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Can I make a living working as a freelance Web Developer?

Thread title: Can I make a living working as a freelance Web Developer?
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04-28-2008, 08:57 PM
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martin is offline martin
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  Old  Can I make a living working as a freelance Web Developer?

I am 55 and I am currently learning html/css/javascript/php/asp.net. I want to become a freelancer web developer/Designer. Is it possible to make a living doing that home? If yes how do you market yourself? Local newspaper??

04-28-2008, 10:10 PM
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Best place to search for freelance work and freelance web developers
it requires NO financial commitment...

A good start would be to make a good portfolio cuz thats the first question all your clients will ask you... and once you have some client base after a few months you will start getting references if you keep your clients happy.

Good Luck

05-02-2008, 11:25 PM
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If you're just starting to learn, it will be hard at your age (no offence). There is already a lot of talent already out there with established portfolios and client bases.

With that said, definitely start locally, when your at a new restauraunt or somewhere ask if they have a website, if they don't tell them about yourself and ask if you can speak to the manager about making a website for them.

If you have another source of income, do a couple of sites for free for friends and such so you can easily get things into a portfolio that you can show to other potential paying clients.

05-02-2008, 11:35 PM
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I don't think age matters.

Once you have the skills to make a great website, you just need to market yourself to get hired.

There are freelance job boards all over the internet, however starting locally might be a good way to start.

Once you establish yourself as a business, you could attend your local chamber of commerce meetings to start networking with local potential customers.

You probably have lots of businesses in your town that don't have websites (but have thought about getting one).

If you are professional and can follow through with a great website, you can earn a lot from marketing yourself locally. That will also help to build your portfolio for online clients.

Best of luck to you!

05-03-2008, 12:12 AM
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Originally Posted by martin View Post
I am 55 and I am currently learning html/css/javascript/php/asp.net. I want to become a freelancer web developer/Designer. Is it possible to make a living doing that home? If yes how do you market yourself? Local newspaper??

Of course you can! I threw my government job ($80,000 a year) and jumped into freelancing with no real plan over a year ago.

Im not making the same money but Im sure enjoying myself - Im doing something I love, I work for myself and I have more time!

RJ

05-03-2008, 01:22 AM
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I have to say no, you cannot make a living as a freelance Web Developer.

In order to make a living, in addition to being a freelance Web Developer you would also need to be a freelance:

-Salesman
-Marketer
-Accountant
-Billing Technician
-Manager
-Collections Agent

You can always outsource more or one of the above, but then you're not really freelancing; you're starting a company. This is why in my opinion it takes a very special and dedicated person to excel in the freelance market.

05-03-2008, 02:31 AM
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Originally Posted by jjmac View Post
I have to say no, you cannot make a living as a freelance Web Developer.

In order to make a living, in addition to being a freelance Web Developer you would also need to be a freelance:

-Salesman
-Marketer
-Accountant
-Billing Technician
-Manager
-Collections Agent

You can always outsource more or one of the above, but then you're not really freelancing; you're starting a company. This is why in my opinion it takes a very special and dedicated person to excel in the freelance market.

What a load of BS.

RJ

05-03-2008, 03:02 AM
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It does take work to get into the freelance business. I haven't made a cent for over a month. With my $7,500~ delayed a month, it's getting hard to make ends meet.

Make sure you have backup money to live on for a few months while you start out and for when business is slow.


I threw my government job ($80,000 a year)
I would love to make even a quarter of that a year.

In reality all I need is to make $1,000~ a month. My total bills including food and gas allotment come in at under $600

05-03-2008, 03:15 AM
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For myself it was more about being happy. I hated going to work every day and was miserable sitting in a cubicle being subjected to idiotic managers.

No joke - I quit, I came home - had about $5000 in the bank, an old desktop - 7 years of web development experience and a lot of determination.

I grabbed a notepad, a pen and knocked on doors. Day in day out.

I didnt do anything fancy - and I believe anyone could do it (obviously with the right skillset)

Its just a matter of 'giving it a go'

Youre only on this planet once - you may as well enjoy it.

RJ

05-03-2008, 04:52 AM
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Originally Posted by ramone_johnny View Post
What a load of BS.

RJ

Originally Posted by ramone_johnny View Post
... I grabbed a notepad, a pen and knocked on doors. Day in day out. ...

RJ
My point was you have to do a lot more than just develop the web as a freelancer. You proved my point nicely saying you had to go door to door being a salesman. There is a lot more involved than just being good at web development.

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