Help Please! I have my first Web Design Client on Thursday

Looking for any advice at all.

My main concern is that I do not have any portfolio to show the client if he asks.


Thanks

do you have your own site. That should be good enough for now. You could do up some sample mock ups. Or offer him a discount since he will be your first customer.

Either offer him a discount for being the first client. You should have samples though, especially if you've been into designing.

Worst comes to worst you can tell him you'll do his site for free (so you have a sample to show in future) but in exchange upon completion he can refer 3 people to you that he/she thinks needs web-designing service. Win-Win situation.

Best of luck.

Luka

Thanks for the replies.

Im doing the site for free as long as he signs up for my hosting link - do you think a portfolio is required for this?

I think ill maybe be able to knock up at least one really good looking sample site before Thursday

Also yes I have my own site

Marko1801 said:

Thanks for the replies.

Im doing the site for free as long as he signs up for my hosting link - do you think a portfolio is required for this?

I think ill maybe be able to knock up at least one really good looking sample site before Thursday

Also yes I have my own site

Click to expand...

Go ahead and knock up one really good looking sample; that will help you close the sale as he is probably going to want to see more than one site you have built so combined with your current site you can explain this is a sample site so he can see the quality you offer.

Good luck on this, I hope you close him and he becomes the first of many clients for you.

BassTrackerBoats said:

Go ahead and knock up one really good looking sample; that will help you close the sale as he is probably going to want to see more than one site you have built so combined with your current site you can explain this is a sample site so he can see the quality you offer.

Good luck on this, I hope you close him and he becomes the first of many clients for you.

Click to expand...

Thanks for all the help. I will update after the meeting

As much as you may be lacking the portfolio online, you can be able to use the applications that you have been developing when learning the web programming. Those are the things that you should not lack. Be also prepared in the event where you are given a practical test of the required skills. That will keep you in the right mood and be prepared for anything.

Good luck. I really hope you keep us updated. If you know what you are talking about, you shouldn't have much of a problem with your client. In my opinion, honesty is worth a lot, if you are unable to do something in particular, I would be honest about it and say so. Or at least say that it might take you a bit longer but you are doing it free of charge

Remember you are a professional. You are getting hired to help make a vision come true. Your goal is confidence in design and SEO. Make a report of what you will do for the given price. If you can make 3 mock ups of what you can provide for them and a report with projections, goals and reach. Are you going to use Wordpress Joomla Drupal or HTML?. The mock ups can be a template where you've replaced the main Header, Titles and Copy on the first page and the about us page copy. What kind of client are they? Do they have a proposal for what they want and is it detailed or are you updating an existing? Make sure you present the best options from existing services you can provide for instance Godaddy and other hosting services have services like "Get Found" Explain the power of Google Places, Google+, Pinterest, Facebook and Youtube Explain the contact form and the importance of the about us page. Your first connection involves giving them Homework. (The questionaire/information/copy you need to get started. Images for slideshow or video, etc.) You are setting the tone for further communication so stay in the zone of potential and growth when speaking with them and you'll be just fine.

So the client called me, the meeting is postponed however it may be that we just do everything over the phone as he is so busy. He is sorting hosting and content over the weekend and I will get a skeleton site made then just add the content in when he gets it to me. He had a site in the past that some guy made him but the thing looked like the guy made it in the 90's while watching Kenan and Kel.

Also best thing is he says his friend has his own business to so hes going to refer me to him also.

I want to get more clients now though - does anyone have experience with hiring people on commission only basis to do a few hours of cold calls a day/week?


Cheers

Bang out something really fast and intuitive, then as a value added service, tell him that you'll provide good quality content on his site too. OUtsource then and impress him at the same time.