Comments on: Designers, do you pursue local business?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:17:54 +0000

@K – I completely agree with you on pitching over a beer, as opposed to speaking to a committee. There’s something more organic about that one-on-one contact with the client.

RE: bass fishing – my favorite lure is also the top water lure. Usually a light worm, cricket or crayfish tugged over the tops of lily pads gets them hitting (keep the hook tucked into the lure so I’m not draggin’ weeds)

By: K.

K. — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:50:20 +0000

I prefer working locally than dealing with boards and such. I would prefer making the pitch over a beer at my client’s Italian joint over starring at 10 board members who really just want to know how much its going to cost and when it can be done.

Also, bass fishing is what its all about. I grew up in a town of 5000 in Tennessee and we used to ride our bikes to the various farm ponds looking for giant bass that heretofore had been undiscovered. My favorite method of bassin’ is top water lures, mostly because they are the only fish that really fly up and chomp on them and subsequently put on a display of mid-air acrobatics that is as fun to watch as it is a challenge to land.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:28:59 +0000

Lisa, great name by the way! I’ve been reading your blog for awhile, love it! I totally agree about the need for quality small business web design, that “de-mystifies” the web for regular business owners. I had gotten so frustrated with CMS platforms that I quite wanting to use them, until I found and fell in love with WordPress. I’ve done several small biz sites on WordPress and clients LOVE IT! It makes developing a high quality site very affordable and easy. Anyhow, preaching to the choir…

Very cool that you love to fish. I do also, but haven’t gotten to for a few years so I’ve forgotten most of what I know. I can tear up the bream, have fair luck with catfish, but my PASSION is striped bass. We’ve got massive ones here in our lake (Lake Lanier, GA), and I’m obsessed with catching them. Keep us posted on your bass fishing journey.

@Patrick – I grew up in Greenville and it sure has changed a TON — into quite a tech savvy “cool” city. I’m a Gamecock grad and currently in a NE Atlanta metro. Good to see a “neighbor” here!

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:28:36 +0000

I’ve talked to a few local businesses. I find most just want a presence, and being about to update hourly would be just another non-business related task to stay on top of. Not that they don’t value marketing, but when you’re in the landscaping business, you aren’t going to be updating you site daily.

Still – I got to believe there is some money in pursuing these folks. Most of the time I’ll see the name of the hosting/design company listed in the footer of these sites and will click through to check out their work. Generally it isn’t all that great.

By: Ashlea

Ashlea — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:14:44 +0000

Hiya,

I have just stumbled across your website. It looks great and of course pink is awesome! my own site is purple..

Its really strange to hear other females talking about fishing. I love in NZ, and its really a males sport here. I occassionally go out with my partner, but we dont have any good spots that are close to us. Bummer.

I will be definitely coming back for another read!

By: Douglas T

Douglas T — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:23:20 +0000

That would of course be, I grew up in a small town. :”>

By: Douglas T

Douglas T — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:21:33 +0000

I’ve found it difficult not to target local companies. You comment on their site, or they learn what you do, and a business relationship starts. They want to be in control of their own site, and I can make that happen.

32,000… small? I grew up in a town, my high school class had a grand total of 15. The capital of North Dakota only has 60,000 people, is it small?

By: Jammie J.

Jammie J. — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 04:47:41 +0000

That’s the frustrating part of being a webbie. I look for mom & pop places on the ‘net ALL THE TIME! I would really prefer to give my business and money to the smaller places, but usually they have no presence on the web. No one uses the phone books anymore… those things are sooooo yesterday. Plus, phone books are only updated once a year.

By: Mpeterson

Mpeterson — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 20:01:03 +0000

A pleasure to find your website.

I have to send a note out to Mark. There are plenty of people here from towns under 1000 who’ll tell you that, traditionally, West Bend has generally been even smaller — despite the larger population. ;^)

That’s changed a lot over the last few years. But just.

Best wishes,
Mark

By: Danalyn

Danalyn — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:43:11 +0000

I usually don’t…just because Texas is so damn big, and I keep moving around in this state! lol.

But I think Kyle is going to start soliciting local businesses to see if they need any copywriting work done…of course…I have to do his website, since his business cards have the URL on them.

I’ll trade ya. I’ll take one of yours, if you take Kyle’s! haha!

Ok…it’s late and I’m going crazy…