Potential client asking for examples of web design..how to handle this?

So can I just put these example sites (with some dummy info in there) on my own domain using subdomains and not actual domain for each to give them a feel of what sort of website they can have?

But what if I already know I want to set them up with a theme (such as the dentist one in that WSO I referenced) couldn't I just put up the demo site with that theme and say your site would be similar to this one? I don't want to set up so many different themes, but rather try to work with one that is easy to use and setup if they decide to come on board.

Definitely. It also helps if your own website is impressive. They need something to look at - and you should have a website anyway. I think the way nail mentioned is a great way to start out (or even to generate some buzz or attention). You can target a popular business in your city that has a poor website and offer to build them one for free. If you target business owners that are well-connected in the community you can get a lot of good word-of-mouth referrals. Another good idea would be to create buzz by creating a contest on Facebook targeting local business owners. Literally go out and hand out the information to local business owners. Tell them you'll build them a website and host it for free for a year - if they win the contest.

Do it like this:

1. Pick around 5 - 20 of the most popular local businesses with poor websites, BUT a good presence on Facebook.
2. Personally contact the business owners and explain to them the contest details.
3. Get as many businesses signed on as possible.
4. Create a contest page on your fan page and list all of the businesses. Have "like" buttons under each as a way to vote.
5. For the contestants (the businesses) to win, they have to encourage THEIR customers to vote for them. If you put the contest on your fan page behind a fan gate, you build local fans that know your brand through a business they like.

You'll definitely get some good local exposure and in the end you'll have an item for your portfolio - for web design, promotion and social media marketing.

Here are some other ways to spice it up:
The winning business owner is getting a new website, so why not encourage them to reach out to their fans and ask them what they want to see in the website? You can post updates (screenshots, what you're working on) on your fan page and ask the business owner to share it to their fans. It will encourage interaction - most people will get a kick out of having a hand in helping you design the site. Plus, in the end you're showing the business owner that you know how to create a buzz on social media. If they are happy with the site, then they will be more open to hearing other suggestions. You may just walk away with an upsell and become their social media manager.

This is exactly what I did. I went to friends who owned small businesses and offered to design their webpage free of charge. I told them flat-out that I was building my portfolio and that in the future I would be charging $1000+ for these services.

I know that some people scoff at this because it's "free work," but at the end of the week I had a portfolio of real business websites, I wrote up "Case Studies" to share with prospective clients, and I had a handful of testimonials from real business owners.

So for each folder I create for my domain "mysite.com/demo1, mysitedemo/demo2, etc.. I would still need to do a WP install on each subfolder correct (even though I have WP installed on the top level domain) to be able to use a WP theme and setup a site there correct?

Like mentioned before. Find a designer (or several) you are planning to work with, use their portfolios When the client picks a site, use the designer that had the website that most excited the client.

I haven't had to do this since my first sites were my own so I essentially had a portfolio before I even sold sites to anyone, but it's an easy solution and you're not lying because the designer will be the same as the site they like most.

Another thing you can do is setup a WordPress install. Populate it with Lorem Ipsum or some other fake content, then install a theme that would suit the client. Get some screenshots. Then install a few other themes and do the same thing. You can reuse all the same content and do it all on one install. All you really want is the the screenshots of what the sites can look like so you don't need to install WordPress 50 times.

This is one of those things that doesn't come with an 'easy' button. You're not going to be able to just generate testimonials or references without putting in the work. You can justify your lack of references with knowledge and laying out a plan. Someone is not going to buy web design services from you simply because you're selling them. You have to educate them as to "why" choosing your web design services will be a smart move for their business.

Also, don't expect to be able to close every deal. You WILL be told "no" in business, and you WILL come up against objections.. You need to concentrate on prospecting correctly by qualifying the person. You also need to control the situation. A lot of freelancers/web designers/etc make the mistake of bending to their clients wishes even when in reality it is not the best choice. Think of it this way - you don't take your car to the mechanic and tell THEM how your car should be fixed. No, you trust in their competence and expertise. Your prospects have to have that same confidence in you.

I would say this goes without saying - including having your own site to show the client. I think a lot of people had the impression that the OP hasn't really done any work yet, or work they want to show the client.

It may sound crazy, but with WordPress being so ubiquitous as a platform - and places like Themeforest selling thousands of themes that can be customized easily, there are quite a bit more "web designers" on the market. I'm definitely not knocking the hustle, but that is the truth. If you hang with enough designers you'll hear their gripes. ; ) I'm not a serious coder myself, but I have yet to meet a real web designer that doesn't have a VPS full of websites. It's safe to say that even the non-designers on this forum have quite a few websites lying around themselves. ; )