How to Get Clients for Web Development [10 Proven Ways]

Most web developers in 2026 do not struggle with building good websites. 

They struggle with finding people who’ll pay them to build one.

The market is more crowded than ever. 

AI website builders are making business owners question whether they even need a developer. 

And the usual advice, “just build a portfolio, and they’ll come,” has not worked for years.

If you are wondering how to get clients for web development without sitting around waiting for leads, this guide covers 10 methods that actually work. 

I have broken each one down with specific steps, templates, and honest advice on what to expect.

TL;DR: Quick Overview on How to Get Web Development Clients

10 Proven Ways to Get Web Development Clients

Getting clients as a web developer is the most tedious process. Here are some of the proven ways that have been successful in helping you land clients even if you are just starting.

1. Cold Emailing
2. LinkedIn Outreach
3. Cold Calling & Networking Events
4. Referrals
5. Content Marketing (SEO & Blogging)
6. Personal Branding
7. Online Communities
8. Freelance Platforms & Marketplaces
9. Paid Ads
10. Strategic Partnerships

1. Cold Emailing

If I had to pick just one method to get web development clients starting today, cold emailing would be it. 

You don’t wait for anyone to find you.

You pick the businesses you want to work with, find the right person’s email, and send them a short pitch about something specific on their website. 

It’s cheap, it’s fast, and the results are fully in your control.

How to do it:

• Pick a Niche: Focus on one type of business, such as real estate, SaaS, restaurants, or eCommerce. A niche-specific pitch always outperforms a generic one.
• Build a Prospect List: Find the founder or marketing manager. You can do this manually on LinkedIn, or use a B2B database like Saleshandy’s Lead Finder to filter 830M+ contacts by job title, industry, and location.
• Write a Short, Specific Email: Keep it under 100 words. Mention something real about their website, like slow speed, no mobile version, or outdated design.
• Follow up 2–3 Times: Most replies come on the second or third email. Space them 3–5 days apart.

Template:

2. LinkedIn Outreach

LinkedIn is the one platform where people actually expect to be contacted about business. 

Founders, marketing managers, and small business owners are all there, and most of them are open to conversations that could help their company.

That makes it a natural place to find web development clients, especially in the B2B space.

The catch? Most developers blow it by pitching in the first message.

Here’s a better approach.

How to Do It:

• Fix Your Profile First: Your headline should say what you do for clients, not your job title. “I help small businesses build websites that bring in leads” beats “Freelance Web Developer.”
• Connect With a Reason: Write a short note: “Hi [Name], I saw [Company] is growing fast, love what you’re building. Would be great to connect.”
• Engage Before You Pitch: Like or comment on 2–3 of their posts first. This puts your name on their radar.
• Send a Value-First DM:  After a few days, send a short message with a real observation about their business.

Template:

Hey [Name], 

I noticed [Company]’s website is loading a bit slowly on mobile, which could be affecting your bounce rate. 

Happy to share a couple of quick fixes if it helps. 

No sales pitch, just figured it might be useful.

3. Cold Calling & Networking Events

Nobody wants to cold call. 

Most developers would rather debug a CSS issue for three hours than pick up the phone. 

But for local businesses and high-ticket projects, a phone call gets you directly to the decision-maker. 

No inbox competition, no algorithm, no waiting for someone to check their LinkedIn DMs. 

Networking events work the same way as if you are in the room with people who need exactly what you offer.

How to Do It:

• For Cold Calling: Target local businesses with outdated websites. Look up the owner’s name and call directly. Keep your opener focused on their problem, not your services.
• For Networking: Attend local chambers of commerce, small business meetups, and coworking events. These rooms are full of business owners who need websites.
• Always Follow Up Within 24 Hours. A networking chat means nothing without a follow-up email the next morning.

Script for Cold Calls:

“Hi [Name], this is [Your Name]. I help businesses in [City] get more customers through their website. 

I took a quick look at yours and had a couple of ideas. Do you have two minutes?”

4. Referrals

This is the method most developers skip, and it’s probably the easiest one on this entire list. 

If you’ve ever built a website for anyone, even a friend’s side project, you’re sitting on a potential referral. 

People trust recommendations from people they already know, so a warm intro from a happy client beats any cold pitch or ad.

How to Do It:

• Ask Right After Delivery: The best time is right after you hand over the finished site, when the client is most excited.
• Make the Ask Specific: Don’t say “refer me to people.” Ask: “Do you know any business owners who’ve been thinking about updating their website?”
• Offer a Small Token of Appreciation: A free month of maintenance, a discount on future work, or a $25 gift card goes a long way.

