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Building a web design business takes effort, time, and loads of TLC. If you’d like to be successful then you need a good role model. There are many successful web designers and developers out there you can craft your business after.

Find a mentor

I recommend finding a mentor to begin molding your business after. Am I suggesting copying them? No. What I am suggesting is that you take the time to really evaluate what it is you’d like to accomplish and then see who has accomplished things like that already. If you want to take your business into full time freelance, then find a full time freelancer. If your goal is to develop your own web agency, then find someone who’s running one.

What do you do once you’ve found them?

I believe this is the most critical step of all. Once you’ve found someone that fits exactly what you and your business need then it is up to you to contact them. I say this is the most critical step of all, because what I’m telling you to do is to contact them. That can be via phone, email, twitter, or even good old fashion mail. You need to open up the communication between yourself and your targeted mentor. Before you start objecting and giving excuses like, “I don’t want to bother them,” “I’m not good at networking,” or “I don’t know what to say to them” give me a chance to help you out.

It will not be a bother to them, you don’t have to be a master networker, and it’s very easy what you want to say. Let’s work in reverse order and tackle the what to say part. Here are a few things you’d like to include when contacting them:

1. Who you are.
2. Why you are contacting them. Yes be specific and tell them exactly why you’re contacting them.
3. Why you’ve chosen them.
4. Ask for additional contact information and their permission to contact them further. You are looking to develop a relationship with someone and email, instant messenger, skype, twitter, and etc.. are going to be very valuable to you — so ask for it.

The most critical step of contacting them is actually the easiest. If you contact them and get no reply (which is doubtful) then you have lost nothing. You’re out nothing and then you simply go to the next possible mentor on your list. Working through this process will actually improve your networking skills which I’ve already mentioned is key.

Additional reading: 7 tips for power networking & Master the art of business card networking in 4 easy steps

Listen to their advice

Lastly, listen to what they say. Look you’ve gone through the hard work of selecting someone and now contacting them. What they have to say, despite how odd it could sound, is worth it’s weight in gold. I can’t tell you how many odd things people I’ve contacted have said. But what I can tell you is that no matter how odd, they’re usually right. Just like your parents, the ones you thought didn’t know a thing growing up, who mysteriously get smarter once you get into your 20’s.

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Networking is a freelancer’s life blood. It can sometimes make the difference in new work versus no work. Did you know that power networking has the potential to increase your workload, create new friendships, and grow your business at the same time?

Opportunities to network slip by you everyday. Recognizing and capitalizing on them is the first step to power networking. Taking what you do every day and focusing it a bit. All receive quality leads, contacts, clients, and friends. Here are my 7 tips to help you start power networking.

1. Exchange business cards with everyone.

One of the oldest forms of networking is the business card. Get in the habit of exchanging your cards with everyone. Be generous with handing them out. Everyone in your network is valuable. Don’t just wait for the ‘perfect’ potential client. Business cards are an inexpensive way to advertise and network. Use them!

2. Get your family on board.

This should go without saying, but make sure everyone in your family knows what you do. Your family knows you and they can be powerful referrers. So you’ll want to make sure they are on board with you and willing to share your information anytime they feel it’s appropriate.

3. Tell all of your friends.

Many of us are reluctant to share with our friends that we are a freelancer. I am not sure if it is because we think it’ll scare them away or turn us into a sort of red-headed step child. As with family, tell every friend you have what you are doing. Trust me, they will remember when it counts!

4. Strike up conversations everywhere.

Opportunities arise every day to speak about your company. Get in the habit of talking about your business. In the grocery line, at the bus stop, in the restaurant, or anywhere you see others. Learn techniques for guiding daily conversations to your industry. That will give you an appropriate time to plug your business and exchange your business card.

5. Form friendships with your competition.

I know this tip sounds counter productive, however by forging new relationships with your competition it puts you on their level. Since there are enough clients to go to every one in your industry, why not get on friendly terms with your competition. After all, the chances of you competing head to head for any specific client are minimal.

6. Volunteer when appropriate.

Volunteering creates image so when you can I suggest doing it. I am not talking about serving soup at a local shelter (although you could help there too). Volunteer or donate your services to a non-profit, friend, or someone in need. Its lasting value can’t easily be seen, but trust me when done right – it’ll help.

7. Contact past clients.

Continue to foster the relationship you’ve formed with your past clients. I am convinced that over 90% of your work will come from referrals. Remember each of your past clients can network with your name and services, so keep it fresh in their minds.

As an entrant into the group writing project hosted by Blue Jar, that makes me a judge. I am to read all the entries and then post my top 3. Since there were over 40 entries, I had a lot of reading to do. Like others in this writing project, I am using a different kind of selection process.

My Process

Since I have a highly focused audience, I scanned all of the entries titles and narrowed them down to relevant topics for my audience. Writing good titles/headline is important. I then opened up those that were relevant and caught my interest. Quickly I scanned through the articles (lists, headings, images, and those kind of things help the scan-ability of good articles), and eliminated those that didn’t look like they would contain useful information to my audience. This narrowed down the field significantly. Finally, I read the remaining entrants and selected my top 3. Read the rest of this entry »

I love looking over the previous month’s popular posts. Which ones received the most comments, the most traffic, the most link backs and practically every other statistic you can think of. I thought I’d share with you what posts were the most popular last month.

• 7 Ways to Foster Passion in Your Web Design Business - Glides into the #1 spot for most traffic.
• What Happens If Your Clients Don’t Pay? - This article takes the price for the most commented on and was #2 on highest traffic.
• 13 Questions with Andy Rutledge - takes the #3 spot. This was due in part to Andy linking to the interview from his website. Thanks Andy!
• Make Mistakes Early - #4 for traffic this month.
• Writing Web Design Contracts for the Non-Legal still rides towards the top of the popularity for all-time popular articles.
• My interview series has been a huge favorite as well. Logging a total of 6 published interviews, with 2 more ready to be published. I am looking for more freelance web designers and developers to interview, so if you know of any you’d like to read about just let me know.

As always if you would like me to write about any topic in particular, do not hesitate to contact me and make a request.

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Q: What is something that no one can give you?

If you guessed passion then you are right. There are many things that mentors, guides, friends, and teachers can give you, but passion isn’t one of them. Those people can light the fire, stoke it, and even put it out, but they cannot manufacturer it. You can’t even manufacturer it, but you can nurture your passion. So here are 7 ways you can foster your passion.
Read the rest of this entry »