4 Tips for Web Design Freelancers

Online, June 23, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Freelancing is not a single field - there are tons of professions out there that you can do as a freelancer - photography, writing, developing all manners of software or hardware - the list goes on and on. Freelancing is more logical in some fields than in others - web design is one of the branches where working independently makes most sense.

You can find general freelancing tips all over the web, including on www.freelancermap.com. Marketing yourself on- and offline, setting and keeping deadlines, maintaining a professional business relationship are all important things that any freelancer should master. This article tackles some specific issues of web designers and gives you some field-specific tips, which are key to a successful freelancing career in web design.

1. Offer tutorials

First and foremost, don't forget that your clients might not all be as tech-savvy as your circle of friends and colleagues. Sure, we all live in the 21st century and the internet is not something new, but people who are just starting to establish their online presence will struggle with things you find obvious. WordPress is a good example - every web design enthusiast will tell you how easy and simple to use it is, but for some people it just isn't. There are tons of options, plug-ins and features you have to choose from and it can quickly get overwhelming

This is where you come in - don't just give your clients a product - teach them how to use it properly. Work with them on Skype, Team Viewer or whatever you prefer and show them the ropes. Create a video tutorial if you can. Clients that are not tech-savvy will immensely appreciate you doing this for them and saving them hours of searching the web for tips that they might not even understand.

2. Pitch up your further support

This second tip is, again, about going the extra mile. After finishing a contract, you can just take your check and forget it happened - but that's not going to help you a lot towards the end goal of establishing a successful business. Nurture your business relationship by offering your clients additional services. Things like data backup, general support, social media integration or just some starter content on their website can net you some extra profit and, more importantly, a long-lasting client.

3. Deliver in parts

While it is generally a good idea to split up your work - both for the sake of optimizing the working process and giving your client reassurance that progress is being done - in web design it is crucial to learn to deliver in parts. Design is really something extremely personal and connected with a certain vision - you don't want to work a month on something which you like a lot just to find out that the client had something entirely different in mind in the first place. Set up sub-deadlines and always consider your clients' opinion.

4. Look into hosting affiliate programs

A hosting affiliate program can be a great and simple way for freelancers who work in web design to earn some additional money with little effort. If your clients don't have a system set up to host their site, offer them the hosting platform of your choosing. This will not only speed up the process on their side, but give you an extra buck as well. Just be upfront and tell your client what you actually get out of the offer to make sure they don't feel cheated in the end.