(c) Copyright 2002 by Tom Mulkern

Given “dotcom” bust and global recession of past 18 months it can be difficult for Independent Web Designers to put food on table these days. However, business is out there -- you just have to be a little more aggressive in finding it. Based on our own experience and that of hundreds of Web Designers who have used our Web Hosting services over past five years, here are ten of best ways to find new clients for your web design shop this year:

1. Contact Local ISP’s. Most Internet Service Providers offer a few MB of webspace or hosting accounts to their customers. However, most don't offer website design services. Contact local ISP's and offer a generous referral fee if they send business your way. This tactic has worked very well for some of our Resellers. Note: It's important to help ISP's promote your service by providing them with some marketing materials they can send out by email and snail mail to their customers.

2. Local Networking. Time and time again, web developers have cited this as one of their primary sources of new business. You can’t do business sitting on your behind in front of your computer all day! You need to devote some time to getting out and meeting local business people. This is most easily accomplished by joining local business organizations such as Chamber of Commerce and Rotary. If you keep active in these groups over time you will establish yourself as person to go to for any web-related services. Always be sure to carry business cards, or better yet, full-color postcards to handout with a screen-shot of your website or web design portfolio.

See http://www.web-cards.com for some great business card and postcards ideas.

3. Online freelance sites. There are number of sites now, such as http://elance.com, where you can find listings of web projects open for bid. It is true that you will be competing with many bidders for these projects but don’t let that stop you these are businesses that are ready to buy now. A good strategy is too bid as low as you can initially in order to get your foot in door with a given company. If you do a good job and delivery it quick company will naturally go back to you for additional work.

4. Create a community business directory. This is a great strategy that is often used but rarely done well by local web design firms. By creating a community business directory you accomplish three things. First, you now have a database of all businesses in your local area your primary target market! Secondly, you have now created a legitimate reason to get in touch with them. And finally, when you do contact them they will not perceive it as a sales call; rather, they will thank you for providing such a valuable service!

by Craig Lock

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to use Internet, and he won't bother you for weeks." - anon

Introductory Thoughts:

I hope that following article based on our experiences may be informative and/or helpful in your online marketing.

A successful online business isn't built overnight; but is result of many late nights. If anyone says that they can teach you to make a substantial amount of money without hard work, realize they are talking through "a hole in head and are out of their trees".

After four and a half years doing it, here are my TEN COMMANDMENTS setting out how to conduct business online (in spite of recent demise of so many "high-profile dot-bombs"- ready availability to large amounts of capital, I believe, can be a big disadvantage to small/home business cyberentrepreneur):

* Now time to "get straight into it"...

1. Understand that technology should help you achieve your business and personal goals. It is merely a tool to move you forward with your vision: a "means to an end" to HELP and enable you, rather than being an end in itself, (or perhaps even be a disabler to "untechnos" like me). So make modern technology work to it's highest potential for you and your business. Spend time learning about various computer programmes and applications (hard though it may be for 'technically challenged'). Then "use it repeatedly , so you don't lose it!" Accept that vast majority of www. users are not "technofreaks" (like my "geek associate", Bill) and have great difficulty learning new computer procedures. Well, I certainly do (just ask Bill)!. However, by making a conscious effort and with discipline and effort habit ingrained makes it easier and easier, as your confidence grows in leaps and bounds.

2. Don't take competition for granted...and don't "knock" them. Never ever! Accept that no business can be best in every facet. The convergence of computer, media, entertainment and communications means underlying structures of computer world will change rapidly and soon... or so my "technogeek" associate, Bill (not Gates) says. The TV/computer/music center is not far away, I hear.

The net is a world wide market-place, so don't be too zenophobic (now that's a really big word, that I tried very hard to bring in). I think many Americans (and New Zealanders too) think that theirs is only country on earth in which to trade and is centre of world... and we're nearly falling off bottom near Antarctica!