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Craigslist Clients Asking to See a Portfolio When You Don't Have One

by truly_gifted
16 replies
I've been super busy today, and prospecting on Craigslist was one of my tasks. I found quite a few "website needed" type posts, and bookmarked them for later reference. I fully intend to respond to each and everyone of them, but I have a slight dilemma. I don't have a portfolio.

All of the requests are well within my capabilities, so that's not an issue. I could have their sites built and customized to their liking within about 48 hours. I just don't know how I can approach them to hire me when they are asking to see a portfolio.

I had planned to send out responses this evening, but I'm stuck. Warriors, do you guys/gals have any tips or workarounds for this one?
#clients #craigslist #portfolio
  • Profile picture of the author TimCastleman
    So why not make up a dummy site?

    Get a domain, hosting, etc setup and setup a page showing what you can do.

    Good luck.

    Tim
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  • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
    The pages you bookmarked... disregard. Why? Because they already found someone. Chances are they received over 50 responses. You aren't competing with local developers, you're competing world wide. Make your own website if you wat them to take you seriously.

    ALSO.... 48 hours? Then you aren't offering quality... Don't expect to get away with a simple site, it doesn't happen. You have client interaction, you have them changing their mind, you have them wanting changes... Even the easiest to maintain clients take about 5-8 hours of your time in discussing changes.
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    • Profile picture of the author truly_gifted
      Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

      The pages you bookmarked... disregard. Why? Because they already found someone. Chances are they received over 50 responses. You aren't competing with local developers, you're competing world wide. Make your own website if you wat them to take you seriously.

      ALSO.... 48 hours? Then you aren't offering quality... Don't expect to get away with a simple site, it doesn't happen. You have client interaction, you have them changing their mind, you have them wanting changes... Even the easiest to maintain clients take about 5-8 hours of your time in discussing changes.
      Considering that they were all asking for simple sites, specifically Joomla and Wordpress based, I think I could get away with it. It's not like I'm trying to pull one over on anybody; these people know what they want, and if they asked for a simple site then why shouldn't I give it to them?

      No one said that I was trying to close thousand dollar web design deals, although it would be nice. Obviously, a more complicated project would require more time, but these that I found were the exact opposite.

      Take this for an example:

      Bob has a blogger site that he wants moved to Wordpress. He's picked out the theme that he wants for the new design, but he has no clue how to use Wordpress. So, he posts an ad on Craigslist looking for someone to build him a simple website.

      He says that he will pay $500 for the gig, and he needs it done by the weekend. He is ready to hire someone ASAP, and wants to see a portfolio of your past work before you will be hired.

      This is a perfect representation of one of the many posts that I read. So, please, tell me where this complexity you speak of exists. Even your statement about clients wanting changes is a bit off if you ask me. I'd really like to know where you are finding these clients that take up so much of your time so that I can avoid them.
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      • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
        Originally Posted by Ginesa Stevens View Post

        Considering that they were all asking for simple sites, specifically Joomla and Wordpress based, I think I could get away with it. It's not like I'm trying to pull one over on anybody; these people know what they want, and if they asked for a simple site then why shouldn't I give it to them?

        No one said that I was trying to close thousand dollar web design deals, although it would be nice. Obviously, a more complicated project would require more time, but these that I found were the exact opposite.

        Take this for an example:

        Bob has a blogger site that he wants moved to Wordpress. He's picked out the theme that he wants for the new design, but he has no clue how to use Wordpress. So, he posts an ad on Craigslist looking for someone to build him a simple website.

        He says that he will pay $500 for the gig, and he needs it done by the weekend. He is ready to hire someone ASAP, and wants to see a portfolio of your past work before you will be hired.

        This is a perfect representation of one of the many posts that I read. So, please, tell me where this complexity you speak of exists. Even your statement about clients wanting changes is a bit off if you ask me. I'd really like to know where you are finding these clients that take up so much of your time so that I can avoid them.
        LOL... Well, since you're the one without a portfolio, and asking for advice I wasn't under the impression you knew better than me but apparently you do. Glad to know you start a thread wanting advice but then shut off any advice coming to you.

        I do this as a business, and I do extremely well with it. I have done more websites through craigslist than most developers have done, period. Obviously you're new.. no portfolio is the biggest giveaway, but the most problematic giveaway is that you expect things to be extremely simple. Get ready for chargebacks, confusion, and a lot of disappointment. Nothing is as simple as it seems. What clients say they want, isn't necessarily what they end up wanting.

        Uploading a template is easy. What about adding module positions, and relaying the PHP to non stock files to do things it isn't originally meant to do? You will need to learn to do that. Can you code a stand alone site, using CSS and PHP? If not, then I would rethink about any of this being simple. You will see.

        Anyway, I suppose that isn't even the issue, because you could really outsource everything if you don't know what you're doing.

        Unfortunately, you waited too long. You need to be one of the first few to respond if you want to be considered. I really don't want you to go through the frustration I have had to go through in the past. Don't be offended by any of this please... you just need to be prepared, or else you're going to be freaking out when the chargebacks come rolling in.
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        • Profile picture of the author truly_gifted
          Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

          LOL... Well, since you're the one without a portfolio, and asking for advice I wasn't under the impression you knew better than me but apparently you do. Glad to know you start a thread wanting advice but then shut off any advice coming to you.

          I do this as a business, and I do extremely well with it. I have done more websites through craigslist than most developers have done, period. Obviously you're new.. no portfolio is the biggest giveaway, but the most problematic giveaway is that you expect things to be extremely simple. Get ready for chargebacks, confusion, and a lot of disappointment. Nothing is as simple as it seems. What clients say they want, isn't necessarily what they end up wanting.

