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How To Make Your Website Work For You (and not against you)

If you run a freelance business or smaller company, this one’s for you. It’s challenging to make all the decisions you’re making on a daily basis and it’s a tough world out there if you’re trying to make it. With all the designers popping up everywhere, standing out online can be a key to success and eventually make or break you.

Image by Svilen Milev

In this article we’ll give you a few handy tips for the road that hopefully can help you do what needs to be done to be visible online. These tips are not related to coding or software, but rather pointers on how to focus with your website.

Let’s have a closer look!

Know your audience

If you want to make a website that is memorable and stands out to the right crowd, you’ll need to know who your target audience is. Who’s buying your products/services and what do they like? This can be hard to answer but it’s definitely something that is worth researching a bit further. Talk to existing and potential clients, look at your competitors and evaluate well. If you’re able to get a website that targets the right people a lot of the work is done.

Portfolio

Having an online portfolio today is crucial. Make sure that your portfolio is either part of your business website or that you at least have a very clear and visible link to it. It’ll help you sell your work better than a thousand words!

Social links

Image by Clix

Having social links available is a must these days, especially when you’re working in design/graphics. Not only can people connect with you but you’re also showing that you’re very present in what’s going on online. Also, those that follow you on Twitter or like your website on Facebook will see updates and be easier to reach for the future. Social media is way more powerful than most of us understand.

Be accessible

Social media is one thing, but have you made sure that your contact info is easy to find? Make sure you’ve included at least a couple of ways to help potential clients reach you. Not everyone fancy filling out a contact form or sending you a tweet. If you have at least a couple of ways they can reach you, you’ll be more likely to get contacted.

Timeless design

The design of your website itself is really, really important. When it comes to the finished product, it’ll of course rely a lot on your own taste and skills, – but there are definitely a few things you should aim for. Make sure you’re not having a design representing something that was really in a decade ago. It is important that your website reflects your professionalism and has a timeless and clean look. This way you’ll look good and at the same time not have to update the design every 6 months due to major trend changes. Also: you don’t have to be a web designer to get a good website. Have a look at WordPress or other CMSs and you’ll see that you can still do a whole lot with no coding experience!

Blog if you can!

Image by Dmitri Popov

Today, blogging is a huge part of networking and a huge source to get visitors. If you make a blog section of your website where you write about stuff you’re doing, new trends or maybe feature some tutorials – you’ll see that visitors come running after a short time. “Everyone” blogs these days and you should jump on that trend.

Images and Video

The technology today makes it possible for us to have websites that look and feel a thousand times better compared to just a few years back. If you want to make a solid visual impact on potential clients you should try to take advantage of some of the many possibilities. Crisp images and videos give a much more solid impression than clip-arts and low-res pictures. Take some time to read up on what technology has to offer and stand out from the crowd!

SEO

If you don’t have any knowledge of Search Engine Optimization, this is the time to get it. With all the websites out there you need to do something to be noticed. Read up on the subject, or get help from professionals and you’ll see that you get paid back many times for prioritizing this.

Conclusion

Making your website work for your business is so much more than just coding. By following our tips we believe that you’ll be more likely to get a website that works with you instead of against you.

Remember that we’d love to hear your own tips as well.

Good luck!

Distractions You Need to Avoid to Get Work Done

Being a freelance designer means a lot of challenges to fight on a daily basis. How we do business today is extremely different to what we were used to just a decade ago. Now it’s all about being present on many stages and being accessible in a more stressful way than before. Obviously the revolution of social media and Internet in general gives us many great sources of inspiration and access to millions of potential clients outside of our own home areas.

Image by Wilton Rodriguez

In this article we’ll have a look at some potential time-consuming factors that can ruin your efficiency during the workday.

More »

Why You’re Not Getting Design Projects – And What To Do About It

When you’re a designer, there are many others out there that are constantly competing with you. I’m sure that many times you’ve been wondering why you didn’t get a project you had a very good feeling about. If you don’t understand why this article can be helpful to you. We’re gonna have a look at some of the most common reasons why designers do not get projects. This can be helpful for you later on. Maybe there’s something you can do differently next time? Here are a few points you should have a closer look at. Don’t forget to leave us a comment with your feedback!

