In this blog, we will be looking at what makes a web development business plan successful. We’ll discuss market analysis and a product target audience.
The “web developer” is a person who designs, develops and maintains websites. They can also create apps for smartphones and other mobile devices. They are responsible for the design, development and maintenance of these platforms.
I discussed some of the unpleasant lessons I learnt from not planning in part one. We also discussed the advantages of preparing before laying the groundwork for launching a web development company. Let’s dig a little deeper now.
In this post, we’ll look at how to start a web development company from scratch, from concept to first clients. The following are the three stages to a successful launch:
- Begin with your client.
- Make a decision on what to offer.
- Make your presence known.
Let’s take a closer look at each of those stages.
1. Begin with your client.
A solid business strategy starts with the client. What are their names? What are their requirements? What can we do to satisfy their demands? In my situation, I had no intention of starting a company. I’d written a guide on how to integrate a WordPress blog into an existing website. Some of the people who read the lesson approached me and asked if I might help them. I should have paused at that moment, identified a pattern, and chosen whether to continue in that path or alter course.
I opened the door to any kind of client without a strategy, and as the popularity of my lessons increased, people started approaching me and requesting me to perform an increasingly diverse range of work. I answered yes without thinking about whether or not the project was truly something I wanted to do.
The solution will be apparent to some of you. You have an opportunity to serve a certain kind of client, and all you have to do now is concentrate on that customer. For others, finding it out is a difficult task. The essential thing is to start with a strategy. Plans are subject to change.
Here are a few examples of client categories you could target:
- Small company owners that aren’t computer savvy and want a full-service solution (e.g. a complete website for their business)
- Business owners of all sizes who need a certain service (e.g. businesses that want a blog and training)
- Businesses with unique requirements in a certain market (e.g. ice cream shops, lawn care businesses, or mold remediators)
2. Make a decision on what you’re going to provide.
Determine what to provide while keeping your client in mind. Set away any preconceived ideas and ask yourself, “What is the most effective method for me to fulfill their needs?” Rather of assuming, seek for opportunities to inquire. Interview prospective consumers to learn about their problems. Keep your eyes peeled for additional requirements that may be addressed – either by you or someone else – while you concentrate on web development.
Make sure what you’re offering is in line with what your customers want, not simply what you assume they’ll want.
Here are some suggestions based on my personal experience to help you decide what to offer:
- Make Use of a Platform – Don’t spend time learning to code in the beginning. Use a platform that allows you to take use of the work and expertise of previous web developers. WordPress comes highly recommended by me. Rather of creating from scratch, use and modify pre-built themes. Concentrate on delivering value to your clients. They are more concerned with what you do for them than with how you do it.
- Specialize — There are few things I can’t do when it comes to web development, and if I can’t, I’ll probably find it out. But when it comes to listing my services, I keep things simple. People like to work with people that excel at what they do. Even if you have a lot of skills, the bulk of them will be irrelevant to your customer. Instead, concentrate on the most essential.
- List Your Prices – Make your prices available to the public. The issue with not displaying pricing is that it conveys the message, “Let’s find out how much you’re willing to spend, and then I’ll tell you how much I’ll charge.” While you may “score big” on a project or two, you’re far better off setting pricing you’re comfortable with up front and sparing yourself the time and effort of sorting and filtering through those who are “just looking.”
Here are a few examples of services you might provide in the web development industry:
- Child Theme Design — Select a WordPress theme or framework for which you want to create child themes. Genesis, Hybrid, and Standard Theme are all popular examples.
- WordPress Migration – Helping current website owners migrate to WordPress is a specialty of theirs. Take a look at how I describe my WordPress migration service and feel free to use it.
- Explain the benefits of utilizing pre-built themes to your clients, and become an expert in assisting them in selecting and customizing an existing WordPress theme. Use a theme marketplace (e.g. ThemeForest) or join a theme club (e.g. ElegantThemes).
A word of caution to the overqualified:
If you have previous web programming expertise, you may need to put it aside. It’s not enough to be able to accomplish something; it has to be the greatest method to serve your consumers. Look for methods to put any current skill sets to use, and be prepared to set such skill sets aside or update them as needed to ensure that you’re providing the greatest possible service to your clients.
3. Be readily available
After you’ve decided on a client base and what you’ll provide, the following step is to let people know you’re open for business. In my situation, this entailed establishing a “Services” page that described how I operated and confirmed that I was available for hire. My issue was that I didn’t search for methods to extend my reach beyond the traffic I was receiving from my lessons at the time.
Here’s what I suggest you include in your strategy for making oneself available:
- Create Your Own Website — This is a no-brainer. But don’t dismiss it or dismiss it carelessly. Your own website should be a shining representation of your skills. Make sure each page has a clear call to action and that the material is written with your prospective consumers in mind.
- Look for ways to provide value — People appreciated the material in the lessons I produced, which lead to my first few clients. Look for methods to provide value to your own company. Here are a few suggestions:
- Write for your neighborhood newspaper – Start a column in your local newspaper to answer questions about the internet and technology that company owners have. Concentrate on knowledge that is useful to them, saves them money, or helps them grow their business.
- Create a blog that is tailored to your target audience – To get the word out, write guest articles on sites that your target demographic reads.
- Create a manual – Explain how to do a particularly useful job to your target client. Give the guide out for free or charge a modest fee for it.
- Re-evaluate your website and what you’ve done to provide value at least once a quarter, if not once a month. Examine what works and what doesn’t, and then re-evaluate. To remain on track, make the assessment process an essential component of your strategy.
Conclusion
If you don’t plan, you’re preparing to fail. After a few months of site development, I realized I needed a strategy. I chose to join up with two other young guys and establish a new web development company, which is still going strong five years later — with a strategy for the future. Our plans have evolved over time and will continue to evolve. The goal is to prepare ahead of time and make proactive rather than reactive choices.
Take the time to prepare when you begin your web development company. Get started by following the three stages we’ve discussed. We’ve just scratched the surface of the foundations, but they’re the most important at first. You’ll be able to keep preparing, execute effectively, and achieve success after you’ve laid a solid foundation.
Do you have any questions? Please ask them in the comments section below! I really anticipate hearing from everyone of you.
Related Tags
- web design jobs
- web developer jobs
