5 easy and effective client building techniques

Author: chris

I was recently in a discussion over at the digitalpoint forums basically about ‘how do you market yourself?\'. The discussion was going back and forth between bidding on clients and other ways to get you noticed.

Although bidding may work for some, my thought has always been why pay for clients? There are plenty of things you can do for FREE and still achieve success.

First things first. This is not some BS information that came out of the blue. These client building techniques are based on personal experience I\'ve had over the last 16 years and have proved more than effective.

These can pertain to any industry but we\'ll focus on web design/development as was the original intent in the ‘how do you market yourself?\' thread.

1. Have a personal/company website or blog

Yeah, you already know that by now and if you are new to the game, understand how critical it is to have one.

In this digital age it\'s extremely important to keep up with the current technologies to promote and market yourself on the internet. If you don\'t, you get left behind. You get left behind, you don\'t make money. Blogs and websites, along with social media are the standards for showcasing your skills and experience today. This allows you to display your talents online and make it available 24/7 worldwide.

2. An opportunity can present itself anywhere and anytime

I have a stack of business cards in my wallet that I hand out to places I go that have no web site. A good place to start is somewhere you regularly hang out. I\'ve got many sites by chatting with the store owners, people at bars, etc. You can also post your business cards on the bulletin boards at local stores

3. Location, location, location

Speaking of placing your cards on bulletin boards, the number 1 goal on your web design project list is to get noticed.  You need to make it your number 1 goal on your self promotion list as well.  Chances are you won\'t get much of a return posting your card at a Walmart bulletin board that\'s hidden in the back of the store. Design something that is well thought out and place it in a location where people will take notice.

4. Build your reputation

This one took me  a while to get comfortable with. I came from the school of ‘Keep my secrets closely guarded and to myself.\' It was hard for me to share my knowledge because I didn\'t want my competition to steal it.

Become a leader or respected voice in web design communities. Share your knowledge with other folks. You don\'t have to share everything but helping out others in need will build trust among your peers. This can also build your network of colleagues. This technique is also proven in the higher education field as well.

5. Finders fee

Tell, don\'t ask, your friends that if they find someone who needs web design work that you will pay them a finders fee. Meaning you will give them $100 for everyone that signs a contract with my company. Two things. If you ask and not tell them to find someone chances are nothing will come from it. Direct them in a positive way. Again, another proven technique. Second, you might say $100?!? It\'s all based on incentive. Ask yourself would I do this for $20? Probably not. But for $100 your ears might perk up.

Conclusion

In my experience the keys to building a successful customer base are building trust and building relationships. Make people feel comfortable. Don\'t make them think. Keep them at ease and include them in the process. I don\'t just do projects and get paid, I create a process that involves interacting with the customer the entire way before, during and after a project is complete. From there my friend word of mouth does wonders.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-marketing-articles/5-easy-and-effective-client-building-techniques-4213161.html

Chris Leonard started out developing web sites in early 1995 with 2 college friends. Since then he has worked with such clients as Hewlett Packard, DELL, Century 21, RE-MAX, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and many more. His skillset has grown from editing basic html 1.0 in Hot Metal and Homesite to include xhtml, css, AJAX, php, javascript, jQuery and MySQL. Chris also has extensive knowledge of GUI, UX and information architecture in developing business systems for the University of Delaware since 2003.

He has also been sole proprietor of AtSea Design website design and marketing strategies since 1999. Chris spent 18 years working in Silicon Valley with some of the early and most talented pioneers in web site architecture including a marketing campaign for an observation satellite launch for the U.S. Government and a Webby Award winning team in 2000 for the Monterey Bay Aquarium website. He now resides with his wife and 2 sons in Delaware while working as a web developer at the University of Delaware.

Website Design and Internet Marketing Strategies