10 Habits of Being a Successful Entrepreneur

Published on October 10, 2022

If you’re a new entrepreneur, you’re probably filled with excitement, passion and determination – all qualities that make a great business owner. Although, you may also be harvesting some feelings of fear and uncertainty which is completely normal for any new entrepreneur. As you begin your new endeavors, you’ll want to identify ways to help you stay motivated and focused so you can stay the course on the fast track to success. 

While every entrepreneur’s journey and experience will be different, there are certain habits of successful entrepreneurs that you can adopt to boost your own career and business.

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5 Advantages of Hiring a Web Designer

Published on September 26, 2022

The average small business owner wears many hats. So when it comes to their website, it's easy to see why they might think they can handle it them self. But, to create or redesign their business’s website, they shouldn’t go at it alone. There are some very good reasons for a small business owner to hire a professional web designer to do the job - that’s where you come in!

In general, small business owners are looking for a web designer to create a unique customized website that reflects their business’s brand. As their web designer, you’ll be able to offer them so much more than just a great looking website.

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Back-to-School Means Back-to-Business: Why it's Prime Time for Web Design

Published on September 19, 2022

September is here and that means it’s back-to-school season. For students, it’s a new beginning and a fresh start to the coming year. For parents, it means getting the kids out of the house and back into the hectic school routine.

But September is also a great time to be a SiteSwan Website Reseller when local business owners, many of whom are also parents, can now re-focus on their business and are eager to launch a new website and other marketing initiatives before the busy holiday season.

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7 Back to School Marketing Ideas for Web Designers

Published on September 12, 2022

All across the U.S., school is back in session. That means kids are heading back to class, traffic is heavier, commutes are longer and schedules are busier. For many web designers, especially those that are parents, September seems to fly by in a blink of an eye. That doesn't mean your web design business needs to suffer, though. Here are 6 back to school marketing ideas to promote your web design business and make the most of the upcoming school year.

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Starting a Part-Time Web Design Business with Full-Time Earning Potential

Recorded on July 29, 2022
 

SiteSwan's Co-Founder, Justin Gerena, recently sat down with Eric Shelton, a SiteSwan reseller, who has sold close to 100 sites, working exclusively part-time. Eric devoted his time off from work to build up his side hustle which is on the verge of offering a full-time income.

Eric is by no means a web design guru, but he is an expert at working hard and hustling. He’s got drive, he’s got ambition, and he’s got laser focus, tactfully choosing his potential clients with phenomenal precision, which has allowed him to scale to some pretty impressive levels. And he’s done it all with just a part-time commitment.
 

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How to Present a Website Mockup to a Prospect

Published on September 2, 2022
 

Did you know that how you present a website to a prospective small business client is just as important as how you build it? In fact, it’s a vital part of the overall sales process. You put the time and effort into creating a beautiful personalized mockup website so you don’t want to drop the ball in the final steps leading up to your chance to close the deal.

If you think that sending your prospects a link to the website you built for them is all you need to do to get the sale, then you could be missing out on the opportunity to gain new clients, sell more websites and scale your business. 
 

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3 Tips for Working from Home 

Published on August 29, 2022

Being your own boss and working from home has many benefits, like flexibility and no commute, but being productive can be tough if you’re not used to working on your own schedule. It’s important to reflect, evaluate, and try different things to help you establish a structure for your day so you feel accomplished.

Here are 3 tips to help you stay productive when working from home so you can get the most out of your time and maintain a healthy work-life balance at the same time.
 

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5 Reasons to Start a Web Design Business Even if You Have a Full-Time Job

Published on September 7, 2021. Updated on August 22, 2022. 

Many people are entrepreneurial but don’t take the bold leap of starting their own business because of their employment situation. Just because you have a full time job doesn’t mean you cannot start a web design business with SiteSwan. In fact, many self-employed web designers once started off building websites on the side (while working a full time job).

Here are 5 reasons why starting your own web design business with SiteSwan could be a great idea even if you currently have a full time job:

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7 Ways to Provide Top-Notch Customer Service

Published on August 15, 2022
 

When you run your own web design agency, you want to ensure your clients are pleased with your services to help cultivate a good relationship, build their trust, and loyalty. To build customer loyalty, ramping up your customer service efforts is the best place to start.
 

How you communicate with your customers has everything to do with whether or not they stay or return to do business with you again. To provide top-notch customer experience that sets you apart from your competitors, read through these seven tips and try to adapt them into your customer service strategy. 

