Marketing web design services to local businesses

[BeTheBox]

Everytime I open the phone book or look in the local papers it really does amaze me to see more then half of the ads do not contain a web address or a professional email.

I've made note of this quite a few times, and now have decided to market some services to this market. A yellow page ad is not cheap, and these companies are not using the space they purchased effeciently if they do not have a web address to supplement their advertising. For the first time, this is a product a fully beleive in.. and now I need to sell

And it doesn't stop at the sales. Every day I am also learning more about web design. My current website for these services is BeTheBox.com. I need to get some popup scripts in there for extended info and script up the contact information. And of course im in the process of changing all the pictures. The Html is still down as I'm in the process of adapting the flash over. However, its easy to see the final product. The site is template based. I hope to do more and more from scratch, in the meantime however, I plan to use a template base for most of my projects. Thankfully, I have a rather large collection I have gathered over some years.

This works hand in hand, as I want to offer my services to these companies at lower rates then they are used to (if they have been approached before). If templates are used correctly, I don't believe it will cheapen the final product in any way. I am adept with dreamweaver and other html editers, I can do graphic work in photoshop, and use swish for any flash work. I want to start using these tools to their full advantage!


To Summerize:

My selling experience is limited, and I am wondering if anyone in the forum also has experience selling their design services to local business, and if possible any tips on the approach. I'm not a seasoned sales person, but I am determined to learn. Should I cold call print ads that catch my eye? (AOL email addresses, no domain) or simply walk in with print information and a conversation? Mail campaign?


I thank you in advace:

BeTheBox.com
Drew Petrizzo

I will be working on two projects free of charge to start off my profolio (before I head out for prospects). I'll also be sitting down with 3 of the 5 design companies in this area (Entire side of state) with a psuedo company name to see what they would charge for similiar services. My prices will be decided after I do some more research on the matter. I plan to undercut to a reasonable extent (more so first starting out)

[WealthOnWeb]

Get involved with yahoo/google local search

[tekmoney]

I too am a web designer, and I deal only with local businesses. I find it far easier to complete than on the web because I feel that our company can do better than the majority of most local web designers right from the start, and we have the goal of becoming on of the top designers in area in our business plan.

Another benefit is that you do not have to compete on price either. If you can prove the value of your services to their business, then you can charge whatever you feel is right.

I have learned many many things in the past 6 months. One important thing that I'll talk about that is relevant to your post is that most local business owners still deal.. well, locally. Most of these fine folks are middle aged family people who have roots in the area they live in. They don't realize that they can look on the web and things done for a quarter of the price by some indian company, but they really don't care.

People care about customer service more than anything. They're buying a high ticket item and do not want buyers remourse. Most don't care about price either. As long as they find value in your services, then they are willing to pay more. What they really care about is meeting someone face to face, getting to know you, learning about your life and developing a long term relationship.

This is why my company still has done zero direct marketing. All of our business has been generated by referrals. You do one good thing for someone and they brag about it to their friends. You educate a small business owner on search engine optimization and link building, and they'll realize you're intelligent and know what you're doing. They may not go with you the first time, but that relationship with always be there.

So... how do you start networking ? http://ezinearticles.com/?id=309758 <--that's an article i've written about my experience with it. I highly recommend you try doing this before wasting money on direct marketing.

[WanganRunner]

Get in touch with your local chamber of commerce.

That's how I've sold a good bit of my freelance MS Excel/Access services to smaller businesses over the years.

I volunteered at my local CC when I was 12, helped them set up a computer system. Now I can go back there whenever I want and get contacts, sit in on meetings, etc...

[BeTheBox]

I greatly appreciate the advice. Excellent artical tek. Ill take this all into account as a continue to advance with this business. Ill be looking into my local chamber of commerce, and other events in the local area.

I'm also going to be volunteering my services to local community causes.

[adamg]

get on my directory in my sig

[moneydriven]

BeTheBox,

Your website looks freaking awesome! I'm assuming you designed it yourself?

I'm a software engineer but I can't design at all. I love programming but I hate the design part of a website project. How did you learn?

[tekmoney]

BeTheBox,

Your website looks freaking awesome! I'm assuming you designed it yourself?

I'm a software engineer but I can't design at all. I love programming but I hate the design part of a website project. How did you learn?

Its called a template my friend.

[moneydriven]

Its called a template my friend.

Are you aware that someone actually has to design those??

I know it's a template. I'm assuming he designed it, since he was a web design business. I guess I don't understand your point.

[tekmoney]

Are you aware that someone actually has to design those??

I know it's a template. I'm assuming he designed it, since he was a web design business. I guess I don't understand your point.

The site is template based. I hope to do more and more from scratch, in the meantime however, I plan to use a template base for most of my projects.

Sorry. Essentially he purchases the tmeplates from something like templatemonster.com. He did not design it but plans on doing more of his own work as time goes on

[BeTheBox]

The site is template based. I hope to do more and more from scratch, in the meantime however, I plan to use a template base for most of my projects.

Sorry. Essentially he purchases the tmeplates from something like templatemonster.com. He did not design it but plans on doing more of his own work as time goes on

Yep. I consider templates another tool in the tool set. I learn more from tearing them apart and using them in projects then I usually do from reading a book. The most important thing in my mind is that every business (especially those that use print advertising) should have a website. Basing projects on templates saves time and money, and that translates to the client.

I've heard some say that using templates is "cheating", and someone offering design services on a template based site is a sign of laziness. If I plan to use templates as a tool when I work with clients, I think its reasonable to use one for my own site. I can design a site from scratch. However, I can't design a site as polished as the one used at my site at the moment (Soon I hope, but not yet.

What it comes down, however, is that I am able to use the tools I have to create impacting websites for the local businesses in my area, now. As I continue to expand my design knowledge, I plan to create more and more from scratch.

[RnO]

BeTheBox, check your PMs when you get a change.