Hi,

 

I'm considering becoming a freelance web designer or developer (I'm sure some of you will be cringing already ). However, I'm unsure about how either goal is best achieved.

 

I've read numerous blog posts and articles on the topic but frankly they all seem to say different things. Some stress the importance of learning the basics like HTML, CSS, Java and PHP while others suggest developing more specialist expertise in programs like Word Press. Where is the best place to start?

 

Also, should I enroll in a course? I live in North London.

 

My academic background is unrelated (so please forgive any ignorance on display!) - History and then Law. Unfortunately, I became ill after law school which is why I'm looking at alternative freelance careers.

 

I'd be grateful for any advice anyone can give!

First, figure out whether design or development appeals to you more.

Frankly, development interests me more. I'm not sure I'm sufficiently creative to work in web design in such a competitive marketplace.

Then I'd advise starting with front-end development (HTML, CSS and Javascript), then once you're comfortable with that, pick up a backend programming language like PHP, Ruby or Python.

 

Most academic courses are way out of date in terms of technical detail as the Web and its standards are evolving much faster than a syllabus can be produced. Happily there are plenty of resources on the Web where you can learn HTML and CSS - start somewhere like HTML Dog to get a good solid grounding in XHTML and CSS2, which makes it much easier to learn HTML5 and CSS3 (Treehouse is a good place to find pro-quality tutorials). Avoid W3 Schools, despite the deliberately-misleading name they're not in any way associated with the W3C (the Web's standards body) and the quality of their information is notoriously bad.

Edited July 2, 201214 yr by Renaissance-Design

Renaissance Design,

 

Thanks a lot for your reply. Very much appreciated and that's a lot more helpful than so many of the slightly rambling articles I've read to date.

 

I'm really impressed by HTML Dog and Treehouse and will probably ditch the notion of attending formal classes in light of what you say.

 

More generally, would you say it's possible to become competent in front end development in c. 4-5 months and build a business around that thereafter?

 

If so, what can a freelance web developer based in London expect to earn early on (year 1,2 and year 5) in his career? I'm almost certain this probably depends on crucial variables like how good they are at web development and what their client management skills are like. In spite of this, there must be some ball park figure...Sorry to discuss money - it's just that it's quite an important consideration when attempting to assess how viable a career option might be.

 

I appreciate I'm probably testing the patience of strangers here but I am very interested in anything you have to say!

 

BW,

 

Novice 29

We're here to help. What you can charge will depend on the quality of your work, more than anything else. £25-30 per hour is a fairly standard rate, not sure how London affects it (I'm out in the sticks where the living's cheap and the air's clean).

 

Where you'll probably struggle jumping straight into freelance work (like I did) is the business aspects - I wish I'd had the chance to work at a couple of agencies before going freelance, I'd have been able to absorb their process and learn a little more about the way a successful agency manages projects.

Thanks again Renaissance.

 

Right - £25-30 is a reasonably healthy income stream if you can get a constant stream of work. 22 hours a week would equate to roughly 32k a year suggesting it's viable. Presumably, the better you become the more opportunities there are to expand/specialise in higher value work. I assume lots of web developers are moving into mobile at the moment because it appears (from the outside) to be slightly higher up the value chain?

 

I only mentioned London because someone on another site mentioned it could affect the rate I could command.

 

I appreciate I'd be missing out on a lot by not starting off at an agency. My issue is that I've got an illness that makes working in an office environment difficult. I'm fully capable of working but I really need the flexibility of being self-employed.

 

When you start out, how do you initially develop business? Presumably, the first step is to set up a website of your own. Then, I assume I should go to sites like elance and odesk to try and bid for work? Is this right? Sorry if I'm being completely clueless!

 

BW

 

Novice

Places like elance and odesk are overrun with bottom-feeders, I'm afraid - you'll be bidding against people charging $15 an hour for jobs posted by people who don't realise that you get what you pay for. The best place to get work, especially as a developer, is to get known at a few agencies and pick up work that's either too specialized for them or general overspill. Some agencies only do design inhouse and outsource all of their development.

Thanks Renaissance.

 

OK. Getting known at a few agencies seems like something you do once you've been working for a while though?

 

Presumably being a bottom feeder is where you get to practice, no?

 

Calling an agency after 4 months of learning HTML, CSS, Javascript and Python and offering my services strikes me as bold but then again nothing ventured, nothing gained I suppose...