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17 Tips to Get More Clients for Your Web Design Business Fast

Published on August 8, 2022
 

Landing more clients is the only way to keep your business going strong and although it can be a tedious task, with the right approach, it can also be easier than you think.

Since you are competing with other freelancers and web design agencies all over the world, you’ll want to identify ways that you can stand out against your competitors and attract clients to your web design business. If you are struggling to get new business or want to know how to find new clients once you’re ready to expand, we’ve outlined several ideas that will help you attract a full pipeline of new customers fast!

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7 Tips to Give a Convincing Sales Pitch to Small Businesses

Published on August 1, 2022
 

If you want to sell websites to small businesses, it's important to craft an effective sales pitch. Your sales pitch can make or break a deal so you want to be prepared and practice your pitch prior to meeting with a client.

It’s also important to consider how you will deliver your pitch. Will you be selling face-to-face, over the phone or even via email? Keeping in mind the factors listed in this article and utilizing these tips can help you develop a convincing sales pitch to ultimately land more clients.

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Why SiteSwan's Online Store Solution is the Perfect Fit for Most Small Business Clients

Published on July 25, 2022
 

SiteSwan offers an eCommerce feature that can be easily added to any SiteSwan website within minutes. We streamlined the process of setting up an online store so you can instantly add this feature to your client’s website and they can start selling without all of the hassles associated with eCommerce. 

If you have a client interested in selling products on their website, or you're looking for an eCommerce solution that won't rattle your brain (and wallet), here are 4 reasons why SiteSwan's simple online store is the perfect fit for most small businesses.

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Why Web Design is the Ultimate Lifestyle Business

Published on September 20, 2021. Updated on July 18, 2022.

We all dream of a job that not only pays well, but one that offers flexibility and the freedom to do what we want, when we want, so we can live our best life. After all, who really enjoys being confined to an office Monday through Friday (sometimes weekends too) where you have to make a formal request to take time off if you want to attend a child's event or travel?

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The Best Way to Sell Websites to Small Businesses

Published on July 11, 2022
 

There are many different ways you can sell websites to small businesses including face to face, phone, and email. There are pros and cons to each of these sales strategies. Some people prefer to sell websites in person while others may not be comfortable with this sales strategy or they might live too far away from prospects to meet in person, so it's important that you have options when selling websites.

By knowing which strategy works best for your business model, you can put yourself in the best position to sell websites and grow your business.

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7 Tips for Starting a Business With Your Spouse

Published on July 1, 2022
 

So you’re thinking about starting a business with your spouse or loved one. And why wouldn’t you? After all, two heads are better than one, and it makes perfect sense to start a business with someone you already know, trust and love.

With the right strategy, mutual support, and proper planning, your spouse can be a great business partner. But, before engaging in an official business partnership, it’s a good idea to find out what works best for you both, respectively, and make sure you’re on the same page about how you plan to run your business. 

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SiteSwan Releases New & Improved Instant Site Creation Tool

Published on June 22, 2022
 

SiteSwan is proud to announce the release of our new and improved Instant Site Creation feature that allows SiteSwan Resellers to build professionally designed, ready-to-sell websites in less than 60 seconds.

When it comes to selling websites, building personalized demo sites for your prospects is one of the most effective sales tactics. Knowing this, we’ve simplified the customization process so you can stop spending your valuable time on tedious details involved in designing sites and focus on things that will help you grow your business – like prospecting and sales. 

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8 Key Elements of a User-Friendly Website

Published on April 15, 2021. Updated on June 20, 2022.

For most small businesses, the perfect website is one that leads to increased customer conversions, whether it's more phone calls, more leads or more sales. While there are plenty of different ways to achieve this, perhaps the most important element to focus on when building a small business website is making it as user-friendly as possible.

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14 Businesses That Need a Website This Summer

Published on June 13, 2022
 

Web design services continue to be in high demand for most industries. While there are tons of prospective clients out there, it would be beneficial to narrow your search for businesses that might urgently need a website this summer.

In this article, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of businesses that have experienced a surge in demand this season, along with reasons why they would benefit from a new website.

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The Top 6 Things Small Businesses Look for in a Web Designer

Published on June 6, 2022
 

Like any other business decision, small business owners want to ensure they are choosing the best web designer to create and manage their website. But, what exactly are small business owners looking for in a web designer? How do you, as a web designer, stand out from the competition and earn their trust? 
 

