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How to get clients as a freelance web designer

Updated · 1 min read

Quick answerPick one niche you can speak to, find 25 businesses in it whose websites are holding them back, and send each a short, specific email about one thing you would improve. Follow up twice over two weeks, then share a quick mock-up with anyone who replies. In Makeborne, use map or list lead finding, personal emails, manual CRM follow-up dates and review links. Automated sequence sending is disabled for launch; Gmail is currently send-only.

Watch how

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In Clients, choose Find leads.

  1. In Clients, choose Find leads.
  2. Say what kind of business you want, and where.
  3. Add what you offer, so the ranking fits your business.
  4. Makeborne searches the map, reads each website and ranks every lead.
  5. Each lead has a fit score, the reason, an opening idea and public contact details.
  6. Tick the ones you want and add them to your clients. Adding is free.

Step by step

  1. Choose a niche

    Dentists, restaurants, yoga studios: one group whose customers and problems you understand. Your emails get sharper and your portfolio more convincing.

  2. Find 25 good leads

    Use Find leads with your niche and city. Look for businesses with an outdated site, no online booking or no clear call to action.

  3. Write one specific email each

    Mention something real about their business and one improvement. Write personal emails drafts these from each lead’s public page for you to edit.

  4. Follow up twice

    Set manual follow-up dates and check your inbox before sending another message. Automated sequence sending is disabled for launch.

  5. Show, don’t tell

    When someone is interested, make a quick draft of their new homepage and send a review link they can comment on.

What makes outreach work

  • Specific beats clever: one real observation about their business.
  • Small asks: “Would a 2-minute mock-up help?” gets more replies than “Can we book a call?”.
  • Consistency: 25 thoughtful emails a week beats 500 generic ones.

Questions

How many leads should I contact per week?

Start with 20–30 well-researched leads. Quality and follow-up matter more than volume, and new mailboxes need time to warm up.

Should I offer free work?

A small, quick mock-up of one page is a strong opener. Avoid full free projects.