Is web design dead?

Hi guys,
I have my own company since 2014, where I create websites, logos, posters banners for local people. I'm also working in another 9-5 company. In my country salary is like $500. I earn couple houndreds more with my company orders but thats all. A Wordpress site in my country cost like $120-200 which I'm making like one per quarter max.
I think, that creating websites is no longer in need. People prefer to create a social media accounts, which are free, and promote themselfs there.
What about USA? Is there any visible demand on the graphic designers services? Yeah Fiverr... That didn't went well for me. Other alternatives maybe? Should I try.. idk dropshipping?
Cheers.

I see your point. Most of the time, it's because the demand has transferred to marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork. Most people I presume correlate work and graphics work with sites like that to be honest.

If an industry is still churning millions and millions globally each year, it's probably not dead. Maybe just evolving?

dreamsva said:

So you have to be wait few more days.

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Solid advice.

I dont think so, I visit a lot of forum in spanish, and people still ask for webs. I am sure that this happen in english too. You just need to search =)

In my experience of hiring graphic designers (and I've hired many over the years), the issue is that graphic designer doesn't understand his job.

From his perspective, the job is to create an attractive design for a logo or for a webpage.

From my perspective, the job is to convert website users into customers (or for them to push them to achieve some other objective). I couldn't care what the website looks like provided it converts.

Finding a graphic designer who understands the reason for hiring him is really difficult. Most graphic designers don't understand how to design a website that converts.

There is definitely still a demand for people who can increase your sales. There may not be a demand for people who can change the colours of a Wordpress template.

So if its something you can offer, you might want to try pitching a different service.

Instead of offering a one-off graphic design service, offer an on-going conversion rate optimization service achieved through better graphic design (and better content writing if you can team up with a content writer). Your service would be even more valuable if you could offer the changes in a format that didn't require a coder to translate them (i.e. offer HTML and CSS rather than PSD).

Your pitch shouldn't be "Do you want me to design you a website?" but rather "Do you want me to triple the number of customers who find you through the web?"

Unreliable Witness said:

Finding a graphic designer who understands the reason for hiring him is really difficult. Most graphic designers don't understand how to design a website that converts.

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I know the feeling and OP, be patient. The industry is not dead, world is just a little bit messy with all the pandemic.

Cannot be... there are always people who looking for a design.

No issues here. I even turned down several cuz I'm busy with other stuff. Plus if I go on the hunt for new clients I can get a few easily, you just need to be good at marketing too. Explaining to them why they need a website or why theirs need an upgrade. Always throw in they're losing money because competitors did invest

Quite the contrary, social media is dying.

Most social media platforms are a cesspool of political hate and frustrated people.

It's a cycle. Everyone will go back to their own sites and out of social media in the future.

I don't think it is dead. I still get requests for making small websites time to time. I reject most of those, as they are not worth the time. 99% of them are low budget ones. So yeah, the competition has become tighter from my own experience. It is still far from being dead though. Perhaps it is time for your business to move into more advanced coding may be? For example MIS, invoicing and stock management, HR portals etc. These types of system will never be replaced by page builders lol.

First of all, you need to understand that there's a difference between Web Design and Graphic Design. People often say that Web Design is a subset of Graphic Design and it might be, but in my opinion, there's a lot more to Web Design than just aesthetics. You're using these two words interchangeably, don't.

Now to answer your question, Web Design is far from dead. A shift happened in the industry (still happening) and you either missed it or overlooked it.

You need to stop "selling websites" and start "offering solutions". By selling websites, you're essentially making it a commodity and doesn't matter how hard you try, you can't make your potential customer see the value in a commodity. With commodity it's about 'who is the cheapest around' but with solutions it's all about 'who is providing the most value'. Therefore, offer solutions that are personal and tailored.

Also, target countries where the average income is high or industries that can afford a higher price tag.

Lastly, unless and until you have a turnkey solution in place where the physical effort required on your part is negligible, stop offering websites for $100-500. They just make you another option in a sea of other options and it also somewhat harms the industry.

Benny Smith said:

A Wordpress site in my country cost like $120-200 which I'm making like one per quarter max.

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Are your clients all from the same country? Maybe you should expand.
As for websites such as fiverr, if you have the money you could buy reviews or exchange them for free.

This is one the most competitive niche in the digital marketing industry so you need to kick up your game and look to find clients looking from other angle. You need to be smart and relentless if you want to be successful in this field.

The demand has changed with time but it is certainly not dead.

Sorta like "professional" photography, you know? Technological advance and dissemination has rendered it more of a niche interest.

It's not the business it is you.

Your belief, you business model, your networking skills, etc. And the list can go on and on.
Only you can identify what needs to be changes or improved.

I have friends, that does web design, that even with all the lockdown still gets calls from new clients.

i think it's not the design is dead. just most design service is not worth it. like you pay $150 only to get website with themes installed. So most people start learn to make their own site.
if you can promote why they should purchase design service from you, what make it better, etc. than you will have a queqe of order.

Before 5 years, info was- about 30.000 websites start daily. My sister works on 99design, and if you like tournaments and competition, there is one logo up to 1000$, a lot of high budget clients need a logo, unique header, banners, etc..

" A Wordpress site in my country cost like $120-200 which I'm making like one per quarter max."

Wordpress is a big area, what it means, do you install WordPress, install the theme, set up the title ? If yes, this is a good price, I do not know your working hours for "WordPress website", but clients are everywhere.

By web design you mean installing a wp theme, connecting it to hosting, creating an email and password? Yep, this is dead. Or, it costs peanuts.

If by web design you mean a complete solution; logo design, branding, UX expertise, and expert advise about traffic, etc, than this certainly isn't dead.

There will always be people wanting something cheap AF but they all get what they deserve at the end. A shitty website that will convert for shit.