Obviously there are a lot of bad web sites out there.
That was part of my initial motivation for considering a career in web design/development. It looks like an untapped market.

But then again, finding and convincing a potential client to pay real money to build a site is easier said than done. A lot of customers have unrealistic expectations about what they think they should have to pay.

Also there are a lot of kids coming out of school every day who are digital natives and the market seems to be increasingly cut throat.

Would you advise anyone to consider a career as a freelance web designer/developer? Seems like a hard way to get rich.

Or would you encourage a person to consider a line of (online) business and devote ones energy and skill to building that up?

Hello,

Interesting thread. Let me put it this way - freelance is not for everyone! I've been doing freelance web design for 3+ years and I feel I'm only at the tip of the iceberg (so to speak). Every day you have to go out there (person or online) and sell yourself if you want to make a go at it.

I think you have to be an extremely self-motivated individual in order to have any career in web design world. Communication is a must! Being able to explain your services and what they are not only in person but online can be challenge and nerve racking. Remember, most of the clients you’re dealing with have no idea about HTML, XHTML, CSS, PHP, what layers are in Photoshop or JavaScript banner rotations. The most important thing for any freelance web designer I feel is your name. Networking through word of mouth is a powerful tool. Think about how many times you purchased a product, rented a movie or tried a new restaurant because a friend or family member told you about it. The same holds true for a freelance web designer. Treat every customer as though you can't lose the sale, go that extra mile to make them happy. It's the little things after all that make the lasting impression.

I'm not in freelance web design to get rich. I make a comfortable living doing what I love to do. I would suggest freelance web design to an individual but, I would make sure they know what they are getting into. It's not like a job where you have a study paycheck / income. You could go days or weeks without a client but, you hold your head eye and know that you will come out of it.

Hi, looking for works, kingly give me some real hints where to find real money.

At the end of a rainbow!

I think a web designer is like artist.. some times you make it big, but the chances of that happening are slim and in the mean time you will be working very hard for what your getting paid.

If you are in it for the money... then walk away! Not only will you probably never make it big, but you will also bring the industry down a notch.

However, if you have a passion for web design, graphics, coding, or anything along those lines, then it is worth it. You may one day make a comfortable living, but chances are you will never be making a 6 figure income.. esp as a freelancer.

There is a lot of competition and these days you have to add the **** hindu/overseas (no offense to anyone) outsourcing companies that only charge $15 a site to the list of competitors. I wouldn't say it is an "Untapped" market, but there is still room to squeeze in.

I would suggest working locally as much as possible. Build up a good portfolio and reputation and go the extra mile to please your clients, and you should have a head start on some of these companies who ARE in it for the money.

When it comes to providing products (applications) over services (design/coding), that would have to be a personal choice.

As a product provider, you will have more of a risk since you don't get paid until your product sells. But there are some benefits such as some more free time one your product makes it, the ability to make money with little work (after the initial development), and the ability to have several products that are each making money (if they are selling) while you sleep.

If you provide services, you will be working harder and will really have to sell your self every day... you will have to schedule time for free time, you may go days, weeks, or months without making any income. However, I think it is much quicker to get started, much easier to build a reputation, and much better for people like me who need a variety.

Both have their advantages and disadvantages. I try to do a little bit of both. I have a few applications I am building to sell as products and I provide design and development services on a day to day basis.

I had a good article about that, but I can't seem to find it. If I come across it, I will post the link.

Hope that helps...


Sam

yes you can. i do that. i earn good by doing freelance work floated by different sites on the net. i make a decent living out of it. if you want i can give you a list of freelance sites where you can work and earn

The trick really is references... references... references...

At the start you'll need to make some sample sites to show what you can do and what you've done. I try to explain to web developers you should get a niche for proper on-page optimization... most people looking for websites want SEO in mind and you could probably add to your price because of it.

If you don't want to deal with customers that don't know squat about what it takes to construct a website, you can do what I do, and mostly contract only to website design and development firms, as a third party contractor. It helps to be very specialized, but also well-rounded, if this is what you do (I am a developer not a designer, and specialize in the client-side, though I handle other programming tasks as well).

For me, being a contractor to firms that already have more than enough customers is nice, because it takes some of the burden of project-management off of my shoulders, while still giving me some of the freedom of setting my own schedule. I get these gigs by advertising my skills using technical language, then building relationships based on trust.

Although I compete in a global market, I find I am able to earn a reasonable rate, because I have a competitive skillset, and speak good English. I have never felt threatened just because the average hourly paid to people in some parts of the world is less than $10 per hour.

On the website that acts as my agent (Odesk), there are many developers from the Ukraine and the Philippians that make quite a decent living, because although their countries are still developing economically, they are worth their salt and quickly learn that their clients can afford to pay them higher rates. Those two countries especially are growing tremendously in the technology market.

That said, because there is a global market, it is sometimes helpful when you are starting out on something like Odesk or Elance, to advertise yourself at less than normal rates in order to get started. You will find that in the end, if you are good at what you do, you will absolutely be able to make it.