Starting a Niche Web Design Business – How to Get Started
Starting a web design business may seem intimidating at first, but it can be done. In fact, you can start a web design business with little money and even less experience in the field. You don’t need an advanced degree or special certification to be successful in the niche web design industry, but you do need to have good content and great links to attract clients and get them interested in working with you as their own personal web designer. Find out how you can start your own niche web design business by reading this article today!
Know what it takes
Starting a web design business does not happen overnight. It is important that you start with your goals and make a plan before you jump into it. The biggest mistake I see with people who want to get into website design, is that they try to do it alone and figure out how everything works as they go along. This will cost you time and money in ways that may never be recovered if you don’t get guidance or training up front. Before you even begin looking for clients, you need to have a clear understanding of what is involved in starting and running a successful web design business. Here are some things that are essential for starting any small business:
With these items taken care of, you can begin looking for clients! Some good places to look include:
If you have any additional questions about starting a niche web design company feel free to ask them here! If there are enough questions I might even write another post on just getting started!
Set up your workspace
A good web design business is dependent on having good conditions for working. Have a well-lit, calm workspace with plenty of room. Noise cancelling headphones or earplugs can be helpful in blocking out distractions and noise. Additionally, if you plan on hiring subcontractors, you’ll need an area where they can work from as well. Don’t forget about internet access and your computer setup! If you don’t have a dedicated office space, set up your home office so that it is conducive to creating your best work. This may mean getting rid of any unnecessary clutter and clearing off surfaces so that you can get straight to work when inspiration strikes. (Of course, there are many ways to go about setting up your own personal work environment; do what works best for you!)
Figure out your target audience
Your target audience is often people or businesses that have some kind of issue or problem your business can solve. For example, in your case, you might be targeting small businesses that need an affordable way to create a professional-looking website. It’s also important to consider whether your product or service will appeal more to B2B customers (businesses) or B2C customers (consumers). For example, you might offer web design services targeted at B2B rather than B2C. In either case, think about who your ideal customer is and how they’ll benefit from what you’re offering. Are there any industries where your idea would work particularly well? What problems do they face? What could you do for them? Are there any potential roadblocks along their path to success? Take time to do plenty of research on how other companies are tackling similar problems—and figure out what works and what doesn’t.
Create a website with content, not pages
Before you even start trying to sell your services, it’s important that you have content on your website. This includes things like an About page and Services page, as well as pages that describe what sets you apart from competitors (or how much better you are than other local competitors). You can use these pages in order to establish credibility with potential clients. Once you have some solid content on your site, don’t be afraid to share it—post links on social media and reach out to bloggers in your industry for guest posts. These tactics will help you get more traffic and build relationships with influencers who may want to work with you down the road. It also never hurts to write about your own experiences and lessons learned. For example, if you just went through a big project or changed pricing structures, talk about what worked and didn’t work during that process so others can learn from your experience. Just make sure you keep everything honest and genuine! People appreciate transparency when they read stories about other people’s experiences or businesses.
Find clients online
Finding clients online is as easy as Googling web design + your location (i.e., web design Denver). Build a comprehensive, thorough website detailing your experience and portfolio, then make sure you link back to it from any social-media accounts you use to promote yourself. Another good option: reach out directly to local businesses via Facebook or LinkedIn groups that focus on web design. Ask for informational interviews with business owners and offer your expertise for free. Once you’ve established yourself in your community, start pitching potential clients—but do so in person. It’s much easier to sell someone on your services when they can actually see and hear you! And if you don’t live near where your clients are located? No problem. You can still find plenty of work by using sites like Upwork, Freelancer, and Guru to find remote work opportunities.
Network and market yourself offline
Online marketing can take up more of your time than you want—or need. If you’re starting a web design business, it might be easier to establish yourself and drum up some early clients by networking offline in your community. Networking is effective for both B2B and B2C businesses, as well as startups and established companies. With every networking event or business lunch that you attend, make sure that you bring plenty of business cards with your contact information on them. Don’t worry about being overly pushy; instead, focus on building relationships and becoming known within your industry. As you become more familiar with people in your field, they will begin to come to you when they have questions about products or services related to what you do.
Even if they don’t directly become clients, many people are willing to refer others if they trust that you know what you are talking about! In addition to attending networking events, you should also consider joining local organizations such as Rotary clubs, chambers of commerce, and trade associations. These groups typically host regular meetings where members can get together to discuss topics relevant to their industry. The best part? You get exposure without having to invest too much time into attending these events—and even better: They are often free!