[CobraNT]

I recently started a web design company and am hitting the typical 'new business' issues. I just wondered what sucessful methods you have used to generate business / leads?

[OptimusG4]

Well I'm not in a business, but lots of advertising and a good solid portfolio to back you up. Word of mouth is the best, but also newspaper ads will work. Register your site with the search engines as well. Just a few ideas

[philzilla]

don't completely shun doing freebies, but make sure people don't think you'll always work for nothing. a favour for a friend is still work, and potential clients can see that work. they don't have to know it was a freebie.

again, word of mouth. if people see good work, they'll tell other people.

[CobraNT]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I have a pretty solid portfolio and I always ask my customers for referrals and letters of reference. I can't decide whether or not to do newspaper ads, seems expensive for non-targeted advertising. Thanks again for your ideas.

[thePurpleGiant]

Target people that aren't into computers. Computer geeks all think they can make websites and that you charge too much.

Target people that are 'interested' in what you do, but don't think they know it all.

And like the others said, word of mouth for sure is the best way to go.

[wallinbl]

Word of mouth is all I've ever needed. I didn't venture out until I had too much work to handle in the evenings, so I had enough to get started. Ever since, I've had a steady stream of calls along the lines of "such and such recommended you..."

I don't know how to tell you to get started, but I will tell you this: doing good work for a good price will keep you in business as long as you want to be in business. I can't even tell you how many clients have called me to replace someone who was incompetent, slow to produce, too expensive, or any combination of those.