Web Design. Good Money?

Discussion in 'General Business' started by Pixel T., Apr 15, 2008.

  1. #1
    Hello,

    Well it is that time where I have to choose what field I am planning to go in. Right now, I'm going into high school so I still have a few years to change my mind.

    I have been looking around the forums, freelance web designers are making an average of $500 a month, working a few hours every day.

    Getting $500 a month is not too great if I would want to be a web designer. Thats around 6g a year!

    What about a professional? How much are they making a month? Is it a good career to go in?

    Thanks,
     
    Pixel T., Apr 15, 2008 IP
  2. EnPassant

    EnPassant Active Member

    Messages:
    612
    Likes Received:
    26
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    70
    #2
    It depends on your mind creativity. If you are so creative, there is no limit. I am doing 1-2K a month freelance designing, probably near what you mention as $500. But it really depends where you get your clients.

    online, for example, they will undervalue you because some so-called designers are ready to do anything for you for a cup of coffee.

    I'd say, go on..start in the design field its worth it if you do not want to go the other way seo/webmastering/adsense/etc.
     
    EnPassant, Apr 15, 2008 IP
  3. w3bmaster

    w3bmaster Notable Member

    Messages:
    17,594
    Likes Received:
    416
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    240
    #3
    Freelancing is a good way
    And yes Webdesign = good $$$

    I'm a seo freelancer and earn good money
     
    w3bmaster, Apr 15, 2008 IP
  4. mikey1090

    mikey1090 Moderator Staff

    Messages:
    15,869
    Likes Received:
    1,055
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    445
    Digital Goods:
    2
    #4
    Web designers can make thousands a week if they are good. They need to expand into a team and offer other services though.
     
    mikey1090, Apr 15, 2008 IP
  5. Pixel T.

    Pixel T. Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,205
    Likes Received:
    13
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    170
    #5
    thanks guys,

    is there anyway that a web designer earns a steady income?
     
    Pixel T., Apr 15, 2008 IP
  6. Tobidotman

    Tobidotman Peon

    Messages:
    499
    Likes Received:
    16
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #6
    You can't ensure you will always get work as a freelancer because you are cnstantly having to bid with other, some from other cuntries where even the smallest amount means alot to them like in india where $500 a month is a decent wage (infact more than decent)
     
    Tobidotman, Apr 15, 2008 IP
  7. Dgplex

    Dgplex Peon

    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #7
    If you are good at what you do you can charge lets say 17-20k for a web site design. Think of all companies out there that are in need of a web site that really have a lot of money to give. But that's if you are a professional. Freelancing will get you less money.
     
    Dgplex, Apr 15, 2008 IP
  8. lmhiih

    lmhiih Peon

    Messages:
    68
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #8
    too much pressure on young people today.
    Why would you even want to chose a profession before even graduating?
    You may be better off trying to enjoy your time as much as possible.
     
    lmhiih, Apr 15, 2008 IP
  9. Pixel T.

    Pixel T. Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,205
    Likes Received:
    13
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    170
    #9
    Where could I get freelance jobs right now? Is there any site where there are good paying clients?
     
    Pixel T., Apr 15, 2008 IP
  10. believer1984

    believer1984 Peon

    Messages:
    1,544
    Likes Received:
    5
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #10
    Elance.com :cool:
     
    believer1984, Apr 15, 2008 IP
  11. Pixel T.

    Pixel T. Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,205
    Likes Received:
    13
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    170
    #11
    In my point of view, enjoying myself comes after I make money. But thats just me. :D

    btw, I signed up at Elance.com, gonna look over some jobs.
     
    Pixel T., Apr 15, 2008 IP
  12. AvarianParakeet

    AvarianParakeet Peon

    Messages:
    597
    Likes Received:
    22
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #12
    Look at sites like rentacoder, getacoder, and getafreelancer. Diversity is key. Note that you'll have to build up a history of past work to get good jobs there though.

    I would say that there is decent money to be made. The secret would be to build a good portfolio up and then work to have the clients really want your work. If you can link up with a good person, then you could have steady money for doing something you like.

    The big money is probably local though. There is a lot to be made through 2.0 ignorance. For example, the idiots who run my school have no idea how the internet world works. They paid some design company thousands of dollars ($10,000 seemed to jump in mind for some reason...not sure though) for a website that isn't special at all. They did extra things like take pictures of the kids and write some of the content up, but that was it. The thing I laughed at the most was that the school bragged about how they'd hired experts who did many private schools. They didn't seem to understand that this meant they'd be hosed and given a standard template with the colors changed. That's what they did too.

