Journey To Self Freedom (Web Development)

[olly1471]

Hey guys been on this forum for years but never really did anything just browsed and watched people succeed but now its my time to be that guy!

Little bit of background :- been creating websites since i was about 13 i used to run a PC repair business but as a kid only made enough money for the newest gadget and then just stopped working hard and played games, but the younger me is no more! Have been given my notice at work so i have until the 2nd of November to either become sustainable by myself of look for another dead end 9-5.

At the moment i have a list of around 500-600 Emails/Websites (SAME NICHE) which i'm working through to shortlist which could be of value and which are a wasted call. i have been working on this journey properly for the past 5 days and have become very committed as of now i have done the following :-

• Got a list of websites / emails to contact (500-600)
• Started calling potential clients and have got 4/5 responses of people interested but nothing further than the initial chat.
• Have created 5 Instagram accounts all linking to my main account for some 'free' traffic
• Have joined over 100 Facebook Groups and I am posting daily (when i can remember!)
• Setup Google analytics on my website and a track able link for Emailing

Things I'm working on in future / present

• Google ad words (Payday)
• FB ADS (Payday)
• Flyers to deliver
• More Business Cards
• SEO on website + adding last few plugins
• Creating a Pop Up to create an email list

I will try and keep this journey updated 3 times a week just to check in and to also keep myself motivated and to strive for the life i know i will live!

Any questions or advice drop it down in the comments and ill be sure to get back to you ASAP!

 

[MisterF]

It was an interesting read until you decided to screw up with the promotional advertising attachment.

 

[olly1471]

@MisterF Im extremely sorry i didn't know that would be disallowed im not offering my services here sorry again!

 

[olly1471]

UPDATE 1

Hi guys hope everyone is doing well first update of my journey so i managed to finish off around 50+ OB calls yesterday with around 3/5 people showing interest and 2 people asking for more information to be sent via email, yet to hear anything back but its still early days! Went out last night with my ex business partner and spoke about a few different ideas then slept.

Day 2 :- Started off the day with checking my messages / emails woke up to find 1 Facebook message on a group i had been posting in spoke to him for an hour or so this morning and he has arranged a meeting on Saturday to discuss his needs and requirements not a website but some SEO services his provider hasn't done for him. Writing up a plan today. have spoke bout prices and should be a £79.99 initial payment followed by £50 monthly.

Day 2 :- Still a long way of today to go have to sort out some banking issues so heading to town now to get that sorted downloaded a programme called Ninja blaster and am just trying to figure out how many groups i can/should join a day and how to use it really should have this down by tonight.

Day 2 :- Ninja blaster has a business feature on there where you can scrape a list of websites and details from the specific niche you input so have gone through around 50-100 pages so far and just sent them and email/contact form will try do another 100 posts before bed.

Future Goals

Learn how many groups i can join a day on facebook
Learn how to automatically post to these groups 1/3 times a day
Learn what niche i should be targeting

 

[supervitallica]

80 pounds for a website? That looks crazy cheap to me. You will get clients that squeeze every penny.
Maybe it's good in the beginning but i would rise those numbers quickly.
Good luck!

 

[olly1471]

quick update: got fired from my job stayed at my sister's last night just walking home and I'm going to take today off have applied for 50+ jobs and have an interview tomorrow will keep working for myself just on a slight downscale for now....

 

[blackbeans]

Have you tried offering freebies to boost your conversion rates?

Common freebies include SEO audit and canned 'best practices' checklist

Something like that

By offering them something off the bat, you stand out from the crowd

 

[olly1471]

Quick Update:-

Still working hard so after getting fired from my old job i managed to get a web development job in my local town (5 mins drive) from my house so have been busy updating and sorting his website out along with learning the new industry so been super busy, stil l working on multiple of my own development projects.

Currently have 3/4 projects running:

• Girlfriends Dog Walking Service
• Dating website with a massive twist! (w/ dad)
• Web development site

I have been discussing some things with my business partner in regards to creating 5/10 websites and offering people 'free' website for the first 3 months then 20-25£ a month for hosting/support have gathered around 20k emails of targeted niches so just need to create the websites and then add everything to mail chimp and promote.

Sorry for the long delay guys hopefully will start updating weekly!

 

[olly1471]

@blackbeans Thanks for your kind reply, i have came close to bagging a few clients in the past week or 2 by offering them a free SEO evaluation and security check but haven't managed to get anyone just yet preservation is key!

 

[tommyvang]

Hey guys been on this forum for years but never really did anything just browsed and watched people succeed but now its my time to be that guy!

Little bit of background :- been creating websites since i was about 13 i used to run a PC repair business but as a kid only made enough money for the newest gadget and then just stopped working hard and played games, but the younger me is no more! Have been given my notice at work so i have until the 2nd of November to either become sustainable by myself of look for another dead end 9-5.

