Not all businesses spend their time investing in a digital presence. Some may be small mom-and-pop shops, local service providers, or simply not as digitally inclined as some of the younger generation.
Fortunately, there are still ways to get clients for your web development or web design business. Whether you're targeting a local bakery tucked in the corner or a niche, tailor-made service, you have to make the effort. If you want to stand out, here are 6 strategies I’ve used (and one I’m still using, mentioned at the end) to find businesses that need websites.
Ask around in your community
Yes, the old-fashioned way still works: word of mouth. Ask your neighbors, friends, or family if they know of any local businesses without an online presence. Alternatively, take a walk around areas with local businesses and ask if they need a new site. I recommend using a more personal tone since local businesses are likely to appreciate a friendly, direct approach, unlike larger enterprises.
Attend business events and visit the chamber of commerce
Business events and chambers of commerce can be goldmines for finding long-term clients, especially if you focus on building strong networks. Attend local business events and maintain relationships with professionals in your area. While this approach may take more time and effort, the insights and connections you gain are always up-to-date and valuable.
Leverage social media
Many local businesses rely on platforms like Facebook or Instagram instead of having a dedicated website. Often, they either don’t have the time or haven't considered building one. I’ve had some success using Facebook to find leads by searching local community groups (e.g., "Handypersons in London") and checking if their Facebook Page has a "website" field filled in. If not, it’s a good opportunity to reach out and offer your services.
Use old-school directories
You’ve probably heard of Yellow Pages (which is now online), local newspapers, and city directories. Many businesses still list themselves in these directories, making it easy to find contact information, business hours, and more. This gives you a direct way to reach out and offer web design services.
Explore Google Maps
Consider this scenario: if you type a keyword like 'plumbers near me' into Google Maps, you’ll see a list of local plumbers. For each business, check for a website by looking for the globe icon. If it’s missing, that’s a potential client. The downside is the repetitive clicking, scrolling, and checking, which can be time-consuming. However, there is a more efficient and automated solution, which I’ll discuss next.
Webleadr
Webleadr is a platform that helps you fetch web design clients effortlessly from anywhere in the world. For example, if you want to get dentists in a specific city with/without websites, Webleadr allows you to scan them in one go and you just call them right away with just one click of a button. It also shows you if each company has a dedicated website or is relying on third-party platforms like Facebook, Instagram or even any kind of third-party services for example a booking site. They can be considered as web design/development leads as well.
Webleadr saves you the hassle of manually scrolling through endless lists of businesses in search of leads. Instead, it automates the process and provides you with a well-organized dashboard that lists businesses without websites or those using non-dedicated platforms. Plus, it comes with many additional features to make your client search more efficient.
In case you're interested in how it works, there’s a blog written specifically about it.
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