Becoming a Web Designer

I would really like to be my own boss, work from home and become a full time website designer.

But where does one start, how would you get customers without a portfolio.

I know html like the back of my hand and also know a bit of php and perl, i've been dabbling in html for the past 5 years and have had loads of hobby/mess-around sites in the past.

Any tips and advice would be welcome.

Regards,
Nick Grant.

What i have seen alot that works is do a few free web site designs to build up your portfolio. These free designs can just be templates that you make for them, it doesnt have to be the full site. What also works is always submit your resume when bidding on a project. Create your own site where you can start to list stuff in your online portfolio as well as list customer's comments about your work and service. :-) I hope that this helps to start you off. Word of mouth also helps a lot to get other business.

I myself mainly try to get business from clients whom I can start a long term business relationship with. I try to convince them to come to me for all of their web design / web development by my work ethic and great customer service.

:-) Good Luck

DarkG

Number one thing though. Most people who will want to hire you are very cheap

Never lower your price. Keep the highest price you can for the quality of work you do.

this is the best advice in this thread by far. If you are a mercedes dealer, you aren't going to set your prices to compete with hyundai.

Buy a domain - a directory on an existing site doesn't look professional.

Build a portfolio - just make up some sites for fake companies. Also look into doing some pro-bono work for non-profits. You can get word of mouth that way, and put links to your site in exchange for your services - helping to boost your rankings in the SERPs.

Get some nice business cards. Not kinkos, not the kind you print yourself.

Go out to local small businesses with a game plan. What you can offer that is unique; illustrated logos, seo, cheap prices, etc. Be prepared for a lot of rejections. If you get one lead for every 20 places you go, it's a good start.

-Greg

Ok, you mention here going around to small businesses and whatnot to try and drum up business. When you go in and approach them, who exactly should one ask for when presenting the proposal to build a site for them?

Regards,

jlk

well assuming it's really a small business, I think the owner. they usually make the calls.

Build your portfolio. People are looking for site design with little or no money. Look non-profit.

See this other post:
http://forums.devshed.com/t146971/s.html

Ok, say the business is slightly larger than a "small" business, say where the owner isn't necessarily there. Who then would you speak to?

Regards,

jlk

just ask for the manager. if you start pitching it, and he can't make the call, he'll say so.

Excellent! Thanks!

Greet whoever you speak to as a person. You might not be there to talk to that particular individual, but it will not hurt your case if you are nice to them.

Ask for whoever is in charge of Public Relations, Marketing, or Advertising. If they are not available, tell whoever you spoke with who you are and VERY BRIEFLY what you can do for them and tell them that you will come back (give THEM a time and come back AT that time)

If they are a business who would hire somebody to build a website for them, they either (a) do not have a website or (b) have one that they don't have time to maintain.. You need to find out which one they are, to determine which benefits you are selling to them.