Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
It is since last year that I've started to try to work on my own without a boss shouting in my ears the whole day ... but ... it looks like every project I launch on the web is bound to fail : a few "hits_and_leave_quickly" per day either on my own promotional website (freelancing) or on other projects (communities or e-commerces) I took time to develop with creativity.
Concerning my own website, I've managed to have google display my site in the top ten with relevant two/three words queries.
I've also :
- listed my site in several free professional directories.
- displayed the url of my site in every forum I'm participating in.
- advertised the site by offering people to pay them a 10% commission on every web project they could find for me.
- listed the site in DMOZ.org
But still, 10 hits a day and no-one contacting me.
So, what is the problem?
I've printed 500 nicely crafted business cards, but I never find any opportunity to give them away. I mean, how could I interact with people in the real life when I spend time creating new projects that never catch on?
Well, it's time for me to make some money ... but how?
Also, I've designed a community-like site ( called helpbooster ) which is supposed to allow people to help eachother through a reward delivery system. Although the site is well designed and that the system have several interesting features, simply no one will ever come and participate. Another failure which is unbelievable since I've applied the steps listed above for this website too.
Lastly, I've created an e-commerce shop that sells T-shirts characterized by totally original designs. I get about 20 visitors a day and nobody will buy anything. What's going on?
Am I simply unlucky? I think I've done almost everything possible.
The only things I haven't done so far are :
- Pay big bucks for banners on big sites.
- Register on not for free project bidding system such like elance or guru, etc ...
Should I head toward this direction?
Are there others methods?
Well, many many thanks to the ones who will have valuable information to share with me.
Have a nice day!
[edited by: Travoli at 2:04 pm (utc) on Dec. 8, 2003]
[edit reason] no specifics please [/edit]
The example search queries you are ranking high for above, are next to useless. Very few people are searching for those terms. Use something like wordtracker of overture to find the terms people are actually searching for - then you'll get some real traffic in.
You need to get your name out there, you need to network with as many people as you know. Use your local community. Cold-call if you have to - send flyers to local businesses.
Develop a custom e-commerce website for a business in your local area looking to get onto the web, or some other custom solution for a business.
Developing and specialising in your own web project is definitely a direction to head in, but if you can't give the visitor a reason to visit you again and again right from the word go, then there's no point trying. You don't have to be original here, do what someone else is doing, but do it better than them.
Focus on something and go after it tooth and nail. Anyway like I said I don't have an answer for you, but I hope this helps.
Thanks for the response.
I didn't know about "wordtracker" or "overture", so thanks a lot for the tip.
Developing and specialising in your own web project is definitely a direction to head in, but if you can't give the visitor a reason to visit you again and again right from the word go, then there's no point trying.
Yes, I agree with you, but I fail to understand why people dislike the services in such a way they hardly use them. I can understand that perhaps people wouldn't like to pay someone for some help on HelpBooster. Also I hear that the T-shirts on neko-shop are cool but nobody has even tried to order one recently.
Sometimes, thinking too much leads me to the wrong direction.
Thanks again.
robert
More than likely you have done nothing wrong you just lost your focus or don't have a business model for your sites
Start by reading this thread
[webmasterworld.com...]
The web has changed a lot since this excellent article was wrote but it is still a good starting point
Do a search at google for other businesses in your area doing the same type of work as yourself to see what they are doing, it can take time to get established unless you advertise your services either on or off the web
Online you could use google adwords or overture ppc to drive visitors to your site
Offline, well hard to say because I dont know your area but leaflets, cold calling, advertisments etc
ncw164x
I am curious, how much experience do you have selling (and I mean everything from shoes to meals to airline tickets)?
Also, how much business experience do you have? Any courses?
Reply and I'll have a look to see if I can give you some more advice.
Regards,
Shane
To answer your question, I've been running an e-commerce selling fragrances to the japanese women during 2 years as an employee in a small company that had 600 visitors per day an a nice amount of daily orders. I admit that most of my work was to code and design though.
Since I've left the company, daily visitors have increased to 6000. But the website hasn't changed that much.
I believe that this is a matter of how long the website have been online. I mean, the website was already here for 4 years before I entered the company.
I reckon I am not very good at doing business and never took any course in that matter. But you know, I've build a website for my girlfriend (a 3 hours work) for her to sell products related to the 70's in France, and although she doesn't know better than me about how to run a business, she can make a living from her website.
