how do you find work

[bizverts]

hi guys, Im new to the site, and doing some research as to how web developers find work, is it all in your local community or do you use sites like elance.com?

Interested in your views :)

[6StringGeek]

Lots of it in craigslist.

[dvbii]

I find a lot of my work from contacts that I have met on social media. Twitter is an awesome resource, just go to search.twitter.com and search for what you are interested in. Then start a conversation. Don't sell, just become a part of the community. When someone needs you, they know where to find you.
There are a ton of business technology groups that meet at least once a month. I am not a very "social person", but it helps to get your name around and fast.
The best by far though is customer service. A satisfied customer will tell the world how great you are.

[\\.\]

If you get one client and they are pleased with your work, word of mouth recommendations count for more than an advert and having several Phd's falling out your rear.

A friend of a friend is an freelance architect that does planning drawings for people who want developments or extensions to their homes or a bespoke construction. He does not advertise yet his work takes him all over the world and this is all from word of mouth. The guy has to turn work away.

You as in your personality and attitude factors in as well, the person has to like you to "Do you a favor" by passing you on to more potential clients.

[atldev]

Try Craigslist
Make sure you're on google places too
both options are free

[seattleseo]

I don't like craigslist because most of the people there are bargain shoppers. If you can crank out websites and don't have any moral concerns with designing poor grade websites (to match CL $150 market) then you shouldn't have a problem.

Business networking groups, word of mouth, relationship building are all priceless IMHO

[Jayres]

I focus on seo of our own site. It took a long time, though.

[qvalpro]

Hi,

I have tried my best to find work in craigslist and freelancing websites (elance, freelancer.com, etc...) but wasn't quite successful.

Though I could find some leads, most of the clients out there are solely looking for cheap prices. Majority of them are not bothered much about the quality and customer support on offer. Infact, I find the quality level offered by many offshore companies shocking and I wouldn't term that as a healthy competition. Despite the fact that I run an offshore web design & development firm, I would not dare to offer such type of service - just to keep the prices low.

These days, I am trying to find clients through business networking groups, forums and other round about means. I did succeed in finding one good client this way and he now regularly outsources the website build related work to me and also pays me reasonably. Word of mouth publicity does work, but it is important to find long term clients (in other words clients who run a similar business in countries where the cost to hire people is high) for an offshore service provider like me.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,
KB.

www.qvalpro.co.in

[eval(BadCode)]

Start small, try Craigslist (my first job was on Craigslist and was a NIGHTMARE to say the least- this might be a good place to start to figure out that your time is worth something and to not sell yourself short).

I started making ~$2 an hour (when all was said and done), a year ago, from a job on craigslist trying to figure out why my css doesn't work. I make considerably more now doing work I find much more interesting than html and css.

Be diligent and pounce on the first job you can get (well... use some judgement). If they say don't call before at 8:00AM you call at 805, and tell them you can start working at noon. Follow through, and always add a little extra that goes above and beyond (free of charge) as a way of saying thank you for your work and that you really did care (even if it's just a tiny transparent logo at the bottom left corner of a page).

Show some integrity in your work. You'll probably start out working hard and not smart, don't let it discourage you. I guess I could go on and on about the experiences I've had, but they wouldn't mean anything unless you put in the 3 hours trying to figure out how to trim a * from the front of a sql row so on.

Most of the posts above mine seem to check out. I can't speak good or bad of SEO.

best of luck

[mankis]

Google, word of mouth, and awards brings me customers

[noahqw]

I've heard craigslist is great.