[kayakingrob]

Hi everyone,

I would like to know what people think of my skills, and what I should be charging for them.

I have built several web site ever the past year or so for different friends, all for free, most of which I have designed as well.
I would like peoples opinions as to what I should be charging to be designing and building similar web sites.

My latest is Caerurfa Pugs. Designed, built and hosted by me.
Another, G Starks Training Services which was not designed by me!! But I built it.
Newton Rigg Climbing Centre, designed and built by me.
And finally me site, which needs updating! Rob Walker Web Design

I'm thinking of charging around £250 for designing and building something similar to the top website.

What do you think??

Thanks for any help and advice.
Rob W

[tb1alexc]

Hi Rob,

I think you definitely have the skills, but one thing which would be great for you to look into would be some website design galleries, and see what people are doing right now with their sites.

A few sites are:

http://www.css-website.com/
http://www.cssdrive.com/
http://www.cssheroes.com/

but a Google search for "CSS gallery" will return a load more.

Basically, try and make sure that you are clear and professional with your content. Choose your colour schemes and fonts carefully, and use plenty of padding and white space to give the feeling of airy-ness and space in your designs.

Good luck!

Alex

[tigerlabs]

However, don't blindly follow trends, think it through before you use it.


Welcome to the forum.

[caraewilton]

Hi Rob
To be really honest, I am not sure I would pay 250 pounds yet for one of your designs. They still have a bit of a home made look about them, although the pug site is a huge improvement in this regard. I only make web sites for fun and as favors so I can't really say what the market expects, but I think you need to work on updating your look. Do away with comic sans and have a look at your colour scheme.

[lazytycoon]

your code confuses me. are you hand coding? where did u learn the grid system thingy?

[Sam Christy]

Awww those pugs are so cute!

[Dave_Webb]

I dont personally like your designs. But that's my opinion. I would suggest you look around the internet at websites you like and take notes on there design.

Nicely made tho. Its just the designs im not keen on.

[Peter000]

Hi Rob

Welcome to the forum.

Those website’s have given you the road in and enjoyment will improve your skills.

It often takes years to even get properly acquainted with many arts - and this happens to be one of them.

You can’t place an image/picture of a DOG that size in any header - unless it’s on a lead..LOL

What you charge for a website has to fit in with your talents…… Question answered.

Portfolio

Under the word Overview - there is a lack of care to the word presentation. Such minor things cost dearly and must be right from the off, because that is your voice talking.

You have the right attitude and can go from strength to strength and I look forward to seeing the next website you build.

Have a wonderful 2009 and those three designs are something to be proud of.

[kayakingrob]

Thanks everyone for your comments, I will take them all on board.

To andymayhem, I have to code mainy from online tutorials and a bit of help from dreamweaver. I've learnt the 960.gs from studying their example page. It's amazaling easy, and it really helps with page layout and cross-browser issues. It you haven't tried it out you should have a look at www.960.gs.

Thanks again for all your comments, and I hope youve all had a good christmas and all have a good new year.

Rob

[Peter000]

Hi Rob

Everything is so simple to correct and always see it through those eyes.

However, always back your own belief and never - ever look away from it.

You will become a wonderful designer, because you have the imagination to unlock things.

I would back my instincts all the way.

Good luck.

[mr-shock]

i like the layouts, but in my opinion you need to start useing photoshop or something, because useing microsoft word for you text umm, isnt going to work, also when you start to use photoshop or a graphics design programme you will start to realise the difference in quaility and design programme let your fufill your ideas because there isnt much they can't do.

also you have a error:

http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/validat...g=1&lang=en

[MolotovRuss]

It's quite clear to me that you've not yet found your feet, and you really shouldn't charge at this point (6 months down the line you'll realise that first client website is ugly).

Task: Re-design a gorgeous website like http://www.bluepearldesign.co.za/

Until you're proud of what youve created, don't charge.

[mr-shock]

MolotovRuss, on Dec 30 2008, 01:10, said:

It's quite clear to me that you've not yet found your feet, and you really shouldn't charge at this point (6 months down the line you'll realise that first client website is ugly).

Task: Re-design a gorgeous website like http://www.bluepearldesign.co.za/

Until you're proud of what youve created, don't charge.

i agree, ask around see if anyone needs a website made for them, but do it for free, its a good way to keep learning and its a good way to get yourself known, so people will recomend you to others.

[Guezala]

Hey

I agree with Russ...he said similar to me a while back and I was gutted but after learning how to create designs with a photoshop equivalent and slice em up to make my designs i wouldn't look back.

The good news is you won't take too long to start learning these skills

Good luck

[nickyoung]

I think the pugs site is worth the 250 if that's how much time you put in. Just keep in mind that there are always better designers out there, and you don't want to loose customers for that reason alone. Diversify your service so that you are not just paying 250 for a single service. It's the combination of total services that make you special.