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I've been a freelance web designer for 3 years.
Getting clients has always been my biggest
challenge. Not the work — the finding them.
I've tried everything:
❌ Upwork — competitive, they take 20%,
clients expect rock bottom prices
❌ Fiverr — same problems, worse
❌ LinkedIn — posts get buried unless
you have thousands of followers
❌ Cold email — 2% response rate on a
good day
❌ Paid ads — burned $400 with zero results
I was starting to think getting discovered
online as a small freelancer was just
impossible without a big budget.
Then a friend mentioned
SmallBusinessOwners.co
---
WHAT IS IT?
It's a free business directory specifically
for small business owners and freelancers.
You submit your profile, they review it
within 24 hours, and you get your own
page on the site.
I was skeptical. Another directory?
There are hundreds of those.
But two things made me try it:
1. It was completely free
2. They have a "Founding Member" program —
the first 100 businesses get listed free
forever, even after they go paid
I figured — worst case I waste 5 minutes.
---
THE SUBMISSION PROCESS
Filling in the form took me about 8 minutes.
I added:
- My business name and description
- My services (web design, Shopify, Branding)
- My location (Austin, TX)
- Links to my website and Instagram
- A profile photo
- A cover photo of my work
The form was clean and straightforward.
No complicated setup, no credit card.
I submitted and got an email confirmation.
---
24 HOURS LATER
My listing was approved and live.
I got a direct link to my profile page:
smallbusinessowners.co/directory/submit
The page looked professional. Clean design,
all my details displayed clearly,
direct links to my website and socials.
I shared it on my Instagram story and LinkedIn.
Nothing crazy happened immediately.
---
WEEK 1
3 days after going live I got my first
contact through the directory.
A small business owner in California
needed a Shopify store built.
She found me by browsing the directory
under "Web Designer" category.
We had a call. Good fit.
But she went with someone local in the end.
Still — first contact in 3 days was promising.
---
WEEK 2
Two more inquiries came in.
One became a paying client.
A restaurant owner needed a new website.
$1,200 project.
The other was a startup looking for
ongoing work — still in conversation.
---
WEEK 3 & 4
One more inquiry.
Didn't convert but was a good conversation.
Profile page views: 47 in the first month
(the directory shows view counts)
---
FINAL VERDICT AFTER 30 DAYS
✅ 5 total inquiries
✅ 1 confirmed paying client ($1,200)
✅ 1 potential ongoing client
✅ 47 profile views
✅ Cost: $0
Is it going to replace all your marketing? No.
Is it worth the 8 minutes it takes to set up?
Absolutely yes.
The Founding Member program is still open
but they said only 100 spots are free.
After that it becomes paid.
If you're a freelancer or small business owner
looking for more visibility — just do it.
It costs nothing and takes less than
10 minutes.
👉 Submit your free listing here:
smallbusinessowners.co/directory/submit
---
Happy to answer any questions in the comments.
What's your biggest challenge getting
clients right now?
— Bella
Freelance Web Designer, Austin TX
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