this may not be the appropriate site, but appears to be a few designers on here as well.

Just wondering how you go about attracting new customers or drumming up business. I'm not looking to steal anyone potential clients, just looking for tips and tricks.

Most of my business has been word of mouth in the past but at the moment I'm not working on anything. That's fun for about a day and tbh I have bills to pay.

So...thoughts?

Word Of Mouth is the best method. If that is not working, advertise or get dressed up and door knock. Door knocking may not help, but it will get a personal relationship started for future word of mouth.

Join or go to meetings of the local Business Bureau, Business Networking groups. Create a seminar or small training sessions on something related.

Hit the golf course.

Telemarketing (If you have no self respect.)

Take up busking.

Yeah I've got enouggh cash to start advertising. Has crossed my mind. I mean I do have a few jobs on the cards coming up, but you know what clients can be like they normally take about 3 months to make up there mind and sign on the dotted line.

Should def join a few more networks though. Cheers

As for golf and busking well.. I can't offer much in either of those fields.

Possibly begging "will work for web development"

I've been in that situation before when i did web design for about a year.

It's a strange business. When it rains it pours and you are overworked. And then you have really quiet periods.

My best form of advertising has always been word of mouth through clients and friends.

If that is not working for you think of a niche business that may require your services. If you can come up with the right niche and you market yourself properly to them - you are likely to gain a lot of work.

I have done this in the past and it has worked like a charm.

As well as local business networks, going to nerd meetings (web designer meetups etc) will also get you contacts in the industry who may pass on work when it's overflowing and also gives you a chance to refer on when you have to much on.

Joel

Word of mouth all the way... Trying to get work purely from online sources is pretty pointless as you end up selling yourself short.

You might be right

All of the above. Help people out on forums too like this one. And finally ... World Peace .

This is definitely true for myself, in the last week I picked up a years worth of work with new clients ... I thought pre-election time was supposed be a slow period full of uncertainty? Use the slow times to your advantage, it gives you some breathing space to work on areas of your business that may need attention.

A really good portfolio helps, and the best way to show off your skills is your own website with good search engine rankings. I have never paid for any traditional forms of advertising, if a customer were to find me in the Yellow Pages it's not the sort of customer I want.

I agree with you 110%.... there are bunch web design companies that just looking for quantity instead of quality ...

I helps if you're geographically remote and your competitors don't have the most impressive portfolio as well. Realistically it is who is around and what their reputation is, as much as how good you are.

I am in a remote location with only 2 real competitors, since i entered the local market the others have been struggling, but the main competition is the city and the Indian sweat shops. I cut loose all pretence of graphic and logo design - as they are too time consuming on top of a full schedule.

Believe it or not honesty and being a straight shooter has pushed me to the top of the hill here - my competitors are very schmoozy yes men. If someone has a crap idea or a bad strategy, i tell them up front and give them notice i am not interested in their projects - it has created a mystique and an urge to work with me, so far.

I agree with this that honesty is the best policy.
It helps a lot in retaining good client relationships. Which is great if a project happens to go over the deadline that was set for it to be completed.

I have been working as a (Self employed) web-developer for over 5 years, I have seen some very interesting changes in the way people do business online. However, one thing that has never changes for me is every single one of my clients have been though:

1. Word of mouth
2. Join a business group and share your knowledge

It is only then when others see your skill set and become comfortable with in referring their pile of business cards.

One other piece of advice stay in contact with all your contacts (Not Just Customer) i.e say hello and how is the business going. Keep your name in the back of their name to be the webguy

Try to form a relationship with small printers and sign writers. They have access to a huge small business base. Many of them don't do web design. Many of them don't even have a website themselves.

In my experience the majority of web design consumers are overwhelmed with too much info and don't really know who to believe or trust. This is why word of mouth is the best form of advertising. You can built trust and rupport a lot easier in person. It's difficult over the phone from people who are over the other side of the country. They also cannot distinguish you from the low quality low price providers plastered all over the internet.

The drawback to word of mouth is that it's time consuming, and you've got to be constantly out there.

Another way is to SEO your site for local searches if you live in a smaller location.