When it comes to running a business, there’s nothing quite like the feeling you get when you land a new client. Depending on the length and scope of a project, you may spend weeks or even months working with them. So not only is a business relationship inevitable, but you may also develop a friendship with them as well.
Getting new clients (and retaining previous clients) is a big part of making your business successful. When it comes to attracting new clients, try some of these tips to get you started:
Reach out to colleagues: Contact your colleagues and friends who are also in the industry to find out what types of marketing tools they’re using to get new clients. If they’ve seen success with their ideas, you can try to implement them yourself and scoop up some new clients. If you live in different areas, ask them if they know anyone in the region looking for a designer. Word-of-mouth and referral is one of the best ways to score new clients!
Market through current customers: Even when you aren’t working on a project with a customer, never let them fall off your radar. That way, if they ever have a project come up in the future, you’re going to be the first designer that pops into their head when they think about hiring someone. You’ve worked with them before so they know what you can do and when you maintain that business friendship with them, they’re also going to have put a certain amount of trust in you as well. A previous client may also have a friend or family member who has a project, and when you stay in contact with those clients they can easily refer you to the people they know.
Never stop networking: You’re probably tired of hearing this, but networking really is one of the best ways to score new clients. The more people you know, the more people you can come into contact with. We’re all just six degrees of separation away from knowing each other, and with a technology-driven world that’s getting smaller by the day, getting to know as many people as possible will only help your list of clientele grow.
These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to scoring more clients, but they’re a great way to get you started!
