How do you find clients for web design/web development?

[cemsid]

Hello everyone,

I want to ask for advice from people who already get clients for web design or web development.

My family is going through financial difficulties these days, and I'm trying to support them as much as I can.

I can design websites, build pages, fix bugs, and work on different types of websites, but I am struggling to find clients.

I already tried:
- cold email
- Fiverr
- Upwork

Cold email did not work well for me, Fiverr did not work, and Upwork is difficult because of the paid system.

For people here who are already getting clients, where do you usually find them?
Do forums, local businesses, Facebook groups, LinkedIn, Discord, or something else work better?

I would really appreciate honest advice from experienced people.

Thank you.

 

[LeadDeus]

Hello everyone,

I want to ask for advice from people who already get clients for web design or web development.

My family is going through financial difficulties these days, and I'm trying to support them as much as I can.

I can design websites, build pages, fix bugs, and work on different types of websites, but I am struggling to find clients.

I already tried:
- cold email
- Fiverr
- Upwork

Cold email did not work well for me, Fiverr did not work, and Upwork is difficult because of the paid system.

For people here who are already getting clients, where do you usually find them?
Do forums, local businesses, Facebook groups, LinkedIn, Discord, or something else work better?

I would really appreciate honest advice from experienced people.

Thank you.

I hear you, cold email either works really well or fails completely, and usually it’s the second one because of how hard deliverability has gotten

I had the same issue when I started. What turned it around wasn’t changing my offer, but fixing the infrastructure behind it making sure emails actually land in the primary inbox (proper warmup, inbox rotation, unique copy per recipient). Once that was sorted, reply rates became predictable

For finding your first clients, especially with web design, I’d echo what others said: pick a very specific niche (local plumbers, small ecom stores, real estate agents) and build 1–2 free or low-cost case studies. Then use those results in a targeted cold email campaign

Forums and LinkedIn work, but cold email scales better once you have proof

Curious, have you tried niching down to a specific type of website (e.g., fixing slow Shopify stores or local business SEO), or are you offering general web design?

 

[peux pas]

you already know the answer bro, it's cold email

there is no short cut with it bro. how many colds you send so far? if you haven't even done 200 cold emails, then come on man. 20-30 cold email is not nearly enough for this business

I hear you, cold email either works really well or fails completely, and usually it’s the second one because of how hard deliverability has gotten

I had the same issue when I started. What turned it around wasn’t changing my offer, but fixing the infrastructure behind it making sure emails actually land in the primary inbox (proper warmup, inbox rotation, unique copy per recipient). Once that was sorted, reply rates became predictable

For finding your first clients, especially with web design, I’d echo what others said: pick a very specific niche (local plumbers, small ecom stores, real estate agents) and build 1–2 free or low-cost case studies. Then use those results in a targeted cold email campaign

Forums and LinkedIn work, but cold email scales better once you have proof

Curious, have you tried niching down to a specific type of website (e.g., fixing slow Shopify stores or local business SEO), or are you offering general web design?

this sounds like an ai post bro

 

[seodaddy]

I've been on Fiverr and Upwork for ages, so I don't have any issues getting clients there as my accounts are old.
But starting with a new seller profile nowadays is IMPOSSIBLE. I'm gonna say it here. It's better to start with an established profile.

 

[peux pas]

I've been on Fiverr and Upwork for ages, so I don't have any issues getting clients there as my accounts are old.
But starting with a new seller profile nowadays is IMPOSSIBLE. I'm gonna say it here. It's better to start with an established profile.

i have upwork too bro, 100% job success score

but upwork is not easy either. problem with upwork is that it is "race to the bottom"

the rate client pay on there for amount of work is piss poor low. so even upwork is not magic key

OP need to pick his poison: upwork, or cold email

 

[JKSPEED]

Hit up local businesses directly or grind linkedIn, showcasing what you actually do with a solid portfolio beats cold emails all day

 

[RankHustler]

Yep, I’ve been there. Pick a tight niche and ship 1–2 real case studies that show measurable results. Make sure your portfolio clearly spells out the before/after and what you did to get there. Then share those stories in targeted forums and on LinkedIn, inviting feedback rather than blasting people with pitches. People notice when you actually move the needle, not when you just talk about it.

 

[CPANathan]

If you know what you're talking about and can get your point across 60% of the way

Look locally for companies you're interested in with sites that are f*cked, offer a hand free on something that takes two seconds and does something, then f*ck off seems to be the steps forward

The second they feel like you're pesting them for a role you're gone,

there's a right way to get your own head and theirs around concerns and challenges, and Andy Elliott has your back on that hahahaha

Cough cough scrapers are extremely cheap to go pay as you go these days, you can filter by no/bad site, no/bad socials, and no/bad reviews

 

[stackrux]

I’d go after local businesses first.

A lot of them still have weak websites, bad mobile versions, slow pages, broken contact forms, stuff like that. Way easier to get replies when you point out a real issue instead of just saying you do web design.

Fiverr and Upwork are both rough now unless you already have reviews. Facebook groups can work sometimes but a lot of people there just want everything for cheap. LinkedIn is better if you focus on one niche instead of trying to work with everyone.

If I was starting again, I’d pick one niche, make 2-3 decent sample sites, and start messaging people with something specific about their current site. That works better than generic outreach.

 

[cemsid]

Thank you to everyone who took the time to comment. I will try all your suggestions and then give feedback here

 

[ladhs]

I’d focus on 1 niche first. Build 1–2 real sample sites and use them in outreach. Local businesses respond way better if you point out actual issues on their site (slow, broken forms, bad mobile) Fiverr/Upwork is tough as a newbie, cold email or LinkedIn with proof usually scales faster.