 

Is it realistic to think I could learn the basics in 4 months and pick up some work within 6 months?

Novice29, I would say its not realisitic. Backend developement is coding and you dont mention any previous experience in this area. Imo, if you get your head down and work religisouly(sp) at it for 12 months, then you may be able to start doing regular paid work.

 

Dont get me wrong, nothing is impossible, but it will be a hard long slog.

 

I would first just see if its for you by working on a personal/dummy site first.

 

Best of luck either way!

It's no worse than looking for a job straight out of Uni - but in the absence of formal qualifications, a portfolio's what sells you. Building that up is the hardest part, especially for a dev who doesn't design; it means most of your work will be subcontracted under NDA.

It's no worse than looking for a job straight out of Uni - but in the absence of formal qualifications, a portfolio's what sells you. Building that up is the hardest part, especially for a dev who doesn't design; it means most of your work will be subcontracted under NDA.

But if you did web development at Uni, you would have a a structured understanding of web dev principles etc., and you would probably also know some degree of coding I would imagine.

 

There is a common saying when you work for yourself, and basically it says to be self suffient you not only must excel at your natural talent (design, coding, writing, whatever it is, you must also be good at promoting, marketing, book keeping etc. Working freelance for yourself as a new starter, is solid hard work, and graft. Its no good just having the passion, you need to be multi-skilled.

 

Say you did decide to go ahead and do it, you also need to know design principles, so you know what you are looking for when you outsource the frontend dev etc.

 

I'm not trying to put you off OP, I am just trying to point out its not easy and because the web is constantly changing and evolving, the learning really never does stop.

jamesosix - Thanks for the two posts. I appreciate the realism. If a plan's not feasible, I'd much rather have someone tell me than plod towards some un-achievable goal and waste a year in the process. Plus, generally speaking it's quite disheartening if you repeatedly don't meet your targets.

 

Happy to work hard. I studied law part-time while working full-time so I don't have a problem with long days. Very cognisant of the fact it's going to be a long hard slog. Lots to learn but things of value don't come easy...

 

I'll definitely try a dummy once I've got the hang of HTML etc.

 

Are there any books you'd recommend on the soft skills that relate to going freelance?

 

renaissance - how do you build a portfolio that future clients can view if your work is the subject of NDA's?

Are there any books you'd recommend on the soft skills that relate to going freelance?

 

renaissance - how do you build a portfolio that future clients can view if your work is the subject of NDA's?

 

Sitepoint do a few options relating to going freelance.

 

http://www.sitepoint.com/books/wdbk4/

 

http://www.sitepoint.com/books/freelancer1/

 

In terms of NDA's, here a few links

 

http://www.helloerik.com/portfoliosthe-problem-with-ndas-and-internal-projects - it's meant to be for designers but points 3 and 4 would be relevant to development. Especially 3, if you write about things you do and come across very knowledgeable, people will always be looking to hire you.

 

http://programmers.stackexchange.com/questions/77447/portfolio-and-nda - Didn't read through all this page but it's for programmers so may be able to help you out a bit.

renaissance - how do you build a portfolio that future clients can view if your work is the subject of NDA's?

 

I do take on some client projects, but my portfolio's a bit out of date because they're few and far between. Best option is to get in touch with some local charities and offer them some pro bono. Partner up with a designer who's looking to do the same if design isn't your thing. I'd advise against doing free work for businesses because if you work for a business for free, they tend not to value it and turn into nightmare clients - they know that they can fart around with as many revisions as they want without getting charged for it.

 

Oh, and on the book front, you'd be wanting Design is a Job by Mike Monteiro.

Edited July 4, 201214 yr by Renaissance-Design

Sorry not to have replied earlier! I was quite busy yesterday and so didn't really get the chance.

 

jo5hr

 

Thank you for the sitepoint an NDA links.

 

Renaissance

 

OK.

 

Getting in touch with a charity and doing some pro bono makes sense. My only question there is how do you get in touch with a/ web designer/s if you've never attended a web design course, never been to a conference and don't have any friends who do web design? I guess when I've trained myself up I could post a message on this forum and hopefully there will be willing participants in my venture?

 

Thanks for the advice re. charge out rates. I can see how that situation would develop. In those circumstances, the client is almost incentivised to be a nightmare...

 

Will order Monteiro's book in due course!