I offer webdesign but struggle with clients.

[TheDemne]

Hello guys,
I registered my first agency and offer webdesign to local businesses. Here is what I have done so far:

I created a driving school website and now I contact driving schools over the phone and tell them that their website is outdated so I created them a new one. They can have a look at it and if they like it, I make them a good offer. If they don't want the website, they owe me nothing.

In the last few days I contacted a few driving schools. Typical responses were: sorry we don't need a website we already got enough people registering at our driving school, ouh I got a friend who is dealing with my website so I already got someone who takes care of the website.

Even after outlining the positive aspects of a new website, they didn't really care or don't even want more customers.

The websites I am designing are fine. A lot better than their actual websites. Do you think my niche(driving schools) suck? I thought it is a pretty good one because they often got enough money and a shitty website. Do you think there are better ways to aquire new customers? Should I work for free at the beginning? I am really thankful about every suggestion.

greetings,
TheDemne

 

[LilMosey]

Try not to focus on only 1 (one) niche, first try a lot of them, go to some restauraunts, offer them a website etc... Make sure you don't charge too much at first.

 

[blogzandstuff]

Hello guys,
I registered my first agency and offer webdesign to local businesses. Here is what I have done so far:

I created a driving school website and now I contact driving schools over the phone and tell them that their website is outdated so I created them a new one. They can have a look at it and if they like it, I make them a good offer. If they don't want the website, they owe me nothing.

In the last few days I contacted a few driving schools. Typical responses were: sorry we don't need a website we already got enough people registering at our driving school, ouh I got a friend who is dealing with my website so I already got someone who takes care of the website.

Even after outlining the positive aspects of a new website, they didn't really care or don't even want more customers.

The websites I am designing are fine. A lot better than their actual websites. Do you think my niche(driving schools) suck? I thought it is a pretty good one because they often got enough money and a shitty website. Do you think there are better ways to aquire new customers? Should I work for free at the beginning? I am really thankful about every suggestion.

greetings,
TheDemne

Sounds like you're insulting them, as @ausoma said you need to diversify a bit. Never tell existing owners their sites are bad, it's like telling someone their house is horrible, they straight away go on the defensive.

 

[GringoMonkey]

Based on who you are targetting, as has been stated, you have lost first mover advantage so your having to start off by saying your website is shit because... not a good way to start a conversation.

Try offering a complementary service, or if you 100% want to offer websites find business that do not have a website.

 

[Th3 Canadian 3h]

I would put a lot of time into selling and boost your skills or hire a sales guy. The more you pitch the better you get. Remember rejection is just a learning tool that helps if you learn from it. Keep pluging away, partnering with different businesses also helps bring in clients.

 

[KamBhai]

Buddy, I made this mistake a lot in the beginning.
Instead of telling that your website sucks, say, we can update your website to modern design that are popular in 2019.
Say, it needs some polishing then it will look amazing and your conversion will be higher than before.
Next, offer them add-ons like we will also embed your website with Social Media and you will all get custom emails etc etc.
Finally, you will have to have a good portfolio to show them your work.

That's why diversity is required. Don't get stuck with just 1 niche, there are thousands others that needs exactly what you are offering.

Good luck!

 

[X-R0]

Driving school owners have mostly no experience with Webdesign and all Marketing options they have.
Those Businesses only wanna hear

Do I Save Money?
Do I Save Time?
Can I scale my conversion?

If you pitching your Service you need consider these questions.
Use the feature bridge benefit method to draw the picture, how exactly your service is helping them getting better Results.

 

[Billy Batts]

Well first let me see that demo site as people hear are often overconfident of their skills. You can send me the link in a PM.

You should focus similar small business owners. A lot of these independent driving instructors have absolute shit SEO.

I had friend who is driving instructor and a "friend" did his site. Nowhere on the site it said it which regions he was active

 

[Exaltka]

Make your website, do SEO and sell the clients! If you can, do it with 4-5 websites.

 

[TheDemne]

I don't tell them straight in their face that their websites are shit. I say something like your design seems outdated and we can do something better. Is this too agressive?

 

[Billy Batts]

I don't tell them straight in their face that their websites are shit. I say something like your design seems outdated and we can do something better. Is this too agressive?

lol in the past I've literally told some of my clients their site was shit haha but they were similar people like me in a certain niche. Nothing wrong with being agrressive but you have to be polite. Explain to them that their outdated design and bad SEO is costing hem a lot of money.

