The Internet is positively on fire and brimming with ample opportunity for anyone looking to go into business for themselves and end the 9 to 5 grind. Over a billion people are surfing the Information Superhighway now with the rest of the world lining up to enter the expressway. With millions of pages of web content added every single day and more and more businesses opting to establish a web presence, the opportunities abound for those with computer savvy and some graphic design experience to make serious money by opening their own web designer business.
Essential Equipment
A killer PC is definitely on the list of essential equipment as is some top-shelf web design software that someone can get for $300-500. Now you could try to enter into the business with lesser software and a mediocre computer, but there are a couple of problems with this approach. First, with the computer, web design tends to use up a lot of memory and RAM (RAM is just like short-term memory in humans; basically, it is the memory the computer users to handle all of the programs you are currently running; the more RAM you have, the quicker you can run advanced programs) so you don’t want to be bogged down by a slow computer as this will just cost you money in the long run. Buying better software means you can offer clients better options when designing their website so you will be more versatile when it comes to what services you can provide.
Skills and Experience
Clearly, if you have never created a web page before, then don’t consider owning your own web design business. You need to be familiar with HTML code (used to write the web pages), how the Internet runs in general, and a background in computer programming or graphic design is a definite advantage.
Charges and Earnings
Website designers make very good money although their rates depend upon their reputation and ability to make professional presentations to clients. It is entirely possible to net $40,000 or more in your first full year of operation but you must be sure that your bids reflect the true amount of time it will take you to design a site or else you can really lose profits. You may have to underbid on the first few projects, but then you can inch your rates up to better reflect both your skills and professionalism. It is quite feasible to command $25/hr. right out of the gates but again, you may have to go under this figure for the first few clients. Just be sure that you stipulate in your bid that you can use the client’s site as a sample in your portfolio in exchange for discounting their rate.
Marketing
As your target audience is made up entirely of people operating websites, then you will naturally want to create a KILLER website of your own as a way of showcasing your talents. Also, you will want to generate plenty of great content to boost search engine rankings so you may need to hire a writer to help you here if this is not your cup of tea. Whatever you do, please do not create a site that is not truly superb. Now this does not mean going nuts, but it should be very professional looking and easy to navigate. Get your own website right, and you will have other website owners beating down your door to revamp theirs! The sky is the limit in the web designer business so don’t hesitate to start yours today if you have what it takes!
