I've been thinking about changing my focus for a while now. I'm consistently in the top 5 results for web design related keywords in my local area and it's bringing little to no traffic. Most of my work now comes from developing for other designers, so I was thinking: maybe I should focus all my attention on the WordPress development niche and stop offering design directly to clients.

 

What do you think?

Bingo Chris!

I do little work for outside clients, instead most of my work comes as being a few agencies 'go-to-guy'. I've still got other clients but to be honest, and you know this full well, my portfolio is lacking any effort.

I was just looking at some stats today and it was pretty much the same, while the ranking is good their isn't that many clicks. If you rely on people finding you through searches and feel that you could do more business changing your business to just doing work for other web designers and web companies then go for it.

 

I think there is a market for it, especially if you know your craft and if you can get a few good design studios / freelancers on board feeding you work it also takes that hassle out of finding new clients all the time.

 

 

Good luck if you go for it

Now this is an interesting one..

 

"Would you outsource WordPress development to a trusted freelancer?"

 

I think the key word in this is 'trusted', and yes I would. However, there would be some concerns in the back of my mind too

 

Example

 

I approached a very knowledgable PHP expert for some help with a project a while ago. I had no doubt they were an expert in their field but the cost of outsourcing part of the job to this person minus what I stood to make on the site made it not viable. So one thing that makes me hesitant about approaching coders is that the cost may be very high and then I stand to look embarassed and/or look like a timewaster if I do not follow through.

 

The other side of the coin means I have taken on projects from start to finish where some aspects of the coding have taken me so long that I wish there had been someone I could have called on to assist that I could trust and also that would not be so expensive that there was no profit left in the job for myself.

 

 

[Hope the above rambling makes sense]

That's a very good point, from both sides. Of course there's only so fast or so well something can be done, and the decision to outsource has to be based on how much it's going to cost. I've been knocked back on several projects because of my rate, usually on freelance job sites - that deoesn't bother me so much, because it's par for the course there.

 

I'm not going to be able to deliver a project in half the hours of someone who charges half my rate, but I'd like to think that the combination of speed and quality will land me the sort of projects and clients I want. There's also the fact that the project hours I take off someone's plate are then able to be used either finding or designing other projects.

I've been thinking about changing my focus for a while now. I'm consistently in the top 5 results for web design related keywords in my local area and it's bringing little to no traffic. Most of my work now comes from developing for other designers, so I was thinking: maybe I should focus all my attention on the WordPress development niche and stop offering design directly to clients.

 

What do you think?

I think you should shift focus, I did the same about 5 years ago, that was a good move and since then I've been turning work away regularly

 

The key is finding a niche for yourself and make that your primary service. For you I'd say it's not just building WP sites but focussing on a particular area such as custom plugin development - obviously you can still offer the full monty but your "primary" service is the one that will attract clients.

 

I'd say don't stop offering services to direct clients, the odd job that comes along can sometimes fill in the gaps!

 

Lastly, as WP is a very competitive environment, it's worth considering offering "trade rates" to agencies for an ongoing work relationship - you will get less per hour but if you get the right relationship going you shouldn't be short of work.

I think you should keep your website as it is, but have a dedicated website that has a change of focus and aims towards the services that you are looking to provide.

 

I did it last year, moving away from web design and into SEO. I still get good work for the design side of things but my main business is now SEO. I find that bigger companies tend to know what they want and if they need a SEO then they find me and know that is my main focus. Similarly if they need someone for wordpress work then they will know to go to you.

 

But if you keep your current website as it is then I think you'd still get work through it.

 

I guess what I'm saying is yes, change your focus and concentrate on the wordpress stuff but still have your finger in the web development/design pie to grab those extra few clients

I'm with Jason.

 

I really like your website - but I can also see how it's not everybody's cup of tea. How about a more corporate approach? An alternate website, different name, more business-y - but still with your personal touch.

 

Might be worth a shot, and if you have no problem ranking, with a bit of work you could get it up there too. Two bites of the same cherry.

 

Or - have it purely dedicated to WordPress.

Edited June 6, 201214 yr by brightonmike

Bluedreamer is down with the kids Chris.

