How to Jumpstart Your New Web Design Career Without Breaking Your Budget

You’ve graduated from web design school, now it’s time to start looking for clients. There are multiple ways you can market your services to the public. The great news is that online marketing is an exceptional method, and it doesn’t cost much. Since it is the go-to source for web designers, you’ll have to find ways to differentiate yourself, so you can draw in customers. If you’re a new website designer looking to jumpstart a new business, then you can use the following tips.

Create an Online Portfolio

The only thing more important than your resume and CV is your portfolio. Plus, this is likely what your clients will want to see anyway. This will be the first impression prospects have of your skills, so make sure it’s a good one. Put all of your best work from school and side projects. You can buy your own domain from a site like Namecheap, which is quite affordable. The domain you select can be your name or the name of your new business.

Offer to Do Work for Free

If your portfolio isn’t that impressive, you can offer your web design skills for free. Add these pieces to your online portfolio and include these projects in your resume. If you can’t find clients, consider building templates on your own. Focus on designing pages that would entice different types of businesses. You can make a site for a corporate business, a doctor office, lawyer site and so on.

Set Your Rates Competitively

You can draw in customers with a great portfolio and competitive rates. Do a bit of research to see what other designers in your area are charging. Don’t set your rates so low that you feel ripped off. You want to showcase your services as high-quality, which should come at a reasonable price. Dirt cheap prices may scare away serious customers.

Use SEO to Boost Your Website

Your online portfolio should have other pages, which outline the services you offer and the experience you have. Include a call-to-action and keywords throughout to help rank your site in the search engines. Focus on local keywords, which will help bring in customers from your area.