With all the big-name competition, how are web developers making money?

Well buying fake facebook likes is really not a good idea IMHO


but yes upselling the services is a way


Look for posts by some people who are actually doing well with selling websites


There are still many local biz that don't have a website or have a really bad one - often on wix or whatever. You can do searches and find horrible sites or biz with no site


You might want to start local - cold calling, walking in the door....also network network network


Sell the sizzle not the steak - small biz owners don't care about technical, they want to know "what's in it for me?"...more customers, clients, patients, sales whatever
IMHO avoid the overused "SEO" term and emphasize how your services will increase his bottom line

This is so true. A pretty website means nothing if no one sees it. The business owner, who does it themselves, will need to know how to build in on-site SEO. How to phrase calls to action. Where is the best place to put forms. How to write copy with keywords for ranking, etc., etc., etc.

There is so much more to it than just a website. Once you understand this, you will be able to sell web development services for thousands of dollars.

Here's a basic description of how a non web designer (me :-)) used to make an average £50k ($75k) per website. I don't do this any more because I found an easier way of earning loadsa money. :-)

Skills Needed:
1. Wordpress Install - If you're a web developer, one hopes you'd already know how to do this. Otherwise a 10 sec job on cpanel or hire someone from fiver.
2. Direct Response Copywriting. You don't need to be a Dan Kennedy or John Carlton, you just need to be better than the average small business owner - not hard! :-)
3. SEO - Usually only on page required for local ranking, however some targeted links can bring in extra traffic.
4. The ability to talk to small business owners. I'm very shy and find this hard, however I've been self employed for 35+ years, so it can't be too difficult, can it? :-)

Method:
1. Pick a business/niche to specialise, a higher Lifetime Customer Value (LCV) is preferred, but you can still make a good amount with almost any niche that's making money. It'll be easier to make your initial sale if you choose one that you already have a relationship with, i.e. already buy from, friend of, or you have a personal interest in.
2. Examine and profile the ideal customer. Normally there will be more than one, so choose one to focus on. e.g. Hairdressers might cut hair for teenagers, pensioners, men, women, those of indeterminate gender... :-) So choose one to focus on.
3. Build your website as client focused, problem/solution. Most small business sites are product focused. By focusing on customer problems, you'll get far more attention. Your Direct Response copywriting knowledge is required here.
4. Optionally build in email marketing with autoresponder messages. This can be added later, but if you do this in advance, then your also giving the business owner a list of hot prospects. You might also make some sideline money with relevant affiliate or JV offers.
5. In the sales pitch, take the client through current cost of acquisition and LCV. You're setting them up to show the value. Then you ask the question "How much is a steady stream of x customers worth to you?". Show them your stats/analytics to prove x. The customer will pretty much sell themselves. If still resistant, offer a 30 day free trial. When we've trialled a website, no one has ever handed it back! :-)

Sites can be sold outright or "rented". We've found that most business people will recognise that a large one off payment that continues to work for them, is better than continuous advertising fees. So it's often easier to sell the site outright than rent it. You can always upsell support and other services.

Once you've done this once, build another in same niche but different town/city. Or choose another niche, though you'll have to re-do the ideal customer research.

The average local business gets maybe half a dozen enquires via his website per month. You give him a site that increases those enquiries by ten fold he's going to want that site even if he already has one. Many business owners mortgage their home for 25-30 years to open their business, so a 100% return within, say, one year is very attractive. You just need to show this.

Can I guarantee you'll make an average £50,000 per site? Absolutely not! I've explained how to do this to maybe a dozen web designers and most are still selling at £250. Ultimately it will depend on you and your willingness to actually go out there and ask for the money. Most people won't because they're too scared. You'll have to get over this if you want to make more money and have anything but a job disguised as a business.