Hi there!

 

I am a web designer than has only been doing sites for a few people I know, and now I want to go full time, and really make a success of it!

 

I have developed a pretty good knowledge now, and want to know how to get clients, to begin with.

 

My website hasn't got me much work, only getting 5-6 page views per day.

 

How can I get recognised, and how did you start up?

 

Cheers!

Anyone?

Going full time is a pretty big leap and very risky. If you're not really making anything from it now, I'd suggest you're not ready. Once you're pulling in at least £600/700 per site, and completing a site each month, that's a good time to make the leap because you've already got income.

 

If you do it now, it could flop badly and you don't make any money and suddenly you're without a job and up poo creek without a paddle.

 

I would suggest the logical step to take is to work part time in a job that guarantees you money whilst working part time on this, building up your client base slowly, and starting to earn more money from it.

 

Once you're earning decent money, you can ditch the part time job and go full time. But I don't think you should do it before then because it'd just be a massive risk that could go badly wrong.

 

This is essentially what I did, the only difference is I ended up in a full time job with a salary, rather than setting myself up.

 

I also think you need to think up a business strategy. Don't just wander off into the woods clueless, have a clear plan in your head and on paper of how you're going to run things. Concentrate on a particular area and do it well.

 

A huge number of people try to turn their web design hobby into a business and most fail. They fail because they chose the wrong moment. They tried to make themselves a business when they still weren't good enough, or when they weren't already earning some good money from it.

 

Whether you succeed or fail depends on choosing the perfect moment to make this leap - just don't rush it, do it when you are fully ready and not a moment before, and then you should be fine.

 

All of the above is of course....my opinion.

Hi there!

 

I am a web designer than has only been doing sites for a few people I know, and now I want to go full time, and really make a success of it!

 

I have developed a pretty good knowledge now, and want to know how to get clients, to begin with.

 

My website hasn't got me much work, only getting 5-6 page views per day.

 

How can I get recognised, and how did you start up?

 

Cheers!

 

Well before I add some info, sorry bout negative intro here but first thing that pops up is you wondering why your own website doesn't get you any work, I would suggest you understand SEO and marketing then. Work doesn't come to you unless you are already extablished with a good reputation.

 

In terms of start up, although it's paperwork / admin to do so, getting set up as a limited company will allow you to put yourself forward with Businesslink as an approved supplier, which means you can bid for any new company looking for a website that is funded by BL.

 

You need to go out and look for work, get your jobs noticed and ask fo referrals. Maybe speak to a local charity for example and offer to set up or redesign a website for them for free as a way of boosting your portfolio, just get expenses covered if needs be.

 

Find out what your USP is - what can you offer different or better than others, find out who your competitors are, check their websites out, see who they have worked for etc etc.

 

Work out a pricing plan, look at contracts people use so you don't get burned later with non payers.

 

It's a long hard slog and won't be easy, do the donkey work first then you can start concentrating on what you do best - design.

 

But - I would say it can be very rewarding and hope it works out for you!

Well, I have a overall general knowledge, and want to do web design with the spare time that I have!

 

Like I said above, I've done a few, and want to make more of a go at it.

 

How can I get recognised, get some more work I between work...

 

Cheers.

Do something different from everybody else.

 

Use your imagination.

My pricing is fairly cheap, on average around £300, which does make me unique in that respect.

 

Just made a new website for 2012, hopefully that will give me a better reputation.

My pricing is fairly cheap, on average around £300, which does make me unique in that respect.

 

Well... that's one way to look at it I suppose.

 

£300 a site would mean you'd probably need to do 3 or 4 a month to give you a resemblence of a living in this environment.

 

If you work out how long it takes you to design, build and test a £300 site and what is involved in terms of features, amount of pages etc, that will give you an hourly rate - then you may have your answer if it's a starter for a new F/T business.

 

I work FT but do the webstuff 'outside' of work so can afford to charge similar if I see fit, mind a client may expect you to knock the site within a week at that rate.

Edited April 19, 201214 yr by DaveyL

£300 a site doesn't make you unique. It just makes you cheap. There are hundreds of cheap web designers out there so you're not setting yourself apart at all.

 

£300 sites won't make you much in the long run either, they're not really a long term solution.

£300 a site doesn't make you unique. It just makes you cheap. There are hundreds of cheap web designers out there so you're not setting yourself apart at all.

 

£300 sites won't make you much in the long run either, they're not really a long term solution.

 

This.

 

We find a lot (not all) of clients that come our way would rather pay more because there's usually a reason for someone charging a paltry £300 per site!

 

Don't get me wrong there's a market for cheap sites, usually sole traders and the like, but you won't make a living doing a couple of those a month.

Thanks rallport, although it is truthful, im glad you said it. My work is average, and really doesnt reflect me!

 

im going to make some websites for local charities etc, and hopefully build up a bigger and better portfolio.

 

Regards to pricing, im going to hang on a bit and really focus on improving, and them come back to offer more quality web services.

 

Thanks!

Edited April 22, 201214 yr by RJG Designing

Word of mouth is the best way to start. When I started web development over 18 years ago, I started by getting work from my family members. From there, they would spread the word to their friends about getting a website, and I would bring in more work. Through initially dealing with family to build my portfolio, then their friends, and so on, I was able to as well build my confidence. I would post notices are universities about my skills, send flyers out to companies, and even go so far as to call business offering them promotions on a business website.

 

With time, what works for you will stick, and you continue with that path.

 

I was a contractor for over 17 years. And the great thing about it is that you can be anywhere in the world and still do your work.