Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (Full Version)

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machristy -> Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/16/2007 21:34:51)

Hello all:

I am in the beginning phase of starting my own web design business. I work full time during the day for a large corporation, but I am looking to do this in my free time.

I am looking for any good advice anyone can provide. Anything about clients, contracts, design, etc, would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for anything offered.




BobbyDouglas -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/17/2007 2:12:40)

What's your goal? Do you want to do this on the side during your free time? Or are you wanting to turn this into a real business?



machristy -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/17/2007 14:29:06)

Thank you for asking. For right now I am looking to do this in the free time and see where it can lead me. If it looks like it will expand to support me and my family then I would love to be able to do this full time.



DebSpecs -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/17/2007 15:29:45)

My advice is do it, do it, do it. Don't be a perfectionist, just get the basic idea online as soon as possible. Then you'll be motivated to improve it as you go.

I speak from experience. From part time endeavor 9 years ago, our web business now has 6 employees and is more than full time.

The early site was so rough around the edges, some of the owners are septegenarians with a sizable technology learning curve.

I am blocked with my own site side business idea. In a sense, I know too much- "i can't do this unless i do that first". phooey- you are inspiring me!



Nicole -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/17/2007 18:12:41)

If I were starting all over again, I'd make sure I knew at least the basics of CSS, Accessibility, PHP, MySQL and CMS's probably even in that order.

Stick with your day job for as long as possible and build up a reserve of funds that can adequately get you through the lean times.



BobbyDouglas -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/17/2007 22:41:31)

If you are a beginner to web design, I highly suggest you learn the basics with FrontPage.

FrontPage has pre-made websites (called Templates), as well as tons of different color styles (called Themes). FrontPage allows you to create contact forms, guestbooks, site search, and many other things (called extensions) within a click of the button. No other web design program does this.

By using all of these point and click type features, you will be able to learn the basics of web design. Once you get those down, you can look into how NOT to use the pre-built extensions (research other methods using ASP, PHP, or cgi). The FrontPage Extensions have a couple limitations, but the ease of use greatly outweighs them.

A lot of professionals use Dreamweaver, but I think the learning curve for beginners is far too complex.

FrontPage has been discontinued, and replaced with Expression Web. It lacks quite a few of the beginner features that really made it easy for beginners to make complete websites.

Download a trial for FrontPage 2003, and spend a night trying to build a complete website. Then download a trial for Dreamweaver, and see what you can do with that in a night.

Compare the end result with both programs, and see which one looks better after spending 1 night trying to put something together.



d a v e -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/18/2007 1:29:47)

"A lot of professionals use Dreamweaver, but I think the learning curve for beginners is far too complex. " i disagree, but that's just my opinion ;)



Tailslide -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/18/2007 2:43:45)

The tools that you use are irrelevant - the point is that you must understand the code to produce really good products - learn HMTL and CSS and then you can make up for the poor code that WYWIWYG editors like FrontPage, Expressions or even Dreamweaver could throw in there. Without the knowledge you're at their mercy! My favourite HTML/CSS tutorial is http://www.htmldog.com/

Personally I don't use a WYSIWYG like Frontpage, Expressions or Dreamweaver because I find it much faster to code by hand in an HTML editor (currently Araneae but there are loads of free ones like HTML-kit, PSPad, Crimson editor etc).

Don't be sucked into spending a ton of money on a piece of software because you've heard that it's what "web designers use" (yes I'm talking about Dreamweaver). At the start of a business you just don't have that sort of money to throw around.

I run my own web design business from home and I very rarely fork out for software (partly out of habit but also because I'm cheap!). So I don't own Photoshop, I have Photoshop elements which does most of the same stuff and is a fraction of the price. All my HTML coding software is free. My FTP software is free too. Now that I have Tredosoft's Multiple IEs and Safari for the PC I also now don't need a browsercam account to check in different browsers/platforms.

Yes so what I'm saying is keep the costs down - don't spend money for the sake of it.

Other than that the most important thing is to build up a decent portfolio - once you have a range of sites that you can show people it's easier to be more businesslike.

