[GUIDE] How to Start Earning with Web Design

Straightforward approach it is an eye opener

Nice post, I’ve been a web designer and developer for nearly 8 years with a bachelors of science in web design and development and it’s still a slippery slope. Most customers don’t know what they want and don’t care about learning. The offers for unreasonable low quotes from newbies and free services flooding the internet are killing the actual work good designers can do.

I had a client yesterday that’s been with me for 3 years now and we don’t bill for anything (maintenance or updates) as they don’t need it. The only thing we bill for is hosting and domain renewal.

Haven’t heard from them in months as there’s been no issue with website. 100% up time and no errors or complaints.

Nominal hosting charge 9.50 per month on 12 months is bill we sent along with domain renewal $14 do the math. Not bad for having a full running website for your business.


I sent the email and they replied with oh someone said my website isn’t secure. “Eyes!” My reply : you website does not have a ssl as you don’t process any information that vital for secure sockets bla bla jargon jargon, and also we never got a inquiry for updating your domain with a ssl. However, we can add this to your account for extra charge.

Customer replies: we shouldn’t have to pay extra for a secure website.


Me: wanting to blow up the website now!!! (are you serious) /my own thoughts - where have they seen free ssl or other information.

I reply with your website is secure it just doesn’t have a ssl for adding protection.


— Either way I haven’t heard from them prior to billing


I originally did a WP site for 450 dollars and gave first year free hosting so minus 110 from it $340 and sites been running for 3 years. This site was as a favor to friends and they wanted to do marketing so we gave deal on website for social push (that never happen) they spent 1-2k in rotary club group that didn’t give them any business and cake to me complaining that they needed to do some marketing but spent their budget on rotary. Again ! Me wth! Not all Clients are like this.


I Just sent a bill to another client (e-commerce website) they replied with immediate payment.

Maybe I just have a low tolerance for ID10t’s

If anyone wants to join forces and do something big online I’m game, we can achieve more together. Cyber Gang! Hehe

Eat You said:

Thanks OP for the guide, really helpful.

I noticed you just email clients with your offer. It is the first time to not hear about the phone call/meeting part, so do you ever call them or do you close them all through email?

I hate calling and this is what is stopping me from starting my business as I don't like being on the phone. I want to do everything through email if possible.

Could you please elaborate on that

thanks

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Maybe phone calls are okay, I don't know. My strategy to get the first contact with potential clients via social media, the second step is to contact them via e-mail with an offer and after that, we can do phone calls. Just imagine this, you are busy doing some things and the unknown number is calling you. You decide to pick up and answer and someone is telling you something about the website and wants to sell you something.

Because of that, if I get them to tell me okay send me an offer to email, I will do my best to get them and that's like 50% of the job done. I think I will have less chance to get them if I call them.

Mr webzr said:

Nice post, I’ve been a web designer and developer for nearly 8 years with a bachelors of science in web design and development and it’s still a slippery slope. Most customers don’t know what they want and don’t care about learning. The offers for unreasonable low quotes from newbies and free services flooding the internet are killing the actual work good designers can do.

I had a client yesterday that’s been with me for 3 years now and we don’t bill for anything (maintenance or updates) as they don’t need it. The only thing we bill for is hosting and domain renewal.

Haven’t heard from them in months as there’s been no issue with website. 100% up time and no errors or complaints.

Nominal hosting charge 9.50 per month on 12 months is bill we sent along with domain renewal $14 do the math. Not bad for having a full running website for your business.


I sent the email and they replied with oh someone said my website isn’t secure. “Eyes!” My reply : you website does not have a ssl as you don’t process any information that vital for secure sockets bla bla jargon jargon, and also we never got a inquiry for updating your domain with a ssl. However, we can add this to your account for extra charge.

Customer replies: we shouldn’t have to pay extra for a secure website.


Me: wanting to blow up the website now!!! (are you serious) /my own thoughts - where have they seen free ssl or other information.

I reply with your website is secure it just doesn’t have a ssl for adding protection.


— Either way I haven’t heard from them prior to billing


I originally did a WP site for 450 dollars and gave first year free hosting so minus 110 from it $340 and sites been running for 3 years. This site was as a favor to friends and they wanted to do marketing so we gave deal on website for social push (that never happen) they spent 1-2k in rotary club group that didn’t give them any business and cake to me complaining that they needed to do some marketing but spent their budget on rotary. Again ! Me wth! Not all Clients are like this.


I Just sent a bill to another client (e-commerce website) they replied with immediate payment.

