The world of
web design has the potential to be a hugely exciting and rewarding one for
people with the right combination of talent and ambition. There is enormous
scope for creativity and opportunities for artistic expression. As a
profession, web designers are also encouraged to continue to develop themselves
professionally because such roles invariably require individuals who have both
technical and creative abilities. Additionally, roles can be financially
rewarding as companies increasingly realize that they need to have a strong
online presence in order to be relevant in today’s competitive markets and
industries.
The most
successful people in this industry are those who recognize that talent and a
desire to succeed, however strong, are not quite enough to guarantee success.
Many web designers are freelancers, because of the inherent nature of the job,
and this means they need to manage themselves as a business. This is a lot more
complex in practice than it sounds in theory, and many struggle with this
aspect, especially those who have a particularly creative sensibility, and
prefer to focus on the delivery of their role while neglecting the relatively
dull and complex but no less essential business elements. Unfortunately taking
such an approach is simply not sustainable and is a sure fire way to lay solid
foundations for future problems.
Hints and Tips
Here are
some hints and tips for first time web design freelancers looking for
inspiration when it comes to the day-to-day running of themselves as a
business.
·
Get
comfortable selling yourself. It would be nice to think that the work
will come to you and that you will be able to pick and choose the jobs you
want. Unfortunately, while it is possible getting to this stage, it takes time
and experience. Until you get there, you need to make self-promotion a major
priority. This does not come naturally to everyone so be prepared to step
outside your comfort zone or enlist the support of someone who can help you. Be
proactive in building up a network and use it tirelessly to make sure you are
at the forefront of peoples’ minds when they think about web design.
·
Invoicing. Getting paid
is about as important a requirement as it is possible to get for a freelancer
or indeed anyone in the world of work, so make it easy for yourself by setting
up a process and the necessary supporting infrastructure to make sure this
happens quickly, efficiently and seamlessly. Fortunately, there are a range of
online tools out there, such as invoicehome.com that not
only provide expert advice on how to go about doing this but which can also
support with the actual mechanics of making it all happen. While it is tempting
to focus entirely on the job in hand, remember that you would not be doing it
if you were not being paid so get invoicing organized as a priority.
·
Obtain
clarity. As
you start out in any job make sure you confirm, in writing, exactly what you
are being enlisted to do, plus how and when you will be reimbursed for it. Be
methodical, get into the detail and enlist some professional support if
necessary to make sure that everything that needs to be covered has been
covered, and that any potential risks and pitfalls are adequately mitigated
against. The important thing is to have agreement on the expectations of both
sides as this is essential in forming the basis of a mutually beneficial
working relationship.
·
Build and
maintain momentum. The initial excitement that comes from starting
out as a freelancer is usually enough to keep momentum going in the first few
weeks and months. As time goes on however, and the reality of the situation
sinks in, there is a risk that this momentum can wane. Freelancers need to be
continually thinking about their next move so make sure you never let up on
your own professional development. Read the appropriate journals, invest in
your own training and keep an eye on the sites that advertise the sort of roles
in which you are most interested. This will have the additional advantage of
making sure that however long you spend in one particular role you still maintain
strong industry awareness.
·
Learn from others.
Remember
you are not alone. Many people have tried to do this before with varying
degrees of success. Make sure you learn from their achievements and perhaps
even more importantly, their mistakes. Freelancing is a competitive world but
also, in many ways, a generous one. So get online and do your research. Find
out what people who have gone before you have done to make it in the industry.
This is not something to do only when you are starting out either. It is actually
a habit that the most successful freelancers invariably adopt and build in to
their regular day-to-day activity, continually updating their networks and
keeping their skills and industry thinking sharp and up to date.
Preparing
for Future Success
Many people today are drawn to the web design
industry, and with good reason. It has that rare and very attractive
combination of good financial reward and enjoyable roles. There is also
something very appealing for the right kind of person about working for
oneself. Almost immediately, this conjures up mental images of freedom and
flexibility, both of which are the sort of thing that appeals very much to
people with artistic and creative sensibilities.
The challenge here of course is that with this
freedom and flexibility comes additional responsibility. The sort of
responsibilities that people in permanent roles rarely have to give a great
deal of thought to as they are often taken care of by their employing
organization.
That said, these responsibilities should not be
enough to turn anyone off from pursuing their dream. By doing some research and
making the effort to get organized and be prepared, anyone serious about making
it as a successful freelance web designer can start out on this journey
confident that they have given themselves the very best chances.
Source: CSSmania