It takes a lot for a business to survive in today’s competitive digital era of exploding data and endless options, let alone thrive. When it comes to getting new web design clients for your agency the playing field is no different. Finding the right starting point to expand your clientele can be confusing but you can bet bottom dollar that fostering your current relationships will open doors for your business you didn’t know existed. Having said that we would like to give you our two cents on what you can do to get your pipeline bustling with new prospects.
1. Study Your Clientele
Understanding your clients is of utmost importance alongside recognising the services you are ready to provide to them. By having a comprehensive idea of your prospective clientele you direct the work tailored to their needs, be it formulating strategies, coming to common ground on your web development services or content creation. Having the right list of clients in your agenda speaks volumes about the genre and depth of your services.
2. Know Your Work
Over and above everything, it is vital to be a master of your trade. Being able to handle all the needs of your clients is key to making sure they don’t go knocking on someone else’s doors. This not only keeps your bankroll healthy but also builds credibility for your name in the market as an expert in your craft. They say any publicity is good publicity, but a bad word of mouth can shut your business down before you can call on PR.
3. Focus & Specialize
In order to lure droves of clients into your hive of web design you need to be nailing it at what you do because astute clients will want nothing short of perfection when it comes to their business that they’re putting you in charge of to nurture and grow. These clients pay top dollar and according to the Pareto Principle, 80% of your pockets will be filled by this niche that will barely constitute 20% of your portfolio.
4. Keep Yourself Abreast Of the Market Scenario
This brings us to the next point. You may be great at what you do but there’s always that new kid on the block that sweeps the girls off their feet making you look like yesterday’s news. Now, you want to be the next big thing so keeping an eye out at your competition and staying on your toes can prove to be a life saver for your company. You want to be able to improvise and update your work to keep your clients interested. Studying the market and constantly learning new things is the only way to ensure burgeoning demand for your company.
5. Get Your Referrals Straight
People talk. Now we’re not trying to serve you poetic justice but I’m sure you’ve heard Maya Angelou say “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” and that goes for your performance as well. Referrals from your existing network are the best marketing home runs your company will ever hit. When a referred prospect comes to you with a recommendation from one of your existing clients they take a flier on you. Converting them into a habitué will only keep the cycle of great customer service running and earn your company more credible referrals.
6. Your Net-Worth Is Your Network
This isn’t just a choral phrase but a great one to remember for any business trying to take flight and reach new heights. As humans we are a co-dependent social race so as theatrical as it might sound, to win the race of commerce we must run together. Networking is one of the easiest and most fun ways to get word out for your company and seek new clients. Engage on your social media. Get to know your folks through your Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Audience engagement and interaction is a long term process and doing so will ensure you have an online presence and your target market is aware of you. Apart from mingling from behind the screen it is important to go out there and put a face to your name. Attend networking events, seminars, webinars, camps and conferences and I promise you it will get the ball rolling. Doing all of this coupled with showing up early, keeping yourself confident & composed and being an attentive listener will ensure you go back home with more than a prospective patron or two.
7. Follow Up! Follow Up! Follow Up!
Follow up with your client requests pronto, follow up with your team at every step internally and most importantly follow up with your fresh leads. Once you’ve socialised and built a network it is imperative that you follow up right away. Time is of the essence. The quicker you follow up, the easier and more natural it will be to work with your new prospects and your swift action will speak volumes about the nature of your company, setting it in stone that you mean business, you follow through on your word and you can be trusted. This is essential because not only does waiting for weeks or even months create the impression that you don’t have your business in order but in the meantime your competition can swoop in and take your clients from right under your nose.
8. Take Feedbacks Seriously
Carrying out feedback assessment can prove more rewarding than you might think especially when it comes to gaining and retaining clients. Whether received verbally or through a survey, every bit of feedback counts. With the right mindset feedback can be the tool for continued learning and a source of motivation. Feedback can be the impetus you need to break through the dry spells you might be stagnating in or diving into the thread of ideas that’s going to elevate your game.
Now, before you embark on this continuous journey we suggest formulating a concrete plan based on the above mentioned tips, so as to give it a little more structure once you go about actually doing the tasks. Keep in mind that things may not go as planned all the time so cut yourself some slack but always keep moving forward.