Here are 6 factors that small businesses consider when looking for a web designer.

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3 Ways Small Businesses Can Start Selling Products Online

Published on May 27, 2022

So, your client wants to start selling products online and why shouldn’t they? Selling online allows them to tap into a whole new customer base that they might not have been able to reach by solely selling in person.

With so many selling platforms, it can be daunting to figure out which one to choose. The main thing is to understand your options and the differences between them. Learn about three e-commerce selling options that you can present to your web design client. 

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10 Add-on Services You Can Offer to Your Web Design Clients to Boost Your Bottom Line

Published on August 13, 2021. Updated on May 23, 2022.

You just finished wrapping up a web design project for a client and collecting payment for all your hard work. Now you have them setup for automatic billing of their monthly payments. Congratulations!

Does this mean that you’re all done with this client and it’s time to find another? Not necessarily.

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5 Reasons to Use SiteSwan Themes for Your Next Web Design Project

Published on May 16, 2022

There are several key design elements involved in creating a business website and it can sometimes be hard to know exactly where to start. Luckily, SiteSwan offers a reliable source of web design Themes in a variety of different industries. Our collection of more than 150 Themes can make designing websites a breeze. You can create and customize beautiful websites for just about any small business in no time at all. Keep reading to discover five reasons why SiteSwan Themes could be the perfect solution for your next web design project.

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15 Tips to Help Improve Your Web Search Results

Published on May 9, 2022

One of the best ways for any business to help drive traffic to their website is to rank well in web search results. Research has shown that more than 90% of clicks from a Google search result go to the first page of organic listings. That means only about 10% of people advance to the second page of search results! Statistics like this make it clear how important it is to rank with organic SEO. In this article, we’ll cover 15 tips and best practices you can implement into your SEO strategy to help improve your ranking. 

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12 Ways to Elevate Your Personal Brand and Look More Professional

Published on May 2, 2022

When starting a web design business, you’ll have to consider how you want you and your business to be perceived as well as how you can set yourself apart from the other web designers. There are a number of factors that go into building a personal brand. Before a prospective client buys any service from you, they must first buy into YOU and be sold on YOU. Follow these twelve tips and you’ll be on your way to developing your brand and looking more professional.

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SiteSwan Website Reseller Interview with Zach Hansen of Surge Web Design 

Recorded on February 23, 2022

Anyone looking to grow their web design business will find this conversation enlightening. SiteSwan Co-Founder Justin Gerena interviews Zach Hansen from Surge Web Design, a SiteSwan Reseller, who took a huge leap of faith into entrepreneurship about three years ago. Zach now runs his own successful business with more than 150 clients selling multiple services and there’s no turning back.

This interview is filled with amazing insight from Zach on how to sell more websites to small businesses, along with some helpful tips from SiteSwan's co-founder.

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The Pros and Cons of Granting Your Client Access to Make Changes to Their Website

Published on April 25, 2022
 

There are advantages and disadvantages of granting your clients access to make changes to their website opposed to managing the site yourself. Deciding which path you choose will likely determine how you market your service and even how much you charge. Before you make a decision it's important to understand the pros and cons.

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9 Web Design Sales Tricks to Turn Prospects into Clients

Published on March 18, 2021. Updated on April 19, 2022.

For a lot of web designers, the process of designing sites comes easy—especially if you’re using a website building platform like SiteSwan, with our stunning Themes and instant site creation. However, it’s the sales side of the job that tends to be difficult for many agencies to hit a stride with. After all, producing quality work and being able to sell that work are two entirely different talents, and in order to grow a successful web design business, you need to be able to feel confident about your abilities to thrive as both a designer and a salesperson. 

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8 Reasons Why a Mobile-Friendly Website is a MUST for Small Businesses 

Published on April 11, 2022

When it comes to making purchases and searching for information, almost 60% of all online searches are now conducted on mobile devices. With a high volume of searches coming through on mobile devices, it's easy to see why it is so important for all businesses to have a mobile-friendly website. In this article, we'll review everything you need to know about mobile-friendly websites, why every small business needs one, and how you can leverage SiteSwan's mobile-friendly themes to your advantage when pitching your next web design client.

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Glossary of Web Design Terms for Beginners

Published on April 5, 2022

If you’re new to web design, or if you just have trouble keeping up with the latest terms and jargon, you’ll find this resource helpful. The Web Design Glossary eBook defines over 150 common web terms so you can understand and speak confidently about industry-related terms and services.

