FunkyJ — Tue, 26 Nov 2002 18:42:29 +0000

May I ask where you find those contacts ?

I am having a hard time trying to find ways to ad. my site/software to other people.

taff — Thu, 31 Oct 2002 15:05:30 +0000

Rounding out my 3rd year at it now as a full time job. It was a "hobby business" for about a year before that. In my opinion, the sort of money you are talking about is certainly possible. I won't get into personal earnings here but I will say one thing - be prepared for inconsistency. If your clientele is, like mine, small business, you'll find that the web site is one of the first things shelved in times of economic concern.

Like Julia, I'm self taught. The good ol' University of View Source.

Another word of warning: If you are setting out to be a one man web design shop, do not entertain the fallacy that you'll get to design web sites all day. A lot (perhaps half) of your time needs to be spent on sales, networking, marketing, bookkeeping, research, janitorial duties, buying pencils, you name it. It is a good thing to keep in mind when establishing your hourly rate that roughly half your hours will be unbillable.

If you can bring someone in whose strengths are your weaknesses, all the power to you. I brought my wife on board for a year to try sales only to realize that she's an even poorer salesperson than I am

Megan — Thu, 31 Oct 2002 14:30:58 +0000

How do you define web designer? Do you mean as a freelancer or owning a small design shop? I have a full-time job doing multimedia work for a university, which doesn't get the salary range you're talking about, but I think I do pretty well. Freelance stuff is just a side job, which I have little or no time for!

So, anyway, even if you find that you don't want to do the freelance thing full-time, you can always find related work with a larger company and do freelancing on the side.

zollet — Thu, 31 Oct 2002 12:58:12 +0000

I think it also depends on your clients and your contacts. For example, if you have a sales person working with you and getting you all these huge jobs then you'll be making $50K every 2 months. But if you're on your own and getting smaller jobs on forums and chats then you'll be making $1k/mo (if even that).

Right now I'm doing A LOT of webdesign/development work. I think I have 4-5 sites I'm working on at the same time and getting a couple of more projects this week. It pays good but I'm not sure if this is what I want to do all my life, I've been doing it for the past 7-8 years and I'm considering taking a different path.

Renegade — Thu, 31 Oct 2002 11:19:52 +0000

wow, i'm gonna make more than that one day lol hopefully :S

The Webmistress — Thu, 31 Oct 2002 08:49:42 +0000

I went to college and have 2 A Levels but they are in Psychology & Sociology!! I worked for 10 years in a bank and my husband worked as a sales rep. I taught myself and my husband how to build websites and he has taught us both about SEO work. Never had any formal training for it!!

paoliwd — Thu, 31 Oct 2002 08:28:32 +0000

Wow, I'd have to say that is my dream! Mind if I ask if you went to college? Your husband?

The Webmistress — Thu, 31 Oct 2002 08:25:08 +0000

My husband & I both work together for ourselves doing web design and SEO and we live very comfortably!