What I mean is that I always ask for a non-returnable deposit up front (a large one too). They can see my work in my portfolio and so know the sort of thing that I do - they either like it or they don't. When I was first starting out and didn't have much in my portfolio it was hard asking for a deposit because customers wanted to see what I could do first...

The deposit thing is very important - and never ever do free mockups prior to getting a job - architects wouldn't be expected to do that so why should you?

Contracts are important too - nothing too lengthy, try to get it all on one or two sides of A4. Ensure they sign it too!!

If you don't have any business coming in then consider doing some freebie sites (on your terms) for say a local charity or attraction - that's likely to get a high viewership but might not have the money for a professional site. This sounds weird but it gets more sites in your portfolio and it gets your name out there plus it's more practice which counts for a lot (no point sitting at home doing nothing). Don't do this too often obviously -just if there's nothing else happening. I did this a couple of times right at the start - I built a site for an organisation which had a truly awful site currently and then presented the new site to them - take it or leave it! They took it with both hands! But if they leave it, doesn't matter, it's all good practice.

Try to get friendly with the local print shop - they're likely to see a lot of new businesses coming in for stationery so they might mention you or pass you the new businesses details.



d a v e -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/18/2007 2:54:44)

good points:

the gimp is a free and good editor, though it takes a little getting used to the interface
http://gimp-win.sourceforge.net/stable.html

and for css you canget a lite version of topstyle
http://www.newsgator.com/Individuals/TopStyle/Default.aspx (and the download link hidden down the page http://www.newsgator.com/download/products/ts3lite.exe )

and araneae http://www.ornj.net/araneae/

and filezilla is an exellent free ftp http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=21558&package_id=15149&release_id=538135



caz -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/18/2007 3:24:30)

I agree with Nicole and also that you must get some "running your own business" training, maybe your local college run short courses?



womble -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/18/2007 7:14:31)

And most importantly make your ambitions realistic. It's not gonna happen overnight either in web design or anything else. Running your own business is damned hard work, and you'll often need to put in some long hours. My dad ran his own business for 12 years when I was a kid, and though I didn't know it at the time, there were a lot of tough times. Myself, I'm just starting out and building up slowly. I work part time employed and part time on web design - doing essentially two jobs is tough, and remember you need sleep, and you need to get away from the keyboard every now and again and spend time with the family....I really need to listen to my own advice more...[&:]



caz -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/18/2007 10:57:15)

quote:

I really need to listen to my own advice more...:)


What's the betting that she has her laptop with her when she arrives tonight ... I may just exclude her from the network to make her listen to her own advice [sm=devil.gif]



mar0364 -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/18/2007 11:58:46)

A lot of folks pick up a copy of Dreamweaver and think they can build a good professional website. I don't want to discourage anyone but if you don't know how to drive a clutch vehicle a fine sports car just fills you drive way. Use notepad or one of the Notepad on steroids programs. Sadly my little Homesite is gone forever.



womble -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/18/2007 12:46:44)


quote:

ORIGINAL: caz

quote:

I really need to listen to my own advice more...:)


What's the betting that she has her laptop with her when she arrives tonight ... I may just exclude her from the network to make her listen to her own advice [sm=devil.gif]


Actually, I don't...[&o]...though I do have my mobile, PDA, digital camera and MP3 player plus chargers etc....when you see my luggage you'll understand why I didn't have room for the laptop. [;)] It was a close call though....hmmmm...clothes or laptop? [:D]



machristy -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (9/20/2007 17:07:24)

Thanks so far everyone for you input. I will be reading through these. Much appreciated.



Paydex -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (1/6/2008 3:17:37)

go to youtube or google video and see some videos (free) about the software you are considering- or about web design in general. that will help you get a baisc idea of what will work for you.

good luck!



machristy -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (1/27/2008 21:36:59)

Good Evening/Night to all:

I was looking through the web stuff and creating a domain and getting web space and contracts and and and....

I have a friend I trust very much who is a lawyer so she is helping out with the contract stuff. I was looking on g-daddy.com for the domain names and web space. Would anyone have any other (cheaper) suggestions on sites I could go to?

I was also looking for a logo web site. I ran into the one mentioned here in the forum, but I also saw the problems with the virus, I was wondering if there was any other problems or ideas to look for?

