The Business of WebDesign

Introduction

Questions about this subject come up all the time on Killersites.com; so I decided to create series of podcast that covers the details about becoming an independent freelance web designer.

You can keep up to date with the new episodes at the killersites.com magazine - just subscribe to the Business of Web Design RSS feed.

You can also join the discussion on the business of web design forum.

Much more to come.

Stefan Mischook

Web Design Business Roadmap

A guide to starting your own web design business from scratch.

Steps:

1. Learn web design (HTML, CSS with basic image editing, domain registration and hosting)
2. Use web templates and other resources (scripts (PHP top 5) to enhance your skills.
3. Develop your web site for your business.
4. Do a few free small web design jobs to:
   • develop your skills in terms of working with clients.
   • develop your project management chops.
   • develop your portfolio.
5. Put together your business documents:
   • business card
   • Quote sheet/contract
   • Invoice
   • Company logo
6. Start hunting for clients:
   • talk to friends of friends
   • pass out cards
   • ask local church, garage, flower shop, antique shop, local gym
   • online contract bidding
7. Continued (on the side) learning
   • Learn a little PHP
   • Learn a blog like Wordpress
   • Learn a CMS like Drupal, Simple CMS or Joomla

Podcasts on the Business of Web Design

• Introduction
• Hardware and Software
• Business Types
• Money Needed to Start
• Branding Your Business
• Portfolio Site and Your First Clients
• The Initial Proposal
• What are Organic Websites?
• The Webdesign Contract
• Lazy Clients
• Getting Paid

Killersites Forums

Our friendly forums are a great place to ask questions on any topic related to web design, design and programming.

A good place to meet web design nerds too ...

Besides being a great place to ask and answer questions, you will also find that the forums form the heart of the killersites.com community.

... It's a great place to meet other web designers and students of web design - our forum members are a friendly group of people!

Some of the forums:

• Beginners to Web Design
• CSS
• PHP
• HTML / XHTML
• Flash
• and many more

Check out the web designers forum »

Killersites Web Design Magazine

The magazine section of the web site is where you will find tutorials, reviews, articles and video tutorials on anything new that is related to web design and web programming.

Top quality content from all over the Web

Besides our own stuff, the magazine will attempt to put together the best that the Web has to offer.

Some of the topics we plan on covering:

• HTML and CSS
• Dreamweaver, Frontpage, MS Expression
• Photoshop, The Gimp
• AJAX, Javascript,
• Wordpress, Drupal, Joomla ...
• PHP, ASP, RUBY, ColdFusion
• MYSQL, SQL
• Starting a web design business, dealing with clients etc.
• Basic design, fonts

... And anything else that we find interested and useful.

Oh yes, if you have any suggestions regarding the content, feel free to let me know!

Check out the 'killer' web designers magazine »

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• Killersites.com Support:

• stefan@killersites.com
• 514-932-8091 (10 to 5)

• Questions about the videos:

• videos@killersites.com

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