Reasons like, people only need a couple seconds to decide pushing that back button which is all based on design therefor you have lost a potential customer. Same story with SEO, only the first 2 pages really matter and that being on page 2 your already lose a lot of customers to page 1.

Nothing wrong to oversell it but explain to them in details they are losing money. Now send me that site, I want to take a look at you design skills

 

[GringoMonkey]

As numerous others have said you need to say why what you do makes business better for them.

So for example dont say it is outdated, say did you know 65% of people go online via mobile, your site is not mobile compatible, so 65% of potential new customers cannot see your site.

 

[TheDemne]

As numerous others have said you need to say why what you do makes business better for them.

So for example dont say it is outdated, say did you know 65% of people go online via mobile, your site is not mobile compatible, so 65% of potential new customers cannot see your site.

Of course I am talking about the positive aspects of a modern website. In my best calls where I thought they would buy they simply said "We do not need more customers, we already have enough customers every month and they can't look after more customers"

 

[Billy Batts]

Holy shit!! Those 2 potential client site are indeed horrible lol, flashback to the 90's, and they are actually in business?

About your demo site, straight forward and clean not my style but it look a whole LOT better than these 2. So yeah, now your turn to convince them with what I said, site like that you are definitely losing money. If I was looking for a driving school and landed on their site, INSTANT back button

Did you know your business site is in maintenance mode? If you did no worries if you didn't, that is a setting in Plesk which will put your site automatically in maintenance when your site needs updating.to recent WP.

You shouldn't contact potential customers if your business site isn't live and top notch.

After you convince them they losing money and their site is scheisse they going to want to visit your site where you have to convince people why they should choose for you.

Of course I am talking about the positive aspects of a modern website. In my best calls where I thought they would buy they simply said "We do not need more customers, we already have enough customers every month and they can't look after more customers"

When they talking this already, fuck em and move on. Tell if they ever want to update their site you are available and leave your info.

 

[misterbarth]

Just ask if they are getting traffic.

Answer: Yes and they are happy. Move on.

Answer: No traffic. Create the pain > FIX AN APPOINTMENT ALWAYS (you're important and you don't want to waste their time on the first meeting) on da appoint you'll explain them why they aren't getting traffic, you'll go with some reports, (you're important) so ALWAYS ask ur potential clients to write down the date and time of the appointment on a piece of paper, if they tell you that they remember it, take YOU your business card, write the time and da day and give it > on the appointment create a big pain (they must feel that they are losing something) if they have a site ask them how much they paid for it > before the problem solution > ask them three questions where the answer can ONLY be YES (e.g so you told me that you aren't getting traffic RIGHT? and so on....) > start pitching your solutions with the benefits for them (Never speak about the money here, even if they ask) > Now, you must write on a paper all the features with the solutions and WHAT THEY GET with ur solutions (crucial), then YOU MUST ADD SOME USELESS FEAUTURES (later you will delete them) and make them an over-priced offer like 3x the real price (with some experience here u'll already know how much they can spend). Once told the price you MUST SAY NOTHING - NOTHING - NOTHING - REMEMBER NOTHING - wait for their response, then based on this, start your answers but don't start immediately to lower the price, start to remove the useless features, ONE at a time and let them weigh what benefits they will lose [make a line with the pen on top of the benefits you have written on the sheet (here you have to be an actor and make them understand that they are losing something big)] > site sold


Answer: No traffic. But no Appointment > Your pitch it's not good > go on some big cities and blast every single shop and test one pitch a day (yes, one a day it must be as fluid as a song) > In a week you'll start selling like crazy.


P.s PUT THAT PHONE DOWN. Go to some big cities far from your house, take a street and make all the shops one by one. Don't charge less then $500. Bank like crazy. Go buddy! Go buddy!

 

[FormulaHub]

I would rather have some samples ready and target all the Niches.You can promote your website designing service through Advertisements.Don't let your hard work go but just designing websites which gives nothing.

 

[TheDemne]

I would rather have some samples ready and target all the Niches.You can promote your website designing service through Advertisements.Don't let your hard work go but just designing websites which gives nothing.

What do you mean with your last sentence? I don't get it

 

[Gadi and Deborah Slade]

Don't focus on a single client category but also explore another field. Give them the benefits of your services.