Everyone.

 

Business is booming for me right now. People are finding out about Goldstein Media and apparently they like what they see. I have a few things in the works that should pull in more business as well. But what I'd really like to happen is to have customers come to me for sites. Now this might just be a dream (is it really?), but what suggestions do you all have for me on how I can market my Web design services to drive business to me. I really don't have the time or the trained sales people to do cold calling. Any ideas on other strategies I can employ?

 

Thanks so much! Cheers!

 

Seth

I would perhaps use some basic strategies to get your name out there locally. At the moment, the market is very large and you will struggle to compete nationwide. I throw most of my budget into local advertising (local papers, local radio, sponsoring events) and this is very effective as there are only 2 companies of this nature in my town. This is instant access to thousands of people and at fairly reasonable costs. When people don't have as much choice as to who they can go to, as long as you are the best they will go to you.

 

You do not see many companies of this sort that will conquer more than 1 county/state so for web design services, I advise you aim local whilst leaving yourself open to nationwide enquiries through cheap/free means (e.g. Google).

 

UNLESS you can offer something that nobody else in the country can!

Right now for me all of my clients are approaching me, I am even turning down work. I am fully booked for a few months now and my site only went live properly 2 months ago.

 

The best thing for me was get a great reputation in your local area and work will find you.

So Thomas, you are saying all of your work comes purely from word of mouth?

I would perhaps use some basic strategies to get your name out there locally. At the moment, the market is very large and you will struggle to compete nationwide. I throw most of my budget into local advertising (local papers, local radio, sponsoring events) and this is very effective as there are only 2 companies of this nature in my town. This is instant access to thousands of people and at fairly reasonable costs. When people don't have as much choice as to who they can go to, as long as you are the best they will go to you.

 

You do not see many companies of this sort that will conquer more than 1 county/state so for web design services, I advise you aim local whilst leaving yourself open to nationwide enquiries through cheap/free means (e.g. Google).

 

UNLESS you can offer something that nobody else in the country can!

I would think twice about advertising in your local paper. I used to work for my local paper and online businesses were very reluctant to advertise in print because they never got a god response. Online businesses tend to do better from online advertising, in the most part because the target audience can click through to their site instantly. Asking someone to remember your domain name in the space between reading the paper and switching on the computer might be too much.

I am not an online business lol. I also have results proving your point inaccurate... so perhaps you need to take the area into account also.

 

EDIT: Obviously my suggestions were based on the assumption that Goldstein Media is aiming to become more than an online business.

I am not an online business lol. I also have results proving your point inaccurate... so perhaps you need to take the area into account also.

 

EDIT: Obviously my suggestions were based on the assumption that Goldstein Media is aiming to become more than an online business.

I'd be interested to know more about your research. I worked in the publishing industry a few years back now, so things may have changed. It's a very dynamic market.

I assumed it was an online business being discussed as this is the web designer forum

what do you mean not online work? I'm a Web design company. I'm talking about selling my online services ex. building web sites et al. What do you do other than Web design? I'm mainly interested in how to promote my web design services.

</smug>

Yes... I'm a Web Developer and I post on a Web Designers forum! Does my company HAVE to be based online for this? I thought the forum was for any designer/developer/coder not just online business owners lol

 

As Management for my previous employer, I dealt with most of the marketing for the web department and 40% of leads in 2 years came from a local news magazine that is delivered to 7000 homes and businesses weekly. If they want to know more about a company from its ad, they WILL remember the domain or better yet... they will open the paper and copy the domain

 

Regardless of where you are based, local is always a great option. To summarise... not much competition. Again, this is just something that works for me. Only advice, others may have trouble with it or opt to use other strategies.

 

EDIT: Other than design? I offer Web Development, Web Application Development, Advertising and Marketing services and Consultation

Shaun, what sort of costs are you looking at?

Oh okay! I gotcha. Yea thanks for all your suggestions guys. Keep the suggestions coming. It's really helpful!

Shaun, what sort of costs are you looking at?

 

Weekly paper: Varies from £12.50 - £280 (+premiums for covers) per issue.

Radio: From £300 (being played at the least convenient times at that cost!)

Sponsorship: Depends on the event but usually between £50-£500.

 

My monthly advertising budget is £450. I will normally put £50 into Google AdWords then the rest in the paper. The radio can be a good way to get your name out there but it doesn't generate as many leads. When an event comes up, I am planning on throwing the whole budget at it for sponsorship as (from previous experience) it is VERY effective.

 

Just 1 job out of that £450 of advertising covers the costs with profit and putting that money into it, you will average more than 1 job per month if you play it right.

Oh right, what sort of ad do you get for £12.50?

You would get 1/16 of an A4 page in black and white. Still a pretty good way to be seen.

Hey Seth you could always have a word with a talented Copywriter (if you know where one is ) to discuss the many ways of not just improving the effectiveness of your website but also building yourself a decent brand reputation to attract and convert more visitors. You might also be able to expand your offering and open up a new revenue stream.

 

Before there's a clamour of outrage... I hope folks see the irony of marketing my services in this thread?

^ If that was a reference to my advice, I don't see a major issue with letting him know how to market his services using the same methods I use to market my services. You'll find that the advice that I gave AND you just gave could be considered useful regardless of the service being offered...

^ If that was a reference to my advice, I don't see a major issue with letting him know how to market his services using the same methods I use to market my services. You'll find that the advice that I gave AND you just gave could be considered useful regardless of the service being offered...

 

Woah there! No it wasn't a reference to you!!! I was just trying to go for two lots of advice in one by doing a kind of 'show and tell'. I honestly think I could do great things for Goldstein Media but I also wanted to make the point that forums/social media are good places to build a reputation, build relationships and have people approach you for work.

Sorry you took it as a veiled dig - it really wasn't. It's exactly the same way I write my articles here - I 'tell' something and also 'show' something at the same time.

Peace?

Ok then buddy no harm done. My advice was already questioned in this thread and I must have been thinking it was open season for it or something! My apologies

 

I hope others make the same mistake as me so I don't look like a paranoid **** lol

Surely sharing information and help is all part of the fun!!

shawn, i never questioned your advice. It was good. I just mentioned that I'm a web designer when i thought you might have thought that I was more than that. that's all. No one is questioning anyone elses advise. i appriciate it all.

Come on! English spelling of Shaun please! lol

 

Yeah don't worry, it wasn't you

my bad