How to Start Making Money Online as a Web Designer: A Beginner's Guide
Have you been dreaming of making money online but have no idea where to start? Maybe you've heard about website design and are curious about taking the first steps. Maybe you've given it a go already but figuring out what you should be doing to actually start earning feels totally out of reach.
We've been getting a lot of questions about this topic over the years, and this week, we're answering them all with the help of our good friend and web design business pro: Paige Brunton!
Not only has she built her own super successful web design business from scratch, she's helped thousands of others to do the same, so whether you're completely new to the online business world or have dabbled in some website design before, make sure to listen up because this guide will lay down all the steps you need to take to kickstart your web designer journey in the online money-making world!
Choose a website building platform and learn it
The very first thing you need to do is decide which website building platform you want to use.
While there are a lot of code-free website builders available these days (see Showit, Shopify, Wordpress, Wix, or Squarespace), picking just one of these platforms to start with will allow you to really put in the effort to master it!
When picking a platform, it's important to consider:
Ease of use, ie. how easy do you find this platform to navigate. Will it allow you to easily create the designs you have in mind?
Functionality, ie. does this builder have all the functions you might need built-in? For example, e-commerce, blogging, email marketing, or courses. If not, is there a way that you can add these functions to the platform via a third-party?
Pricing, ie. is this platform affordable enough? Both for you but your future clients!
If you're thinking, ok that sounds good, but how do I know which one is easiest to use or what's included... this is where you go test out these platforms and do some research! Each website builder generally offers a free trial period so this is the perfect opportunity to dip your toes in and see how you like it!
For beginners, we highly recommend Squarespace. Not only is it incredibly user-friendly and intuitive with its easy to use drag-and-drop editor, it is an all-in-one platform, meaning that all the features you could ever need for a business are built right in!
👉 What is the best DIY website builder for you?
There are tons of resources out there to help you learn the platform of your choice. You could invest in a course to fast-track your learning or dig down on Youtube and Google and make use of the free resources put out there by other website designers.
If you're just starting out in the realm of design, making sure that you study up on design best-practices will also be key to give your designs the strategic edge they need to actually help your clients boost their sales. This means knowing how to strategically lay out pages and add elements that encourage visitors to take the actions you want them to take on the site, not just making the site look beautiful! And of course, practice, practice, practice!
Define your niche and start building your portfolio
Start thinking about the kinds of clients that you would like to work with. Maybe you're an author and would like to work with other authors to create beautiful websites that sell their books. Maybe you love yoga and would like to build sites for yoga studios and fitness brands. Maybe you're passionate about psychology and could see yourself providing strategic websites for psychologists or counsellors.
You don't have to marry the niche that you pick, but figuring out a general direction of who you would like to work with will help you feel more focused and intentional in your design. You will be able to use any practice projects you create to build up your portfolio.
Another great way to build up your portfolio is to talk to your family and friends, because chances are, they or someone they know will need a website. This is the perfect opportunity to practice your website design with real clients (who may be a little more lenient!). While you're still figuring everything out, you can also charge a discounted fee, or offer your services for free for the first few projects you do.
Bringing it back to your ideal niche, remember to try to choose projects that align with the niche you're interested in serving in the future. For example, if you wanted to create bright, bold and colorful websites, you might pick building a site for your aunt who is an artist rather than your corporate dad!
Implement marketing strategies and grow your client base
Once you've exhausted your personal network, you'll need a solid marketing strategy to attract clients beyond friends and family.
While there is no one perfect option for every single business out there, the key is to tailor your marketing efforts to your ideal client. Consider where they hang out (on Instagram? in a particular Facebook group?) and offer your services there.
Legal considerations
Just like any other business, if you're planning on starting your own website design business, you need to protect yourself legally (even if it sounds intimidating!).
While exactly what you need to do to set up your business legally will depend from country to country, here are a few basic things to think about to help you get the ball-rolling:
Client contract and Terms & Conditions
Having a client contract ready to go when you're starting to work with clients is crucial not only to protect yourself, but also to protect your client if anything does go wrong.
