I am a web designer and am wondering what is the best way to get clients. I have made several posts here on DP and have gotten responses, but not enough to be a steady job. How should I advertise my services? Should I create an online portfolio? Post on elance? Thanks in advance!
Gladly blogmaster: http://tessafun.com/shoes/ (FF only for the moment) http://tessafun.com/canada/ http://tessafun.com/destroyer/ http://tessafun.com/dirs/ http://tessafun.com/myspace/
The first thing you need to do is build a 'wow factor' portfolio. A good portfolio will get you work.
Definitely get a portfolio out there. Have you thought about building a few free templates to submit to directories for people to download? You can make them linkware so that people who like the template can visit your site for more information about you and your services. Also posting your availability on job boards is not a bad idea either. Basically you are looking to get people to come to your website and engage your services so all of the tips about driving traffic to your site apply. It's when they get to your site that you need to have it designed and set up in such a way that they have confidence in you and want to use your services.
for instance, come up with an informative signature and make sure all your posts to forum(s) has that signature enabled. Myself, I'm also into Web design - for local customers and offshore development. You may want to contact offshore Web development companies and offer your service as freelancer. And of course that "wow factor" portfolio is the must have. One more idea I was trying to implement (but dropped due to being busy with orders) - you may want to browse the Net looking for real horrible websites, make a quick sketch of the same web site looking real nice and contact the web site owner with an offer to do redesign and provide the example of how their site might look. It works - especially if your price is right.
Word of mouth is really powerful. I used to carry business cards with me and give them to people/small biz who were interested ( or I thought may be interested ) in a website. After a few happy clients, they would send me more. Advertising web design services online is tough (not impossible) but I've found dealing directly with people puts them at ease and answers many of the questions they have. Agree, get a site up with your best work. And keep working on your OWN stuff!