Friday, January 13, 2012

Freelance Job No. 2: Become a Web Designer


Photo from webdesignworlds.com
You have just graduated and your expertise is web designing, while waiting for an official job, you decided to do freelance works. It can be thrilling at the start, realizing you will profit from something that you love to do, or at least within the discipline that you have focused on when you were still a student. Web design is a well-liked career option for artistic and technically minded people, and it pays dividends to search for courses in web design that direct you to a thorough comprehension of the subject. 

Web design can be and fun and fulfilling experience. It's an industry that blends technical skills with creative talent. If you feel at ease with computer technology and you enjoy constructing documents, web design can be a noble way to merge the two interests. These days, people log on the web in more ways than were ever possible before.

When you are web designing, you not only want to make your web pages perform in multiple browsers, but also on various devices. Even basic cell phones can access the web today, not just smart phones such as BlackBerrys and iPhones. Even some video game playing devices like the Sony PSP and Nintendo DSi have web browsers. Web surfers can be utilizing tiny screens or huge screens. They could be using an assortment of different browsers and versions of browsers. Users may have totally different plug-ins and fonts; Adobe Flash is a browser plug-in, for instance. When you're studying web design, try surfing the web in as many ways as you can.

Here are the most basic things you need to learn if you want to become a web designer:
  • HTML knowledge
    This is actually the simplest part in knowing web design. A lot of people could understand and even memorize HTML tags. Some could even go further into learning CSS. In addition to that, there are diverse software that assist in creating web pages such as Dreamweaver, MS Publisher and CoffeeCup HTML. Because this part is easy, some people have that misconception that web design is easy.
  • Scripting
    Debugging scripts is the rationale why technical jobs in IT get higher pay, and IT freelancers are not an exception. Making JavaScripts, Flash, PHP and other programming languages work with web pages is not something for those who don’t like to play with code.
  • Databases
    Can you get inside mySQL databases or any other database if there’s some troubleshooting needed with the data? Are you able to make web pages work so that data entered by the user is stored into these databases?
  • Graphic Design
    Possessing graphic design skills is also important as this indicate the facade of any website.
What are the benefits of being a freelance web designer?

1. You own your time.

In a freelance job, when it comes to work, you own your time and space. You could do your tasks within a more undemanding deadline and you are not answerable to a boss or superior. Thus, you can spare more time on yourself or your family, and do your tasks whenever you feel like doing so.

2. You are your own boss. 

A freelance job is like a business; you only have clients, and you do not have a boss. Therefore you contract with the clients yourself and get to know exactly what they want and what they need. You have the power to choose more on the assignments given to you and consult only your client to arrive at satisfying output. You then get to be acquainted with yourself more as an artistic worker, and as a business person.

3. You are salvaged from the tortures of office politics. 

Becoming a freelancer is the way to go if you are sick and tired of office politics. In a freelance job you don't have to correspond with a company's rules or the office environment. You get to work at your own speed without being nice to co-workers-only your client.

4. You control the workload. 

In a freelance job, you can take as many project as you desire, or refuse those which you don't want to do. You have greater power to say no and not give in to the wishes of a superior. Hence this would be less pressure on your part, and more space for you to think innovatively on your projects.

5. Bigger pay. 

While you are trapped in a regular salary in your office job, with freelancing you can get bigger pay. This relies on your price on the projects you do and how tiresome they are. If you are able to complete a big project easily and on a faster time frame, then you have more time for more tasks and get bigger pay at the end of the day.

6. More opportunities for success. 

In freelancing, there's always room to grow, you don't get lodged in using your basic skills. You can begin by being a freelance writer, then learn more about the tips and tricks of SEO (search engine optimization), and become an affiliate marketer at the same time. You can also obtain online classes regarding web design and programming throughout your spare time, which you can employ on your future projects in the long run. Imagine experiencing this transition at the comforts of your own home!

7. No start-up costs 

If you're working as a freelancer, you won't have any significant start-up costs. The salary that you earn will all be allotted to your savings account. As you do not have to travel to an office, you can easily accomplish the requirements of an office by working from your home.

8. No dress code.

If you want to wear your pajamas every day, it's up to you. You should still wear presentable outfits for presentations and client meetings, but you won't need nearly as many as you would if you worked in an office.

Recommended Readings:




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