How I got my first Webflow client, and how you can too

Starting from 0 is hard, but not impossible.

I see the same question in the Webflow community almost weekly.

How do I get my first client?

I’m here to tell you it’s doable. It’s not easy, but it’s doable.

I don’t have a large social media following, I don’t do cold outreach, and I don’t pay for ads.

Here’s what I did: I asked my friends to spread the word and vouch for me.

When I first started with web design, having 0 commercial projects and a tiny portfolio of personal sites meant I couldn't compete with established freelancers.

My only option was to borrow trust from others. My friends know I’m an honest person, I don’t rip people off, and I’m a hard worker.

And that’s exactly what your clients need to hear before they hire someone who’s just getting started.

A bit of background

When I launched our freelance agency with my business (and life) partner, we thought we’d invest in marketing. We paid for Google Ads and newsletter ads; we did cold outreach.

All this led to 0 clients.

What I failed to realize at that time was the power of personal reference. It’s very hard to get new business if the person on the other side doesn’t know you.

I’m not saying it’s impossible. Many other freelancers have reported success with cold outreach. But to me, it always seemed icky.

I delete any unsolicited messages asking me to buy something. Why should others act differently?

My first Webflow client

My first client was a friend of a friend.

I emailed friends I knew who either ran a business or were part of one.

My message to them was simple. I’m available to build websites. If you need one, or you know someone looking for a web designer, I’m here.

I priced my services very competitively (aka cheap) to get at least a few commercial projects.

I linked my previous personal projects for reference.

I posted the same message on all my social media, especially LinkedIn.

And that’s what worked for me.

A friend noticed my post on LinkedIn. A day before, he heard from an ex-colleague of his. She was looking for a Webflow designer.

My friend gave her a reference – I was no longer a cold intro. Someone had vouched for me.

That made all the difference. A few days later, we were in business.

The crazy thing is that since then, this one client has brought in another client. And this has been true of most of my other clients.

It’s a snowball. The trick is to get it rolling.

What if you don’t have a network or want to expand beyond it?

I know that not everyone will have a network to rely on.

You might also want to expand beyond your network.

Here’s what I’m currently doing to achieve that. Maybe you’ll find some of these ideas helpful.

Being active in the r/Webflow community

I love how engaged the Webflow community is. Whether it’s on the Webflow’s official forum or the Webflow subreddit, people are out there, talking shop. And this is a great place to make new friends—friends that can turn into business relationships.

I try to be active and reply to questions where I have some experience and feel I can help. I also post interesting finds.

I’m hoping all this is showing others that I care about the community. There are people posting job opportunities, and I think reaching out as an active member makes a difference.

Following Flowremote

Flowremote is a job board focused on Webflow jobs. Most of the companies advertising jobs are either other Webflow agencies or startups using Webflow. I’m building a portfolio to apply for these jobs.

Creating Content

I’ve started this blog/substack to document my journey as a Webflow freelancer. It’s also a great place to share and show others what I’ve learned. It’s another way to remove the unknowns about yourself.

Creating clonables and publishing to Made in Webflow

I’m working on a simple style guide starter I’ll publish on the Made in Webflow directory. This is another way of showing my skills.

Looking ahead

The second reason I’m growing outside my network is to build other sources of clients. Your network is great when it brings in new clients, but I want to have a backup plan in case referrals stop coming in.

I hope some of these ideas help you find your first client. Good luck!