Running a Web Design Software Business from Home
After 15 years in the retail and food service management field, I am back in school studying Web design. I love it! But what are the real prospects out there for someone who wants to run a one-person business from home designing personal, family and business Websites? Anyone out there own their own Website design company and run it from home?
Please feel free to tell me your experiences, I’d be very interested in hearing them. How much do you charge? Where do you do most of your work? Where is the ‘beefiest’ part of the market? Do you design from HTML/XHTML scratch, or do you use software?
One Response to Running a Web Design Software Business from Home
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I don’t have a web design business, but I can make a few observations. You need a niche market. If you slap up your web design business website and just advertise online, you’ll never get any business. The niche needs to be your local community. Individuals and businesses wanting an online presence want to work with a local designer and not some “Peggy from USA Prime Credit” half way around the world or even in some other part of the US. If you do a good job, word will spread and you’ll get referrals. Always get your customers’ permission to use them in your portfolio so other businesses in the area can see your work.
You’re web design business website must be optimized for your town so people can find you. Make sure your site’s description includes your city, ST. If you want a catchy name, see if you can incorporate either your first or last name into the business name. I know of a local web design company where the person’s last name is Bourn and their business name is Bourn Creative.
Oh, and real coders code by hand.