Starting on my own, looking for advice.

[Narnian]

After working for other folks as a web developer / designer for seven years, I've decided to start my own business. Unfortunately, I realised I don't know how to find work.

Anyone have any ideas on getting my first few small contracts? I want to get my feet wet and see if I'm cut out for the solo operation.

[Robert Wellock]

Portfolios and cold calling local businesses tends to help you might like to look at "SitePoint" obviously I won't give you the URL because that may infringe the guidelines.

[JackTheTripper]

My wife and I run a side business for Web and graphic design and get a lot of business from local non-proffit orgs. We get quite a bit of work because we don't charge as much as some more professional graphic designers. Some can charge between 75 and 100 an hour. We cut that in half and still make a good profit.

[Narnian]

Hhmmm. Someone else recently suggested the not-for-profit groups. I guess I need to follow up on that. Do you just do cold calls on them or do you have a more polite system of contact?


I'll keep working on my portfolio.

[DaveSW]

You probably need to check in your area for new business schemes. In wales (uk) we have 'Business Connect' as a starting point, with lots of grants etc. There are also 'networking days' etc, organised by (in our case) the local accountants.

It's quite good if you can go into a company, interested in their products (officially anyway!!) and mention what you do - particularly if they don't have a web site, or have an under construction notice. Most of my customers have had under construction notices for a number of years before coming to us. Others - particularly charities, have difficulty getting a solid quote, so make sure you give them an absolute figure!!

Hope this helps, and good luck (you're too far away to compete with us LOL!!)

Dave

[Narnian]

That's a good suggestion. I should check with the local Better Business Bureau and the chamber of commerce. They might be able to connect me with some companies that are actively looking for work.

And you're right on the second count too - I'm not likely to fly to Whales looking for a 20 hour contract!

[Decaff]

Narnian,

There are two fundamentals to consider...when prospecting for new clients, especially since you are just getting you own thing going, your mind set is either going to be "high volume slam and jam" or "consultation-based business-modeling, business-solution driven long term deep relationship building"...

The first simply means setting up your website with a bunch of standard pricing levels for the different services you can provide...(kind of like shopping at WalMart....and being served by folks who actually hate working there)....and then do high volume marketing....(aggressive cold calling, spammy email marketing, coming up with a new global emotional-centric driven marketing model (aka...terrorism) in order to drive sales)....and convert from there...OR....approach your work from a consultive point of view...where you build deep relationships one-by-one and let these mature into real powerful revenue streams for your business as you help these "partners" grow their business with your efforts and knowledge that you acquire over time..

Your first 3 years....(yes, this rule still applies in the digital virtual business world...as it does in the brick and mortar world).... will make or break your business and expect to be very flexible in the virtual world...for the life of your business

Good luck..

[Narnian]

I've been a consultant for the last seven years, so I'm familiar with building long term relationships. The problem is that my role as a consultant has been as an employee of a consulting firm. I don't know how they establish those relationships in the first place.

I never liked making cold calls. I don't like getting them or giving them. Spam is not an option. However, I'm not sure how else you would get your foot in the door. My search for alternatives is what prompted this posting.

The local Chamber of Commerce may be a start, since they appear to have regular events where I might have a chance to shake some hands, but I don't know how effective it will be, and I'm not sure I want to wait around a month for the next event.

[JackTheTripper]

Originally posted by Narnian
Hhmmm. Someone else recently suggested the not-for-profit groups. I guess I need to follow up on that. Do you just do cold calls on them or do you have a more polite system of contact?

Actually my wife works foe a company that helps non-profs in the community put on events and also has a contract with the city of San Jose and San Francisco to help build the community in different parts of the city (Down town SJ, Japan Town SJ, Filmore district SF) by putting on things like free music in the park etc... etc... etc... so she's constantly working with non-profs and gets business through word of mouth that way.

Don't think that helps much but maybe it plants a thought for you to start looking.

Good Luck.