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Jack Redley
Lead Generation

20 Strategies To Get More Webflow Clients

June 5, 2022

Getting clients ain’t easy peasy when you’re starting out. Even when you have been freelancing for a few years, you are likely to have dips and lows in your income. I find it's always helpful and interesting to try out different strategies to acquire clients and to see what fits best with you.

Often, people swear by a particular strategy working and it can get confusing when researching online. Part of the problem is that "influencers," are trying to sell their "Guaranteed Client Framework," or some other bollocks, and they swear that their strategy is "The Only Strategy You Will Need." Personally, I have found that strategy's success depends more on the individual- their personality, time frame, comfort level etc, than the strategy itself.

This article is hopefully going to spark ideas and offer avenues for research to get more clients. However, it relies on you working out which is most appropriate for you! If you are an extrovert, potentially offering a webinar is an interesting option to explore. If you have time and don't have much of a portfolio, maybe making a website that is highly shareable might be more exciting for you.

Some of these are obvious while others are more outside the box. Either way, here are 20 strategies to get more Webflow clients:

1. Thoughtfully reply to the businesses on social and email

Work out which businesses you want to work with and then follow them on social, sign up to their newsletter, follow their CEO etc. Then, thoughtfully engage with them on LinkedIn and other social medias. Reply to their newsletter with an engaging, enthusiastic response. Maybe send the CEO useful articles if it's relevant to a social media post they have put up. It sounds cliché but the law of reciprocity is real and if you help others, they are more likely to notice and help you!

2. Record a video review of people’s websites

This is such an easy one to do. When you go on someone's website and you see it's not as good as it could be, simply record a loom video (it's free when recording videos that are shorter than 5 mins) and then send it to them. Tell them they can implement the changes you have mentioned themselves or, you can do these changes for them. I recommend putting your Calendly link in the email so they can schedule a meeting with you to discuss these changes if they want you to help them with it.

3. Search for local businesses that have underperforming/ugly websites and go in and talk to the owner about it

Loads of smaller, local businesses are in desperate need of web design support. If you go to google maps, you can go to street view and literally go up the streets to see what local businesses are there. Then, look at their website and see whether it could be improved. If so, write down the most important points and go in to the local business. Ask to speak to the owner about their website and share your findings. By meeting you personally, you make a great impression and have the chance to talk more in length about their website.

Nb. They may not be the biggest projects but they may be more fulfilling than doing a 10K job for a larger organisation!

4. Go to industry events which ARE NOT web design related

Often, web designers all go to the same networking events. However, what if you went to industry events where you are the only web designer? Perhaps there is a real estate talk near where you live and you go along to hear the talk and meet real estate developers. Since no other web designers are there, perhaps you can hand out business cards and be introduced to people in the industry that need web design support!

5. Pay to go to exclusive events where big ticket players are there

Everyone goes to free events but only people willing to spend on their business will go to high ticket business events. If you have to pay a large sum to be in the room, you will likely be the only other freelance web designer in there. This will give you the opportunity to network with potential clients.

6. Speak at a local event

Everyone goes to free events but only people willing to spend on their business will go to high ticket business events. If you have to pay a large sum to be in the room, you will likely be the only other freelance web designer in there. This will give you the opportunity to network with potential clients.

7. Search on LinkedIn

Although it's bleeding obvious, so many designers don't just look to see if their services are being requested on LinkedIn. You can literally find clients who are literally looking to hire you. While we're on this subject, make sure your profile is up to date with recent projects and looks like you want to be contacted for work.

8. Offer services to web design agencies and freelancers to take on their overflow work

You don't necessarily need to just try and get your own clients - you can service other people's clients too. I recommend contacting other freelancers and agencies that may have an influx of work and offer to support them. This is not going to be so well paid but it will be consistent if you do a good job the first time!

9. Link up with people that have complimentary services to you

You would be surprised how knowing people that have complimentary services to you can quickly lead to work. Copywriters, photographers, UX researchers, marketers etc. all may have clients that need web design support. Why not dm them to arrange a coffee and see how you can help each other?

10. Make a really controversial website that is highly shareable

A couple of years when I was completely starting out, I made a website called the 'History of Veganism.' Despite being not my best work, it was really explorative and educational - it had horizontal scroll sections, research and pictures and lots of animations. As a result, people shared it and I actually got a job from someone seeing it. Make work that fulfils you, push your boundaries and you will be surprised what comes of it!

11. Organise a webinar on how you could improve your website

If you are more of an extrovert character, making an engaging webinar might suit you. This way, you can collect people's emails who you know are looking to improve their website. After hopefully teaching them loads in this webinar, you can offer website support. Also, you can follow up by email after the webinar with exclusive offers too if they are not ready to work with you yet.

12. Look at bad reviews of businesses that clearly need a better website

Websites are often the cause of frustration for customers. You can look through yelp, trustpilot, tripadvisor and more to find companies that need website support. Then, you can reach out by making a loom video or possibly go in and speak to them!

13. Ask for referrals from old clients

It's so simple but often overlooked - ask your previous clients how they are, what their up to and if they need any additional support. If not, since they were such an excellent client to work with, you wondered if they knew of any clients similar to them that needed website support. Sometimes, it's as simple as that!

14. Ask your past clients for testimonials + video testimonials

Often, your previous work and happy past clients will sell future clients for you. This will only happen if you diligently ask them for a testimonial. I recommend asking them specific questions that tee up the answers you are looking for rather than just saying 'Can you give me a testimonial.' Alternatively, ask to have a video call with them and record the video call. Then, edit all the responses in to a client testimonial montage and pin this to the top of your social media and put this on your about page.

15. Reply to full time adverts offering services

Sometimes, companies will be looking for full time staff to fulfil website roles. If your skillsets match what they are looking for, there is no harm in responding to the advert saying you don't want to be a full time staff member but can fulfil their desired needs as a freelancer. This may lead to a project.

16. Offer new services to old clients

Since you have done more and more work, you have learnt more skills eg. copywriting or email marketing etc. Why not follow up with old clients explaining you have more skillsets and offerings as a result. Whether they want these or not, if you have a good relationship with them, they will likely tell their network.

17. Offer a limited time offer, free website review

If you offer a limited time offer, people are more likely to engage with it because of the scarcity principle. Then, if you offer a free website review, you can explain how the website can be improved with some changes and how you could collaborate together.

18. Sign up for freelance job newsletters and job boards

I recommend signing up to get alerts from a variety of job boards. Although there are ones like Fiverr and Upwork which will send you alerts for different jobs, I also find good jobs sent through free channels like flowremote.io and proflow.

19. Set up a referral scheme

When working with clients or even other freelancers, setting up a referral scheme will incentivise people handing you projects. I think referral schemes are massively overlooked by freelancers which is a shame because we can all help each other. Work out what you are willing to pay someone to bring you a 5K client and then tell your network!

20. Google My Business

If you haven't done this yet, I recommend doing it now! Register your business on Google My Business to get found by local clients. If you have a great profile, you are more likely to be shown by Google. Google reviews also help with your domain authority so it is a no brainer to ask past clients to post reviews there too.

Hope these help and let me know which you try and have success with! Would be intrigued to know.

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