[Link25design]

The last couple weeks was my first tries at cold calling.. WOW it is painful. I just wonder if it is even worth the time. I would love to take that time and really test out emailing, blogging on my website, promoting my website SEO, and utilizing accounts like twitter, etc...

What about places like logo pond.. is that a good way to get recongnized and discovered?

[Maerk]

Try everything. Only takes a few things to actually deliver results and you're away... Cold calling isn't fun, but timing is very hit and miss, you could call someone one day and they're too busy, and call another day and they're eager to see your work.

[Louk]

We have cold callers here at our web design company. 2 of them. They rarely pull in any deals, it's quite sad. Now, part of the is the economy, but, it's definitely rough. You have to be really good at it to make it work... and it's not here. Haha.

[freelancr]

Never heard of people cold calling for web design work, hardly suprising it doesn't work very well is it. People hate cold callers, sell using your portfolio.

[d*d]

Originally Posted by freelancr

Never heard of people cold calling for web design work, hardly suprising it doesn't work very well is it. People hate cold callers, sell using your portfolio.

what about finding people to put your portfolio in front of? I've made cold calls with some success, I find it's easier to do some research on the company send an email to the right person and follow up with a call

[Shiro]

Good cold-calling is a 2-step process: first step is sourcing a name of someone you want to talk to, and second step is contacting that person at a later date when they can't put together how you got their info.

[Maerk]

Originally Posted by d*d

what about finding people to put your portfolio in front of? I've made cold calls with some success, I find it's easier to do some research on the company send an email to the right person and follow up with a call

Aye my approach too.

And yes to clear up I was thinking in terms of how I work, which is 80% of the time for other agencies, rather than my own clients, so chasing folks for the opportunity to get my work infront of someone is well worth the annoyance.

[Aozame]

Originally Posted by d*d

what about finding people to put your portfolio in front of?

Right. I get all my work through networking. Zero advertising besides a business card and the cost of drinks at the bar.

[Maerk]

Good for you? Not everyone likes the same methods of getting business.

[Aozame]

Illuminating. I've written it down.

[Maerk]

Well your initial post came across as very arsey, apologies if it wasn't meant that way.

[Aozame]

I see your point. My apologies as well. I did not communicate my intention properly. It was not meant in negative connotations. Let me rephrase:

Right (you make a great point, d*d). I get all my work through networking (noting the importance of finding people to put your portfolio in front of). Zero advertising besides a business card and the cost of drinks at the bar (makes good use of finding the right person as you mentioned).

Sorry Maerk, didn't mean to come across as an ass.

[WickedGoddess]

Cold calling is really irritating, I must say.. Why not start promoting here then?

[LiveChatAgent]

Most of our web design clients seem to use the "cold walk-in" method. They basically canvas an area that they have done work in and walk in with a "I did your neighbors site, you know XYZ Bar down the street" pitch. Now, of course this only works if you 1) are local and can hit the local area or 2) you are big enough to hire a person or team to hit an area where you have done work that is not local.

We supply live chat software and agents to several web design and hosting companies (they add our chat software and live operators to their clients website) and I can honestly say about 90% of them use that method to get new business.

[TsiD]

As for me, i think, cold calls should be targeted very accurately. The "conversion rate" of that promotion type will work best for people that may really need your services.. i'd suggest gathering maximum info on the targets, say, look if a target company had any unsuccessful redesigns/reworks of their websites, etc.. that's a very complex work..

[breadlegs]

The art of cold calling is sounding like you aren't cold calling.

We get quite a bit of web work this way.

[nick08]

What to say when cold calling? I've done it a couple times; all unsuccessfull.

[Maerk]

Again... why are you phoning yet? Do you even have a website portfolio to tell people should they ask on the phone yet?

I feel like a dick prancing after you across DT, but I thought you said you weren't about to go professional as you knew you had a long way to go before you were at that level, but you seem to be starting to take on clients and cold calling to try and generate business.

[nick08]

Yeah man I'm sorry for not checking this thread earlier. I piddled around and made this for people to go to about my web design: Glixe Web Design It's nothing amazing but it's a lot better than I had before, and it's 100% properly coded. Also, check the site I made for "PhotoSmart" on there as well.. again, 100% css by hand. I've learned a littttttttttle bit bro and I think I can sell sites to business in my area.

[Maerk]

edit - removed all that utterly pointless C&C and nicey nicey bullshit as nick08's site is a blatant rip of jg9's portfolio, Jamie Gregory / Freelance Graphic Designer / Online Portfolio

Despicable mate, utterly vile behaviour.