As a freelancer, you may have asked yourself, how do you keep your bucket full of web design prospects, so you can convert those prospects into clients. 

In this blog post I am sharing with you, different ways and places that you can find web design clients, so in the event you have run out of ideas, you can always come back here, as a reference point, to learn about other sources that can be a gold mine filled with web design prospects.

Here’s What You Will Learn: 

• How to find web design clients online
• How to find web design clients on Linkedin
• How to find web design clients on Instagram
• How to get local web design clients
• How to get web design clients on Craigslist
• How to get high paying web design clients
• How to get international clients for web design

How To Find Web Design Clients Online 

There are many places online, that help you find web design clients. As well as, there are many things that you can do, to attract web design prospects to you. 

Let’s have a look at some ideas:

1. Create your own website and blog 

It is no doubt, that by showing our expertise through content, you can attract people to you. A blog is a powerful tool that you can start right away, to build an audience and then offer free content in return, so that you can educate your prospects about web design and they can feel more comfortable turning to you for advice. 

When you create your own website and blog, make sure that your content focuses on the pain points of your prospects. That way the end goal of every blog post, is to offer your service as the solution to that pain point. 

Think that this is a good idea? Start a blog today for only $2.95 a month with Bluehost.

Whilst starting a blog is a great strategy, it is a long-term one, so results may not happen right away. As long as you remain consistent with blogging and providing good content, you will eventually be able to convert clients from all the good knowledge that you have provided.

Related Articles: 

• The Complete Guide To Starting A Successful Blog
• The Ultimate Blogging Strategy: 90 Days To Blog Success

2. Implement Search Engine Optimisation and Promote Yourself

This then brings me on to my next point of how to find clients online when you blog. 

Once you have a website and blog set up, it does not end with writing content. You now need to promote that content so that people find you. 

One great way to show up in front of a targeted audience, is with the Google search engines. With the latest Google update, you can now answer your audience’s very specific questions, with the possibility of your blog getting crawled by Google and eventually landing a spot in the search engine. 

Everyone wants to make it to page one of Google, so your aim should not only be to answer your audience’s questions, but provide specific, quality answers, as well as build your blog brand, so that Google favours your content as expert and authoritative. 

Not sure where to start with SEO? Here’s a course that helps you get started.

Besides Google, another search engine that is often under utilised, is Pinterest. 

Pinterest is a great place that has a high female demographic. So if you know that your target market is females, consider focusing on Pinterest and posting your content there. 

If you want to understand how to use Pinterest to promote your blog, I used the Pinterest Traffic Avalanche course to help me generate over 32,000 visitors to my blog within 4 months.

Imagine if your new blog could generate that type of free traffic, what that would do for your new freelance business? That means more visitors, more leads and potential sales of your services within such a short space of time right?

Lastly, you can promote your blog post by asking other web design bloggers to post your content to their audience.

A good way to do that, is by guest posting. You can also agree to be interviewed or appear on a podcast. 

This gives you the ability to share audiences, so that more people see your amazing content. 

Always make sure that when using any of these methods, that you have a strategy with an end goal. 

For you, that end goal may be to get more leads to fill your web design funnel. 

A great way to accomplish that end goal, is to create content upgrades from within your blog posts, to help you generate leads. 

How To Find Web Design Clients On LinkedIn

Linkedin is the social media network for professionals, so your target market – the decision makers of businesses – are bound to be here. 

Like any other social media network, it is also a place where you need to build relationships before you get the sale. 

The following steps will teach you how to create an attractive LinkedIn profile, so you can attract web design prospects to you, who go on to become web design clients. 

Step 1

It all begins with your profile, since this is the first thing that prospects see. You want to have a profile that pre-sells your brand, experience and what you can do, so that by the time you have a conversation with a prospect, they already know about you. 

Hopefully when you craft your profile in a highly attractive way, you can stimulate the minds of your readers and make them want to work with you. Learn how to write the perfect LinkedIn profile by visiting this very helpful resource.

Step 2

Identify your target market, means going out into the LinkedIn marketplace and finding ideal people that you’d like to connect with. 

When you think about it, you really want to connect with the decision-makers of a business. That means, they can hire you on the spot and are not “the middle man”.