Maybe I just have a low tolerance for ID10t’s

If anyone wants to join forces and do something big online I’m game, we can achieve more together. Cyber Gang! Hehe

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I can understand you 100% and I can relate to that. When I was starting I was trying to get clients with smaller prices in offers and I had it wasn't going well, and then they even want a smaller price. At the one point I told to myself "Hey, you are not going to work for nothing to these assholes" so if they want a site, they will need to pay a price that I think is okay and that is not a humiliation for me.

Those people who "heard something from someone" are the worst clients and those who likes to say "Kid from my brother will do it for $100", ofc he will and you will get a site for $100 not for $500.

thegoldeneye said:

Maybe phone calls are okay, I don't know. My strategy to get the first contact with potential clients via social media, the second step is to contact them via e-mail with an offer and after that, we can do phone calls. Just imagine this, you are busy doing some things and the unknown number is calling you. You decide to pick up and answer and someone is telling you something about the website and wants to sell you something.

Because of that, if I get them to tell me okay send me an offer to email, I will do my best to get them and that's like 50% of the job done. I think I will have less chance to get them if I call them.




I can understand you 100% and I can relate to that. When I was starting I was trying to get clients with smaller prices in offers and I had it wasn't going well, and then they even want a smaller price. At the one point I told to myself "Hey, you are not going to work for nothing to these assholes" so if they want a site, they will need to pay a price that I think is okay and that is not a humiliation for me.

Those people who "heard something from someone" are the worst clients and those who likes to say "Kid from my brother will do it for $100", ofc he will and you will get a site for $100 not for $500.

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Thanks for your reply

Yea I know what you mean by calling to sell. What you described is straight up cold calling, I dont like that approach either, but what I was refering to when I said what people typically tend to do is this: Cold email, client reply, you reply with the 2nd email asking for a phone call to sell them on the phone and close them.

What I want to do and was asking if it is possible is to skip the phone call entirely and just close via email as I noticed you dont call them at all or never mentioned it here so that got me thinking is the phone call that crucial after all get me?

Very nice write-up. Glad you took the time to post this. I have enjoyed reading it.

Eat You said:

What I want to do and was asking if it is possible is to skip the phone call entirely and just close via email as I noticed you dont call them at all or never mentioned it here so that got me thinking is the phone call that crucial after all get me?

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Yes, you can skip phone calls sometimes, and sometimes client will insist to hear you over the phone call. So it depends on clients.

thegoldeneye said:

Yes, you can skip phone calls sometimes, and sometimes client will insist to hear you over the phone call. So it depends on clients.

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How long did take it take you to get a client thru social media? I'm a developer aswell however I had no luck, I've sent over 15 messages, only one reply and it was a deny.

ddmcsm said:

How long did take it take you to get a client thru social media? I'm a developer aswell however I had no luck, I've sent over 15 messages, only one reply and it was a deny.

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This is also interesting question.

At the beginning I had like 90% of failure and 10% I would get a response. That's because of bad targeting.

In the last year I have every month at least 1 site and I can tell you that my success rate is now around 70-80%

Great, Everybody that want to earn money with no invesment should read this

hypermk said:

Great, Everybody that want to earn money with no invesment should read this

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Yep, the only investment is your knowledge and time, and maybe domain and hosting for your portfolio site and you can buy all of that for under $20 for the beginning.

thegoldeneye said:

This is also interesting question.

At the beginning I had like 90% of failure and 10% I would get a response. That's because of bad targeting.

In the last year I have every month at least 1 site and I can tell you that my success rate is now around 70-80%

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Thanks pal, gonna try more then until I get a client, I have nothing to lose but much to gain from your strategy.

ddmcsm said:

Thanks pal, gonna try more then until I get a client, I have nothing to lose but much to gain from your strategy.

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Good luck bro, just don't give up. It's easy, you will see and keep us updated.

thegoldeneye said:

So, how to get clients?

Ask them! Just ask people if they need a website or re-design (if they really need it, and I am sure there is a bunch of sites that need some re-design).

No one will contact you and ask, "Hey buddy, can you make me a website". You are a beginner; no one knows you, and even if you are not a beginner, just ask them.

Where to find them?

I started locally, and I used mostly Instagram for that. A lot of business promotes its business on Instagram and Facebook, and that's a great way how to find clients. Start with searching for dental, real estate, and other companies in your town and they will start showing to you on FB and Instagram.
Good luck!

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Looks quite helpful...

I have approached some people online using insta and fb but I am still waiting for their replies...