Template:

Hi [Client Name],

Glad you’re happy with the new site! Quick question — do you know anyone (a friend, colleague, or fellow business owner) who’s been thinking about getting a new website or updating their current one?

Happy to give them a good deal if you send them my way. No pressure at all.

Thanks!

5. Content Marketing (SEO & Blogging)

Think about what happens when a small business owner Googles “how much does a website cost” or “do I need to redesign my website.” 

If your blog post shows up for that search, you’ve just found a warm lead without sending a single email.

Content marketing is the slowest method on this list, but it’s also the one that keeps working for you months and years after you put the work in.

How to Do It:

• Write About What Your Clients Search For: Topics like “How much does a website cost in 2026?”, “5 signs your website is turning away customers”.
• Keep Posts Practical: 1,000–2,000 words, one specific question answered well. Add real examples and numbers.
• Add a Call-to-Action: End every post with a free audit offer, consultation call, or checklist download.
• Repurpose Everything: Turn each blog post into LinkedIn posts, an email newsletter, and social updates.

6. Personal Branding

When you regularly share your work online, your process, your results, your before-and-afters. 

People start recognizing your name. 

And when they need a website built, you’re the first person that comes to mind. 

Personal branding turns you from “some random developer” into someone people feel like they already know and trust.

How to Do It:

• Pick One Platform:  LinkedIn, Twitter/X, YouTube, or Instagram, whichever feels natural. Stick with it for at least 3 months.
• Share Your Actual Work:  Before-and-after redesigns, build breakdowns, what you changed and why. This beats generic “5 tips” posts every time.
• Be Consistent: Post 3–5 times a week. You don’t need to go viral, just stay visible.
• Show Results, Not Just Process: “Redesigned this restaurant’s site and got 40% more online reservations in 2 months” is more powerful than “Here’s my latest project.”

7. Online Communities

Right now, somewhere on Reddit or in a Facebook group, a business owner is posting “Can anyone recommend a good web developer?” or “Is it worth redesigning my website?” 

If you are already active in that community and you’ve been helpful.

You’ll be the first person they think of or the first person someone else tags.

How to Do It:

• Join the Right Communities: Reddit (r/smallbusiness, r/startups, r/Entrepreneur), Facebook groups for local business owners, Slack communities like Indie Hackers. Go where your clients hang out, not other developers.
• Help First, Pitch Later: Answer questions and share advice for 2–3 weeks before mentioning your services. When you do, it should feel natural, not salesy.
• Give Detailed Answers: When someone asks, “Should I redesign my website?” explain what to look for, what it involves, and what to expect. Detailed answers build trust fast.

8. Freelance Platforms & Marketplaces

Platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal have one big advantage for the clients are already there with a project in mind and a budget ready. 

You skip the entire “finding leads” step. 

I have mixed feelings about these platforms long-term because of the price competition, but for building your first portfolio and collecting real testimonials, they are hard to beat.

How to Do It:

• Niche Your Profile: “Web Developer” is invisible. “WordPress Developer for eCommerce Stores” stands out. The more specific, the better.
• Write an Outcome-Focused Bio: Talk about what clients get, such as faster sites, more leads, better mobile experience. Not just the tech you use.
• Apply with Specifics. Reference the client’s project directly. Mention something from their job post and explain your approach. Generic proposals get ignored.
• Value Price, Not Time. Offer fixed-price packages like “$2,500 for a 5-page business site with mobile optimization and SEO.” It gives clients certainty.

9. Paid Ads

If you have some budget and want leads coming in fast, paid ads can get you in front of people who are actively searching for a web developer right now. 

Google Ads, Facebook, and Instagram each work differently, but the idea is the same: you pay to skip the line and show up exactly when someone needs your services.

Fair warning, though, this is not a “set it and forget it” method. 

It takes testing to get right.

How to Do It:

• Google Ads for High-Intent Leads: Target searches like “hire web developer [city]” or “web design for small business.” Start with $20–30/day.
• Facebook/Instagram Ads for Awareness: Show before-and-after redesigns, video testimonials, or a free audit offer. Target by job title, industry, and location.
• Build a Landing Page: Don’t send ad traffic to your homepage. A simple page with your services, 2–3 case studies, and one clear CTA works best.
• Test Before Scaling: Budget $500 for testing. Try different audiences and creatives. Scale what works, cut what doesn’t.