 

Knowing your website a little as I do, I would leave it where it is. When you say 'little traffic' do you mean low number of site visits or low number of conversions, or both?

 

Because if you're ranking well in your local area for web design-y keywords, I'd say that's worth holding on to. Revamping your content might be enough to double/ triple/ generally multiply your conversion rate.

 

But, specialisation is a good idea. Why not build a new site for all things wordpress, maybe on a subdomain?

 

Does it have to be part of your main site? Do you need to take advantage of your good standing in the serps?

 

I would offer this last observation to you. My own site is somewhat shyte, and recevies very few visits, yet I get enough work coming in to pay my way. Most of this comes from existing/ previous clients, word of mouth recommendations, and networking online.

 

To answer your question - yes. I'd come to you for any custom wp stuff that I couldn't handle myself. As you know, I'm something of a duffer when it comes to code, so this is likely to happen sooner rather than later

 

I would offer this last observation to you. My own site is somewhat shyte, and recevies very few visits, yet I get enough work coming in to pay my way. Most of this comes from existing/ previous clients, word of mouth recommendations, and networking online.

 

Ditto

 

 

To answer your question - yes. I'd come to you for any custom wp stuff that I couldn't handle myself.

 

Agree with this also.

If i did need to outsource WP stuff, either down to incompetence or workload, it would always be to a trusted individual. You would be my first point of call.

I definitely need a page or site dedicated to WordPress as it's one of the requirements for being included in Automattic's Code Poets directory. I'm also looking to get more agency work.

 

...

 

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Maybe I should set up a site offering to Press their briefs? Or would that sound too much like a laundry service?

Edited June 6, 201214 yr by Renaissance-Design

What about something tailored to other designers/developers? A sort of consultancy.

If I can just make a few further observations..

 

Assuming I'd got over the 'trust' factor which in your case would not be an issue, the next things I'd want to see or be able to find out easily before I'd contact the person are:-

 

1) What will this person likely charge per hour or how much will it likely cost me(roughly)?

 

2) What are some of the cleverest sites this person has coded or been involved in (and be able to view some live examples). Custom coding work would particularly interest me, in your case that might be plugins etc.

 

3) Is this person approachable or will I get a response making me feel like I'm a timewaster they could do without? Does this person actively encourage me to get in touch with any or all coding jobs.

Edited June 6, 201214 yr by oakleaves

Nothing to lose by giving it a go, as long as you keep your main site up.

 

And it's what all the pros in design always say; find the aspect your good at and move away from the rest, it is scary narrowing what you offer, but most never look back.

Not to start a war now:

 

1. If your getting development work then id say you have already switched direction and worrying about ranking isnt an issue unless

 

a- your not getting development work

 

b- your not getting much work - if this is a case promotion is in order i couldnt even get a decent coder now i have a guy from serbia working full time for me

 

c- work quality is poor cuasing the designers not to use you again

 

2. IF your prices are what you say they are then Chris to be honest 1200-1600 IS far too much to be targeting a local area such as Bridgend simple market research would tell you that I mean if a valleys company comes to me and they know im in cardiff then they expect the price, but if i go after a valleys firm then i adjust my prices to suit the area.

 

3. Your site is OK but unless your getting work within either a niche or the web design industry id change it to conform with what the local agency, designer, coder, company or what ever you want to protray your self as does.

 

There is loads of work around here I've billed a fair bit to bridgend recently and I dont even rank that high for that search term...

I voted yes because it's actually quite hard to fine a *true expert in their area, we've worked with ~30 freelancers over the past few years all in different areas of design and code, and with respect none of them have 'blown us away' with their expertise. In fact, when we delved deeper we were of the mindset "why didn't we just do this ourselves"?

 

We offer the whole package; we do the design, we do the marketing, we do the websites, we do the SEO, we do the hosting, we do the support, and whilst I know we're proficient, but because of our modest size, I'm also aware of our limitations.

 

Ultimately it boils down to bang for your buck, a trade off between how slow we'd do it because of research and the learning curve 'overhead' and much it would cost to outsource the code.

 

*by expert I mean someone who has distilled their skill set down to a single main avenue of expertise so they haven't thinned their knowledge trying to master many things at once.