[maxlinks]

I know this is a tricky question but I am very serious. I will not start a new business if I can not make a decent living, for example at least $50,000 to 70,000 US a year.

Lets assume the following.

1. I know how to start a business and can do all necessary research.
2. I am only one person but may outsource what ever work deemed necessary.
3. I know web design, reverse engineer other peoples websites, etc..
4. Not afraid top meet clients.
5. Will add SMs and additional services etc.
6. I expect to sell (after 6-8 months of getting started) 2 0r 3 mobile websites a week + other services.
7. May add Iphone simple apps for more money.
8. Definitely will be interested in helping customers get more clients.

blah blah blah,

I guess what Im trying to get at is I dont want to just work like a rat just to survive, I want to make money. Example - No Fiver type work, all custom and quality.

This is a great forum, tons of good advice, but after hours and hours of reading posts I dont have a sense of what already successful mobile web designers are making a decent living or not ?

Bought WillR Mobile WSO for emailing, will give that a try,

actually before even doing anything I will first market my services and if there is an interest I will pursue it.

[lilc800]

You know I think it is possible, Because I am sure a long time ago when people first thought of selling ebooks someone might have said "I don't think that will make you money" Now look at it, people have made millions.

You said you live in los angles, So I can only guess how big the market is there and you could get some pretty big clients also.

I think if you do everything right and professional then you could make a decent living from it (It might take awhile and you should build a your name and company.)

Good luck!
Christian

[Steve Solem]

Well, working backwards from your goal of say $50k - if you plan to get $500 for a mobile website that means you need to do roughly two websites a week to achieve that goal.

If you're not shy about meeting and speaking with clients, I'd probably suggest you focus on your sales efforts first and if you can, outsource the design work for the actual websites. There are some excellent WSOs with great mobile templates you can buy to get you going and I think you could easily scale this up once you're comfortable and have your whole sales/design process figured out.

Do that while charging a few bucks a month for hosting and pretty soon you'll have a nice residual income stream coming in too!

Cheers,

Steve

[dantehicks]

Steve put it best. And judging by the questions you asked and the way you phrased things, you seem like you already have a leg up on most people just getting started in this business. But I echo Steve's sentiments - get out there and put on your business development hat. When it comes to fulfilling what you've sold, don't reinvent the wheel - like you said, there's some WSO's out there to help in the development process. Also check ThemeForest for some nice mobile templates. When you become too busy to do it all, check out CraigsList or some local art schools/community colleges and find an intern who wants to get experience in the mobile industry - and have them help produce the sites for you. Good luck - this is a fun time to be in this!

[xlfutur1]

You probably could do it if you worked at it enough, but you might want to consider throwing in some SMS type of marketing system as a value added service so that when someone visits their mobile site they can start to capture mobile numbers to market to going forward. Just like you would add an aweber form to capture emails on a regular site, mobile sites are perfect for capturing phone numbers. You could then present the biz owner a "package" deal and the mobile site would actually have a purpose to capture leads.

[WillR]

In any offline business you should never just be a one trick pony. So I wouldn't look at just starting a mobile website business. Sure, that's a great way to get started but there is a much bigger picture than that. Repeat clients are where the real money is made. Mobile websites are a great way to get those initial clients because you are offering a service that is different to all the other stuff (SEO, Google Places) etc that offline marketers have been peddling for years.

If you have the determination then by all means you can make a decent living by selling just mobile websites. But don't feel you need to limit yourself to just that. If you do then you end up with a business that makes no money unless you are out on the streets getting new clients constantly. A much better way to work is to have s smaller number of repeat clients whom you work with on a long term basis.

[freeburd]

I'd say - hold your horses. At least until you doubt yourself. Who can give you the answer? NOBODY. You need to believe in yourself. If there is something that keeps you from making the final decision - sit on it. If you push yourself into this without being truly and sincerely persuaded that you can do it - you might end up with a bloody nose.

People do not know your skills and your personality. What is better - give up or make a mature decision and rather die than give up? If you ask me, I would rather die than give up. Once I said 'yes', there is no way back.

How about you?

[Kevin Z]

@Bstenz is correct, its a good idea to bundle multiple mobile marketing services together however Mobile Websites is a great way to get your foot in the door. The key is to focus your time on selling and not getting bogged down in site building if you want to hit your targets as a one man army.

Hope this helps and best of luck!!

[WillR]

Originally Posted by Kevin Z

The key is to focus your time on selling and not getting bogged down in site building if you want to hit your targets as a one man army.

Actually, the REAL key is to focus your time on helping your customers get more business and make more money. Your focus should NEVER be on selling stuff -- that's when you come across as a slimy snake oil salesmen no different to the rest of the other offline marketers out there.

Whether it be using mobile websites, apps, facebook pages, SEO, the need of every business is going to be different. They don't care about any of that stuff. All they care about is making more sales and more money. Work with businesses. Ask them questions. Get to know and understand the things that are causing them pain.

This builds instant credibility and long-lasting loyalty.

[maxlinks]

I concur WillR, solve their problem without giving them headaches.

Lastly, many times I worry that I getting into a very customer service orient business,

not sure if its an unjustified worry ? meaning, that customers can nit pick everything ?

[WillR]

Originally Posted by maxlinks

I concur WillR, solve their problem without giving them headaches.

Lastly, many times I worry that I getting into a very customer service orient business,

not sure if its an unjustified worry ? meaning, that customers can nit pick everything ?

Any business that deals with customers has the opportunity of turning into a customer service nightmare. It's how you go about things that determines how much of a nightmare your customers will be.

First of all make things simple and easy to understand. Don't offer too many options just for the sake of it as these will greatly increase the amount of support you get. Also don't let your customers have control over big CMS systems and the like as the more options you give them the more questions they will have. If you want to allow your customers control over their website then make sure you give them control ONLY over those small things they need control over.

Also don't be afraid to turn away customers. This is a BIG one. From my own experience it's always those customers who ask you 1001 questions before purchasing who are also the biggest pains in the backside after purchase. If you have to work hard to convince someone to buy your product or service then generally speaking, they are not the type of customer you want. Don't be afraid to walk away. It will save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run.

[lint631]

Originally Posted by WillR

Also don't be afraid to turn away customers. This is a BIG one. From my own experience it's always those customers who ask you 1001 questions before purchasing who are also the biggest pains in the backside after purchase. If you have to work hard to convince someone to buy your product or service then generally speaking, they are not the type of customer you want. Don't be afraid to walk away. It will save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run.

Couldn't agree more with that point! I have a client from hell that I just had to cut loose. Too much trouble, not worth the money. Plus the ones that are a pain usually don't want to spend $.

I'm starting to pair mobile sites with Google Places and am having some success. If you can sell, outsource the creation of the websites. The more you fuss around with creating the website the less time you're selling. (Now I just have to tell myself that advice!)

[WillR]

Originally Posted by lint631

Couldn't agree more with that point! I have a client from hell that I just had to cut loose. Too much trouble, not worth the money. Plus the ones that are a pain usually don't want to spend $.

So true, it's funny how that works.

You can spend days trying to convince one person of a simple service then you come across a client who wants everything, they don't care how it happens or what's involved, here's the money, make it happen for me. They are your dream customers.