Experience Matters Online Too

^^^ This.

Here's an idea that will allow you to accomplish two things at the same time. Create some themed templates and offer them for sale. Let clients know you'll customize them. Create a half dozen stunning sites clients can choose from. Now you have samples and inventory. People will see them and want custom work.

Whatever you do, stay away from fiverr.

If you want to try option 2 and make the world a little better at the same time, make a few sites for local charities, like food shelves, homeless shelters, meal delivery services, animal shelters, etc.

Use those as your portfolio.

The first side benefit is that you aren't burning potential paying clients by doing (and becoming known for doing) freebies.

The second side benefit is that by working with local charities, you get non-sales exposure to some of the movers and shakers in a community who also support the charity. It's a lot easier to get in front of people when they know you helped raise $$$ for their favorite cause.

Do sites for clients for free. Let them know the truth...that you have experience making sites (show examples of your work)...and that you are just starting your business and you want them to rate your work.

Ask and encourage clients to critique your work (make sure you do an excellent job).

Now you have your testimonials from happy clients.

Congrats on your first order!

I have a close friend who was in much the same situation except he designed logos rather than web sites.

He was having difficulty getting traction. After we talked about his lack of paid experience we devised a plan for him.

He picked out ten types of local businesses (categories like plumbers, real estate agents, barbers, attorneys, etc). He spent a few days making great looking logos for each category then posted them on his web site using "boilerplate" names, addresses, etc.

Then for every category, he found just five local businesses, substituted their name and contact info in place of the boiler plate, printed out a color logo with his own business contact info and a large headline like "This logo is yours FREE if you are the first barber in town to claim it!" He then had his kids deliver the logo examples directly to the businesses. (He could have contacted 25 or more businesses, but there was no need. With every logo but one, his designs were snapped up quickly).

When he delivered the logo product to the business, he was able to get a testimonial from all his happy new customers. So he started with a few give-aways, did great work, got some testimonials and was in business.

Yes, he worked for a few days for nothing but it got his business off the ground and he is still doing quite well today although he has moved on to other types of graphic design.

If you don't want to work for free at first, you could always develop some sites as if you had done them for customers, post them on your site as examples of your great designs, then sell them later during your "two day half price sale!"

The very best to you,

Steve