Make your web design niche your local community

When you design websites, the world is full of potential clients. I see many posts in other Facebook groups from people trying to figure out their niche, hustling for online clients, working in different time zones, and chasing leads on different service websites like Upwork. I admire these go-getters! I also have clients out of state. But the niche I own is my neighborhood. Whether you work primarily with the health industry, construction, or real estate, if you make yourself the go-to web designer in your area, you don’t have to narrow your customer focus to one type of business. Make your niche local companies. Here’s how to do it:

1. Build some free websites for community groups. Yes, I just said work for free. I’ve been doing it for years. Why? Because I love my community. When I do charge these groups, I always give a discount. I started by volunteering to make websites for my son’s coop preschools. That led to paid work for public and private schools. Little League volunteering continues to create new work (my son is now 21) and added to my portfolio in my early days. You can increase your visibility and build websites for nothing but a sponsorship mention on the back of a t-shirt or sports program. The important thing is to get your name out there.
2. Join local business groups and get to know other business owners. Birds of a feather flock together! Your local Chamber of Commerce or Rotary are always good options. Groups that you used to think were for older people are really for business owners like you! And they are doing good things for your community. People will remember you when you are helping raise money for a good cause or volunteering. The breakout group that makes the most significant difference for me is BNI. I plan to do a longer post about this because Business Networking International is the best investment I have ever made in becoming the go-to web designer in my area. I’m going on eight years as a member! It’s more referral driven than other community groups and requires genuine commitment. If you have the drive to make a weekly morning meeting, it pays off with contacts, friendships, mentors, and local businesses!
3. Tell your neighbors and friends what you are up to! My very first client was a gardener that was working for my neighbors. She’s since retired, but I see her all the time. And she still refers people to me. It’s a beautiful feeling 16 years later to keep those relationships. I live in Seattle, but I focus my SEO on West Seattle. Do your best to own the top spot for your area. Does your local area have a blog? One of the most vital partners I have in my community runs a local blog. While many designers find adding a site credit to the bottom of a website appalling, it works great in a local community. I have “site by WebCami” on dozens of local business websites. Just be sure to use a no follow tag so Google won’t hate you for it!

Here are some advantages of primarily operating as a local web designer:

• Your reputation builds quickly
• You get to practice your sales skills in person
• You meet neighbors you didn’t know you had
• You make friends in the process of each design
• You can genuinely help causes in your community
• Giving feels good

I’m curious if your business is local or more global. Share on our Facebook group and share your tips, too!

Resources: 8 Powerful Ways to Market Your Business on a Limited Budget