    The lesson is that if you can either get local business or establish yourself in a field, there is really good money. Otherwise, things are a bidding war.

    My advice would be to just go the extra mile and look into designing your own websites. You can then run them yourself or just sell them for a tidy profit. I know that there is money in that, since said 2.0 ignorant people are flocking online to invest in digital property.
     
    AvarianParakeet, Apr 15, 2008 IP
  13. flippers.be

    flippers.be Peon

    Messages:
    432
    Likes Received:
    4
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #13
    My advise to you:

    Don't make a choice about your profession based on what you think you can earn in the future.. by the time you graduate, technology will have improved, or the whole situation can be changed, that what now pays good is not in demand anymore and vice versa.

    Decide what you want to do, based on what you like to do. Don't chose a job / education because you want to make money. Do it because you like doing it. Else you'll be unhappy until retirement.. you'll do a lousy day job and will look for side-jobs in which you think you'll be able to make money, or think you'll enjoy doing more than your day-job. In the end you will probably waste a lot of time with everything and not become successful.

    Better chances are that if you choose from start something you enjoy doing, you'll be better at it, and have more succes and thus more money.

    That being said, if you really don't know what to study now, don't know yet what you really want, then aim for the highest you can achieve.

    Don't limit yourself to 'web design'. If you like designing things, .. then study graphics, art, design, photography, maybe even architecture ? If you like designing things you may like designing houses ? Or study industrial design. Aim high, don't limit yourself from the start.

    If you like more the programming side of webdesign, then don't limit yourself to php, flash,.. . Do computer sciences, become a real programmer.
    The basics of programming are the same for almost any language.. C++, Java C#, .. once you master one, you can learn another language too. The basic concepts of programming stay the same, it's just another way of writing things..
     
    flippers.be, Apr 16, 2008 IP
  14. xaralee

    xaralee Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,316
    Likes Received:
    70
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    140
    #14
    Indeed.
    Web design has a good money $$$$ :)
    It depends on how creative are you.
    Just keep trying and trying...:D
     
    xaralee, Apr 16, 2008 IP
  15. Pixel T.

    Pixel T. Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,205
    Likes Received:
    13
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    170
    #15
    Aiight, thanks for all the advice guys. Right now I'm taking Art and Visual Basics. But it might change in the first week of school.

    again, thanks guys
     
    Pixel T., Apr 16, 2008 IP
  16. Mihai074

    Mihai074 Member

    Messages:
    84
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    43
    #16
    That's what I did... turned up real bad, wasted almost 5 years... now I have to do alot of caching up.
     
    Mihai074, Apr 16, 2008 IP
  17. tigrrra

    tigrrra Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,109
    Likes Received:
    68
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    120
    #17
    its good if you like to hustle you can have a full time job paying you 40k+ per year and do side work for more money that way you get a steady income and make good money on the side. Once you start doing good work you are looking at 1k+ for 2 days of work :). I don’t know if i would recommend doing it for a living (i did for a few years but didn’t like it) but it helps you out in any other field you end up being in.
     
    tigrrra, Apr 16, 2008 IP
  18. PlateFish

    PlateFish Banned

    Messages:
    620
    Likes Received:
    18
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #18
    Well don't panic. I'm 20 and doing my 2nd year of university and still don't know what I'm going to go into after university. Job in London and then start up my own business partnership :)

    But anyway, Web Design is becoming more and more in demand and I think in years to come those skills will be almost essential for nearly everyone. Professional work can be paid very well, far more than $500 a month. I suggest get on with your education, perhaps get a job and do part time freelance.
     
    PlateFish, Apr 16, 2008 IP
  19. tigrrra

    tigrrra Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,109
    Likes Received:
    68
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    120
    #19
    As a web designer i would recommend specializing in (flash, .net, ajax) on top of web design. This will help you get a lot more then the average web designer. (there are a lot of people this days calling themselves web designers)
     
    tigrrra, Apr 18, 2008 IP
  20. Pixel T.

    Pixel T. Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,205
    Likes Received:
    13
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    170
    #20
    Ok, well I just got Flash a few days ago so I guess Im on my way to being a good designer :D
     
    Pixel T., Apr 18, 2008 IP