Is there other ways to find, clients online

Aron Finch said:

Looks quite helpful...

I have approached some people online using insta and fb but I am still waiting for their replies...

Is there other ways to find, clients online

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Good old friend Google. Just Google for some businesses and check if they have a site, do they need a redesign by your opinion, etc.

@thegoldeneye,nice post you have. Can you help with explanatory pdf books (that are self teaching and easy to read) on these recommended programmes like JS,Java,Python e.t.c.....you are much appreciated.

Laoye said:

@thegoldeneye,nice post you have. Can you help with explanatory pdf books (that are self teaching and easy to read) on these recommended programmes like JS,Java,Python e.t.c.....you are much appreciated.

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I am not sure how can I help you with that. Please explain a little bit more?

Hi, I am pulok,First of all, I would like to appreciate your time and effort in doing something for this community.

It really gives me some idea what i want to do in the future. Currently, I am studying computer science in college (3rd semester) and I have some basic knowledge in c/c++ HTML and some idea in CSS and I saw javascript and it looks very similar to c/c++. Anyway, I was thinking of doing something like a part-time job/work/freelancing as I need some pocket money. But in order to start freelancing, I had so much confusion and lack of knowledge.


1.Can you recommend me any tutorial or course/free course and project or practices or some list of topics that will give me confidence to put my skill as a service.
Like I can make sure that my client gets what they want and I can be the right guy to do the work?

2.And what kind of website I will be building. Example of some website. And how to know who is my client?

3.And one more thing, I know it's a silly question, approximately how long will it will take to know the basics of what I am willing to do in this plan, Is it possible to start working within the month of hard work. I know the patient is needed to do well in the long run.

But at first, I want to get started with some really small earning so that I can have some confidences.Then develop through time. And my earning goals as a beginner is small to.

Again Thank you for everything that you are doing.

Thanks for this thread dude, I'm looking to get into this business, I was thinking of starting on fiverr but I'm not sure how the gigs would work with pricing etc. What do you think about fiverr, or would you just start with going for direct clients via social media etc? Guess I could just try both Also if you have any experience with fiverr could you suggest a pricing structure, I've seen some which just list a random price and say contact before buying for quote, don't really know weather that's a good idea or not :/

pulok said:

Hi, I am pulok,First of all, I would like to appreciate your time and effort in doing something for this community.

It really gives me some idea what i want to do in the future. Currently, I am studying computer science in college (3rd semester) and I have some basic knowledge in c/c++ HTML and some idea in CSS and I saw javascript and it looks very similar to c/c++. Anyway, I was thinking of doing something like a part-time job/work/freelancing as I need some pocket money. But in order to start freelancing, I had so much confusion and lack of knowledge.


1.Can you recommend me any tutorial or course/free course and project or practices or some list of topics that will give me confidence to put my skill as a service.
Like I can make sure that my client gets what they want and I can be the right guy to do the work?

2.And what kind of website I will be building. Example of some website. And how to know who is my client?

3.And one more thing, I know it's a silly question, approximately how long will it will take to know the basics of what I am willing to do in this plan, Is it possible to start working within the month of hard work. I know the patient is needed to do well in the long run.

But at first, I want to get started with some really small earning so that I can have some confidences.Then develop through time. And my earning goals as a beginner is small to.

Again Thank you for everything that you are doing.

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1) I would suggest you buy a premium at codecademy.com (no affiliate), because that's the place I learned the most things. It' enough to figure out how everything works, and you will learn more by working on projects. You cannot learn everything in courses. For courses try to search on Google and YT and you will get some ideas. Can't help you with that more, sorry.

2) That's up to you what sites you will be building. How to know who is your client? I am not sure you asked me the right question.

3) Nope, it's not possible to start in one month. Learn and work on your project at least 3-6 months to develop some skills, and after that try looking for clients. I got my client after a year...

ShahGee said:

Good info.

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Thanks mate!

Salty511 said:

Thanks for this thread dude, I'm looking to get into this business, I was thinking of starting on fiverr but I'm not sure how the gigs would work with pricing etc. What do you think about fiverr, or would you just start with going for direct clients via social media etc? Guess I could just try both Also if you have any experience with fiverr could you suggest a pricing structure, I've seen some which just list a random price and say contact before buying for quote, don't really know weather that's a good idea or not :/

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I don't recommend Fiver, because there is a lot of guys offering sites for $50. Do you want to work for $50/site? If yes, then go, but if you want to earn more money then look for them by your self. That's my honest opinion, because I wanted to start on Fiverr and I saw how things are working there.

great share