Get Clients Now! Filling the Pipeline, Week 4
We’re finally in the home stretch of the Get Clients Now! – Filling the Pipeline program.
I have to be honest… I’m falling back on my old ways again! When I started the series, I mentioned that one of the primary reasons I started posting my process on the blog is that I get all “gung-ho” at the beginning… do GREAT for the first two weeks… then completely slack off at the end. Apparently the old me has returned!
I should clarify though, because this is making me sound like a total slacker – which is far from the truth, LOL. My continuing problem of focusing so hard on client work, makes it difficult to focus on marketing efforts. I’m having a bit of a time juggling the two, which is why my scores (below) for last week are very low.
Success Ingredients – Week 4
If you read my post last week on the business benefits of social media, you’ll know that I’ve definitely done my homework for that particular Success Ingredient.
I’m still in progress on Description of Services and Web Promotion Strategy. I probably took things too far, but I’ve been analyzing my current web site and have a whole new game plan.
Currently, my primary web site is a static (html) site, which uses WordPress for this blog, and CRE Loaded eCommerce software for the Services section. I’ve been working on updating my services, when I realized that no one really uses the shopping cart. They do get rates, but the majority of my clients come to me first requesting a proposal – if they like what they see, I prepare a contract and invoice and we get started!
I realize that most people are not just going to plunk down $1k (or more) through my shopping cart (paying by PayPal no less) without at least talking with someone (aka me) first. Almost all of my clients pay by check anyway (only clients with smaller to mid-range services pay via PayPal – those getting complete site design and development almost always pay by check).
I’m also so completely in love with WordPress and all of it’s features, that I decided it’s time for a BIG change on the main site. I’ll be using the same design, but will be completely re-developing it using WordPress as a CMS (Content Management System).
As for the shopping cart, I’ll be doing away with that, in favor of just providing information on my rates and services through WordPress. While in this process, I’m doing a bit of re-organizing and weeding-out of infrequently purchased services, etc.
I’d like to say that I’ll have this done by the end of the week, but that’s just not realistic. I’m going to have to give myself at least a month for this one. At least this is a major marketing step, but not so much filling the pipeline. More of a re-building the backbone of the site. After all, as a web design company – I need to have the best site possible to entice more customers. If that means re-thinking and updating things in the process, that’s fine by me!
Another huge benefit to making this switch to WordPress, is that it is a GREAT tool for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). WordPress by itself has some great features, but when you add in some SEO related plugins, you have that many more options.
So, this is one combined effort, as far as updating my services, as well as working on my web promotion strategies. All in one (very big!) shot, LOL.
- Networking Venues – Progress: 100%
by July 4, 2008 - Description of Services – Progress: 80%
by July 18, 2008 – This will roll over into next month…
- Web Promotion Strategy – Progress: 20%
by July 18, 2008 – This will roll over into next month…
Daily / Weekly Actions – Week 4
I was completely swamped with client work last week, so my progress here was VERY poor last week. I have a feeling my numbers will be equally as low this week… I’m going to try my best, though!
I know if I’m not working on client sites, this week – I’ll be working on re-vamping my web site. Good for the SI item – “1 hour a day on SI” – but not so good for the other actions. But hey… if I’m spending 4-5 hours in a day on an SI, can that count for more than one “Y” – Please? LOL
Oh – and I’ll fess up that I actually had two “0″ days last week, so I did a tiny bit of GCN work over the weekend to make up for it a little bit…
- Total (# of 10)
7 – 6 – 6 – 4 – 3
Program Goal – Week 4
Without a doubt, I set my sights way too high this program. I knew so in week 2, but throught if I aimed high it might happen.
No such luck… only a tiny bit more progress than last week. I haven’t been giving my marketing efforts 100% attention this time around, though, so I am not surprised by the low scores.
Again, I’m wishing I stuck with my goals last month (which were for 10 new prospects / 2 new clients) because then my percentages would be MUCH higher than they are now, LOL. Oh well!
- Program Goal
20 new prospects / 4 new clients - My Progress
40% – 8 new prospects / 25% – 1 new client
Will You Reach Your Goals?
How are things looking for you now that we’re in the last week of the program? Are you closing in on your goals, or do you have a bit of work to do next time around? Please leave a comment below!
Read More Posts In This Series
About the Author
Selene M. Bowlby is a web designer and front-end web developer with over ten years of professional experience in the design industry. As the owner of iDesign Studios she specializes in creating custom web sites for other businesses. more » 
Related Posts
- Get Clients Now! Filling the Pipeline, Week 2
- Get Clients Now! Filling the Pipeline, Week 3
- Get Clients Now! The First 28 Days, Week 3
- Get Clients Now! The First 28 Days, Week 4
- Get Clients Now! The First 28 Days, Wrap Up
I definitely relate to slacking the last week or two! I’ve barely updated my grid in the last 3 or 4 days. LOL I am 100% on 2 Success Ingredients and about 80% on my final one, to publish an article. I basically have it written, but have not contacted the site I’d like to publish. I will do that within the next week, but I doubt it actually gets published before this final week ends.
As far as program goal, I am about 50% there. My goal was 100 new email prospects and after today I should be over 50. If I count people who don’t verify their subscription, I’d probably be around 75, but I’m not counting those who don’t verify. I changed my thank you page today to make it clearer that they will need to verify and why they should do it, but I’m not sure if it will work. If it does, maybe, just maybe, I can eek out my program goal, but at this point I’m not too hopeful. Next round I definitely have to focus on conversion, though. I’ve had 2 sales this round, but out of that many leads, I think that might be low (4%) and one sale wasn’t from the leads, anyway. LOL!
Nicoles last blog post..4 Month Old Baby Sleep
Glad to hear you are getting rid of the ecommerce stuff, I think that will make the site much cleaner and easier to use. I am totally redoing my site right now and I’m just trying to keep in mind what do CLIENTS want to know and see, not what do I want to tell them.
@Nicole – Sounds like you did great with your goals (I never did write the wrap-up post on this one…) I hope you finished out the week with great results!
@Laura – I have to thank you for the initial suggestion! I had received feedback, but your specific comments helped me realize it really wasn’t working. I just launched the updated site last week (now driven by WordPress and lacking the ecommerce section). I’ve already received a few inquiries with the updated site, so seems it was a good move!