Who are the decision-makers? Well they’re the CEOs, Director of Marketing, the CFOs, etc. 

When you have created a list of your target audience, you can use LinkedIn’s search tool to find people that match that description. 

Step 3

Send a connection request. When you have found someone that matches your target audience, it’s time to send a connection request. 

Whilst LinkedIn allows you to send default connection requests, it is wise to send a more personalised message, that will make the reader more likely want to connect with you. 

A great way to personalise a message is by using their real name. 

Also take the time to do some research on them or their company and explain why they will want to connect with you. 

For example, as a web designer, you may want to take a look at their current website, if any, and address a few changes that you could make, to help them with their business. 

Pro tip: Always make the request about the other person. How can you help them?

In that regard, a personalised connection request that falls within LinkedIn’s character limit, can be something like: 

“Hi [first name]

I’m [your name]. I help small business owners create and design beautiful, high converting websites that generate more visitors and eventually leads. Your website looks great but there are a few things that I would recommend you improve. 

May I share it with you?” 

OR 

“Hi [first name]

I’m [your name]. I help small business owners create and design beautiful, high converting websites that generate more visitors and insane ROI. Your website looks great but there are a few things that I would recommend you improve. 

May I share it with you?” 

What this message does, is: 

1. It creates curiosity, since by telling them that there are things about their website that needs improvement to generate a result every business wants – more leads – certainly it will peak their curiosity and they will want to find out what that is. 
2. It identifies a pain point of most companies that own websites – that is, not knowing how to get more leads. More leads means more sales.
3. It demonstrates that you’ve taken steps to do some research
4. It demonstrates that you want to add value and you’re not simply another one of those messages which they may identify as spam.

Step 4

Send a thank you message. Once the prospect accepts your request, deliver what you said you would share, that’s it. 

Don’t let this message be a pitch fest because that is not its purpose. You can always pitch another time. 

All you want to do, is add some value to their business strategy, so you can leave a lasting impression that makes them want to thank you for connecting with them. 

Once you have delivered the value, end with a message such as “talk to you soon” or “I’ll catch up with you later”. That way you’re telling them, you’re leaving the door open for more dialogue.

Step 5

Follow up. Once you have connected with your prospect, it does not end there. You need to continue to build the relationship, so they can see you as a potential resource, should they need help. 

To do that, you can offer content that demonstrates your authority and knowledge on a subject that matters to them. 

For example, if after doing research, you notice that their website traffic numbers are very low, then content that teaches them how web design can be optimised to increase traffic numbers would be helpful to them. 

Again the purpose here is not to pitch your service. You simply want to share a message that lets them see that you are knowledgeable in an area where they may need help. 

This ensures that you are top of mind, should they decide to embark on a web design project.

Step 6

Share content with your connections. This is where being consistent pays off. If you know that your connections would benefit from a piece of content, then share it with them by creating status updates.

Make sure that your status update, has a good hook so that your connections will want to read more of it. Make sure the status update is short and to the point, so your connections can get through the message and to work with Linkedin’s algorithm, all links should be placed in the comment section. 

Step 7

Move relationships off of LinkedIn. After you have built rapport with your connections for a while, now it’s time to take the relationship off of LinkedIn. 

A great way to do this, is to offer a lead magnet that is designed to take the prospect through a funnel that leads to the sale of your services. 

Because you have built a good relationship before hand, it is now a perfect time to pitch your services to them. I would suggest that the relationship building stage lasts for a month, before you start a sales funnel strategy to convert your prospects into clients.

A good thing about this too, is that this process can be automated, because once they are in a funnel system and if you are using email marketing, you can also engage them more often and continue building the relationship. 

Remember that this has to be a consistent effort, because it may take a while to convert your prospects. Some of them may not need your services now, but it does not mean that in six to twelve months, they may not need your services then.  

How To Find Web Design Clients on Instagram

The whole client-fishing strategy is similar with any social network – it’s all about identifying, connecting and engaging with your ideal audience before you convert them into clients. 

So how exactly do you find web design clients on Instagram?

Like LinkedIn, I want you to understand that there is a process to building relationships with people, before you actually get a sale and with Instagram it may look something like this. 