So, if I take into account the previous comments, I assume that perhaps all the projects I design will never become popular due to the fact that my ideas aren't what people are looking for. Is that so?
I also admit that I've always choosen not to spend money on advertising. Until now, I've made a rule to use promotion tools that are for free, as listed in my first message. But I'm afraid Google is too expensive for me.
Thanks for the input.
I added another phone line in the house for business only. I had that business listed in the yellow pages. I had that number listed on the website, along with an address. (I origionally used email only).
I think people want to see an address and phone number to know your legit, even if they email you, but it gives them some level of confidence that you actually exist as person.
Not sure if this is your problem, but every little bit helps.
Thanks for this tip. The problem is that I'm not a registered company yet and that I'm waiting for contracts before registering. I don't know how it is where you live, but in my country, You have to pay huge taxes independently of how much you earn. So, I would have to pay taxes even if I don't find clients. Do you think I'm a bit too cautious and that I should jump into the wagon instead?
To the others also ... I'm thinking about something. What if I create a quick project that would be some free service targeted to a much broader audience? Thus, I could display banners of my other sites in it and hopefully increase the traffic. Is it worth trying?
Thanks again!
Have a nice day.
Do you have a business website at all, and waiting for clients before you register as a business? A free service has the benefit of traffic, but the negative (unless it's all automated) that it can potentially take up a lot of time for people who will never use you for anything that's not free.
Getting your first few clients is the hardest part of any job. Attending industry conferences, direct mail to potential customers (email could easily be considered spam, have to be careful using it), or even identifing some potential clients who don't have websites, or aren't using them properly, finding out who their marketing buyer is, and giving them a phone call, which time consuming, and cold calls don't have a great return rate, can end up being rewarding in the long run.
Bidding on free lance jobs can also land you a few cliens to begin building your resume.
Good luck.
There's no such thing as a quick successful project - it takes time, work and effort.
It also sounds like business savvy and discovering niche markets aren't your strengths.
If your goal is to sell design work, what is your target market, Japan, or wider? If it is Japan, I know a little about the culture and I'm not sure that they are going to buy from a web-site alone. I had thought it is more of a get to know one another and then do business. A web-site will not get you very far into that type of selling cycle. So I suggest getting out to industry meetings and meeting people. Introductions at public meetings will probably take you farther.
If your goal is to make a living, and your girlfriend has made a success of the site in France, ask her what is popular in Japan (I assume that you are in Japan) and give make a for-profit site a go. Not a site promoting you, but one that will earn revenue on it's own.
Hope this helps,
Shane
By the way, there is one thing I've noticed : I've been contacted by potential clients about 6 times. They ask me how much I charge for the creation of a website, but since I can't tell them a price without knowing much about their project, I ask them to provide specific informations in order for me to get back to them quickly with an accurate estimate. Each time, they never reply and I never hear of them again. Who is wrong? Me or them?
nahdoic : Well, what if the service is fully automated? If I can come up with some funny concept people would tell their friends about just for fun, ... then ... don't you think it would be a great promotional tool for my other websites?
shane : I think you're right about my business related skills. My design and programming services are targeted to whoever needs them anywhere in the world as stated in my website. My other websites aren't especially targeted to the japanese market. Furthermore, it's very difficult for me, a french person, to understand what is popular in france. I simply don't know. I guess it is a matter of luck to find out about the current craze.
Thanks again to you all for your advice.
[edited by: Travoli at 1:44 pm (utc) on Dec. 10, 2003]
[edit reason] no dropping names of your sites please [/edit]
I have a really popular free service but it didn't get me any clients for web development work. I thought it might have, but I soon gave up that notion and focussed entirely on developing the free service more and making money from it. And it took years. And although the system is technically completely automated, in reality there is no such thing. It constantly needs tweaking, 'database surgery', helping your customers and further development work.
Coming up with that original, fun, catchy idea is the hardest bit. Go after clients directly not in-directly.
Focus, focus, focus.
As for the search for new clients, I've found a projects bidding service that isn't too expensive. I'm going to try that first ... but it won't help me to increase traffic on my other sites. Well, I guess that nobody can have everything :)
Have a nice day.
Companies like dealing with businesses that are local, especially if they can do the job at a good price. I wouldn't be holding my breath on those online bidding sites. The competition is often too fierce.
