How to start my web designing career.

12 years ago

Originally Posted by vickss

Hi warriors, i have studied html 4, 5, css3, adobe photoshop cs5. i have already done some websites. now i want to start offering web design services. Can you please help me out. i mean how can i get clients?

Start working with some local clients. you also might want to join a few web dev forums as well.

Thanks

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chansgrose

12 years ago

Cold Calling, direct mailing, posting ads on craigslist etc...

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webpeon

12 years ago

so im guessing you dont want to work for an agency, take a look at the options freelancing offers, start bidding on some projects, id suggest while youre starting off if you come across any projects you can build in a day offer to do it for $1 and a review, wack these reviews on a webpage and advertise the link in your signature

Thanks

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kldpshrm85

Banned 12 years ago

[DELETED]

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guy99 12 years ago

Just post your services in BST section on different forums by searching in google ...
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- 1 reply
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- jadesource 12 years ago
  
  One method I tried was to offer free simple websites for local merchants whom I knew and wanted to help in my hometown. Offer to do a free but uncomplicated site for a local business group just to help them.
  
  I did a site for a local small business group and I did it just because I wanted to help them. The word of mouth and gratitude was wonderful. Plus you feel good about it.
  
  Lots of local people might have a nice coffee shop, or a little store on main street. They often have no idea how to do a website even one that shows where they are, or what they do.
  
  Or try family friends. Remember, when you are just starting out you need to build a portfolio of work to point to.
  
  The most important thing is to start.
  It's a great world to offer your services online, but don't forget to look right around you.
  
  Hope this helps
  Mark
  
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shami

12 years ago

i would recommend you to start targeting offline businesses.
there are number of offline business you could find in your area such as doctors, dentist,accountants, restaurants etc list goes on.
and once you start getting offline clients you can automatically start getting referral business from them as well and use craigslist to advertise your services in your local area and i can assure you that you are bound to get clients by using these techniques if you want a guide on craigslist let me know i will send it to you which will show you all the right reasons to advertise and brand yourself on craigslist and get unlimited number of clients.
let me know if you need more help
thanks
Shami

Originally Posted by vickss

Hi warriors, i have studied html 4, 5, css3, adobe photoshop cs5. i have already done some websites. now i want to start offering web design services. Can you please help me out. i mean how can i get clients?

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

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vickss

12 years ago

Great idea, kindly send.

Originally Posted by shami

i would recommend you to start targeting offline businesses.
there are number of offline business you could find in your area such as doctors, dentist,accountants, restaurants etc list goes on.
and once you start getting offline clients you can automatically start getting referral business from them as well and use craigslist to advertise your services in your local area and i can assure you that you are bound to get clients by using these techniques if you want a guide on craigslist let me know i will send it to you which will show you all the right reasons to advertise and brand yourself on craigslist and get unlimited number of clients.
let me know if you need more help
thanks
Shami

Thanks
1 reply

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shami 12 years ago

i have pm you the ebook
if you need further help let me know

Originally Posted by vickss

Great idea, kindly send.
- Thanks
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whitestonesolicitorsuk

12 years ago

Hey Vickss,

Do you have a website? If not then create one and market that on different market place. However, forums and especially this forum is although one of the best place to bag clients. You can check the Warriors To Hire forum section to bag clients. Also there are other forums too on the net related to designing and SEO which you can use for similar purpose. But first you need to contribute yourself tro a good level so that you could be considerable for hiring.
Apart from that SEO is one of the process that will help you, since your site is new first thing you need is visitors and that too targeted so that most could turnout to be client. Do article and blog submissions focusing on designing related issues and explaining each different areas of it. Blog commenting also you can use by commenting on niche blogs daily.

Thanks

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KairosDesign

12 years ago

1. Build a nice portfolio website.

2. Offer cheap website design services to your local business-owners.

3. Make sure you put your credential links on their websites that you designed.

4. Join a Freelancer Marketplace website like eLance or Guru.

5. Work hard, play hard, and always be professional.

6. Be honest and true to your word.

7. Make a written Agreement Terms of Service between you and the client.

8. Avoid making excuses.

9. If you can't do the project -- be honest about it and offer alternatives.

10. Offer refund policies.

Thanks
1 reply

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TheyCallMeBE

12 years ago

Originally Posted by abrahadm

1. Build a nice portfolio website.

2. Offer cheap website design services to your local business-owners.

3. Make sure you put your credential links on their websites that you designed.

4. Join a Freelancer Marketplace website like eLance or Guru.

5. Work hard, play hard, and always be professional.

6. Be honest and true to your word.

7. Make a written Agreement Terms of Service between you and the client.

8. Avoid making excuses.

9. If you can't do the project -- be honest about it and offer alternatives.

10. Offer refund policies.

Good advice. I would suggest that in addition to this you join local networking groups. Networking groups are full of business owners that are always in need of either a website or enhancing the website they already have. If you learn SEO, you can build a great business model and made real good money.

