How to become a Freelance Web Developer with these 9 Steps
Freelance web developers are making tons of money. You might be here with an almost similar belief. It is true, as 99Firm.com suggests that 33% of freelancers earn more than $75,000 annually. You can also have your share, but it all requires following a path and staying committed to your profession. There is no shortcut in getting rich or becoming a freelance web developer.
Web development is itself vast, and adopting it as a freelance business is a challenging decision. We all wish to be the game-changer, but fail to find and follow the path. The crux of starting any business lies in friends and family support. Search for useful resources in the city or region where you live. Follow the local companies working in the field of your interest and seek their assistance.
For example, if you are living or aim to reach out to clients in the UAE, you can find companies or agencies that are offering web development in Dubai. Before trying on freelancing, it is recommended to acquire formal exposure to the skills and expertise that you want to be the master of. In this post, I am elaborating as how to become a freelance web developer with easy to follow steps.
1. Ask yourself why to freelance
The potential to earn beyond a defined scale is making most of the developers to start freelancing. But, for you, it may not be the same. Ask yourself as why you would like to become a freelance web developer as you can get a high paying job too.
Let me draw some of the reasons you may relate with. It may be the freedom to choose the type of work, hours, and place, or the flexibility to move across the programming languages and technologies. You may be attracted by the freelance lifestyle like roaming around your house in pajamas and slippers.
Web development is high in demand. Every day new businesses emerge in the web world, and the traditional ones want to transform into a digital shop. It increases the need for professional resources. But before stepping into the industry, you must know the reason for diving into it so that you can set your goals accordingly.
2. Set smaller milestones
Just like any other business, freelancing also takes time to establish and earn you a reputable name. Achieving a bigger goal overnight is not possible. Aim higher but divide the end goal into smaller milestones and work passionately towards achieving them.
Setting bigger goals may somehow disappoint you, as it may seem unattainable. Break them down to know the work you have to complete in the next 24 hours or a week to reach the first milestone and so on. Turn your milestones into motivating factors of your business rather than the discouraging ones.
3. Evaluate your knowledge to find a niche
Web development is vast. It includes building and customizing websites and increasing their functionality. To have this done, developers use different languages, tools, and frameworks. You can choose any path for your freelance career.
You can start with user experience designing or developing a user interface or a complete application with expertise in front or back-end development. Based on your knowledge, either relevant to your interested or past work experiences, you can decide a niche. For example, if you have accounts and finance related experience, you can specifically serve accountants with web solutions.
4. Refine your skills
To make money freelancing, you need to refine your skills and keep updating them. You must acquire necessary skills such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and PHP. Get to know different CMS and eCommerce platforms preferred the most like WordPress, Magento, WooCommerce, etc.
In addition to the web development essentials, you also need to keep an eye on the latest trends and user requirements. The advancement in mobile commerce is demanding an innovative user experience. Have your research in understanding user requirements and behavior of your clients to document them with custom solutions.
5. Build an online reputation
Among social media networks, LinkedIn should be your primary focus in building a reputation, connecting with other industry influencers and decision-makers, and reaching out to clients.
The Foundationinc.co, in one of their posts, referred to LinkedIn as the most-used social media platform among Fortune 500 companies. Ensure your presence, follow the companies you are seeking inspiration from, and keep posting your work samples and project accomplishments.
6. Have a website of your own
Invest a bit in building your website that briefs the users about your education, career profile, skills, and projects. Turn this into a portfolio website or blog about your experiences in the industry. It will help promote your skills and attract clients who may be looking for a professional with expertise like you.
7. Create profiles on freelance marketplace
Freelance marketplaces are populated with professionals across the globe. The website builder reports that more than 57 million Americans are freelancing. It makes a cutthroat competition for the beginners, who have not yet established a freelancing business. Getting a project and making the client believe in you is difficult in the beginning. As time flies, you may come to know the type of project to select and bid over that completely resonates with your skillset.
Sign-up to the leading freelance websites such as Upwork, freelancer, Guru, People per hour, Fiverr, etc. Every platform has its strengths and weaknesses. Start on multiple websites to find which one works best for you.
8. Be vigilant in applying for a job
Freelancing is great, but it has a downside too. There are cheat companies or individuals on the freelance marketplace in the disguise of reliable names. They may ask you to complete a task without documenting it on the website. Thus, they would get the work and rip you off from the money you deserve.
The WebsitePlanet had asked freelancers about their experience, and clients cheated about 44% of them. Stay alert while reaching out to a potential client, or a client invites you for an online interview. Do not get into contracts that violate the rules and regulations of a marketplace. Utilize the escrow payment system to help the client track the completion of the project and get paid after each milestone.
9. Deliver finest results
Freelancing success lies in delivering exceptional results possible. Clients are reluctant to re-hire freelancers if the work is not according to their expectations. If you want to remain a high achiever, stick to the guidelines laid by your client and try to devise a solution as he or she expects. It will ultimately bring in more referrals to your freelance business by word of mouth.
Final words
Becoming a freelance web developer is a tough job. Entering the freelance industry is a tough job. Initially, you may find small jobs like editing the HTML code of a web page or modifying the layout of a contact us section. Start with tasks of minor edits and move on to complete projects.
For example, you can code an app in CSS from scratch after doing multiple small tasks of CSS adjustments. Stay motivated and try to improve with every passing day. Your hard work will pay off with a comfortable lifestyle of a freelance. Free and beyond any restriction.
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