That might sound interesting to you…Becoming a freelance web developer! Before we get into the basics, this piece of information would be of great help – the web developing industry is only growing and the demand for freelance developers are on the rise.
This post is therefore a well-researched piece to deliver to you all the latest know-how about web development. 2 good reasons could give you a boost to take up web development as a career:
- You can work from any corner of the world that includes the comforts of your bedroom or your living room.
- You can determine your own work schedule as well as the hourly rates too.
This article harps on a step-by-step approach to help you kick-start a career in web development. The first order of the business is to learn how to code.
Probably, once you’ve had enough of your mundane and monotonous desk job, you dream of venturing into some new and interesting career option. It’s at this juncture that, being a tech junky, you wreak havoc in your brains to master HTML and JavaScript.
6 steps to becoming a freelance web developer
- Learn as many languages as you can
For web development the knowledge of more than one programming language is essential. This more technologies and languages you are familiar with, the more jobs or variety of tasks you’ll be able to accept. Understandably, this is crucial when you are your own boss. Freelancing not only makes you your own boss but also puts the responsibility of getting substantial work on your shoulders. Thus, the more versatile you are (with respect to languages known) the more work opportunities you can grab for yourself.
- Build your own freelancing website
Like any job on earth, the struggler’s period needs to be overcome. Similarly, to become a freelancer, you need to have a portfolio showing completed client projects. This purpose is to be served by your personal website that will showcase your work in a manner that would attract clients. Apply current design trends to create an engaging website. Your website should interactive in the sense that it should clearly explain to your clients:
- The kind of services you can provide your clients with
- The style of your approach in completing those projects
- How will that benefit the clients
- And finally, why should they choose you
- Make yourself known
Today, hoping that Google will find you if you just start off with a normal name, is tough. The best way could be attaching your name through your portfolio in social networking sites and content (to the terminology that describes your niche skill. Digital marketing for your site is important. In simple words, do the best SEO for your site through social networking links, blogging, having a live chat option, placing google maps to enhance authenticity and so on.
A brief account of how the internet could aid in the digital marketing of your new business venture essentially reveals 3 different elements:
- Twitter — Tweeting about current trends in your own niche is a great idea for networking. You can also use this platform to talk to people from your field across the world.
- Quora — You get a chance to answer the questions from individuals in your niche. You get to interact with professionals too and in the process your name gets noticed.
- YouTube — Creating and uploading online tutorials is a great and innovative way to start!. Catchy titles like: “How to become a Freelance Web Developer” would increase the viewers and make more people will come back to you!
- Getting more organized
Becoming a freelance web developer in India, is not about being your own boss only and a freelance web developer’s job is not simply to sit and code. Besides being so, you are a project coordinator, salesperson and client servicing executive too. So, are you looking for some good management skills within yourself? The internet can again help you in this regard.
Some online time and project management tools could make your work life easier:
Quote roller – It helps you to create and send professional proposals to clients. The proposal would be arranged in a matter of minutes and even check when the client has opened it!
Toggl helps in tracking projects and determining how much time is being spent on each project.
Asana – Sometimes, in case of diversified work, it is required delegate tasks and collaborate with those employees. Asana helps in this job of project management.
For invoicing and other financial work, Google has an ample of apps like BillingsPro, Freshbooks etc.
- Setting up the Logistics for your Business
Finally, the official formalities to set up your new business would need some amount of your hard toil.
- Your business name needs to be registered in the state you stay or work in.
- Enquire and note when and in what manner to pay taxes from some professional
- Purchase the necessary software and equipment required to run your business
- Write a business plan – this is essential for achieving goals, measuring achievements and most importantly to secure any business financing that you need.
- Stay Updated
There is no better way to excel and prosper in your job than learning new techniques and implementing them in newer and varied projects. If you are not a good learner, you tend to become outdated as a developer. This bars you from expanding your clientele as well as your skill set.
To wrap things up, when you have a long way in your career, you realize that freelancing was the best part of it. You may not feel this way initially when you need to handle late paying clients and newer tax forms, but you certainly realize this later in life while reaping the benefits of maximum freedom, flexibility, work-life balance and potential for a good earning. It is only that the start of your freelance career requires the significant investment of your time and effort. The results, thereafter, are truly satisfactory.
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