How to Sell Website Redesign Services on Freelance Platforms

As a freelance website redesigner, you have to find customers and sell your services on your own. A good approach is using various freelancing platforms like Insolvo. Such services make searching for clients easier. However, you still have to make an effort to find a customer. You still need to be able to sell your services. We want to discuss the challenges and benefits of trying to sell website redesign services on freelance platforms. Let’s begin!

Why Sell Website Redesign Services on a Freelancing Platform? 

There are a few benefits to working with freelance platforms as a website developer.

• Greater reach. Freelancing platforms usually have a very good reach. Sometimes, they are global. The number of potential clients on a freelancing platform is greater than that for an agency, for example. 
• Reviews and ratings. Freelancing platforms offer a reputation system. Insolvo, for instance, has two: reviews and the communication rating. The latter is just a like or a dislike. If a user enjoys working with the other user, they can leave a like. A dislike means that these users did not enjoy working together and will not do so again. All these can help you build a reputation and make securing clients easier.
• Security. Freelancing platforms make payments secure. For example, Insolvo reserves a sum of money on the buyer’s balance when they start negotiating with freelancers. This way, Insolvo guarantees that the promised payment can be transferred to the freelancer at the end of the collaboration. However, if the freelancer’s work is not good enough, the funds can be returned to the buyer. This way, both parties are protected.
• Conflict resolution. Freelancing platforms usually help solve conflicts. For example, Insolvo uses a feature called disputes. If a buyer and freelancer cannot come to an agreement on a task, the support team steps in and helps to resolve the issue.
• Communication tools. With freelancing platforms, means of communication are usually provided. On Insolvo, all tasks have a chat where the buyer and freelancer can exchange text and voice messages, as well as files. 
• Flexibility and control. You can define your workload and working hours on your own with a freelancing platform. You also work from home, which is always a plus.

Are There Downsides?

Overall, there are prominent benefits to selling your website redesign services on a freelancing platform. However, certain issues are also noteworthy.

• Competition and prices. Freelancing platforms are attractive, so a lot of freelancers create an account. That translates to bidding wars, which can lower the payments the buyers are ready to make. Some of them may still be willing to pay more for your skills and experience. But a lot of clients will eagerly pay less when they can.
• Commission. For freelancing platforms to exist and offer their services, a commission is necessary. It is 10% of every task on Insolvo, for example. 

Overall, the good outweighs the bad on freelancing platforms, but these drawbacks still need to be taken into account. 

How to Sell Website Redesign Services on Freelance Platforms?

Create a Portfolio and Profile

Yes, portfolios matter even on freelancing platforms. Insolvo has a special portfolio feature available to freelancers. We have already offered our advice on how to create a good portfolio for website redesign. In short, you need to use relevant, recent examples of your work, explain what you achieved, and include visuals. Include the tools you are familiar with, for instance, WordPress. This way, you will be able to prove your skills and expertise. If you do not have real-life projects yet, make a portfolio of personal projects. Your portfolio is very important for trying to sell website redesign services.

Filling out your profile is also crucial. You will probably be asked for your real name and last name, as well as a photo. Try to make the photo look professional. Do not use fake names; you will probably have to verify your identity to be able to withdraw money. 

Then, add a description of yourself, highlighting your strengths in a very short paragraph. Also, explain what you do and why you chose to redesign websites. Be careful; a lot of platforms do not allow social media links in your profile. Follow the rules of the platform and provide all the information that can help you gain customers and sell website redesign services. 

Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.

Aristotle

Utilize the Features of the Freelancing Platform 

Freelancing platforms differ, which affects how you can sell website redesign on them. One of the most important differences is who creates the task. On some platforms, it is the freelancer who creates the job description with the service that they are willing to offer. On other freelancing sites, the buyer creates a task, and the freelancers bid on it. 

If you join the former type of platform, create a very attractive job card. You can achieve that by following a few recommendations.

• Study your competition. What does an average job card look like on that platform? Can you make it better?
• Make an attractive and informative title.
• Be clear and to the point on what you offer. 
• Use promotional offers. For example, you can propose discounts if certain conditions are met.
• Use media unless the platform does not recommend it.
• Link to your portfolio if the card does not do it already. But make sure that the portfolio does not contain links prohibited by the platform!

If you join the latter type of platform, and the buyer posts a task, there is a different set of recommendations to follow.

• Be quick. Most likely, the buyer is going to choose the first few freelancers who respond. If the platform has a means of alerting you about new tasks, use them. For example, Insolvo has a bot that alerts freelancers every time a new task is posted. Insolvo also allows creating templates, which makes bidding on new tasks easier and quicker.
• Be proactive. Start talking with the buyer as soon as you are allowed to. We have more advice on that below.
• Diversify. You might have to bid on multiple projects at once, but make sure that you do not overcommit. 

Other Features

Make sure to also use other features that the platforms offer. Almost all of them have a reputation system — so build that reputation. It is not rude to ask a buyer for a review or a positive rating. If you are in a conflict, contact the support of the platform through the means that the platform offers. You should use the benefits of being on a freelancing platform.

Talking to Your Client: How to Sell Website Redesign Through Conversation

The task of talking to your client is often very difficult. You are a developer, not a salesperson! So here are a few recommendations on how to sell website redesign through conversation.

• Highlight the fact that redesigns are important and have the potential to generate immense value. Redesigns are no longer a possibility. They are more like maintenance. Be clear that you are offering a very valuable service.
• Stand out. Yes, redesign is important, but the buyer can get it anywhere. So show why you are special. It can be a skill you have, which makes you uniquely suited to help this particular buyer. Or it could be a special offer you introduced for holidays. Your portfolio can help you here by proving your competence.
• Promise something beyond the redesign. It can be conversions or search engine rankings, for example. Your offer should have something that a website owner actually wants. They usually want to redesign because their old website is underperforming. If you ask them, they will have business goals attached to the idea of redesign. So promise them that you can reach these goals (if you can, that is). Your portfolio would be very helpful here as well if it has cases of you helping others in achieving business goals.
• Explain your approach. How are you going to tackle the redesign of this particular customer? Make suggestions and recommendations straight away. Follow the brief, but do not hesitate to add your expert opinions.
• Talk about timeline and budget. These are important restrictions. If you cannot agree on those, no cooperation can happen.
• Do not forget to ask questions. A lot of buyers do not know what to put in a brief. Guide them. Offer questions that will help you tailor your services to their needs. 

Pricing

Pricing is difficult to get right. It is especially difficult when your freelancing platform does not let you know the bids of your peers. However, here are a few recommendations.

• If there are visible bids, analyze them. It is really helpful to know how much other people value redesign.
• Analyze the costs of redesign on other platforms as well. It will help you figure out what your proper rate is.
• Make custom offers. Depending on the platform, it can be more or less feasible. However, every redesign is unique. A lot of factors matter, from the website’s size to tools you are going to use. It is better to ask the buyer some questions before providing them with a quote.
• Be fair to yourself. Your skills and experience matter a lot. Do not place bids that are too low; that is disrespectful to yourself and your peers. After all, they will have to lower their bids as well. Then, nobody is a winner.
• Be fair to your clients. Buyers often do not know how much a redesign costs. That is why you need to be ethical and refuse to charge too much. 

In Conclusion

Freelancing platforms are great, and you can sell website redesign services through them. However, you are not a salesperson; you are just a freelance developer.  We hope that this article made the selling part of your freelancing activities a little easier. If you use the features of a freelancing platform, create a convincing portfolio and profile, talk to the buyer right, and set a good price, you are more likely to get jobs on the platform of your choosing.