Step 1

Assuming that you already have an Instagram business account, create a bio that tells your visitors, who you are, what you offer and who is your target audience. 

So for example, a great Instagram bio would be: 

Web design that’s not only stunning but leads to higher conversion rates that matter to small business real estate investors. 

When you have a targeted Instagram bio, it means that you are not just attracting anyone, but attracting a group of people who falls into your ideal audience – in the above example, that is, real estate investors. 

Step 2

Use the Instagram bio link. Always make sure that you have a call to action for your Instagram link so you can get more visitors to check out a piece of content that matters to you. 

Always have the end goal in mind. So what does your content aim to do? It should aim to generate leads, so take the time to create a landing page that will help convert those visitors into leads.

Step 3

As a web designer you want your Instagram feed to have an aesthetic that is visually stimulating. 

A striking, yet clean feed, speaks volumes as to the type of work you produce and gives a good first impression to visitors who are seeing you for the first time. 

When deciding on the type of feed that you want to portray for your business, consider using one colour palette that is consistent throughout, so that your feed has a theme.

Also don’t forget to create varying content. Content should attract and engage your audience so they pay attention and get to know more about you.

Use images that are bright and visually appealing which helps interrupt your audience so they take notice. 

Then tell your story through a caption that seeks to inspire, educate and even tickle your audience. Try to avoid too much content that is sales-oriented because that will certainly make you lose a few followers. 

Step 4

Use Relevant Hashtags. Because how else would people find you? Hashtags are like search engines, in that when someone is searching for an item or content, it gives visibility to your work. 

This is why you should have a good hashtag selection that is relevant to web design. One tip is to use the same hashtags consistently in your posts. That way you stand out more, when several pieces of your content appears in a hashtag search. This typically steers people to check out your profile and could potentially lead to more followers.

Step 5

Once your content is written, you have inserted your hashtags and posted, make sure you engage. You want to spend at least an hour on the gram, immediately engaging with people who respond to your content. 

When you respond immediately to comments, this creates a new wave in the Instagram algorithm, that gives your content more exposure.

Not only should you be aiming to engage with people who comment on your post, you should also engage with your audience’s own posts. 

When you do so, there’s a good chance that that user will check out your profile and feed and give you some love. 

For this reason, always make sure that your bio has a good call to action to check out your content and your content is so magnetic and valuable that it leads to valuable conversions that matter to you – in your case it should be a lead through a nurturing sales funnel.   

How to Get Local Web Design Clients  

I believe having a web design business that targets local businesses, allows you to be more personable with your contacts, thereby building a relationship faster. 

Whilst you can prospect and build your client base online, you can also incorporate some in-person prospecting to give you a better chance at winning a client. 

But it does require you to step outside of your comfort zone and here’s how. 

Don’t be afraid to meet with new people at networking events. 

Whilst this may not be something that you do as a business all the time, it certainly is something you can focus on, in the beginning, to build momentum and have a few clients coming through the door. 

Again building relationships is a key factor so always keep this in mind when you start. 

1. Networking

Attend networking events. You can find networking events that attract your ideal audience by joining Facebook groups.

If the admin of a group posts a network event, always make an effort to show up. This gives you exposure to potential clients in your area. 

Another great way you can maximise your presence in the Facebook group, is also to consistently help other members by answering questions and providing advice without expecting anything in return. 

When you do this, people will start to take notice of you and see you as someone who can help them solve their problems. 

Remember, when providing advice in these forums, it is always best to over deliver and build trust, so that approaching you for advice and feeling comfortable doing so is an easy choice. 

Also by showing up at networking events, gives you the opportunity to meet your potential clients in person, which can be the deal breaker that helps you get hired. 

You can also find networking events at Meetup.com and searching on your local chamber of commerce notice board or website. 

When you attend networking events in person, socialise first, pitch later. The aim at these networking events, is to share what you do and show that you are knowledgeable in what you do. 

It’s also meant to be a fun place to meet new people. If you appear at more networking events and meet the same people over and over, this is how you foster relationships that can then lead to client work. 

Whilst networking takes time to grow a leads pipeline, it is a starting point to getting your name and brand out into the marketplace and can help people put a name to a face when they see you online. 

