Story: Winding road

How do I get a client? This is the most common question as a freelancer, Chris Do says. In my case, it’s a reference. People contact me after hearing the word of mouth. I understand that even this social media era.

Because I ask people when I look for a creator, such as a web/iOS developer, programmer. I normally don’t search on the internet. Too many results and realistically I cannot choose one of them. I require not only skill but good attitude, fit a personality.

This means that contacting a designer (or agency) through a website is not easy for a client. After all, there is no shortcut. I have to sincerely study customer acquisition from top runners. A client will be able to find us if we learn the methods. Don’t be overwhelmed. Step by step. 

The Futur: How To Get More Clients

Memo: ToDo list top 10

1. Build a website.
2. Update your LinkedIn profile.
3. Get on Behance.
4. Ask for referrals.
5. Networking.
6. Join communities and organizations.
7. Start taking pictures.
8. Read 10 books.
9. Subscribe/listen to these 10 podcasts.
10. Watch these 10 videos.

Opinion: No shortcut

An updating portfolio is quite the basic, but it is a fundamental start as a freelancer or even an in-house designer. Your skills, experience, knowledge, personality should be in a portfolio. You have to engage with a client who has never met before.

I’m sure you are busy in daily life. You may not have enough time to update, but Please, no excuse. We don’t have many chances to catch the client’s attention. Normally, potential client visits our website only one time a life. If it’s HR(human resource), they give us only 5 – 10 seconds. HR receives over 100 resumes each position. They cannot be kind for choosing a candidate. If we don’t impress them, we lose. Very severe, but real.

Before portfolio, I had to deep consider what I offer to a customer. It’s a limited character for a profile on social media. I updated over and over again. In January 2019, this is the current profile.

? Building trust through design
? Meeting people beyond the nationalities
? Takashi Hirakimoto, Web Designer & Entrepreneur
? Founder of Open Bookmarks Co.
? Web Design, Branding & UX Design
?? Vancouver, BC, Canada
?? Check & comment on my website

Process: Check the list

I updated 1. portfolio. I could express my skill here. I’m going to create 15 – 30 seconds video for the slideshow.

I’m still learning how 2. LinkedIn works. I don’t have many strategies on it yet, but I’m gonna increase my network 50 to 100 in 2019.

I still don’t have any experience to get a job from 3. Behance. For me, it’s the place of design practice, learning from the latest case study from a top creator. 

4, 5, 6 are no guarantee. No one knows what will happen. However, we can not change anything if we wait for a client. Take action. Ask is the key. People are normally kind, but If you don’t ask, a client doesn’t know what you need. once a client satisfied your service, they will mention your service to someone. 

7, I feel it means practice how to look at images (composition, lighting and behind story) and share something if you take. I’ve looked over million images in my career. I can explain why I choose image A rather than image B. It’s practice. 

8, 9, 10, we don’t have to search it from scratch. Just follow @TheFutur.

Conclusion: Just do it

We can find tons of tips on the internet. We need to distinguish the quality though. Of cause, we have to apply it. Knowledge, itself, won’t change the current situation. Let’s take an action if you want to progress. Embrace fear and anxiety. everyone has it.

Alternative idea or parallel

©Darrel Wilson: How To Get More Clients For Your Web Design Business

He introduces several ways. 1 key action is to focus local.

Physical
– Tell your family, ask your network
– Reach to city council, church or some group
– Testimonial
– Cold call/email, prepare proof before contact potential client
– Business who can afford you

Digital
– Facebook Ad, specific location, local advertising
– Google Ads
– People don’t like to spend money on digital product
– List the website, Quora, Yahoo question
– Yelp
– Google maps
– Yellow page
– Hire SEO company
– Write a blog, iwriter.com ✔️
– Become an authority
– Forum, Facebook group

©RapidWebLaunch.com: How to Start a Web Design Business in 24 Hours

– Commitment, persistence, courage and consistency
– Why do you do?
– Find niche
The video mentions the offer of a quick/fast service. I don’t want to do that. because I do want to give an impact on the client business.
– Build a brand.
Not sure.
– Domain
– Web design tools
– Build your website
Simple, Video/image, responsive, speed
– Invoice platform
– Payment processor, 50% before job start
– Promotion, show your work
Google My Business, Yelp, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram,
– Find a new client
Upwork, Google maps, Craigslist
– Try 100% customer satisfaction
– Automation
– Additional service/offer

©Ben Adkins: How to get Social Media Marketing Clients in 2020 (How to get your First 5)

Over 1 hour long. You can shortcut.

©Billy Willson: How to Start a Social Media Marketing Agency in 2020 | Completely From Scratch, With $0

– Build your foundations
Facebook business page
Facebook Ads($20/day) to bringing business(Can we guarantee the result?)
Niche
1. Offer for free or reduced-price
2. Capture information
3. Deliver the offer on thank you page

– Contact businesses
Who wants to work with
Personal network
Work with top-quality businesses with high customer value
NG, startup, failing business
Facebook Messenger
LinkedIn
Walk-in
Cold call/email

– Secure clients
Why does a client meet with you
Set objective of the meeting
Understand the business
Figure about the challenge
What your work provide
Price
Access to Facebook page
*How people prepare the image & video

– Provide result
A customer wants, needs & pain
Offer for objection
Ad
Funnel
Sale

– Scale
Handle 7 clients at $1,500/mo(each? Who can pay this fee per month for an ad?)
Record videos

Billy Willson: How To Get Social Media Marketing Clients AMAZING Results as a BEGINNER & STOP losing CLIENTS

The procedure is the same.

What I learned is to choose the right client. I also care about how to measure performance. Anyway, the results are everything. If you can drive profit more than ROI, the business will be successful. Simple, but I cannot guarantee it.

Reference:

The Futur: How Will Customers Find You— Build Awareness by Informing or Inspiring
The Futur: How to Find Clients that Value Design
The Ballance: The 7 Best Places to Find Clients
ClientFlow: 33 ways to get more clients