by Mike McKeown
Freelance web design can offer freedoms a regular 9-5 job can’t. You can set your own hours, you are your own boss, and you can take the projects you want to take. The downside is there is no guarantee of income. If times are a little slow for your freelance business there are a few things you can do to bring in a little extra income.
- Warm Call Past Customers – Call up your old customers and see if there is anything they need assistance with. To get better results, give a personalized call suggesting things they could do to spruce up their website instead of just asking for more business.
- Cold Call - You can look for new customers by going out and selling door to door at different businesses. You can also check the paper or your local chamber of commerce for new business listings and call them up asking them if they are looking for a website designer. Before calling make a list of things the business may want on their website and have an idea what you can do for them before you pick up the phone.
- Referrals – Ask you current customers to send business your way if they know anyone who needs a website. You can even ask your clients if you can put a small link or credit at the bottom of their website.
- Blog About Web Design – Just like we do. You can earn money from ad revenue and possibly get new freelance gigs from your blog. Plus a blog is a great SEO tool for your current website. You can also submit to other web design blogs for increased exposure.
- Submit Web Templates – Submit your designs to free or paid template sites. Most will link back to you. This is a great way to get extra exposure.
- Promote Your Website – If business is slow, work on your site’s SEO, get new back links or update your content.
- Join a Freelance Directory – Elance and DesignQuote are just a few resources you can use.
- Post on Craigslist - It’s free. It may not get a ton of results, but it takes a few minutes and costs you nothing. Be sure to create a eye-catching, easy to read and professional ad.
September 24th, 2011 on 10:26 pm
Awesome read. I just passed this onto a buddy who was doing some research on that. He actually bought me lunch as I found it for him! So let me rephrase: Thank you for lunch!