          Uploading a template is easy. What about adding module positions, and relaying the PHP to non stock files to do things it isn't originally meant to do? You will need to learn to do that. Can you code a stand alone site, using CSS and PHP? If not, then I would rethink about any of this being simple. You will see.

          Anyway, I suppose that isn't even the issue, because you could really outsource everything if you don't know what you're doing.

          Unfortunately, you waited too long. You need to be one of the first few to respond if you want to be considered. I really don't want you to go through the frustration I have had to go through in the past. Don't be offended by any of this please... you just need to be prepared, or else you're going to be freaking out when the chargebacks come rolling in.
          I never said that I was new at this. I don't have a portfolio because I used to be the one who was doing the outsourced work. When you work for someone else, you're just a shadow. You don't get credit for your work and no one ever knows that you exist within the scope of their project.

          And, yes, I did ask for advice...about having a portfolio to present. At this point, I think I may just take Tim's advice and create a dummy site or two. I've got an idea in mind that should profit me two-fold if things go as planned. I'll share more about that later, but for now, I need to get moving.
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          • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
            Originally Posted by Ginesa Stevens View Post

            I never said that I was new at this. I don't have a portfolio because I used to be the one who was doing the outsourced work. When you work for someone else, you're just a shadow. You don't get credit for your work and no one ever knows that you exist within the scope of their project.

            And, yes, I did ask for advice...about having a portfolio to present. At this point, I think I may just take Tim's advice and create a dummy site or two. I've got an idea in mind that should profit me two-fold if things go as planned. I'll share more about that later, but for now, I need to get moving.
            I worked for a major firm before doing this on my own... you can still use the past examples or past work you have done. If you explain that you have just started your own business after working for a web design company and you show your work, then you're okay.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Payne
    I was in the market for a website a while back. So just out of curosity I posted an ad in the New York City creative section under website needed. I got over 1000 responses by the time it was over. I think posted a similar ad in the Oklahoma City creative section. I got over 400 responses by the it was over.

    I do website design as well and honesty there are better ways to get clients than though craigslist. Build you a nice site showing off your work and then start to SEO the hell out of it.

    You will find tons of better ways even on this forum to get clients other than craigslist. Your clients will probably be a lot higher quality and willing to pay a lot more as well.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jim Gillum
    Sounds like you are on the right track...
    Do not be discouraged by nay sayers......
    All business has it's pitfalls......
    Sometime we are the butt kicker and sometime we are the kickee.....
    A turtle would not move forward if it did not stick it's head out..
    Good luck to you....
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  • Profile picture of the author Sondor
    Sounds like if you combine what iAmNameLess suggested (demonstrating past work performed for others) with what Tim Castleman suggested (putting up a couple of sites on your own) and you should be golden!
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  • Profile picture of the author Glenn Leader
    One possible option is to find an outsourcer who does have a portfolio. You can then give them the work, while you keep the profit and build your business. Once you have several projects under your belt, you'll have word of mouth and a portfolio of testimonials. You should have a self sustaining business and no need to prove your credentials.

    Like other posters have suggested, I'd also build my own site to prove I can do the job. Now you have a place for a show case and your gained testimonials.

    You might also consider using the resources found in template membership sites. You'll probably start your work from templates anyway, so why not use images they provide?

    HTH

    Glenn
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    • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
      Originally Posted by Glenn Leader View Post

      One possible option is to find an outsourcer who does have a portfolio. You can then give them the work, while you keep the profit and build your business. Once you have several projects under your belt, you'll have word of mouth and a portfolio of testimonials. You should have a self sustaining business and no need to prove your credentials.

      Like other posters have suggested, I'd also build my own site to prove I can do the job. Now you have a place for a show case and your gained testimonials.

      You might also consider using the resources found in template membership sites. You'll probably start your work from templates anyway, so why not use images they provide?

      HTH

      Glenn
      And that is a good idea as well. I remember trying to close a client but he wanted something on the magento platform. I never did a magento site, I was going to outsource most of it anyway, while learning as I go. The guy I outsourced to DID have a portfolio, and we used that to show the client.

      Obviously the benefits of having your own website to advertise your business is HUGE. It is also hard to sell someone on why they need a website if you don't have one yourself!
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      • Profile picture of the author truly_gifted
        Originally Posted by iAmNameLess View Post

        And that is a good idea as well. I remember trying to close a client but he wanted something on the magento platform. I never did a magento site, I was going to outsource most of it anyway, while learning as I go. The guy I outsourced to DID have a portfolio, and we used that to show the client.

        Obviously the benefits of having your own website to advertise your business is HUGE. It is also hard to sell someone on why they need a website if you don't have one yourself!
        Well, I've got one in the works. But, I'm trying to take action here and make some money now. You know how people get paralyzed trying to figure out what to do and how to do it, but then it never happens?

        I'm trying to avoid that happening. So, I decided to go out on a limb and try to get some work before I had everything completed. I'm still trying to work myself out of a tight spot, so I didn't think that it was all that important at the moment.
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  • Profile picture of the author Qamar
    Just say that you don't have a portfolio...because you really don't have! That's not difficult.
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  • Profile picture of the author Pointer
    IAmNameless, I'm interesting in hearing about the methods you used with Craigslist to get web design clients.
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  • Profile picture of the author redlegrich
    Not sure what the big deal is. Do a few sites, you certainly should have one for yourself! it should not take long to create a few ones. For content just spend a few dollars on a contractor so you don't take tons of time there. heck if you can't knock a few out for yourself you'll have trouble doing it for others when there is cash on the line.

    Make one on one subject, copy it, change the theme and images and drop in different content. Should not take long.
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