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A common problem for many website designers is that they provide one off transactions for clients.  

For clients on the other hand, a website is a simply a marketing tool which won't provide any value unless people find it.  

If I were a web designer I would find like minded partners that can provide these crucial complimentary services and take a commission.  This should build an ongoing revenue, keep the web designer involved with clients journey through online marketing, provide additional revenue opportunities & with the right SEO, PPC & Social Media partners you should receive referring work back through for web design work.

Providing complete solutions should allow for better margins & better conversion from leads into sale.  It might take a little bit of effort to establish, but you might have 100+ clients that can be referred through your soon to be created network.  That sounds like untapped opportunity.

I'm going to add-on to Steve's answer.

The easiest way to digitize a file is to run it through a scanner. The end result (usually a .tif or .tiff file) can then be converted to other formats such as, PDF, JPEG, PNG or GIF. Doing a raw file conversion will sometimes been enough depending on the level of detail needed and what the artwork will be used for once digitized.

If your digitized file is blurry or pixelated if you are good at Photoshop or Illustrator (raster or vector) art manipulation try to clean it up yourself. If you aren't skilled in those areas look at using a freelance or in-house designer who will be able to clean up the file for you.

Keep your use in mind, as if you are using the end result in a printed work you need to think about having 300 to 600 dots per inch (DPI) or its metric equivalent for good output. Also the file will need to be created in CMYK (print) mode to ensure colors are accurate.

If you are using the file digitally, you only need between 72 to 150 DPI or its metric equivalent and the file should be created in RGB (screen) mode to ensure accurate digital colors.

Is DropBox Safe and Secure? How Secure is DropBox? Well, security issues with Dropbox is a major concern. Nearly two-thirds of those that move sensitive data to the cloud regard their service providers as being primarily responsible for protecting that data, even though a similar number have little or no knowledge about what measures their providers have put in place to protect data.

Have anyone explore Podzy? Podzy is the world’s first totally secure, client side alternative to Dropbox. It provides enterprises with a private platform for implementing a secure on-premise alternative to Dropbox. Podzy, which offers a file sharing and storage service akin to Dropbox but which is secure, private and hosted on the customer’s premises – has been chosen as the winner in the Tools section of the Victorian iAwards. Podzy will now go forward to compete for the national title against other state winners in the national iAwards.

I agree with @Jane Jones @Kathie Thomas , there are some amazing offshore VA's but it's disappointing to see business owners choose VA's based purely on price. I often find that longer-term clients will pay more for the right fit.

Yee,

This is a fantastic and difficult question to answer. It's a tricky topic because it has to be judged on an individual basis and agreed to by the team (or at least the majority).

Some people may say, take any offer you can get it is better than continuing to bootstrap. I would argue, that may not be the case. When you are bootstrapping you must be more aware of how each dollar is spent. When you get an investment, you may not be as thoughtful or creative on how you stretch the budget.

Also, don't just see it as the amount of money they are giving you (in terms of the trade off for equity in your venture). Are they also bringing their knowledge of the business world and making it accessible to you? Are they giving you access and recommendations to their network? The team needs to be comfortable with the percentage of equity for the monetary infusion.

Example, if an investor offers $100,000 for 45% of the company's equity some founders may see that as a quick way to grow the business while other founders may balk at giving up such a large percentage of their venture. It is a combination of your team's comfort level, your overall gut reaction and your ability to trust that the investor is trying to better your venture.

It really comes down to what the team agrees is a fair or reasonable trade off between the monetary infusion, networking and resources verses losing some control of the overall business. Once again, great question.

there were times I became very tired but the key was not to blame the business the key was to go away and re generate myself

Have a great website yourselves with a solid portfolio.  Any portfolio link should open a new window so your site is still there when they stop browsing the portfolio.

Don't try and be all things to all people.  Be sure what your target market is.  Information / lead generation sites versus e-commerce / transactional.  Experienced with web versus small business just starting out.  Push that strength on your website and in your portfolio.

Have a page on 'what to look for in a web development agency?' or a checklist of steps in planning a website.  Pitch this to the level of expertise you expect in your target market.  Run in conjunction with a blog / newsletter that people sign up to.

One newsletter I'm signed up to recently offered a 'free blog overhaul to increase conversions' for one lucky reader.  In exchange, they got:

* I don't know how many enquiries from their readership who are now warm prospects with an identified need / desire.

* an excellent case study for future newsletter and web post  (I think the conversion rate went up 300% or something)

* an evangelist!

Or free reviews to anyone for a limited time.  (or maybe at $10 since a nominal payment may reduce tire-kickers...)

As business owners, we are all in the Marketing Business. Without marketing there are no customers, and without customers there is no business.