Freelancing has become a popular career choice for many people with the rise of remote working. As long as you have the skills, you can pursue a freelance career in almost any field, including web development. With more businesses realizing the need for an online presence, freelance developers are in high demand. Businesses also prefer freelancers for one-off projects as they are typically more affordable than in-office, full-time employees. This guide is for those who want to join this very lucrative career option.
What Type of Developer Do You Want to Be?
This is the first question to answer as it will determine the skills you need and your career trajectory. Web development is divided into three main categories:
- Front-end development – These are the developers who put together everything you see on a website. They are responsible for turning designs and client visions into great online user experiences. These freelancers need HTML, CSS, and JavaScript skills as well as some graphic design and SEO skills depending on whom they work with.
- Back-end development – These developers deal with back-end services including databases and APIs. They are also tasked with creating the dynamic backends used by many websites today. These developers need MySQL, Python, and PHP skills as well as knowledge of frameworks associated with their favorite programming language.
- Full-stack development – These developers combine the skills of front-end and back-end developers.
Once you pick a path, you can start building your skills using many of the available online resources.
Gather Office Resources
For freelancers starting, an office typically means the space they work in, at least for the first few clients. They can rent an office later because starting is critical. Consider a space that is quiet and free of distractions.
Next, you will need a computer, a desk and chair, and of course an internet connection. Do some research to find the most reliable internet provider in your area. Those in Josephville can check out Josephville MO internet providers like Gateway Fiber which provides reliable internet with speeds ranging from 250 to 1000 Mbps.
Build Your Portfolio
A web developer’s portfolio helps showcase their skills and capabilities. The best way to do this is to build some projects. Start by building simple projects and move on to more complex projects as your skills improve.
If you have trouble coming up with projects to create, there are lots of online resources that can help. You could also build a personal portfolio site to start and add other projects to this portfolio as you go. This is a critical step, especially for self-taught developers who are typically judged more on their skills than academic qualifications.
Build Your Business
Being a freelancer means you are responsible for everything about the business. You need to create a business plan, take care of your legal obligations, get the necessary insurance, and set your prices. Once you do this, you can start marketing your services. Numerous online platforms exist for this but do leverage social media because it is very powerful and free.
Although there is more to get into, the above steps should get you to a point where you are talking to clients. You can continue building yourself and your business by learning soft skills and expanding the marketing strategies and options you use.
