How I get clients for web design/marketing consulting/business consulting business

No offense, but if you want to consult businesses on how to make money with their websites, then you need to know how to make money with websites. So your first step should be to find one client you can build sites for in the IM niche, ask them lots of questions, and actually learn the industry.

Once you do that, then it's extremely easy to rank for local web design services and have clients find you. There's no shortcut around you finding that knowledge first though, and it's not something you can gain through forum questions. You need actual experience.

I have clients that send referrals from time to time, but I also like working the local market. I talk to people, usually on the phone, but not always. For example, the company that was hooking my Internet back up at the cottage last year... it's a rural location on the Bay of Fundy so you pretty well have to use satellite service via towers. They asked me what I did, asked me if I was any good, and asked me to send them an email with some examples and prices because they needed a website. A couple of weeks later I went in and met with the board of directors and got the job.

But granted... that one fell in my lap.

Note... and this is important here in Canada.... you can't email someone and solicit them by email. It's spam. You can be charged up to $5,000. You have to call or speak to them first. If they agree to receive your email, then you can email them some more info about your services.

Through some trial and error, I've found that some people who want websites will prefer to work with someone local -- so mine the gold in your backyard (state/province) first.

OK, so who can you call.... where can you get these leads. Facebook.

If you go through the list of "liked pages" on local friends profiles, you can find a number of local businesses that have recently started and don't have websites. Most of them will have their number listed. Call them.

I took an hour yesterday doing this. Made 12 calls -- got two new leads.

I also network offline and get involved with things. Because of this I will be making a presentation at a public meeting within the month on why I feel it's important that radioactive fracking wastewater does not get discharged through the municipal sewer system into our bay.

Besides the public, there will be all of the town council members, business leaders, mayor, and a number of representatives from various groups with a vested interest. I've got my presentation prepared, and SteveMacLellan.com comes up at the start and the finish. :-)

I don't know how many people will be at the meeting. The group I represent has 800+ members and I'm one of the main ring-leaders (of course). The point is... there's "life out there, Jim" --- get out and live it... the business will come along.

Regards,
Steve MacLellan

Well I decided to start a blog
My blog will track my progress as a writer and also just a general posts about how I'm trying to slowly create the life of my dreams and better myself.

Facebook Ads, a stunning design on your website and some good website in your portfolio, work for a localized business and you will get your $1000 per month.

Build a portfolio, good sample sites, provide reviews on forums.
Advertise in local media sites news, magazines and on Social network sites. In these days it is hard to get outsourced for web design companies as most of the CMS are having great themes on niches.

Craigslist ads sound like a good way to market. Thanks!