| With billions of web pages content added | | | | you focus on your niche market but also |
| every single day and more and more | | | | leave wiggle room to work on websites |
| businesses building a web presence. The | | | | outside your niche. |
| opportunities a great for those with | | | | The Bottom Line |
| internet savvy and some graphic design | | | | Website designers make very good money |
| experience to make serious money by | | | | although their rates depend upon their |
| having their own web designer business. | | | | reputation and ability to make |
| The demand is for web professionals who | | | | professional presentations to clients. |
| can translate an offline business into | | | | It is entirely possible to net $40,000 |
| an online presence so if you have never | | | | or more in your first full year of |
| created a website before, this isn't | | | | operation but you must be sure that your |
| the business for you. | | | | bids reflect the true amount of time it |
| You need to be familiar with website | | | | will take you to design a site or else |
| programming languages such as HTML, CSS, | | | | you can really lose profits. |
| javascript, and DHTML. Even PHP, ASP, | | | | You may have to underbid on the first |
| and even flash would be helpful as | | | | few projects, but then you can inch your |
| well. You also must be familiar with | | | | rates up to better reflect both your |
| search engine optimization, how the | | | | skills and professionalism. It is quite |
| Internet runs in general, and a good eye | | | | feasible to command $25/hr. right out of |
| for graphic design is a definite plus. | | | | the gates but again, you may have to go |
| Getting Started | | | | under this figure for the first few |
| A powerful PC with a high speed internet | | | | clients. Just be sure that you stipulate |
| connection is part of the essential | | | | in your bid that you can use the |
| equipment you need. Its also good to | | | | client's site as a sample in your |
| have web design software that someone | | | | portfolio in exchange for discounting |
| can get for $300-500. You could try to | | | | their rate. As your target audience is |
| start without a good computer, but this | | | | made up entirely of anyone who wants |
| will slow you down. Honestly to run the | | | | websites, then you will naturally want |
| software you that will be the best you | | | | to create an awesome, eye catching, |
| will need at least 512k of RAM to not | | | | website of your own as a way of |
| bring your computer to a creeping halt. | | | | showcasing your talents. |
| Buying a computer and the right software | | | | Also, you will want to generate plenty |
| means you can offer clients better | | | | of great content to boost search engine |
| options when designing their website so | | | | rankings so you may need to hire a web |
| you can concentrate on the service you | | | | content writer to help you here if this |
| provide, not frustrations with the | | | | is not your cup of tea. |
| equipment you use. | | | | Summary and Recommendation |
| Target Market | | | | Whatever you do, please make sure your |
| Anybody can be a customer but the best | | | | site that is clean, eye catching, one |
| thing is to find your niche. If you | | | | you would like if you were a customer. |
| have an area of special interest this is | | | | Now this does not mean going overboard, |
| where you want to concentrate your | | | | but it should look very professional, |
| efforts. For example, if you are a | | | | easy to use and navigate. |
| music person then you may want to | | | | Build your own personal website first |
| concentrate on building website for | | | | and make sure to build a portfolio of |
| local bands or musicians. There are | | | | your work and you will have plenty of |
| always plenty of people who share | | | | customers. For web designers, the sky |
| similar interests, but do not have the | | | | is the limit so don't hesitate to start |
| time, knowledge, or desire to build | | | | today if you have the skills! |
| their own website. It is important that | | | | |