What are the first steps to starting a web development company?
I don't know how to start or where to go for guidance, and I don't know how to attract clients. I plan to offer web development services, as well as data entry. Could you please share your advice on how to get started.
Hi Sasi,
This is a good question. I see that you asked this in 2015, so you may have already found an answer suitable for you, but I'll include a few thoughts for those just seeing this thread.
I recently wrote an article on how to start a business: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4686-how-to-start-a-business.html. The article takes you through 10 essential steps of turning your business idea into a functional business.
One of the more important tips in the article, and one I feel very strongly about is the idea of speaking with a business adviser. In the United States, resources like small business development centers are tremendous assets for entrepreneurs seeking guidance. If you don't have access to small business development centers or other resources, reach out to successful entrepreneurs in your community and ask for advice. Connect with trusted business owners and ask for help. It's important to get help during the process of starting any business.
When it comes to attracting clients, you'll want to come up with a marketing strategy, specifically geared toward your business's launch. Here's a good article for planning your marketing strategy: https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/4-creating-effective-business-marketing-plan.html. Make sure you truly understand your niche. In all likelihood, you won't provide web development services to all types of businesses. You'll want to narrow down the type of customers you're looking to attract.
Hope this helps!
Step 1: Decide your business' approach. Doing something that you're really good at won't be enough for you to build a successful business.
Step 2: Create your business model.
Step 3: Build the perfect team.
Step 4: Get your website and portfolio online.
Step 5: Create a marketing strategy and start promoting your offerings.
In the beginning, it is very difficult to get clients unless you have a work portfolio to show off. You should first start in a marketplace like fiverr.com, upwork.com, freelancer.com and start with the lowest price to build your portfolio. Once you have a good rating in the marketplaces you can increase your price. You can offer additional services like domain and hosting which you can get from hostplax.com. Keep in mind its a hard struggle in the initial stage as you will make no money or have a loss for the first few months or maybe 1-2 years but don't give up. Be expert in what you offer or else it will not work.
Its basically depends on the approach of every entrepreneur. By looking at today's competitive era I suggest that one should hire a good startup consultancy to handle web presence and marketing.
Simultaneously with this development & with the help of the right web development company, you can line up your marketing plan too so that by the end of this time you might have 3-4 projects in your pocket.
TIME IS MONEY HERE... utilize both in a smart way. Do not afraid to take risks. I did the same by giving by web development to company name Pixlogix Infotech Pvt. Ltd. in India. While they developed my website I focused on marketing and got few clients to work on.
Rest assured.
All the best.
You should be knowledge in WEB Development to offer services like Web design, Development and Web hosting.
The first steps to starting a web development company would be to be a web developer and a very good one that is familiar with all of the technical aspects of creating a great web site or web application. Potential clients, will be able to tell from your experience that you know what you are talking about.
Like many digital entrepreneurs the idea of starting up their own online business can be a very exciting prospect with unlimited possibilities. When it comes to actual reality it can be a lot harder.
I started up my own web design / web development agency when finishing university with little commercial experience and lots of drive, and it's been a struggle have regularly continuous work without breaks.
The best advice I can give to anyone starting a new business it to start networking. Find some local groups that are to do with your industry and make connections, practice your elevator pitch, find out areas that you can further specialise in to.
These meetings / networking events will most likely become the source of your first freelance projects and most are completely free to attend. You'll find it much more lucrative to meet with potential clients / peers face to face than applying for online projects.
Clients want to trust and know who they are hiring for a job, and if your company is new your reputation definitely won't proceed you for at least a few years.
If there isn't much buzz in your local community or you are cut off by geographic restrictions you can start to network online and contribute to industry relevant forums.
Hope this helps and good luck with your new business, don't let the nay-sayers bring you down!
What problems are out there that are not been addressed ?
One of the weeker avenues i am seeing is security some great site that offers a safety net for developers for say $15.
Before you get in the web development business write up your plan and strategy try to do something that shines you out from the crowd.
Get about 7 good websites up for demonstration.
It is good to have big dream or vision ...but we still need to start small.
Whether you have a vision yet, ...Write out what you can do.
How you provide the services.
Select people around (best), mosaicHUB (here), other places you may think appropriate.
Ask people from these location whether they want your services.
There you start your business.
A good team with skilled, need to start a web development company...