Web design is a growing industry, and it has been for over 20 years. And with the recent popularity of freelancing, more and more people prefer being a freelance web designer to working for a major corporation.
One of the frequent questions we get about becoming a freelancer is whether or not you can make a good living doing it. After all, you can’t guarantee your salary from month to month. Plus, you have to worry about things like paying your taxes and tracking down health benefits.
So, what’s the truth? Is being a freelance web designer a money maker?
You can make money as a freelance web designer
What you need to do is learn how to set expectations. To become a web designer that’s consistently bringing in money, you need to have the projects and clients. You absolutely can make a living as a freelance web designer, but it takes some thought and strategy.
If you’re just starting out, you might not bring in as much money as you did while working full time. As you begin thinking about your business and considering how much you want to make, keep these tips in mind.
The curse of under-charging
It happens to nearly every web designer at the beginning — they under-charge. Why?
Because they’re just starting out and want to attract any client that will hire them. Rather than letting the work speak for itself and sticking to a fee, they undercharge to land the job.
But being a freelancer means that you have to sell yourself. If a client balks at your $2000 fee, sell them on why you’re worth that money. Show them case studies and examples of your work that have performed well.
Don’t sell yourself short. You know you’re worth a certain amount because you’ve received it in the past.
Staying organized with projects
Sometimes projects come in waves. You attract one after the other until your calendar is full. That’s great news!
But that can also lead to overwhelm and missed deadlines. As you’re signing new clients and setting deadlines, double-check that you can balance it all.
It’s more important than ever to stay organized as a freelancer. One missed deadline could mean the end of the client relationship.
Keep a calendar or use project management software to help you stay on top of your work.
Be picky about your clients
You might find yourself wanting to take on clients because you want the money, but they’re not someone you genuinely want to work with. Avoid that whenever possible.
If something does feel right or you’re not excited about the project — simply don’t take the job. It’s not worth the headache of dealing with demanding clients that don’t understand the concept of web design. After all, you chose to go into business for yourself. You don’t have to put up with anything you don’t want to.
Becoming a freelance web designer isn’t easy, but i t can be the first step towards more career freedom and creative projects.If you head into it with an open mind and flexibility, you’ll find yourself with a successful freelance career.