Hey everyone! I'm a freelance web developer from Queens, NYC, and I have a small initiative to create websites for local businesses that either don't have a website or are using very outdated ones. I'm focused on helping small businesses like restaurants, barbers, and auto shops go digital with modern, clean websites while also growing my freelance work.
I'm looking for the best ways to find businesses that lack an online presence and I'd love to get your input! Specifically, I'm curious about:
- Has anyone used web scraping tools to identify businesses without websites or with broken ones?
- Are there any helpful APIs or datasets, like Yelp or Google Places, that could point me in the right direction?
- What outreach methods have worked best for you, whether it's cold emailing, in-person visits, or engaging with local Facebook groups?
I've built my sites using a minimal tech stack (HTML/CSS/JS or Next.js) and I usually host on platforms like GitHub Pages, Netlify, or Vercel. If you've had experience with this or have any advice on prospecting, I'd love to hear your thoughts!
2 Answers
Honestly, cold outreach like this can be pretty hit or miss. A lot of business owners might not appreciate it, especially if they’ve managed to stay off the grid for years. If they haven't set up a site yet, it might not be because they haven’t been approached by someone selling one. Just something to consider!
I've had some luck with local groups and cold visits, but it can be unpredictable. Recently, I've used LeadsOnTrees to find some offline shops, and their API was quite useful. It’s worth a try if you’re looking for leads! Anyone else had any experiences with it?
Yeah, sounds like a solid tool, but I'm curious how it compares to others out there. Any specific success stories?