Starting off as a freelancer is a great move towards financial freedom. In my college days, this was not only my source of loverhood but also a way of improving my web development skills. This led to my day-to-day hustle as a freelance web developer.
Getting started in this field might seem difficult since it’s a technical skill. Having the right mindset and passion of web development is the first goal towards success. If you ran through your mind and are wondering how to kick start as a freelance web developer, this article is entirely written for you.
We have all sort of question that may be clinging on your mind. Starting from , who is a freelance web developer? Skills you need to state web development, how much money you can make as a freelance web developer, steps to become a successful web developer, Platforms where you can offer freelance web development services and many more.
Let’s get started with all you need to know to stand out among many web developers across the world.
Who is a freelance web developer?
Freelance web developers are individuals who are professionals in web development. They work either with individuals or organizations either on a short-term or long-term basis. Freelance web developers are self-employed and hence can work for more than one client at a time. They deliver exemplary quality work as they look forward to being given more contracts by clients. The good thing of being a freelance web developer is that you get an opportunity to set your own price, choose the client to work with, choose your own schedule, make money online anytime and also explore more.
What skills are needed to become a freelance web developer
In the current world, we are living, freelancing web designers are highly in demand. This is because most businessess are now online, and there is a huge traffic of buyers who are searching for products. This means that a user-friendly website will always attract more buyers.
Last year, web designers were the most in-demand freelancers. This was due to high information technology growth around the globe.
For you to be successful in web designing, you need to be proficient in the below skills;
Hyper Text Markup Language HTMl
This is one of the most common languages that is widely used by vast of designers to give a web page the best structure. It is one of the easiest languages to understand and use. With HTML skills, you will manage to format headlines, footers, headers, body content and paragraphs. Also, you will manage to add videos and photos throughout the website as per the demand of your client. As a web developer, you need HTML before you can kick of your freelancing journey.
Cascading Style sheets
This are essential tool used to do formatting on layout of a page. It works to see that the visual appearance of a website is attractive to the user. You need to learn this skills as to improve the way pages in your web display content. The best thing about CSS is that it helps you adjust colors, change backgrounds, fonts and also unify how different pages look.
Responsiveness of the website
Have you ever visited a website from your phone and found that texts does not fit? If yes, then the website was unresponsive, which measn the web developer did not put responsive into consideration. Responsive design means that client can access the webpage from either tablet, phone or a computer. You should have your website able to render correctly from any device. This gives the user the need to visit the site again and again as they can view and read all information in the right way.
Javascript
As a freelance web developer Javascript is another element that you need to consider for study. With this skills, you are able to make sites with sliders, elements that can update automatically and also gives a different view once the user logs in. remember this are features that almost every business need in their websites. So, you need to posses the skills before you can make for them a good website. Learning this skills is what you need.
Visual design
How the website looks and feel is very important for every business. As a web developer, you need to ensure that you give your clients what they want. By doing that, you need to have learnt; web fonts, color palettes, type hierarchy, grid systems, typography and also the color psychology. With that, you wil aways be the best bet for companies.
User experience
Finally, you need to understand the user at every aspect. Remember that every business has their own target customers, by that it means you need to understand the user. You need to learn the usability and accessibility of the website and how essential they are to customers. Always learn how to give the customers whatever they are looking for in the website, that is what brought them to the website.
Becoming a web developer is easy, once you observe the above skills, you will make it in this field. All you need to do is consider going to school to learn or consider online classes. There are a vast of online resources that you can consider
Steps to becoming a successful freelance web developer and get clients
In most scenarios, people always tend to go with the trend in the market. If this time they hear web developers are making good money, they will go there. Even without passion. Remember, for you to make it in any field, passion is all that matters. For you to be a successful web developer, you need to have coding skills. Know how to design and also conversant with a computer. Here are great steps that you can follow and succeed as a freelance web developer.
Make it your passion
When you have passion for anything, you will always find it easy to understand every aspect. For web development, it’s a vital element that you need to have. Web development is something that is growing and has been improving season after season. Even when other freelancers are short of clients, freelance web developers are always working.
Web development is a bit challenging career, meaning without the right motivation, you will definitely lose hope and quiet. In addition, web development is not something that you only dream of and the next day you are earning. It takes time to learn and do something constructive. The first step to success is a passion for what you do or aspire to do.
Decide what part of a web developer you need to become
You need to ask yourself, what area is best fit for you. You can either choose back-end developer or front-end developer. For Back-end developers, they are in charge of the logic and also problem solving for the web, something you cannot see. For the front-end developers are focused on the visual and design of the website, that is the user side.
