WORKING AS A FREELANCE WEBSITESITE DESIGNER: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AND HOW

Are you interested in freelance website design work? Before you begin your freelance career in website design, here are four things you need to know.

Businesses that choose to remain offline do so at their own risk in the economy of today that is powered by the internet.

Despite the fact that a company’s in UAE, DUBAI, AJMAN and SHARJAH digital identity has a significant impact on its performance, a sample of just over 1,000 small businesses in the UAE found that 27% of them still did not have a website as of 2022.

A recognizable brand identity and an appealing website create sales-inducing sales opportunities. However, taking their businesses online may be frowned upon by business owners who lack the technical expertise necessary to design and manage a website.

Website designers have plenty of opportunities as a result. To help newcomers get started, this guide will cover everything there is to know about freelancing for website design.

What is a self-employed website designer?

Let's begin with the fundamentals to comprehend this.

Website design is the process of creating website and pages that represent a brand or company's identity and serve as a platform for promoting their goods and services to the public. In order to create a website that is both useful and visually appealing, it requires combining aesthetics and functionality.

A person who is free to take on short-term contractual projects and does not work for a single employer is known as a freelancer. Freelancers often determine their own rates and select their work.

Why work for yourself as a website designer?

In 2022, more than 70 million people worked for themselves. By 2028, this number is expected to rise by another 20 million.

But why do so many people choose to work for themselves? When you don't know where your next paycheck is coming from, isn't it risky? Yes, sometimes. However, we will let you decide whether the advantages outweigh the risks. Three reasons why freelance work is appealing are as follows:

It gives freelancers freedom and flexibility:

Clients and freelancers frequently negotiate deadlines. You are accountable for finishing a project and submitting deliverables on time once it has begun. As a result, freelancers are free to choose their working hours and workplace. You could manage a few projects while traveling to new places and working in new time zones. If you have a laptop and a dependable internet connection, the world is your office.

You can be your own boss:

If you can keep your discipline and meet your deadlines, you'll enjoy working for yourself. You won't have to worry about performance reviews, report to managers, or attend a lot of meetings because freelancers aren't employees of the company. However, you must still meet your customers' expectations. Remember that you are solely responsible for winning and losing when you are your own boss.

It lets you grow your business to make more money:

Your earning potential and client opportunities are always growing because of the rapid pace of technological advancement and the popularity of freelancing platforms like Fiverr and up work. Freelancers can find clients all over the world and earn money in currencies that trade at higher rates.

You are not limited to a single project or skill as a freelancer. 70% of freelancers manage 2-4 projects simultaneously, according to a Fiverr study, and 61% include 2-3 skills in their pitch. For instance, a Photoshop-savvy website developer can provide clients with both website development in UAE and the associated graphic design work. The process is streamlined and companies sign fewer invoices when graphics are created for the website you're building.

4 steps to becoming a freelance website designer!

If you're ready to quit your corporate job to work on projects you love, we have some advice for you. Before you begin your freelance career, there are four things you need to do:

1. Master the skills:

Despite the fact that some professions require advanced degrees, freelance website designers are frequently hired on the basis of their expertise, portfolio, and knowledge rather than their academic credentials.

You'll need the skills for freelance website design to get started. It is helpful to be familiar with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript in order to comprehend the fundamentals of back end development, but you do not necessarily need to become an expert in these languages. A good place to start is this guide.

Learn about color theory, graphic design, design principles, and website typography to improve your design skills. Sigma is a fantastic tool for designers of all levels; you can even import Sigma designs into Website flow to build your website.

Work with clients from multiple industries to gain experience. Additionally, doing this will increase your exposure to new jobs and demonstrate your adaptability.

2. Examine the market:

After you've developed your skills in the field. Costs, rates, resources, and customers are a few important things to keep in mind. Before setting your rates, find out what other freelancers with similar skills and experience charge for their work.

How much does it cost you to serve a customer? Is it necessary to purchase specialized software? How much time will be needed for the project? Do you have the resources to finish work on time and of high quality?

Calculating in these extra costs will illuminate your costs. Your abilities and experience additionally permit you to change hourly or project-based rates as your business develops. You might even be able to negotiate lucrative contracts with large corporations, depending on the scope of the project.

3. After you have determined your pricing:

It is time to design an online portfolio. As an independent website specialist, this is the main method for promoting yourself. Since clients pay you to design their website yours must be of the highest quality.

In just three weeks, our free 21-day design portfolio course will walk you through the entire build.

4. To get your first clients:

Promote your work and yourself on a variety of platforms, particularly social media. Having previous work in your portfolio is essential for making a good first impression. Clients won't have any desire to purchase your work on the off chance that they don't have the foggiest idea what's in store.

On sites like Website flow, Balance, and Dribble, you can sign up for an account and showcase your own individual website design Dubai UAE projects. All of your projects should have catchy cover images and tags, as we suggest. In a market with a lot of competition, tags help potential customers locate your work, and cover images are what customers see first when scrolling through your website. Look at the work of other designers to see where you can add something new.

Before creating accounts on freelancing website, you might want to think about working as a freelance designer for nearby charitable organizations or taking on projects for friends and family at reduced rates. Your portfolio and experience will grow as a result of these projects.

Create profiles on LinkedIn and Instagram so that you can post screenshots of your designs there. For freelancers, these websites are effective marketing tools that help build your personal brand. By utilizing the same fonts, color scheme, and logo, your brand profiles will become more cohesive and recognizable. Buy ads to promote your portfolio and broaden your audience if you have the cash. Your chances of getting new clients are higher the more people who see you and your work.