You might not think of web design as something that can be done on the side, but it’s actually one of the fastest-growing fields in freelancing. There are plenty of reasons to freelance on the side: if you’re just starting out, it helps to have a few basic skills; if you want to get paid quickly and easily, an open marketplace could be a good option; if you want to work with businesses and prove your expertise, there are many ways that you can prove that capability; don’t dismiss the value of experience; don’t dismiss working with clients in many different ways; remember maintenance and support—these things matter too!
There are plenty of reasons to freelance on the side.
There are plenty of reasons to freelance on the side.
You can choose your own hours, work wherever you want and make more money than you would at a regular job. And if that’s not enough, there are also tons of great opportunities out there for web design specialists who enjoy working by themselves or with their teams in remote areas.
If you’re just starting out, it helps to have a few basic skills.
If you’re just starting out, it helps to have a few basic skills.
- You should know how to use a computer: the Internet is full of tutorials and videos that can teach you all the basics of using your device.
- You should be familiar with Microsoft Word: this program is probably used by most people who create websites, so it’s important that you understand how to navigate through its interface. If not, there are plenty of YouTube videos on learning this software!
- Know how Google Docs works: if someone asks me what they could do in order to make money online at their job during their lunch break (or even after work), my answer would always include “use Google Docs!” It’s one of those programs where anyone could get started making money immediately after signing up—and if they don’t already know about its existence before then? Lucky for us!
If you want to get paid quickly, the open marketplace can be a good option.
If you want to get paid quickly, the open marketplace can be a good option. You can work on a project and get paid quickly. You need to have a portfolio of completed work to show potential clients, but once they see it, they’ll be fine with working with you!
If you want to work with businesses, you’ll need to prove your expertise.
If you want to work with businesses, you’ll need to prove your expertise. You can do this by building a portfolio of your previous work and having a website that showcases your skills. The best way to demonstrate this is through an online presence—you should have a blog and social media accounts where people can see what kind of projects you’ve completed in the past. This will give potential clients reassurance that they’re hiring someone who knows what he or she is doing when it comes time for them to hire someone else!
You can work with clients in many ways.
You can work with clients in many ways. You can:
- Work directly with them by phone or email.
- Use a marketplace to find clients and then work through that site. This is the most popular way of working nowadays, but it’s not the only one! There are many other ways to find clients—and make money—as an online designer (and we’ll get into those next).
- Referrals are a great way to make money as an online designer because they allow you to build up an audience over time rather than having them jump right in at once when they first come across your site through a referral link on social media or elsewhere online (like Reddit, Pinterest).
Don’t dismiss the value of experience.
It’s important to remember that experience is a valuable asset. If you’re looking for a job or are trying to make money online, it’s best not to dismiss the value of experience just because you don’t have it yet.
When I was first starting out as a freelancer, I had no idea what I was doing—and even though my work was pretty good (and it still is), there were many times when I would have benefited greatly from someone else who knew what they were doing. For example:
- My first client wanted me to design their website but didn’t have enough budget for an experienced designer like myself; so instead she hired some random guy off Craigslist who charged $10 per hour and didn’t know how much time it would take him since he never done this before! She ended up paying him $50/hour because he said he’d only charge $5 per hour since this was his first project ever! But then when we started working together, he realized how much time we’d actually been spending together on each task… so now our bill has tripled!
You don’t have to do everything yourself.
You can outsource some tasks to freelancers.
You can hire a VA (virtual assistant). A virtual assistant is someone who will perform many of the same tasks that you would do in your business, but they’ll be doing it remotely from wherever they choose, so there’s no need for you to worry about travel or long hours. It’s also possible that this person will help with some basic accounting functions and even marketing efforts if needed! If this sounds like something that interests you, check out our guide for hiring VAs here: https://www.buildawebsitesfastwithablog/hiring-a-freelance/.
You might be able to shave time off your projects by partnering with others who have complementary skills.
You might be able to shave time off your projects by partnering with others who have complementary skills. For example, maybe you want to build a website that sells shirts and sweatshirts. Your partner could help with the design, while you focus on marketing it online.
Or maybe your client has an app he or she wants built but doesn’t know how to code himself/herself because they don’t have any experience doing so — in this case, finding someone who can do some of the front end work would save both parties time and money!
Don’t forget about maintenance and support.
It’s easy to forget about maintenance and support. And it’s not your fault, because you’re busy building websites for clients and getting paid for it. But remember that there are costs associated with maintaining a website, too—and those costs should be factored into any estimate you give a client.
Keep in mind that most people have trouble keeping their websites up-to-date, so they’ll need help if they want their site looking good enough (and maybe even functional) so they can attract new customers or promote their business online after the contract has been completed. This may mean hiring an IT professional who specializes in web design or development; however, if you’re willing to do some research yourself on how much money this could cost yourself as well as what kind of services would be needed then it may also be worth considering outsourcing these tasks instead!
If someone is offering maintenance contracts at a flat rate per month but doesn’t offer any guarantees on how long these services will last until renewal time comes around again next year then think twice before signing up just yet!
These tips can help speed up your success as a web designer on the side.
- Get started.
- Make money.
- Work with clients, and grow your business in the process.
If you want to make some extra money on the side while working full-time as a web designer, here are some tips for getting started:
Conclusion
I hope these tips have helped you get started on the path to becoming a web designer on the side. If you do decide to go with freelance work over contracting, remember that it’s important to get good at what you do and build up a portfolio of work. As long as your clientele is happy and satisfied with their projects, that’s all that matters!