At the moment i have a list of around 500-600 Emails/Websites (SAME NICHE) which i'm working through to shortlist which could be of value and which are a wasted call. i have been working on this journey properly for the past 5 days and have become very committed as of now i have done the following :-

• Got a list of websites / emails to contact (500-600)
• Started calling potential clients and have got 4/5 responses of people interested but nothing further than the initial chat.
• Have created 5 Instagram accounts all linking to my main account for some 'free' traffic
• Have joined over 100 Facebook Groups and I am posting daily (when i can remember!)
• Setup Google analytics on my website and a track able link for Emailing

Things I'm working on in future / present

• Google ad words (Payday)
• FB ADS (Payday)
• Flyers to deliver
• More Business Cards
• SEO on website + adding last few plugins
• Creating a Pop Up to create an email list

I will try and keep this journey updated 3 times a week just to check in and to also keep myself motivated and to strive for the life i know i will live!

Any questions or advice drop it down in the comments and ill be sure to get back to you ASAP!

What languages do you skills in?.. I'm also a web developer

 

[olly1471]

Hey @tommyvang , currently only Python, javascript,MySql but very very basic im no where near where i would like to be for more of the development i do it would be in word press which doesn't really require much skill as you know

 

[FreakenSEOsmh]

i too do web design/development and always find myself at the cross road of further enhancing my coding skills and enlarge my portfolio or focus on marketing my services as they are and make hard cash now. how do you cope with that? - Best of luck on your journey

 

[olly1471]

@FreakenSEOsmh thanks for your reply , well a little something I’ve been trying out recently is I’ve found a great way to get targeted emails in the massses so on the weekend I’m going to be 5/10 websites very basic and then send all my targeted niches a different email/newsletter with a link to what there site could look like, I’m then going to offer them the first 3 months for free then 20/29.99 a month for hosting as I’m finding it extremely hard to get clients as I’m not so confident on the phone!

Good luck to you as well!

 

[olly1471]

Quick Update:-

Still working hard so after getting fired from my old job i managed to get a web development job in my local town (5 mins drive) from my house so have been busy updating and sorting his website out along with learning the new industry so been super busy, stil l working on multiple of my own development projects.

Currently have 3/4 projects running:

• Girlfriends Dog Walking Service
• Dating website with a massive twist! (w/ dad)
• Web development site

I have been discussing some things with my business partner in regards to creating 5/10 websites and offering people 'free' website for the first 3 months then 20-25£ a month for hosting/support have gathered around 20k emails of targeted niches so just need to create the websites and then add everything to mail chimp and promote.

Sorry for the long delay guys hopefully will start updating weekly!

So guys where to begin my life has been crazy since October, sorry for not replying to the journey have had many Ups + Downs :-

• My girlfriend and I of 4 years broke up so i took a (1month break from life).
• My new job iv'e been working in for coming up to 5 months are making me underfunded with 1 weeks notice as i need to be 25 to drive for the company (most happy iv'e ever been in a job so this is a big downer for me still trying to stay positive as im healthy and well.) The job are getting rid of me but letting me take my business cards and flyers round to 120 clients to do self employed work so this could be a big earner for me as its an old persons retirement village and there all wealthy haha. the job will also be employing me on a friday to do 3 hours of ict support with the clients £20 an hour.
• Have been working on the dating website with my dad and site is complete just both very busy with our lifes so haven't had the chance to market (yet!!)
• Business partner and i fell out so we went separate ways.
• Started smoking more heavily and not working on anything or even finding work. (4 months clean and life is looking amazing all thanks to my new girlfriend)
• Got a new girlfriend (never been happier) and have sorted most of my life out stopped speaking with all my 'friends' who just used me and only wanted me for the stuff i gave them.
• Going on holiday from the 14-24th of next month so going to try get some business while im over there!

Positives on my web development journey:-

• I now have 4/5 clients paying between 25-120 pcm
• 3 clients who's websites are complete and pay without questions every month
• 1 client who i just got yesterday and is making deposit payment tomorrow so work will commence
• 1 client who's work will be completed tonight all will be paying me £175 cash for about 4 hours work (IRL Family Friend)
• 1 website for my stepmum who i will be taking commision off all signups / event booking / sales (didn't want paying but she offered as im out of work so hey ho!)

 

[msadax]

Any update?
Do you use only python, js and MySQL? No html and css?
Are your sites web apps or like sites for restaurants etc?

 

[olly1471]

Update:

Have been extremely busy have managed to start work for 1 client 8/10 hours a week on £20 in the local area which they are letting me come in and use there offices to do my own work too!

Working for my old job doing cash in hand work for the residents at £15 per hour and running a 2hour IT drop in 1s per week on £20 per hour I now have:
1 website maintenance client £30/pm
2 website clients on £25/pm
1 website client on £35/pm
1 website client on £40/pm
1 website client on £120/pm

Have been earning roughly 2/500 a week cash in hand from my old jobs work!

Things are finally looking up have been given a company laptop and phone with my new 1 day a week job!

I'm finding I now have too much work which I can't complain about!