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How to make the First SALE without a Portfolio!??!

by zendao
17 replies
So I'm starting a website design business. Im designing my website atm but I'm not sure about what to do with my Portfolio tab. I mean how can I have a Portfolio when I havent had a single costumer? and how am I going to get costumers without a portfolio!? Im kinda stuck her, so any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
#make #portfolio #sale
  • Profile picture of the author MemberWing
    Get a few professionally looking wordpress themes and build few "test" websites around them covering few subjects, such as e-commerce, online magazine, real-estate, car dealership, etc...
    Check themeforest.net - they have great looking pro themes.

    Add resulted snapshots to your "portfolio".

    Gleb
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    • Profile picture of the author goindeep
      I used to have the same concerns and what I found out when I spoke with people was that they actually did not care. If they do be completely honest and say "look, i'm just starting out hence the massive discount..."

      If you are really that concerned just do a few love jobs for free. Technically you can even use a free platform loike blogger to design 3-5 templates, save them as real live sites and use those as examples for your portfolio.

      End of the day, I wouldnt be too concerned broskie.
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  • Profile picture of the author clever7
    You can offer your services at websites like Odesk and Elance and build a portfolio.

    Odesk and Elance don't protect the buyers in any way, but since you want to offer your services, you don't need to be afraid of them.

    They protect their sellers because they want to receive their commissions, even when the work made by their service providers is terrible.

    This means that you can easily build a portfolio using these sites.










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    • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
      Originally Posted by clever7 View Post

      You can offer your services at websites like Odesk and Elance and build a portfolio.
      Don't do this.

      You'll be forever trying to secure web design gigs for $12.

      It's too competitive and you'll have different economies to deal with.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by clever7 View Post

      You can offer your services at websites like Odesk and Elance and build a portfolio.
      In your situation, I would actually avoid this. It isn't productive or helpful business for you; nor (unless you're fantastically lucky) will it help you to build the kind of portfolio you actually need, to get started. You can easily do that on your own (and will need fewer items in it, in reality, if you do that). The correct answer is in post #9 above - that will be much more helpful and end up being better-paid.

      Be very careful about selecting the markets in which you choose to compete: in reality, your success will depend at least as much on your own marketing skills (for your professional services) as on your website designing skills.
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      • Profile picture of the author Claire Koch
        if you want to start a web design business start it. You gain credibility as you go. Give away a few sites in exchange for testimonials and referrals. (hint you can even charge for hosting) (reseller hosting through hostgator or sign up with an affiliate hosting account and get them to sign up using your affiliate url. there are a few instant paypal ones out there as well).

        Never listen to anyone who tells you not to do something. If you do that you will never do anything.

        Here's another hint (use a html template to start there are WSO's with design software that literally pops them out). And there is now other softwares like that raising up everywhere even WP template software that creates offline landing pages. You want to be able to pop them out one after the other and after you have testimonials and the referrals start rolling in start charging.

        I disagree Alexa....

        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        In your situation, I would actually avoid this. It isn't productive or helpful business for you; nor (unless you're fantastically lucky) will it help you to build the kind of portfolio you actually need, to get started. You can easily do that on your own (and will need fewer items in it, in reality, if you do that). The correct answer is in post #9 above - that will be much more helpful and end up being better-paid.

        Be very careful about selecting the markets in which you choose to compete: in reality, your success will depend at least as much on your own marketing skills (for your professional services) as on your website designing skills.
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        • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Claire Koch View Post

          Never listen to anyone who tells you not to do something. If you do that you will never do anything.

          Here's another hint (use a html template to start there are WSO's with design software that literally pops them out). And there is now other softwares like that raising up everywhere even WP template software that creates offline landing pages. You want to be able to pop them out one after the other and after you have testimonials and the referrals start rolling in start charging.

          I disagree Alexa....
          Actually, the way that you position yourself has everything to do with whether you're just another run of the mill "designer" that pops out one mediocre template site after another for peanuts or whether you can command higher prices for custom, quality work.

          The lack of a portfolio suggests that he may not be a "designer" yet and maybe getting a bunch of cheapo jobs by popping out template sites is what he wants to do, but if it isn't what he wants to do, he needs to buckle down and learn to design and design unique, quality sites for his customers and build a real reputation as a designer and charge real prices for his work.
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  • Profile picture of the author Duvallmarketers
    Here's how I started out... I gave away my design services for free or nearly free to some key local businesses who needed my help with their websites. This gave me the following:
    *Credibility
    *Samples for my portfolio
    *Good will from happy clients
    *Referrals for paid gigs
    *TONS of work

    Here's a secret tip: Shhhh, don't tell anyone I used Camtasia studio to record screen capture video evaluations of prospects' websites where I pointed out specific flaws and offered my recommendations to improve the site. Then I put that video on a private page on my website and emailed the prospect with my pitch with their login info so they could watch the video and view my website quote. My conversion rate was through the roof. No competitor was doing this. I spent about 15 minutes per video evaluation. Why this works... It positioned me as a leading EXPERT in the market. I gave them actionable advice that they could use right away. This built HUGE reciprocity so they were much more inclined to hire me.

    Seriously... don't tell anyone about that. It works really well and I'm still using this strategy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    Sell what you have. Create some websites (about 5), and have those as your portfolios. You have to start somewhere, and while some professional website designers would demand top prices... you may have to have lower prices in order to get people to sign up. Then once you have a steady stream of work coming in, you can increase your price because of your demand.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    I've been freelancing since 2001, and running my own web design business from home since 2007.

    I shot a video about this very question about a month ago.

    Watch this.

    How Can I Get Web Design Clients If I'm Just Getting Started and Have No Portfolio?
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Create a half dozen nice templates and call them your portfolio. Then package them up (or offer individually) and sell them as PLR.
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    • Profile picture of the author samanthamilner
      Banned
      Do a project for a friend for free or design one and then flip it on flippa and then you have your portfolio and you have made some money at the same time.
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    • Profile picture of the author zendao
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Create a half dozen nice templates and call them your portfolio. Then package them up (or offer individually) and sell them as PLR.
      What do you mean by templates? Like themes? I guess I would have to pay a domain and host them somewhere aswell? and how do I sell them as PLR?

      Thanks a lot!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jonwebb
    Something to consider, is working on spec, which means you do the work upfront for free, if they like it/use it then they pay full price.

    Its a win/win - you get the experience you need regardless if they like the website or not and you have a chance at making money. Also a bonus because money isn't guaranteed you will work harder on making the website look alot better

    good luck

    - Jonathan Webb
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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    When I started out, I built sites. Lots of them, until I had a portfolio. I designed logos and stationery and brochures, all for my portfolio. It's not likely that you will get many quality customers without showing them what you can do.
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  • Profile picture of the author nicholasb
    make your site really bad ass looking
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  • Profile picture of the author ekalaivan
    Yes, I also think that prospects are generally not concerned about your portfolio. If you present a nice solution, they will be more than happy to avail it - even if you don't have a portfolio.
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