How to build a Web Design/ Web Development agency? How to pick a niche?
Hi everyone, I am sure this is a very nooby question. But I am full stack Web developer with a few friends which happen to be skilled UI/UX designers and mobile app developers. So I really wanted to have an agency but the process is so overwhelming and I just don’t know where to start. Plus, all the online sources/guides are too general nothing specific in terms of tools, techniques and steps. Also, I ran across the dilemma of picking a niche. How do you even do that? What is the decision based on? And how to identify the pain points of the niche you’ve selected?
It is very unlikely you can define your niche and stick to it unless you already have clients in that niche. So, find clients in your network first, and if you see recurring themes in your client profile, then you niche down. If you must pick a niche, find one where there are easily approachable large enterprise clients.
But the problem is, I have been mostly working as a fulltime employee. Therefore, I don't have "clients" which equals to no portfolio. So I read that one way to get one or two clients is to work for free to build up a portfolio. But then to work for someone for free, I need to decide somehow, which niche I am willing to invest my time into. Otherwise, I would be wasting time working for some guy for free if I am planning to change my direction later on. But maybe I just need to sacrifice time in any direction to figure out my niche in the first place? I am not sure haha
Please do not work for free (ever). Do something small scale project where the client can commit a small amount of money, and the risk of failure for both of you is low. It also helps you to build your portfolio faster.
Sounds fair for it to be a shared risk. Do you know how or where to find my first lead?
Ask friends, family, colleagues
I agree with @szferi. Time is money, and that goes for you as well.
The only thing I would suggest designing and developing for "free", are examples of what you're capable of, as an overall showcase of your skills.
However, think of it more as an investment in a library of what you can present to future clients.
Yeah that sounds cool. Do you know or have any good examples of those libraries? Do you know how or where to find my first lead?
To be more specific, by "library" I'm referring to the content within your portfolio. It's hard to recommend a way to aggregate leads, since it depends upon many things for each of us.
If there's one thing I recommend, it's clean slating your own portfolio. Avoiding frameworks (Angular, React) and libraries (Bootstrap, jQuery) for the portfolio is more important than most people think.
Then, within that portfolio, showcase examples that you've created using those popular frameworks and libraries to show that you have a solid understanding of them with the ability to adapt to various "tools of the trade".
And, network your ass off. Go to trade shows, talk to people, find problems with the places you visit or things you use; while proposing solutions to the general public as articles featured within your portfolio site.
Remember, if this was an easy process everyone would be doing it. So take that challenge and build upon it.