Once you identify your area of interest, you can perfect in it, by that, you will improve your skills and increase your success rate. If you are a good designer, you need not to think twice, front end is your thing. If you love coding, then back end is your thing.
If you want to make an outstanding income, then perfecting in both is your thing. Learn that you can become a good web developer with no coding skills. That is using the no code tools such as the Editor x or even Divi.
Have a plan
Like with any other kind of investment, a plan is all you need to make it in life. A plan is that essential tool that is vital in turning your written goals into a reality. With an action plan, you will meet your objectives since you have the steps needed to achieve the goals.
Remember that you can set up a plan to meet your objective without using any money. All you need to do is make google your good friend. Here is a good sample of a web developer action plan;
- Week 1: learn HTML
- Week 2: learn CSS
- Week 3; Learn JavaScript
- Week 4: create a responsive website
- Week 5: Create your website portfolio
- Week 6: Learn more about freelancing
- Week 7: Learn how you market your skills
- Week 8: reach out to potential customers
- Week 9: Keep learning how to improve skills
Choose your niche
To grow in this field, you need to identify one or two sectors and then polish on them. It will also help you build your own reputation. Having one niche for instance makes you an expert in that area. People will be more than willing to spend 10000 dollars for only an e-commerce system, a church management system, or even a hotel management system. This is one of the aspects that you will see good returns in the long run as opposed to short-term plans.
Price your package
To be a successful freelance web developer, pricing is a vital element that you need. When you charge too low, you will find multiple clients but the profits will be low. When you are too high, clients will avoid you. That means, that coming up with the best pricing strategy that works is a key to making your freelance career easier. Your niche will always guide on how you price your package. Also, you can consider having three pricing options for your buyers. This will make someone interested in your service to pick the best bet for them.
For instance, if you are targeting big e-commerce system, there is a higher chance that they can pay high to get a quality service. On the other end, if it’s a small institution looking for informational website, then charging them high will make them feel they are paying more. So, getting to know the kind of business your clients are doing is vital. Finally, do not use hourly pricing as web development is a challenging task and can make you spend more time than you plan.
Have a winning portfolio
Now once you have a skill, you need to showcase your skills to potential buyers of your services. Most buyer wishes to see something that they can relate with. Having a website is one way to achieve that. You need to have a real function website or an app. Also, as part of portfolio you need an excellent testimonial for your customers. By that you give buyers assurance of quality service. In addition, you need to make clients understand what you are capable of doing.
To start with, you can use WordPress to create the website. The good thing is that there is a free package where you can showcase your skills. Once you get a good amount of money, you can buy your own domain and then host your website.
Come up with a marketing strategy
After successfully choosing your niche, identifying pricing and also writing a winning portfolio, now you need marketing. Your web developing criteria will highly impact once you have a working advertising strategy. As I mentioned earlier, this industry has high number of developers. So, being smart will make you outstand among many sellers. As a freelancer, you need to have both long term and short-term strategies to keep you moving. With the short term, you will manage to make right amount of money currently while the long term is essential for the sake of future, that is 1-5 years’ time.
Around the globe, web developers mostly focus on what they earn on daily basis. This ends up making them dependents of the online marketplaces rather than focusing on long term clients. Remember with website and apps, it’s not all about development. There is what we call website management, for great companies, they can easily make you their virtual assistant. This is always the road to success for most freelancers.
What websites can you get freelance web developing jobs
As mentioned, web development is one of the most in demand skills that is high in demand around the internet world. With the right skills, learning where to get first task is always the main aim of every freelancer. What you don’t know is that there are hundreds of freelancing websites available where you can get freelance web developing job. Here are among the best you can consider checking if you lad your first job;
Fiverr
If you have been following my artciles, you might have realized how I stretch on fiverr. This is one of the greatest website that have been tested and proven. I have earned vast amount of money here so I strongly believe it’s a place you can consider for your first job. Fiverr is an online marketplace, where all freelancing services can be found, both for the buyers and sellers.
For fiverr, it gives you an opportunity to choose your price ranging from 5 dollars. If you have a great portfolio and have done vast of orders, then you can set your prices high here for begginers its always advisable to set your price as low as possible to attract buyers. Fiverr is open to all kind of individuals as long as you have passion and commitment towards what you are offering. Learn how you can get started and sell more on fiverr.
