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!

1. Define your preferred audience. Picture them as you create your home page. Create an audience profile including their special needs and concerns. Make sure your Web site solves their problem, and it has a lot of information that will help your visitors.

2. Make your home page simple and easy to read so it will load fast and not make potential customers wait. Include benefits and a few testimonials. Forget large photos or spinning and flashing signs that distract. Put navigation bars (topics of other pages) on side or top to lead your visitors to different pages. You may name them: seminars, teleclasses, free articles, archived past eMagazines, products page, testimonials, and how to order page.

3. Send an email survey to your potential buyers to skyrocket your Web sales. Ask them, which titles and benefits would make you want to buy? From their feedback, make every word count on every Web page. Dramatic headlines with specific benefits lure visitors to read, then buy.

One author changed his copy from "Money-Saving tips on Car Buying, Leasing, Repairs and Insurance Reduction Tips" to "How to Buy a Car at $50 Over Dealer Cost." He discovered why his surveyed customers bought it. More of them wanted to buy a new car far more than other benefits he offered. When he changed title, sales increased by over 300% in 48 hours.