Hello all,

I'm a freelance web developer based in Exeter, UK, in my first couple of years of being self employed. I build WordPress websites focusing on clean and simple design with minimal weight. 

I have been building websites for about 10 years, but working for other agencies. 

Since being freelance, I've built a few websites, manage hosting for a few clients. It's going well, but slow.

Currently looking for tips and advice on how to increase number of leads, what are some of your strategies for locating new clients that all of you use? I was hoping to see what other freelancers do to be efficient and increase revenue.

Would love to connect/collaborate.

Thanks, 

Charlotte

Hi Charlotte and welcome to the forum.

Spending money on marketing is a good investment. Back in the days when I used to build websites I wrote to hundreds of local businesses. Whilst most went in the bin it did get me a number of good leads. Trawling through Google Business Profiles can also generate decent leads. I paid for a billboard for a while - that made more than it cost.

The trick on all of this was to sell business improvement not websites. I showed how to increase income for a small expenditure.

But now I do custom plugins. Far more lucrative and less stressful. Don't have to deal with clients who don't have a clue about what they want.

Welcome to the forum!

Another opportunity is to participate in various Wordpress related forums, Slack channels etc - anywhere where WP developers gather. The trick here is to get known for offering advice, solving issues and so on. Once you get known and build a good reputation it's more than possible people will approach you, or you can prove your abilities when bidding for work. This approach has served me well with the CMS I use (going back 20+ years!).

Also don't rule out going to any real world gatherings/conventions you can attend. Look for local groups that have things like speaker evenings, there may be one or two down your way.

I used to run a 'websites for dummies' evening class. Apart from getting paid to teach it generated some decent leads.

And I've done a 'fix your website' thing at the local library where people come and ask questions. Again, a useful source of leads.

Everywhere has a tradesmans pub. Go there when the knock off work and you can pick up loads of work - you just need to be chatty.

Getting out the house and talking to people still works. Those letters I used to write were followed up with a visit. Sit in their office and listen to them talk about their business. Nod and agree and the contract is pretty much yours for the asking.