So i recently got my freelancing site finished and got my business cards made, i have got a couple of clients on the go now, but want to get some more. Yesterday i did some cold calling around my area, just going into the shops, dressed smart, business cards and information at hand. It was good fun, but i'm guessing not much will come of all the time i spent out walking from place to place.

 

I'm asking you guys, what other techniques did you use when you first started up to get some work in?

 

thanks

Moved to freelance/business forum as it is all about getting new clients

Hi Aaron, firstly congratulations on joining us in the freelance world. You seem to have made a great start, unlike some of the people I have read posts from, you have started looking around your local shops. Smart move.

 

The next step that I would recommend is to get yourself on to yell.com, punch in your postcode and start going through all of the businesses that come up closest to you by radius. Split the businesses into two groups, those that have no website, and those that have a website which can be revamped.

 

Once you have done this, go ahead an call them up, explaining what you do and how you think you can help them.

 

Rinse and repeat, but each time expanding your search radius my a mile or so.

 

Hope this help,

 

Sunny

We have obtained most clients from business networking, better than any ads or anything. BNI has been the best, the members are great at selling what you do to all their clients. We also do some local small open days, shows etc. Cold calling and newspaper adverts have either produced little response or dodgy clients, our clients obtained by referral are lovely.

thank you for your advice guys, thanks coltan aswell for that, im looking into it now . I understand BNI is expensive to join?

Yes it is pricey but not when you look at how much business you get out of it but make sure you pick a good group with 25-30 members. In our first year we got at least 15 website orders and serious enquiries. Mind you spaces for web designers are pretty thin on the ground.

As mentioned above, I found that networking was best. Another way that paid off was using a service like michrome.com, which gave me x amount of new business startups (from that month) around my chosen area and I just went through and contacted all of them.

As mentioned above, I found that networking was best. Another way that paid off was using a service like michrome.com, which gave me x amount of new business startups (from that month) around my chosen area and I just went through and contacted all of them.

 

Hey thanks for pointing that out, took a look at it, looks great. how responsive were the start-ups? how many gave you their business?

Personal interaction and consequent referrals are always the best.