Web Design – The Recession Money Maker – Part 1
Posted on Aug 17, 2009 in Articles
Need money? Well web and graphic design may be your way out. We’ll start the series with a few tips on maximizing your growth from the start.
We’ve got to face it, America (and just about everyone else) is in a recession. But that doesn’t mean we have to roll over and die because of it. And if you aren’t in the American recession, it doesn’t mean you can’t maximize your profits by spending a few weekends playing with Dreamweaver.
Here we’ll see why taking advantage of your skills in web and graphic design can save you from an economic downturn, or better yet, expand your earnings anytime at all.
Why People Want Web/Graphic Design
The internet has become an avenue for worldwide marketing, so more people are constantly reserving their spaces and moving in. In a time of economic hardship, however,this number multiplies exponentially, because fewer people can afford physical storefronts. This means that anybody who wants to sell physical products is more inclined to use a web site than a storefront if possible.
Moreover, virtual items, or services, are almost always on the internet, because they cannot be advertised to a large audience or even at all without a web site that works for them.
It’s as simple as people wanting to advertise themselves or their service. Common sense implies maximizing your own profits and cutting as many extraneous costs as possible, so there’s a consistent stream of people moving online, as the costs are lower, and the amount of people they can reach increases.
With the information age and the internet booming, if you can provide someone a web site or a logo, you’re already in business.
What People Look for in Designers
As a designer, you cannot expect people to work with you simply because, you are self-proclaimed excellent and have great tastes. Especially so in a time of economic downturn, people look for value.
To be successful as a web designer, you need to make sure you work at a low enough rate to compete with other designers, but not low enough to undercut yourself.
While it’s true that there is probably always someone who will work for less than you, if you establish yourself as the low-end market, it’s difficult to change your niche from there.
Besides just rates, people look for someone who they can rely on and that won’t let them down. A designer who provides more support for a client not only keeps the door open for future jobs, but also allows for referral business.
Web and Graphic Design are huge on word of mouth, and the better you take care of your sphere of influence, the more they can help you grow your business.
Client relations and satisfaction should be your number one priority.
How You Can Start to Make Money
Above all else, in order to be successful, you need to get a start. And this means telling all your friends about your “skills.” It doesn’t matter who they are, what they do, or how you know them, let them know.
It’s surprisingly easy how many clients you can earn by just talking to people about web sites. Even friends who you might not think need them, can often use designers.
For example, while many personal business owners may have web sites, I’ve found that almost half the time, there’s something (if not all of the site or logo) that they want to change. Discuss with them, and you can work a deal out.
Don’t be afraid to provide incentives for people to help you out. Referrals can bring you more business, but give people and clients a reason to spend their time talking about you. Provide a percentage or rate for referral business, and before you know it, your name will be popping up everywhere.
This concludes part 1 of the series, but be sure to subscribe so you can hear the rest of this series. Next, we’ll be reviewing why and how the economy effects clients and designers, and how to change your plans accordingly.
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