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8 Steps to Building Your Business Brand 

Published on April 4, 2022

When starting your own business, there are many factors you have to consider when it comes to marketing your company. One of the most important elements is establishing your business’s brand. Follow these 8 steps to learn how to build a brand for your business.  

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10 Businesses that Need a Website this Spring (and the Themes You Can Use to Build Them)

Published on March 28, 2022

If you are just starting out your web design business or trying to branch out from the niche market you currently serve, you may not know where to begin. To help identify what businesses need a website right now, you can think seasonally. There are certain companies that are gearing up in the spring so they are ready for their peak season. Here are ten businesses that could benefit from your web design services this spring.

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5 Tips for Selling Websites Over the Phone

Published on March 21, 2022

When selling a service like website design or digital marketing, you need to find small business clients who are willing and able to pay you. Thankfully, there are plenty of businesses out there that need your services and there are multiple ways to connect with these business owners. One way is cold calling. With the right training and strategy, selling websites over the phone can be an effective way to gain new clients. 

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How to Market and Promote Your Web Design Business

Published on March 17, 2022
 

Becoming a web designer is not just about building great looking websites. Marketing your web design business is an extremely important aspect of promoting your brand, finding clients and ultimately scaling your business. So, we’ve compiled a list of 110 smart, effective and even free ways to market your web design business and produced this easy-to-read eBook.

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5 Common Sales Objections Web Designers Face and How to Overcome Them

Published on June 18, 2020. Updated on March 14, 2022.

When prospecting for potential website clients, it’s important to be prepared for any possible reason why a business owner may say that they do not have or need a website. Not only is it important to know what they might say, it’s more important to know how to eliminate these excuses by addressing their real underlying concerns with valuable solutions.

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We've Released a New Spam Filter to Block Unwanted Messages

Published on March 14, 2022
 

SiteSwan is proud to announce that we’ve released a new spam filter to block unwanted messages, while still letting important emails get through. The new spam filter, powered by the latest in machine learning technology, identifies spam based on the user’s past interactions with messages and email addresses and will be continually refined to get better at its job over time. All SiteSwan sites will have their accounts placed under the protection of the new spam filter automatically, and it's free-of-charge for all SiteSwan Resellers. 

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Why a Business Facebook Page Doesn't Replace the Need for a Website

Published on March 7, 2022
 

With so many people using Facebook regularly, it is no surprise why millions of companies use it to connect with their customers. While it is an important marketing tool for businesses to use, a Facebook page shouldn't replace a professional business website. No matter your product or service, a website is essential for any business. If you are curious to learn why a Facebook business page isn't the same as a professional website, we'll reveal the reasons in this article. 

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7 Bad Work Habits That Entrepreneurs Need To Overcome

Published on February 28, 2022
 

When starting your own business, there's a significant transition from being a wage worker to becoming the boss. A big part of your success as an entrepreneur has to do with your personal habits and your mentality. Let's take a look at some bad habits you should break to give yourself the best chance of achieving success.

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4 Reasons to Choose a Web Design Niche (and How to Find Yours)

Published on February 21, 2022. Updated on October 26, 2022.

When launching your own web design business, a logical question to ask yourself is where should you begin? One of the best ways to gain traction when starting a business is to focus on a particular niche. In this article, we’ll review the benefits of selecting a niche and tips on how to choose the right niche to grow your web design agency. 

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SiteSwan Website Reseller Interview with Bryan Foulk of Gulf Coast Web Pros

Recorded on Dec 29, 2021

In this 1-on-1 interview, Bryan Foulk shares his first-hand experience coming on board as a SiteSwan Website Reseller. With zero web design experience, Bryan has already sold 3 websites in his first 30 days. With many more deals in the works and big plans for 2022, Bryan is on the fast track to success.

Learn what attracted Bryan to the SiteSwan Reseller Program, his experience with the platform thus far, his opinion of SiteSwan's support team and exactly how we landed his first paying clients.

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How to Build a Web Design Portfolio with No Clients

Published on December 30, 2020. Updated on February 14, 2022.

Starting your own web design business can be a fun and financially rewarding career. However, if you're just getting started, chances are you don't have any past work in your portfolio to show off to potential clients; that's okay! Here are four creative ways to quickly build up an impressive web design portfolio when you don't have any existing clients.

