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Web DesignIf you've ever created your own website, you will know first-hand how much time and trial and error goes into that first effort. Once you've been through that whole process though, there's really nothing to it, is there? Whether you think of it this way or not, if you've created a decent website of your own, you have experience and skills that others are prepared to pay good money for. Have you thought of offering your services to the newbie who simply doesn't have the time and/or inclination to create their own website from scratch? Granted, you may need to polish up your skills to a more professional level so you can carry out some more advanced features you may not have had to worry about for your own site, but that information is freely available on the internet. If you've taught yourself enough HTML to create a good website, you obviously have the wherewithall to teach yourself the more advanced features. You should also look to equip yourself with some solid internet marketing theory. You will need to understand how the various search engines work so you can set up meta tags that increase the chances of your client's website being found in searches. You will also need a good grasp of the fundamentals of website design. Start with your own website. Have it independently reviewed. Make the changes you agree with. Then, when you're satisfied that you're practicing what you preach, you are in a position to offer your services to others. Your website itself is, of course, your best advertisement. If it is pleasing to the eye, is not bogged down with slow-loading graphics, is easy to navigate and its theme is clear, prospective clients will be more confident in entrusting you with their project. There is no reason to limit yourself to creating websites from scratch, either. Plenty of people just need help "tweaking" their site here and there. Some may come to you believing they have a great site but not understanding why they are not attracting sales. You could incorporate a review and adjustment service into your suite of services. The marketing fundamentals you equip yourself with in preparation for advising your client, you of course apply to marketing your website design service. Begin publishing a newsletter on a periodic basis. Participate in forums where website design issues are discussed. Place classified advertising is some informative ezines targeted to an audience interested in website design. Form strategic partnerships with complementary services such as search engine positioning specialists. As you can see, there is no limit to the ways you can promote your service. As for your pricing structure, consider whether you are going to charge on an hourly basis, per page, or according to a pre-agreed quotation. You will probably want to use a mixture of approaches depending on the project in question. |
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