Upwork
Another great platform to earn money online through web developing is Upwork. It has over 12 million users, which shows that people has high trust in them. Here, you can use it as source for your first client, once you lad that job then learn to keep the client. There are people earning millions of dollars from this site, I being one of them. The only challenge is the high competition for job here. You need to have a selling profile for you to make it here. Writing a proposal that is eye catching is a vital tool towards making your web developing career a reality. You can create a free account and start offering the service right away. To get started, learn more on how to sell more on Upwork.
Codepen.io
This is an entire platform for web developers. With this site, you will not only get clients but also get the opportunity to edit your code online. It also gives you an opportunity to improve your coding experience. Isn’t that amaizing? Boost your freelancing business today as a front end developer. If you are looking to build your career and earn then this is the best place for you. Codepen will reduce codding errors for you and also showcase your talents to potential clients. Create a free account here and get started.
Hired
Another freelancing website to consider as a web developer. This website will link you to potential clients online. The website has one of the most appealing interface and will search for the best contracts that directly fit your preferences . Once that is done, the system will match you with a potential client, they request an interview for you. Once you qualify then you are ready to pick the job. You also has an opportunity to decline the job if the tasks requirement is not something you can deliver.
Github
Github is one of a kind, its different from the above mentioned website. With Github a freelance web developer gets an opportunity to collaborate with millions of web developers online. It is a website that every freelance web developer should visit before starting off their career. Most potential clients of web developing will always use github to gauge the skills of the web developers. They will choose the best freelance based on their work requirements.
Stock overflow
Are you looking for a technical question? Wondering where you can get that programming answer? Then stock overflow is readily available for you. Here, you get the opportunity to meet with other web developers. Based on your skills, stack overflow will promote you and get your first contract. This website is trusted by vast community. Stary your journey today and get opportunity to grow.
Hirable
Do you believe you deserve better? Do you trust in your web developing skills? Then this is the right platform for you to make money out of your career. Hirable will link you with thousand of projects from any part of the world. With hirable, you can create your free account today and showcase your skills. The system will then filter your skills and recommend the best long-term project for you. In addition, your fellow web developers will help you build your honest career.
How to keep clients as a freelance web developer
Keeping clients is one of the areas where most people fail in business. If you have already landed on your first job, you need to talk to the client before strating off. Let the clientgive all the requirements. Ensure that you are in agreement on the terms of the job. You need to ensure you are reading on the same page to avoid order cancellation later.
Once the order start, keep your client informed of every steo you take. Anything you do is every important to make client feel as part of the project and will be more than willing to learn. Remember your goal as a web developer is to make sure your client is happy with al your doing. These will make them love the way you work.
Let the client know if you find that you will not finish the project on time. This will avoid blame game, communicate as much as you can. By doing that be assured that the client will consider using your service again in the future. Finally ensure that you give the project all that you can. Quality work is essential and will help build your portfolio.
How much money can you make as a freelance web developer?
When it comes to web development, your income is directly equal to the effort that you put in, how much you charge, and the number of clients you get. There is a great opportunity to take home $10,000 and above. When you have a greater pricing strategy and your work is super quality, web development will be your life-changing model.
What are the advantages of being a freelance web developer?
You are your own boss
When you start a career as a freelance web developer, you get an opportunity to rule over your life. By that you choose what to do when and where.
High demand of service
Once you get skills, the freelance world has a lot to offer. You only need to be an expert and you will get vast amount of orders to work on.
You decide what to earn
As a freelance web developer, you have the mandate to choose what you earn. If you give your best you can earn as much as you wish.
Final thought
Offering quality services to your clients is one and the most long-lasting strategy to keep the customers flocking into your inbox for super-quality services. Even if you do vast marketing, build your reputation, charge low for services, etc., it won’t work for you if you do not have the interest of the client. Customers are the number one priority in business and so for a web developer. Make your customer always feel to come back for that minor challenge they face.
Also, learn to communicate with your clients. For you to continuously make money online as a web developer, communication is key. Whatever little you do for the client’s project, make him or her aware, and let them be part of the process. By this, they will have all the reasons to trust you. They will also look forward to referring you to their friends and family. A marketing strategy that works brings new clients but a quality experience keeps the customers.
Even when the going gets tough, because it will, always look for that one reason why you should wake up in the morning and finish that one project. Look for a reason to strategize again when things don’t work out. Above all, let discipline be your shield and defender. Always have a schedule and work towards meeting the set deadline.
It’s not easy to make it, but with the above tips, you will manage to kick start and make your journey a more exciting one. I wish you all the best in the freelancing journey.
To be a successful freelancer, make sure you read here, how to earn money as a freelancer
