How I Booked Out My Design Business In My First Year
Feel like you just started your design business and are just hearing crickets when you are trying to find clients?
Maybe you aren't sure which platform to market on, or maybe you've been posting on Instagram, Tik-Tok, Facebook, etc for a while and still haven't gotten many clients.
When I first started my design business, I was terrified. I knew that I was qualified to build websites and branding for other people, but I was afraid that no one would ever see my content and reach out to work with me.
If you are feeling this, know that you are not alone. Like any service-based business, it could be very nerve-wracking to try to find clients, especially when you're starting out – but even if you've been running your business for a while.
Looking back at the data from my first year of business, there was one major area where I got almost all of my clients from - client referrals.
Below, I’ll share the two major ways that I encourage client referrals that ended up booking me completely up for my first year of business.
Create An Experience That People Can't Help Talking About
I knew when I started my business that I needed to have that experience in place that made my life easier as well as created an unforgettable journey that my client wanted to shout from the rooftops about.
First I wanted to focus on making sure that my brand and website experience went over the top of what someone would expect.
Instead of just creating a logo, choosing colors, and sending my clients files, I held sessions with them and gave them plenty of questionnaires and documents to help them build the story behind their brand and learn how to use their branding to attract customers.
For websites, I focused on not only building something beautiful, but making sure that I had plenty of revision times for clients to give their input, directing them on how to use images to attract clients, always including SEO work in every single website, and also either writing or directing the writing of copy for their website.
Alongside this, I always made sure that every interaction I had with my client was always positive and helpful. I made sure that we had a single platform (Honeybook - get 20% off) that we were communicating over, using Google Drive to share documents with them that they can still access if needed after working with me, and also had a set schedule for every single day that we worked together.
This helped my clients manage their expectations as well as blow them away by the professionalism and the amount of work that I did on their behalf.
Create a Referral Program
After almost a year in my business, I had a fellow web designer reach out and ask if I had a referral program in place because she had someone she wanted to refer to me.
I did some research and realized that a referral program for web designers is an amazingly smart strategy for you to connect with more potential clients as well as vet potential clients from people that you trust
I implemented my referral program, which gives 10% of the entire project commissioned to the referrer if the client ends up booking with me.
Although it may sound crazy to give away money, it's actually an amazing way to use your marketing dollars towards a guaranteed result. You are not losing out on any money because you're only giving them money if you actually book the client!
I have gotten several projects through this process and will continue providing it, as it's also a great way for me to be able to give back to past clients, friends, family or just people that are genuinely interested in supporting my business.
Finding clients can be really tough, especially in an oversaturated market, so make sure that you are making the most of the relationships that you have with past clients in order to hopefully get some amazing referrals from them.
Whether that's providing an amazing experience, implementing a referral program, or just even reaching out to friends and family and asking if they have anyone you can be referred to, don't give up.
You can do this!