2. Approach ideal businesses in person

If you don’t want to attend networking events, another good way to find web design clients, is to do the good old-fashioned door knocking. 

Now I’m not saying to knock on every person’s door, but a great strategy, is to pinpoint a handful of businesses you’d like to work with, then do a bit of research on their business. 

As a web designer, that may be looking at their website and see what improvements could be made and why. 

Usually, the next step would be for people to send a cold email to the prospect to share this information with them, but an alternative way to actually meet with the decision-maker and know that your advice gets into the right hand, and also to demonstrate a bit of personableness, is to show up at their door. 

Even if you meet with the person, and leave a hard copy book that speaks about the improvements that their website could make with a subject like “How One Business Owner Got Over 600% ROI by Making Small Tweaks to Their Website”, this is bound to get results because you’re not just another email. 

Everyone is sending emails and it actually takes effort to return to the conventional way of marketing. Business owners truly appreciate you going the extra step.

3. Online prospecting

And if door to door marketing is just not your thing, there is always the internet. In that case you can refer to my paragraph where I explained how to find web design clients online. 

How to Get Web Design Clients on Craigslist

Some people may not think of Craigslist as a lead generator for web design clients but before you rule it out I want you to consider this. 

Craigslist is a classified advertisement website that allows you to search for jobs, houses, items wanted and other things, but it is also a place where you can get web design leads, if you have a good strategy, you’re patient and you’re willing to test and see what works. 

Most people start by posting their ads in sections such as services or jobs, but other sections you can test to see if it gives any results is For Sale – Business or Temp Jobs – Computer. 

Other relevant sections are the Services – Computer, Services – Creative, Services – Sm Biz Ads, Jobs – Business Mgmt, Jobs – Web Info/Design, Jobs – Marketing/PR/Ad and even the CVs section.

When posting ads in these sections a few things to think about, when writing your ads are:

• Split test your headlines 
• Split test the content of your ads
• Simplicity is key
• Keep each of your ads/subject lines unique to avoid it being considered as spam
• You should be prepared to post several ads, even in the hundreds per week, before you get a quality lead. 
• Be consistent and post several times a day
• Be patient

One thing to be aware about Craigslist, is that you have to put yourself where people are actually searching for your business. 

Be creative and get inside the minds of people who are actively searching for people who provide your service. 

Ask yourself, where on Craigslist will they look? What are they searching for and what type of headline will catch their attention?

How to Get International Clients for Web Design

Just because you live in one country, does not mean you cannot tap into the market of another country. 

With the internet and having different ways to connect with potential clients, such as through Skype, Zoom or other online conference applications, finding web design clients should not be troublesome, if you have a good strategy to start. 

If you are familiar with Google Adwords or Microsoft Ads (formerly Bing Ads), then you can launch an ad, that drives traffic to a client funnel to attract leads and then convert them into clients.  

Do the same with Facebook Ads or any social media network that allows advertising, but it is important that you know where your target audience is, so you can target them with the most appropriate social media ads; whether that is Pinterest ads, Facebook ads or Instagram ads for example. 

When creating ads to post on the internet, I strongly recommend that you use a client funnel, or sales funnel so you can attract your target audience and serve them content that educates them about your brand, what you can offer and how your offer can help them solve a problem.

It is important that you build an email list by first serving a lead magnet, then consistently provide valuable content, so you can nurture your leads and help them see you as someone who can help them. So for example, as a web designer, your value proposition might be that you help design highly convertible websites that turn targeted traffic into leads or sales. 

When you create advertisements on the internet, some key metrics to be aware of, is your cost per lead, your sales funnel opt in rate, cost per client acquisition. This way you will know how much you’re spending versus how much you have earned in terms of client business. 

Wrapping Up

Hey, I hope as a web design freelancer, I have given you some tips to help you get started. Even as a beginner, if you implement my steps and remain consistent throughout the way, I promise you, you will start seeing results.

Want to step up your game and go from a bootstrapper to a highly profitable web design freelancer? Then check out the 42-Minute Freelancer Roadmap that demonstrates how one lead-capturing funnel helped Julie Stoian, go from making just $2000 a month to over six figures, in just a few months and how you can achieve similar results too.

Click here to watch the free video.