I also was wondering. I normally work with FrontPage and the ext. I did see that go-daddy does use them. I know it would be wiser to probably use Frontpage to build the just of my site as long as I am not using any apps in FP that need the exts and then FTP it to the site instead of "publishing" it. For my own site, could I use the Frontpage ext and make sure the site looks good on other browsers? Just a thought.

Also, what browsers should I be MOST concerned with when telling clients that the site can be viewed on?

Oh, and what should I do or tell clients in place of having any thing in a portfolio at first, until I can get some sites added to my list?

I have a million and a half questions and as I think of them I will probably keep asking.

Thanks for all the advice everyone has given already and for all the future help.




machristy -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (4/21/2008 21:20:03)

Hello all it is me again. I have another question about the business side of things. I am still in the process of getting paper work and such together and was wondering a few questions. How important is it to get an LLC or something of the sort to seperate my personal affairs from my business ones, just in case of legal issues?

Also, what about copyrights? How important are both and when should they be gotten, right off the bat or once I can pay for them with the business money?

Just curious, thanks in advance for all the help you have given everyone it is helping tremedously.




Tailslide -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (4/22/2008 2:12:57)

As far as copyrights go - always ensure that you have the right to use images or content and make sure that you get it in writing too. Also be very careful where you get images from. Don't necessarily believe some of these "free" images sites and never get images from one of those freebie disks you sometimes get from magazines.

Personally I prefer to buy images from somewhere like istockphoto.com - that way I've got a paper trail if anyone asks. If you are very keen on a "free" image then write to the photographer and get their written permission. I did this too with a few images that I use on my templates.

Basically - if you're using content of any type that you didn't create yourself then get a paper trail of permissions.

Oh and back to that last question about browsers - your sites should work properly in all modern browsers (Firefox, Opera, Safari, Camino etc) plus IE7 and IE6. Personally I also like sites to work in IE5.5 and IE5 (if possible).

I wouldn't bother mentioning this to your clients though - not their business really, it's yours - it's part of building sites properly. Nothing to stop you using it as a selling point if you're up against a designer that can only manage IE6 though! And when you're building the site use Firefox as your primary testing browser - build for Firefox, check in Opera and fix for IE (otherwise you'll go grey trying to do it the other way around!).



jaybee -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (4/22/2008 8:41:16)

quote:

Also, what about copyrights? How important are both and when should they be gotten, right off the bat or once I can pay for them with the business money?

Very important. You might get away with using stuff for a while but if you get caught you're in deep trouble and your clients won't be impressed when they get a nasty letter.

As to your own/client's copyright just make sure it's on the site. You can check out my site. I have the standard footer and more info in the Privacy page.

If you want images use istock or similar and make sure you buy the Royalty Free stuff. This does not mean it's free. You pay up front but then have permanent use of the image.

If you go for the Rights Managed then you have to pay a fee for every month of usage. Can get very costly.

iStock Royalty Free images are pretty cheap. Normally you only need the smallest and they work out about $1 each.



machristy -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (4/22/2008 21:31:26)

Thanks jaybee and Tailslide. ABout the copyrights though, I was asking more for my own stuff. Do I need to apply for a copyright right off the bat before starting anything out in the public for others or is that something that can wait? Meaning do I need to copyright my material I work on for clients right away or can I wait on it?

Thanks



jaybee -> RE: Starting a New Home Based Web Design Business (4/23/2008 7:12:38)

OK, anything that you make from scratch is automatically your copyright however for the less intelligent it is always worth sticking "Copyright xxxxxx 2008" in the footer.

The rest you can add later if you want to.

The important stuff to sort out up front is with your client. You must make sure your contract states that any images they give you to use on the site are theirs to use. So either they are their own work or they have purchased a licence to use them.

Then you have to decide what copyright of your work you are willing to assign to them. So for example, I would normally give them copyright of the site itself, and the design if they've not just requested a standard template.

I specifically exclude:

any scripts or software developed by a third party and being used by me to develop the site

any database scripts I have written to accomplish a task unless they are paying me for exclusivity of those scripts. Reason being I'll likely use them again for another site.

Be aware though, your stuff, if it's any good will get stolen. There is a thread on here somewhere detailing what to do if/when that happens.



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