Bad offer/not listening

Image by StillSearc

To give your potential client an offer they will accept means listening and working on the offer itself. If you misunderstand what the client wants or present an offer that you clearly haven’t worked on properly, it’s likely to get turned down. Remember to do what you can to give them exactly what they want and need along with an offer that is easy to understand, customized and well worked out.

Wrong price

The price is many times the case as well. If you price your services/products too high, it’s obviously not a good thing. Pricing yourself too low also often gives a wrong message. Do your research and make sure that your prices can compete with others and still be high enough for you to cover your costs. Many countries have set rates for what freelancers usually charge within certain niches.

Your website and/or portfolio isn’t good enough

Image by Henning Buchholz

Today it’s really important to have a good website and a portfolio that you’ve worked on well. Check out our earlier article, Making a Great Portfolio – Best Tips and Tutorials, for tips. Even if you’re able to throw together a website and a portfolio in a day, this doesn’t mean that the result is good. If you have both of these in place when it comes to quality, you’ll even sometimes notice that these two can sell your services by themselves. It’s an important investment and going that extra mile will pay off.

Lack of experience

If you have little or no experience, this can be a problem. If you’re good enough at giving down-to-earth arguments and come across as professional, you can still sell your services though. Just remember to be prepared for how to sell yourself without having the lack of experience work against you. You should make a list of valid reasons for why you’re a good choice anyway and use these without sounding too desperate. You also have to understand that you may have to take on smaller projects in order to get more experience in some cases. A bit of work is better than no work, and every addition to your portfolio will be valuable for later.

No testimonials

Depending on the client, some actually ask for testimonials. Make sure to have good communication with former clients and get testimonials. These can be kept for the future and some designers even present excerpts of these on their websites. It looks more professional and it helps you more than you’d think.

Lack of contact options

Image by Steven Goodwin

It’s important to always be accessible, and give your clients what they need to get in touch with you. Don’t forget to give them your business-card, along with including a couple of different contact options on your website, portfolio, in emails and so on. It would be bad if a client is really interested but has a hard time getting in touch with you.

First impression

When you meet your possible clients in person or get contacted via email or phone, the first impression is really important to many. Thin through how you represent your business and take it seriously. Wear proper clothes to meetings, answer the phone in a professional way, have an email signature that looks good and address them in a respectful way. If it’s a close race between you and others, clients could use this as a reason for saying yes or no.

Bad communication

Image by Charlie Balch

If you’re communicating badly, you’ll quickly be in trouble. Not only do you have to be accessible but you need to keep your promises. Call back when you’ve promised to, keep the clients up to date at all times and focus on this. If you do it well you will avoid any misunderstandings and have a better chance at getting the project. Working with people and communicating is a very important part of both getting a project and executing the project well.

You’re not prepared

Be prepared! Read up on your client, check out their websites, have a look at their competitors and so on. Show them that they’re important and that you’re interested in them and their niche. If you meet them completely unprepared you’re just one of many. By doing an hour or two of research the project could be yours!

Too offensive

Being too offensive is never a good thing. Yes, you have to sell what you have to offer – but if you try too hard it’s a complete turn-off to most clients. Practice your sales pitch and read up on different techniques and strategies.

You didn’t deliver earlier

Image by Jarpur

If you’re giving a new offer to a former client and didn’t do a good job the first time you’re very likely to get turned down this time. This is a common reason, but there are things you can do. Be honest and humble, admit your mistakes and promise to take them seriously and give your best this time. By being humble you can often turn the whole situation around. Clients like to see that you know that you’re just human.

You’re not offering the “little extra”

One final reason for getting turned down is one that is extremely common. If a client gets a dozen offers, you definitely need to add something extra in order to stand out. This can be adding a service or product to accompany what you’re already offering, providing extra service and other things. Use your imagination, go the extra mile to stand out. If you fail at this you’re just one of many.

Conclusion

Image by Sigurd Decroos

Are you as unique as you want to think that you are? Have you done your homework? Remember that the work done in getting a good website, portfolio and selling yourself is a great investment in the future. Don’t take any shortcuts and you will be more likely to get that next project. It’s all about working hard and not getting stuck in routines. Every client is unique and special and deserve to be treated that way. Focus on your good sides and make them feel seen and you’re on a good way. Good luck!