I run a web design business. Marketing is difficult, I get referral jobs...

[Andrew M]

...but nothing else works. Any ideas? I have tried adwords, mailshots, local press, email....everything, but it seems the only way small business owners will make a purchase decision is based on word of mouth.
Any thoughts/opinions from business owners or marketing experts would be most welcome!

[Matt]

The web design market is saturated so you must be offering something special to bring in new work.

80% of the web design we do (which is also only a very small part of the business) comes from word of mouth recommendations.

We also have links to other freelance web designers who we sometimes pass work onto if we can't fit it it.