7 Ways to Grow Your Web Design Business
You may be happy that your web design business is growing, but if that growth is not what you want it to be, then you are probably feeling frustrated.
So what are the most effective methods for increasing your web design company's success? Taking a new approach to growing your company can help you avoid roadblocks and setbacks. You want to avoid common mistakes that can lead to failure.
These tips may be helpful for any business owner, but they are especially of value for freelance web design professionals.
The following seven ways will help you strengthen your business foundation and grow a profitable company:
1) Get more clients by leveraging your strengths:
Consider what you do well and focus on doing those tasks at which you excel rather than trying to be good at everything. For example, some people might specialize in the graphics and design while others might be experts with WordPress websites. Whichever is true of you, make sure it's clear on your website so potential clients know where they should turn when they need your services.
Also, when you are in a rush to meet deadlines or when something goes wrong with your website, make sure you are saving all the backup files in case you ever need them again.
2) Know who your target market is:
It's important to know the type of people you want to serve and create a brand that resonates with them. It may sound simple, but it can be difficult to take into account all the diverse needs of your potential customers when trying to find a point of focus for your business.
A good way to get started is by asking yourself some questions about who your perfect web design client is:
* What do they want to accomplish by doing business with you?
* How much money do they have to invest in web design services?
* How much time do they have to devote to making sure their website is updated?
* Are they in an industry that you are interested in or have knowledge or passion about?
* Are they mostly male or female?
The answers will help you better understand what message should be communicated through your marketing materials and how you should position yourself in relation to competitors in the marketplace.
Breaking down these demographics can also help shape your decision about which niche to target. For example, if you are trying to market yourself to wedding photographers, but you know little about weddings or photography, it would be wise to find out more before making this decision. Are there specific features of the website they will need, like galleries and photo sharing?
3) Get more business by making friends:
"If you build it they will come." – Field of Dreams
Although true in the movie, this simplistic notion has little to do with today's business environment. Business is all about relationships now, and the most successful Web designers are those who establish rapport with their customers before ever developing websites for them. This can be done by consistently providing quality service and establishing a professional relationship that develops trust.
It's easier than ever before to market oneself via social media. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool that can boost business dramatically. This is why it's important to do your best work, maintain good communication with clients, and be on time with deadlines. The more consistently you can provide positive service, the more likely your customers are to pass along their recommendations for your company by giving honest reviews of services rendered.
4) You need a game plan:
This is a basic fundamental strategy that many companies miss. You need to have a concrete plan of action on what you're going to do next before you move forward with anything else. After all, there's no sense in starting to lay bricks before you have an idea of what kind of house they will be used for.
There are several ways to create a game plan. You can begin by writing down your most important goals and making sure they're S.M.A.R.T., which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Begin by asking yourself the question "What is my goal?"
Make sure to be clear about your outcome or result that you want to accomplish. This could be increasing web design business leads or improving search engine rankings.
Next, determine how you are going to track the progress of your goals. Be as specific as possible about how you are going to measure success. For example, if one of your goals is to increase web design leads each month by 10%, be clear on what this means for you. Do you want 2 more leads per day or 1,000 more leads per month?
If you find yourself doing this, then it's important to keep the following advice in mind:
* Take your time and think strategically about decisions as they're made. Don't let yourself be rushed into a bad business decision that will hurt your company in the long run, even if you think it's going to help you out right now.
* Seek out new opportunities and develop higher-level skills so you can continue to provide services at a more professional level for your customers.
* Focus on quality over quantity
* Be patient and stay true to yourself when making decisions
5) Make time for quality control:
One of the most important things to remember as a Web designer is that you need to continuously strive for quality. It's easy to focus on quantity rather than quality and it seems like every client wants more and quicker results without having to pay more for it.
Make sure that you always set aside a little time to review a website for any red flags, such as broken links or images that don't work properly. If you're noticing problems, then it's important to find the source of the stumbling block and address it before continuing with any other work.
Quality can translate into several different factors including customer service, speed of delivery, and attention to detail. All three of these things play a part in how well your business will be able to compete against the competition.
You could also have every project be reviewed by at least one other person before it's published or launched. This can be done in a number of ways. You could have one person review your work, you could use a peer review system with another freelancer in the same field, or you could turn to another expert in design for their opinion. There are lots of options when it comes to quality control so choose someone that you trust and whose knowledge compliments your own.
6) Turn a client into a marketing tool:
Once the site has been reviewed and improved, be sure to ask if it's OK to place their site on your portfolio. This way, potential clients can see your work in action and be more apt to choose you for their website needs.
By adding a portfolio, as well as testimonials and reviews to your website, you can increase your web design business. Quality testimonials can bring you remarkable conversion impact. Testimonials are proof of your experience and skills, which can be very helpful to a prospect that is shopping around for a web designer. Your reviews should include detailed comments about how you have helped other customers just like this one solve their online business website problems.
7) Avoid overworking yourself:
Staying up all night working on a client's site is not going to help you grow your business. It may give them an immediate deadline but it isn't worth the stress on your mental or physical health. Instead, set reasonable deadlines that include time for follow up work and then be sure to meet them. If you need help, hire someone who can take some of the weight off your shoulders.
Also, make sure that you take some time for your own professional development. Take courses or read books to improve your skills and increase your knowledge of current industry trends. Attend conferences and seminars to connect with other professionals in the same field as yourself.
Taking some personal time is important because it helps keep you motivated about what you're doing beyond just wanting to earn a living. If you take care of yourself, then your business will be better for it in the long run.
What is next?
Freelancers and web design agencies have a prime opportunity to grow their businesses. Those in the industry are encouraged to leverage their strengths, develop skills and seek out new opportunities, but also be willing to move on from areas outside of their expertise.
Let's sum up what you need to do to grow your web design business.
- Leverage your strengths
- Know who your target market is
- Build rapport and create relationships
- Create a game plan
- Make time for quality control
7 . Don't over work yourself and take personal time
Do these 7 things consistently and it will be very easy to grow your web design company. Remember, the key is to focus on quality over quantity at all times so that you can fully engage with your clients and meet their needs.
It’s important to have a clear picture of what your goals are to start expanding your business. Good planning and execution is key to success.
If you are looking to start, or expand, your own web design business, visit us for more information.