Once you get a few clients, offer incentives to them to refer you to new customers. Offer something like "Refer a client and get 10% of the contract".
It's nothing like having other people market for you.

Thanks

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Mellin

12 years ago

You might be able to start off with a few simple websites for friends and family, but legit companies wouldn't be interested with you - you need education and/or a portfolio. Note - web designer also only does the layout of the site - a web developer does the implementation. They're two different things.

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shantanu

12 years ago

Try to learn from verybasic but itis good that in ur career HTML 5 is the basic u should start from there coz it removes or overcomes the features of AJAX technology.

Thanks

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Jake Draper

12 years ago

I had most of my sites built by hire through freelancer dot com. I've also used a lot of fiverr gigs for small website fix problems. Anyways I've been searching for a website designer on here. let us know in this thread if you create a wso here and offer a couple low introductory reviews, I'll be your 1st client.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

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vickss

12 years ago

i want to work for you please pm me or email me at vinitcnb@gmail.com.
thanks

Originally Posted by Jake Draper

I had most of my sites built by hire through freelancer dot com. I've also used a lot of fiverr gigs for small website fix problems. Anyways I've been searching for a website designer on here. let us know in this thread if you create a wso here and offer a couple low introductory reviews, I'll be your 1st client.

Thanks

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AfterTenDesign

12 years ago

Hi There
I haven't read the other responses, so my advice may repeat others. Some of these may seem obvious, but I never assume, so here goes.

have your own website with a clean portfolio, this is a MUST.
get quotes from previous clients about how they liked your work
start small. don't take on a major CMS project, start with clean html sites, offer them at a discount
as you surf the web, I'm sure you have seen sites that could seriously use a redesign. contact them, be nice and ask if they are considering an update/upgrade and if so you would like to offer a quote
take out an ad locally or focus on a particular niche..like pizza place family owned restaurants, campgrounds,etc. Make up a mailer and send it out to local businesses. Some Chambers of Commerce have lists or simple use your phone book. Postcards are cheap.
do not quit your day job if you have one. establish a reputation and a solid portfolio of work before leaving the real world. When I went full time, I had worked a full time real job and designed part time, then left the real world.
make sure what you offer is relevant to today, offer things like facebook page design as an add on to website design, come up with handy packages instead of charging for every little doo dad.
do you have something YOU are interested in, a sport, a hobby,etc. start there.
if you have the money, help support a local event/team/organization. Offer a popular local non-profit free or super reduced rate in exchange for linking back to you or mention in their newsletter for 6months,etc. Consider the local animal shelter

freelance opps

elance.com: it is free to set up and you get free bids. It can be difficult to break into, but if you have a good portfolio and are willing to be on the low side of rates, you can get in there. Elance has the best system for freelance work in my opinion. I've been there for 11yrs.
guru.com: same as above, decent freelance system. rates can be ridiculously low (5.00 for website!) ignore those.
odesk.com: same as above, BUT very little protection for providers as far as payment. pick buyers with good reputations
offer discounted services here on WF

I hope some of that helps. I love helping newbies launch into the freelance world, it is a great career.
LB

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100bucksaday

12 years ago

You can do a good start by cold calling and post ads on different
forum's "hire for job" section and you have also offer as for freelancing.

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mapetshi

12 years ago

good advice here.

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lotusvery

12 years ago

Know more persons and someone may need you.

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nightshade877

Banned 12 years ago

If designing wordpress type sites, themeforest.com is always accepting new designers. It is basically a place to post your sites that you have made on their site, and they get a very small percentage of your sales. Themeforest has great exposure to many thousands of people, so sharing some of the revenue you get from buyers isnt anything in exchange for the thousands you'll receive as a result of having your site listed there. That is one wy you could jump start you (freelancing at least) career.

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Jake Draper

12 years ago

I don't have pm. my email is on my profile. we'll go from there.

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How to start my web designing career.

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