A client contract should cover exactly what your services include, what exactly your client will be getting, and usually a bunch of terms regarding payments, copyrights, and other boring legal info. The client signs this contract upon agreeing to work with you, so this is sure to not only make your client feel more comfortable, but also make you seem more legit, win-win!
Similarly, if you are planning on selling website templates in your business, adding a page on your website covering the Terms & Conditions of sale is key to keep you covered.
Don't worry, you don't need to run to a lawyer and spend a large sum of money to get these legal documents drawn up. There are tons of contract template shops out there, created specifically by lawyers who actually understand online businesses and are in tune with the creative industry, giving you access to templated contracts which are much better suited and more affordable than if you went to just any ol' lawyer!
Here are some template shops that you can check out to get those legal docs for your business:
Set up a corporation
While you can start out as a sole trader when you're first dipping your toes into the online business world, it is a good idea to set your website design business up as a corporation, LLC, or company as soon as you get the chance. This will allow you to separate yourself from your business and protect your personal assets. (Disclaimer: check with your lawyer and country regarding requirements!)
Setting prices as a beginner
As a website designer, you'll want to feel confident setting prices knowing that you'll be able to pay your bills and make a profit!
To figure out the magic number that you should be charging, think about your expenses, like bills, rent, and taxes, then think about how much you want to earn annually, and divide that by the number of projects you can handle in a year.
Now, take this number and compare it to what other designers at your skill level are roughly charging to make sure that it is realistic and competitive!
How much does it actually cost to start a web design business?
Out of all the businesses out there that you could possibly start, website design is probably one of the most low-cost ventures to begin with!
You won't have any physical overheads like storage rents or production costs though you will need a website of your own to promote your services (around $200/year with Squarespace), a domain name (about $20/year), and a way to process payments (Stripe charges a small percentage of ~3% per transaction, only once you actually start earning).
On top of that, there may be some extras that you might want to add later on, like legal templates, the fees associated with setting up a corporation, any courses that you might take to up-skill, or CRM software to help you manage your projects.
You do ideally want to keep your startup costs as low as possible to make your first projects as profitable as possible, and really, it's totally possible to get your first projects without even having a website, domain, or payment processor (like through friends & family for example)!
What makes a successful website designer?
With how easy it is to start a website design business, one question that we get a lot is: what separates the really good designers from the average?
Determination
The ones that make it are the ones that go all in. They are committed, they are dedicated, they are determined to make it work. They are excited and fascinated by everything website design and making this business work, they've read everything, listened to every podcast and watched every Youtube video. Those are the ones who succeed.
Design skills
But determination isn't everything. You also need to be actually good at your craft! Of course, no one starts out as a pro and your first designs likely won't be amazing, but with practice, and dedication to learning how to create websites that look incredible, clients will start flowing in left, right, and centre!
Marketing
You might not necessarily start out good, but you do need to get good at marketing for your web design business to succeed! If people don't know what you're offering, they certainly won't be reaching out to learn more. Study up and experiment with different marketing strategies, keep showing up online as much as possible (even if you think it sucks), and you'll get there!
Is there still demand for website designers?
The answer is YES! With growing numbers of new businesses every year and millions of existing businesses still needing websites or website updates, it's easy to say that the need for website designer only grows each year.
To give you some numbers, Paige and her team conducted a survey of over 770 website designers, asking them about when they go their first paid projects. The survey found that a vast majority (~60%) had gotten their first paid project before they were even officially in business, while the average time for people to get their first paid project was majority between the one to two week timeframe, showing just how much demand for websites there still is!
Starting a web design business is an exciting journey. With the right tools, knowledge, and determination, you can create a super profitable online venture.
If you're interested in also starting your own template shop, make sure to check out our super actionable FREE training teaching you our top tips to set your template shop up for success from the very beginning, including:
Why should become a Squarespace circle member;
How to create live demos of your templates (without having to pay for a plan!); and
A full breakdown of exactly how to send templates to your customers with ease!
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