How to Get More Business from Your "Designed By" URL - That NO ONE Else is Doing

A look at any web site and you'll usually find 2 items at the bottom of the page:

1. The web site copyright
2. The URL to the designer/developer's web site

The copyright's a necessity...but when you get down to it, I suppose so is the URL. Over the years I have received some business from dropping my name and URL at the bottom of a web site. In fact most web designers probably have - many would love to place a loud flashing animated gif down there if they could get away with it. But there's a better way to ensure you get business from visitors clicking on your URL, and it doesn't have to do with a putting your web address in 20 pt. bold font :)

If you're designing sites and do put your URL down at the bottom of the page, where exactly did visitors go when they click on it?

They go to the main page on your web site, don't they?

Big mistake that's definitely costing you business.

Think about this from the user's perspective, you're on a web site that you kind of like, you click on the link at the bottom of the page and another window abruptly pops up that has nothing to do with the site they were just on.

Now the user is on your main page and has to go through an entirely new experience...an experience that has nothing to do with the site they were just on. 99% of the designers out there make this mistake, but I've come up with a more effective way to reel clients in.

Instead of having users go to the main page of your web site, why not create a special page on your site that provides a case study about the site they just clicked off of? For example, let's say you designed a site for a CPA, when the user clicks the hyperlink at the bottom of that site they're taken to a page on your site that specifically talks about the experience, reaction and results you helped get that CPA - perhaps you even have a testimonial from the CPA on there as well.

How much more compelling would it be to see something specific about that client versus landing on your main page and fumble through your web site? Answer: MUCH MORE.

Sure, at the end of your specific case study you can suggest 1-2 links so the user can begin exploring the rest of your site. But under this new approach I've just suggested, you're providing a bridge...a path for the user rather than plunking them down on your site and letting them fend for themselves.

Give it a shot guys, I promise you'll get better results.

Comments

[Daniel Hunninghake]

Jeremy, this is fantastic advice. A simple measure that shows users prior thought and sense of professionalism. Not to mention insight into the kind of design process you can provide to that prospective client. Tweeted!

[lakia]

Genius! I will try it on the current site I am building. Thanks!

[Jamie Croft]

Great advice! I have never thought about this.

This could show that you know more than just making things look good on screen. It can show the process of helping them make their website successful!

Great Article, will retweet!

jamie

[Jeremy Tuber]

Thanks for the comments guys! I remember mentioning this to my wife a while back...I'd actually forgotten that I blogged about it.

Remember that whether you're a graphic or a web designer, the most talented folks out there AREN'T always the most successful. There's a huge difference between creative ability and being able to market/sell yourself in a compelling way. The freelancer that has the most compelling argument: "why a client should hire her/him" wins the project.

Thank you for commenting guys, please come back and visit soon...and thank you for retweeting this. It's cool if designers aren't ready to pick up some of the resources I have to offer, but passing this info on if it's helpful is something everyone can do.

[mutuelle]

Anyway ,it's sound be new thing,I've to try it...Thanks for sharing it.

[Stephen Hadley]

That is such a great idea and something that really has just totally slipped past me on every occasion. I'm going to make this shift right now on a Web site I'm building for a client. Thanks for posting this.

[Jeremy Tuber]

Thanks again for the comments on this guys...one of the most challenging things you'll find in your freelancing career isn't learning Photoshop but how to effectively target, attract and sell to clients.

Hopefully this is another tool you can use to do this. Please feel free to pass along this info to others in the design community - I'd appreciate it!

[Mutuelle]

Yes that is a very good advice but the text and saying must not be so religious and formal, cause they will just close the window simply.