10. Strategic Partnerships

Some people already talk to your ideal clients every single day, like graphic designers, copywriters, marketing agencies, and business coaches. 

They regularly hear “I need a new website” from their clients. 

If you build a relationship with even a couple of these people, you have got a referral source that works without you doing any outreach at all.

How to Do It:

• List 5–10 Potential Partners: Designers, copywriters, social media managers, SEO consultants, business coaches, anyone who serves your audience but offers a different service.
• Lead with What You Can Offer Them:  “I often have clients who need copywriting after their site goes live. I would love to send them your way.”
• Keep It Mutual: No contracts needed. Just a simple understanding: you send me web dev leads, I send you theirs.
• Stay in Touch: Check in every month or two. Partnerships die when people forget about each other.

Template:

Hi [Name],

I’m a web developer who mainly works with [type of business]. I saw you do [their service] for a similar audience.

I regularly get clients who need [their service] after their website launches. Happy to send them your way. Would you be open to doing the same for web development projects?

[Your Name]

How to Get International Clients for Web Development

A $500 local project and a $3,000 US project often require the same amount of work. 

The only difference is who you’re selling to.

If you’re good at what you do, there’s no reason to stay limited to local rates. 

Clients in the US, UK, Germany, and Australia are comfortable hiring remote developers; they care about results, not your location.

Here’s how to get in front of them:

1. Go outbound, Not Inbound
2. Make Your Portfolio Market-Ready
3. Get on Selective Platforms
4. Run a Focused Cold Email Campaign

1. Go outbound, Not Inbound

Posting on Upwork and hoping an international client picks you is slow. 

Instead, build a targeted prospect list using a B2B database like Saleshandy’s Lead Finder with 800M+ contacts across 60M+ companies, filtered by country, industry, and job title. 

You can have a list of 200 US-based prospects ready in minutes.

2. Make Your Portfolio Market-Ready

Show case studies relevant to that region. 

Price in USD or GBP. Make sure your site loads fast from their location. 

Small details like these build trust before you even speak.

3. Get on Selective Platforms

Toptal, Arc.dev, and Gun.io connect developers with global clients.

Harder to get into than Upwork, but better rates and less price competition.

4. Run a Focused Cold Email Campaign

Pick 2–3 industries, build a list, and send a personalized sequence.

Even a small campaign of 200–300 emails can get you 5–15 conversations in a month.

Start With One Method, Then Stack Slowly

Don’t try all 10 at once. That’s how you burn out and quit.

Here’s a simple way to decide:

• No portfolio yet? → Try Freelance platforms & online communities.
• Have some experience? → Cold emailing and referrals work the best.
• Want long-term growth? → Content marketing and LinkedIn should be your go-to.
• Have a budget? → Paid ads, along with partnerships is the right combination.

Pick one method. Give it 30 days of focused effort. Then add a second one.

The developers who consistently land clients aren’t doing anything special. 

They just have a system, and they stick with it.

FAQs on Get Clients for Web Development

1. How long does it take to get web development clients?

Cold emailing and referrals can bring conversations within 2–4 weeks. Freelance platforms take 1–4 weeks for a first project. 

Content marketing and personal branding take 3–6 months. 

The fastest path is direct outreach (cold email or LinkedIn) combined with referrals.

2. How do I get clients with no experience?

Build 2–3 portfolio projects, even personal ones count. Redesign a local business’s website for free in exchange for a testimonial. 

Use freelance platforms for small paid projects. Once you have 3–5 pieces to show, switch to direct outreach.

3. What’s the best way to find international clients?

Use a B2B database to find prospects in your target countries. Run cold email campaigns targeting specific industries. 

List yourself on platforms like Toptal, Arc.dev, or Gun.io. 

Make sure your portfolio fits the market pricing in their currency, and case studies from similar businesses.

4. Is Upwork or Fiverr worth it?

Good for getting started and collecting reviews. Not great long-term because of heavy price competition. 

Use them to build initial social proof, then shift to direct outreach where you control your pricing.

5. How many cold emails should I send?

With good targeting, expect a 3–5% reply rate. Sending 100–200 emails per week should give you 3–10 conversations. 

From there, converting 1–2 into paying clients is realistic. Focus on personalization over volume.

6. Which method gives the most consistent results?

Cold email and referrals for short-term predictability. Content marketing for long-term inbound leads. 

The best setup combines both outbound for immediate revenue and content for growth that compounds over time.