TallTroll - 1:21 pm on Jun 26, 2001 (gmt 0)

I've been selling web design etc for a little over 2 years now, so I've had some opportunity to watch the market mature. I would agree that networking in its various forms is probably the best way to go, be that CoC events, referrals from your existing clients, social contacts who know someone who is looking for a good designer, whatever.

You can get success with mailshots, but its difficult. Once again CoC mailings can be good, as they lend you credibility by association. Targetted shots to businesses very close to you can produce results, as many small businesses like the feeling of having someone local do the work, as it is easier to arrange meetings etc, and they feel it gives them the option of going to knock on a door if something goes wrong.

Some of our biggest clients have come from the response to a mass mailing. If you're going to do it, keep it to 1 page, and bear in mind that you have about 3 seconds to get them to read it properly, so a big FREE somewhere in the middle of the page might attract attention.

Telemarketing can work, and work well, but there is a lot of time overhead, and it seems to generate long-lead time prospects