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11 Reasons Why a Web Design Business is the Best Side Hustle to Start in 2022 

Published on January 31, 2022
 

Was it one of your New Year’s resolutions to start your own business? Are you looking for a side hustle to supplement your regular income? Or do you simply want to spend your free time on a hobby that lets you earn some extra cash?
 

There are plenty of business opportunities out there but when comparing all the options, a web design business is by far the best side hustle you can start. But what makes web design the best side hustle in 2022? That’s what you’re about to discover here. 

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4 Tips to Find More Website Design Clients

Published on January 24, 2022

If you've recently made the switch to become a web designer, you're not alone. Just in the United States, thousands of people become web designers each year, with the field expected to grow 13% by 2030.

But a growing field brings with it a higher level of competition. Expertise alone isn't enough to bring in a client base. To grow your web design business, you'll need a more comprehensive strategy. We've created the following guide showing you the best way to grow a web design business.

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10 Businesses That Need a Website this Winter

Published on January 10, 2022

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and start your own web agency with SiteSwan’s powerful website builder. You’ve done a lot of research, compared your options, and even came up with a business plan.

Now it’s time to build your clientele. Maybe you’re unsure how to begin promoting your services to small business owners or you don’t know how to find businesses that need a website in the first place.

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11 Reasons Why Websites Are Essential for All Businesses in 2022

Published on January 3, 2022

What’s the single most important way to promote a business?

When it comes to business marketing, there are a thousand and one ways to do it. From traditional advertising to search engine optimization, sky’s the limit as to the combination of marketing methods that work best for a business.
 

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10 Personal Branding Tips That'll Elevate Your Business in 2022

Published on December 6, 2021

Are you looking for ways to stand out and get more web design clients? Maybe you’re in a sales position at your agency and feel stuck in your career. Or perhaps you’re an agency owner or lifestyle entrepreneur who wants to stand out as an expert in digital marketing and design.

You may have scoured the web looking for tips for branding and marketing to boost your business. You may have studied the best resources on sales. But at the end of the day, it still feels like something is missing.

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6 Ways to Personalize Your Client’s Homepage

Published on December 1, 2021

Take a moment to think about the last website you visited. What did you like about it? What didn’t you like about it? Would you visit the website again? Within seconds of visiting a business’s homepage, a first impression is already made.
 

In a similar way, when pitching your web design services to a small business owner, your only have a few moments to spark their interest, make a great first impression and move them closer to a sale.

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7 Perks of Running a Home-Based Business in 2021

Published on November 1, 2021

Approximately 50% of Americans worked remotely during the pandemic. However, this luxury is coming to an end for many people as more and more companies demand their employees to head back to the office. The problem with this is that a lot of people have either gotten used to the perks of working from home or just don’t feel comfortable returning back to the workplace as COVID continues to impact our communities. Even new vaccine mandates are causing people to make a choice between getting a shot or being terminated (and some people don’t feel comfortable getting the vaccine).

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How to Overcome Your Fears of Starting a Business

Published on October 29, 2020. Updated on October 27, 2021.

Fear can be an entrepreneur's worst enemy. The fear of failure, fear of inadequacy or even the fear of success can prohibit some people from taking the first step towards starting their own business. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone.

Studies show that nearly 70% of people are unhappy with their current jobs, yet only a tiny fraction of individuals will actually venture off and start their own business. While fear and uncertainty are perfectly normal, don't let it cripple you from achieving your entrepreneurial goals. Utilize these 4 tips to overcome your fears of starting your own business.

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7 Website Sales Pitch Ideas

Published on October 18, 2021

There is much more to being a web designer than just building great-looking websites. Sales and marketing are equally important (if not more important) to running a successful web design business. After all, without sales, you don’t have much of a business at all.

However, effectively engaging prospects and generating interest can be a challenging task. How do you pitch small businesses on a new website? How do you explain the importance of having a strong online presence? How can you stand out from other web designers in your area and make an irresistible offer?

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Promote Your Web Design Business on Facebook: 10 Tips for Success

Published on August 25, 2021. Updated on October 15, 2021.

When you finish designing a client’s website, in some cases they might ask you for help with their social media marketing as well. This can take the form of setting up their profile pages or creating a strategy for posting weekly content.

In addition to helping your clients, why not work on your own social media strategy? Social media can be a great way to promote your web design business and attract new clients. With over 2.8 billion monthly active users, Facebook in particular offers you a tremendous opportunity to build awareness of your agency, connect with local businesses, showcase your work and generate leads.

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