Hey I was reading on a business forum that the competition for web design is fierce, which am sure everyone knows it is. However they were saying that its incredibly difficult to make a living out of it and that it takes years to make one out of it. I have been studying it for about 14 months to 2 years now, well the practical side anyway and I am just trying to find some small projects for additional income as oppose to primary income. I was really just looking to get people opinions on the topic. Do most of you guys find it difficult to get a project or two a month? Am sure things like SEO, word of mouth and form posting will make a huge difference to getting business. I find it quite frustrating, there will be lots of web designers and developers that put in so much work and never earn the income or salary they deserve. Do any of you guys feel the same way?

I can't get web work for love nor money.

The last 4 clients have all fallen through after the initial deposit.

I work as a delivery driver part time to make ends meet.

Having said that, I haven't updated my main site in a long time and I don't advertise my services so it's my own fault.

I've pretty much stopped freelancing. I get the odd small job here and there but nothing exciting.

Most of my time is spent either writing for my blog/delivery driving or gardening (I used to have my own gardening business and still dabble).

My advice would be to start when you're young and you don't need to pay a mortgage and feed 2 kids, the dog, and buy the wife nice things.

 

 

 

Or if you live where I live, you could get a 'job' as a web dev and be payed the going rate of £13000 pa LMAO

The work is out there you really have to go get it though, hoping people will contact you through your portfolio is a waste of time, you have to go get it, go into local shops and chat to the manager or arrange an appointment, search for local business's on the net, if you cant find a website for them go and introduce yourself.

 

Go to your local chamber of commerce and network they will try and get you to join but you dont have to, get some human interest stories in your local paper, do a charity a site for free then go to the papers and get an interview you will get a slot in the newspaper for free in a much better position than any crappy 1 x 1 advert. if you can afford it get your vehicle sign written, always carry your business cards with you its amazing how many people you meet who have some need to be on the net, then thats your que to give your card over.

 

You have to get a bit imaginative and look for every opportunity.

 

Its tough really tough, but you can make it work, getting some proper business advice is a real bonus, forming a business plan will tell you exactly what you need to generate cash wise to operate and is well worth doing. I think if you are going to do it you really must throw yourself into it 100% if you sit back and hope work will come to you, you will be destined to fail. I have only just started myself and have picked up 3 jobs this week with the possibility of 2 more after.

 

My main points of advice to you are:

 

1/ Get proper business advice. Find your nearest business advisory body. dont be afraid to start in a small way, can you get by on a part time job?, then dedicate the rest of your time to building your business. it doesnt have to be all or nothing.

 

2/ Market yourself at every opportunity.

 

3/ Dont assume work will land in your lap because you have advertised. go get it. follow up every lead.

 

4/ Network, join local business associations, Chamber of commerce, anything that will expose you to other business's.

 

5/ Diversify, start a blog or an affiliate site get advertising revenue, it wont be much but it all helps.

 

6/ Make sure you are getting all the financial assistance you can, use your tax credits.

 

7/ Be passionate your passion and enthusiasm will rub off on clients and generate excitement about their project.

 

8/ If this is what you really want to do, dont ever ever give up.

 

The best of luck to you.

You don't have to freelance at the end of the day. As Elanman states, in some places the going rate for an employed Web Dev/Des can be quite low, but it depends on whether you are specialised or not.

 

I work in a place where Graphic Design & Development are kept totally separate. They employ specialised designers or developers, not people who are both, and as such the wage is higher, even for a first-timer like me.

 

The work is definitely out there, the recession means people are turning to the web for their investments in the future. The problem is that they aren't looking for 5-page information sites/basic e-commerce anymore. They want blogs, social media interaction, full-blown e-commerce solutions with customisation, or completely custom applications. People know what the web is capable of these days so "I'm sorry but the software doesn't do that" isn't accepted, it's "well make it do that" !!

 

I believe that as the web moves forward the gap between designers and developers is getting bigger. With the advancements in flash(and in css), with objective-j, new platforms like air etc etc there is so much more these days to development than javascript roll-over buttons and php email forms that I think that the market for those people who do both design & development will get smaller, whereas those 2/3 man bands who split the work into their specialties will find it easier to get work.

 

Just my 2p

@TBreak - I have to say that you have given some excellent advice there! I'm only a biginner myself but even now I walk down a high street and think hey thats a cool shop I love the stuff they sell and what they do I wonder if they have a website? and then I think when I know what I'm doing and can offer them everthing they might want I will walk in there and give them a card or even go home and mock somthing up and the next day take it in and ask if they want a site?

just wanted to give you a thmbs up as I recognised alot of what you said in my own thoughts.

 

I just wish I could learn it all quicker!!!!!

@TBreak - I have to say that you have given some excellent advice there! I'm only a biginner myself but even now I walk down a high street and think hey thats a cool shop I love the stuff they sell and what they do I wonder if they have a website? and then I think when I know what I'm doing and can offer them everthing they might want I will walk in there and give them a card or even go home and mock somthing up and the next day take it in and ask if they want a site?

just wanted to give you a thmbs up as I recognised alot of what you said in my own thoughts.

 

I just wish I could learn it all quicker!!!!!

 

Thanks Tobo,

 

I am glad you found it useful, I dont think it ever harms to put yourself forward, it also tells potential clients that you are willing to put yourself out a bit.

 

good for you, go for it.

ErisDS is sooooooo right. I started about 1.5 years ago with HTML/CSS, worked through PHP and cried through JS - and now I've left art/design behind and develop full time. I think small scale freelancers will struggle as the web gets more sophisticated, although they could leverage JS/PHP frameworks to some degree. It's going the same way as game development back in the 80's, you need division of labour to get best results.

Doing things other that web design can only consume a little of your time if you want quick money. There are lots of sites that offers jobs to new providers. You can have your first income in no time.