Freelancer - my website is my doom?

[Lupaz]

Hi,

 

I`ve been sending lots of emails, and statistics says that people are visiting my site, but I received almost any answer. Is there something wrong with my site? Or do you go throu the same thing every time?

May be it´s because I´m located too far away? or because my website looks kinda poor? or... I just don`t know what Architects are thinking of me.

Would you give me your comments and critics? Thanks in advanced.

 

http://www.guidogarfunkel.com.ar

[alexg]

I have seen your website and I believe it is not the problem.

 

If you want to market your work, website advertising is not really the best answer.

We got thousands of visit every day too, but the ones that contact from web is only 1% of total visit. And of those who contacts, only 10% turns out to be real projects. In the end, most of those who ask only wants to know our quote.

 

Maybe read David Wright's article on marketing and find more appropriate solution to your campaign.

 

Advertising to your fellow competitors and renderers are not going to give you much projects anyway. Think more of advertising to building industry or developers.

[manta]

Hey,

Your website is great, and the content, thats definitly not the problem, have you thought about postcards, they're pretty cheap, and definitly target the developers...

[Eric]

Does U$S mean US$ (United States Dollars)? If so, your prices seem very low.

 

In regard to marketing, I believe the best form of marketing is face-to-face communication with a client. You might find yourself better served by looking at potential clients in your area, and then trying to contact someone in the proper position in those companies. Call and see if you can schedule a lunch appointment (everyone likes free lunch), and give them a presentation of your work. When you leave, you'll want to give them a sample of your work presented nicely in a folder or something.

 

If face-to-face is not your thing, then maybe make the phone calls, and see if you can talk to someone high-up in the company, and ask them if you can mail them something and then call them back in a week or two to see what they thought.

 

Is this what I do? NO! I should, but I'm a chicken, and I absolutely despise marketing. Perhaps because marketing is not a job description I initially accepted when I hired on. However, it is a position I have been forced to assume, and I'm trying to figure out my own successful method.

 

It does seem though that marketing to clients in person is the best approach. Unfortunately.

[Lupaz]

Maybe read David Wright's article ...

 

I did already, but it seems to be "dedicated" to local-local marketing. I mean, I could never make phonecalls. That way I would only get bankruptcy

 

Advertising to your fellow competitors and renderers are not going to give you much projects anyway. Think more of advertising to building industry or developers

 

Well, actually, all my emails are going to Architect firms.

 

have you thought about postcards

 

Hey, thats a good one! You mean printed small 3d images sent by mail?

[manta]

Yes, at this place you can get 500 for $95.00

 

http://www.mypostcardprinting.com/

[Devin Johnston]

The first thing that jumped out at me was that you’re putting prices on your site. I don't know about you but I've found that once a client gets a price in their mind it's hard to convince them that they should pay more if the project warrants it. It also seems to me that the prices you are charging are a bit low. You may be trying to attract clients with your low prices, but you need to remember that there always going to expect those low prices. The second you try and raise them, there going to fight you and they may leave you. I would not charge any less than what my competition is willing to work for, if you do you’re underselling yourself.

[Matt Sugden]

I think your site is great, with some nice images in your portfolio, I especially like your multi language welcome gate.

 

However, you just can't expect to get work from your website, at least no part of my business plan relies on it or ever will. Websites are a great way of getting information about your company across to customers without them having to speak to you. But unfortunately if you want to feed yourself and your kids etc.., your gonna have to start getting on the blower and speaking to customers until you have so many that you're turning them away. if you do a good job, hopefully they'll refer you to someone else or come back to you for more.

 

Freelance = Do it yourself (coz no one else is going to do it for you).

[shytigercp]

Becoming a member of the AIA (American Istitute of Architects), being active in the AIA and becoming a registared architect will open up the flood gates in terms of networking and getting the jobs. Your work has to be decent to of course. This way you can meet the folks who will sign your check face to face. It's instant credability and your client feels he or she can relate to you more than they could with others...especially if you have professionally practised before.

 

I have found out for me, that this is the ticket.

[Lupaz]

Eric: I think we posted at the same time, cause I didn´t see your post before.

Yes, that is american dollars. That is what I charge here plus something else, but I guess it is too low for the rest of the world. May be the prices being too low gives the impression of non professional.

 

Manta: thanks for the tip

 

Maxer:

once a client gets a price in their mind it's hard to convince

 

I´m trying to attract clients since I´m very far away. The idea was to rise prices in the long run, but now that you say that... I don´t know.

 

Bewdy: getting on the blower? is that the phone? never heard that one.

Yeah, I know about calling clients, but international calls is not the answer for me

 

shytigercp: actually, I´m not an architect, I´m an industrial Designer, so... AIA is not for me I guess.

 

Thanks you all guys!

 

Oh! one tip for you: when sending emails, never forward your own previews email; Spam detectors will reject them. Instead, start a new email and copy the content of the previews email.

[Lila]

your website is very nice...by that i mean, it's easy on the eyes, loads quickly, and the overall design is simple yet serves its purpose...and these are the things that are really important.... about marketing your idea, well, i think its a matter of finding the right people for your design. you said that youve been sending emails and a lot of people are visiting your site, well, i think thats a good sign, it could mean that you are presenting your ideas to them in a manner that touches their curiosity...but until you find the right people whose style is parallel to your design, curiosity is as far as they would go.