How to Start a Web Design Business
Posted on Oct 29, 2009 by
Paul WhiteEarlier today a guy who is new to web design was asking me about how to start up his buisness. I can totally relate. As years ago I was in the same place. Luckily I knew a very talented Graphics Artist out of Kansas City named Sheryl who gave me a few pointers. So here I am years later, with my own advice for web designers.
1. Get a few sites under your belt.
No one is going to pay someone if they can't see some examples of your work. Even if this means doing work for free in the beginning its important you have some sites you can show future clients.
2. Build a kick ASS portfolio website
This is very important. Your portfolio website should use every trick in the book. It should wow your clients, and demand their respect. Its important for it to be easy to navigate, pleasing to the eye. and have a way to contact you through a submit form.
3. Develop some marketing materials
Design yourself some
business cards, and some professional looking invoice templates, and estimate templates. Some people get custom envelopes with their logo on them. Just keep in mind that you may update your logo later so don't go ordering 10,000 of everything. Also don't go crazy with the merchandising. Sure its cool having a coffee cups and pens all sporting your company name, but remember you are only a legend in your own mind. Spend your money on things that give you a direct return on Investment, and not toys. You are selling
websites, not pharmaceuticals.
4. Get your name out there
Put your logo on all your clients
websites. Add a website credits line on the bottom of your clients
websites. But if they are
SEO sensitive, be sure to rel="nofollow" on your link, so to not take away their page rank. Don't become obsessed with achieving top ranking on google. Your a web designer, and there are thousands of guys just like you who have already spent years building back links. Thinking you are going to dominate google in your niche market of web design is like learning to swim for the first time and thinking you are going to beat Michael Phelps at the next Olympics, don't waste your time.
5. Incorporate your business
Some guys work freelance using their own social
security number for tax purposes. I highly recommend anyone that is serious about this, and is not doing it as a hobby to get incorporated. This has many tax benefits. Plus it provides certain legal protections, by keeping everything under your company name.
6. Don't over book yourself
I have seen a lot of guys take on too many projects, and become over whelmed. Its important you do not over promise and under deliver. If you are going to under deliver its important you communicate this to the client, so they know you are being transparent with them.
7. Don't take on projects that are above your skill level
If you know basic
HTML, and
CSS, but have no SQL experience, and a new client approaches you about building them a myspace, don't accept the project until you know the client is ok with you learning the new technologies on the job. Some clients need projects delivered quickly, and can't wait for you to learn SQL. Other clients might want to use a novice such as yourself because they can't afford to pay an expert.
8. What you don't know is costing you time, money and your clients
If you only have basic
HTML skills, and feel content, you might want to pick up some new technologies. Advanced features like custom submit forms. Database driven applications. Email Systems, all have the ability to enhance your client's website. If you don't show these to your client because you don't know how to make them, the chances are someone else will. Once your client gets a taste of this dynamic functionality they are likely to become another developer's new client.
9. Don't over charge for Hosting
I am still amazed how many web designers think that $30-$40 / month for a static website hosted on a slow overloaded server is some how a value to their clients. Back when very few people knew how to make
websites, this was a huge money maker for designers. Buy a server, colocate it, and load 1000 small static
websites on the box, and bill the clients $30/month. $30k - $40K / month or nearly half million annual revenue, is not bad for 1 man and a server. However unless you are
hosting demanding
websites and applications this is too much. Remember companies like
Godaddy only charge $6 / month for
hosting. If you are going to charge more than this, you need to provide some good reasons.
10. Word of mouth is key
I get asked all the time why don't I advertise? Its because I already have enough work. My current clients come back with updates and new projects. At the same time they tell their friends and family about me, and this brings in new clients. The best potential client is one that has already been sold by a current client.
11. Don't take on every client that approaches you
Naturally clients want everything under the sun for free. Remember your time is valuable. The
websites you take on are not just billable hours, but they are going to represent your company and its services. So if someone comes to you with a crack head
websites idea, its better to gracefully turn the project down, making yourself available for other more long term projects that will not crash and burn. A common trend I see is clients who have watched too many documentaries on million dollar
websites, get a crack head idea that anyone can do it. Most major
websites and tech companies today were started by two guys in a garage with at least one of the two being a well versed computer programmer / engineer. They also took many years to grow to their traffic to millions of users. You can setup a daily time line for how you are going to manage updating your content, and what activities you will do to help market your website, but predicting where your traffic is going to be in 2 or 3 years is impossible. If you can't get a potential client to bring down their expectation of hitting critical mass tomorrow, then you are better off not taking on the project.
12. You must enjoy it
The most successful people in the world love what they do. Web Design and Development takes a lot of time to learn. As mater a fact you never stop learning. The technology is always evolving, and to stay competitive you have to keep up. Even though everyone goes through designers block. Its important that when you are on top of your game you truely enjoy it.
WhiteSites Blog
The guy who came asking about starting web design job was me, Paul is always clam and nice to me even though i came to know about this blog a couple of days ago he helped me in lots of issues, man you are great