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