, no portfolio and no clients. The OP has put nothing else into the idea but time. This is what they should have done before trying to build a website.

I agree with the notion of not working for free, if you do not value your time, why would anyone else?

I would also agree in building a sales funnel, using a free report etc on how a brand can benefit a business, and how important it is to work with a graphic designer etc. It shouldn’t take more than a couple days to knock such a report and start posting the offer.

 

[fisicx]

I used to do this. Send out website assessments to prospects. Most of the report was boilerplate as most sites suffer from the same problems. Two hours per day could get a couple of new clients each week.

As has already been suggested, now matter how good the site it’s not going to bring in any business. It’s all your other marketing that’s going get new leads.

 

[Shopclicks]

I agree with the notion of not working for free, if you do not value your time, why would anyone else?

I'm talking about 4 or 5 jobs to kick the portfolio off. They don't need to be time consuming. It's not a one way street either. The OP learns how to offer their services, learns how to understand what a client is looking for, learns how to present artwork and has something to show the next client.

 

[fisicx]

Yes, but putting that portfolio on the website isn’t going to achieve anything useful without additional marketing. Which brings us back to freelancer sites.

The days where you could just launch a site it would bring in new business are long gone.

 

[Shopclicks]

Yes, but putting that portfolio on the website isn’t going to achieve anything useful with additional marketing. Which brings us back to freelancer sites.

Yes, freelancer sites and pounding the pavement. Not suggesting the portfolio goes on the website.