| Being a website designer can be a very rewarding | | | | One of the most important things you will need to |
| career both financially and personally. If you think | | | | do is create an impressive website for your |
| you would enjoy designing and maintaining | | | | business. You want to design something that |
| websites for other people, then this may be the | | | | expresses your creative style, but you don't want |
| ideal career opportunity for you. One of the best | | | | it to be offensive or off-putting to potential |
| things about this particular job is that it has great | | | | clients, so keep your colors and tones modest |
| flexibility. You can do it full-time or you can | | | | and appealing. When people visit your website |
| choose to only work on a part-time basis. The | | | | they should be able to determine exactly what |
| choice is entirely yours. | | | | your design style is, which will immediately let |
| The first thing you will need to do is make sure | | | | them know if you are the best designer for |
| that you have more than one reliable computer. | | | | them. Keep this in mind as you create your site. |
| You will also need to have a complete library of | | | | To ensure that your new business venture is a |
| software programs that you will need in order to | | | | successful one you will need to market yourself |
| do your work. You need more than one | | | | as much as you can afford to. For many people |
| computer so that if one of them goes down, you | | | | who are first starting out at anything, finances |
| have a backup right there to use. This will prevent | | | | are a very big deal. Try not to let this discourage |
| you from getting behind on your projects or from | | | | you. List your web design business on different |
| having to disappoint a client by telling him or her | | | | freelance websites and directories, and don't |
| that you won't have some work done when they | | | | forget to create some impressive business cards. |
| were originally expecting it. | | | | Carry your business cards with you everywhere |
| It might also be a good idea to familiarize yourself | | | | and hand them out to everyone you meet. It |
| with creating websites on both PCs and MACs. If | | | | doesn't matter if a person expresses absolutely |
| you can afford to buy at least one of each type | | | | no interest in web design services. Give them |
| of computer you should definitely splurge on the | | | | your card anyway because they just might |
| expense, as having these will come in handy at | | | | decide that they do need your services at some |
| some point during your career. | | | | point in the future. |
| To make yourself a success in this field you will | | | | Lastly, to further ensure your success as a web |
| need to create a portfolio showcasing your work. | | | | designer, check out your competition. You should |
| It might be a good idea to create an e-portfolio | | | | begin by doing some research on web designers |
| as well as a printed one so that you can show | | | | in your immediate area. Try to find out what they |
| your work to clients in multiple locations. As a | | | | charge and how successful they are. From there, |
| website designer, you will have the freedom to | | | | conduct some research on web designers from |
| develop relationships with clients all over the world, | | | | around the country and try to find a happy |
| so it is important that you have a portfolio that | | | | medium when it comes to establishing your rates. |
| people can access easily online. | | | | |