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If you’re a web developer and are looking for ways to earn more money — while still working less — then this article is for you. Becoming a successful freelancer is challenging and can feel like an uphill battle at times. However, with the right strategies, you will be well on your way to success as an independent contractor.
The scope of web development is growing rapidly, and it’s one of the most in-demand careers at the moment. As such, if you want to become a successful freelancer in this space, you need to find new ways to stand out from the crowd and give potential clients a reason to hire you instead of someone else.
Working as a freelancer can have its ups and downs, but there are some ideas that you can implement which will make things much easier on you as a contractor. Read on and find out how:
Whether you are building a new website, or if you are redesigning an existing site, make sure that it’s responsive. This means that it will be optimized for mobile and will look good on any device. It is estimated that over 50% of all websites are not responsive. This could cost you a lot of money when it comes to earning potential.
As you likely know, a large percentage of internet traffic comes from mobile devices. This number is only going to increase over the years. By not having a responsive website, you are losing out on potential customers, and they are likely to take their business elsewhere.
If you already have a website, you can have it audited and see if it’s responsive. If it’s not, you can have a new one built or have an existing site redesigned. A responsive website will help to increase your conversion rates, and it will also be helpful for SEO.
If your site is not responsive, you will lose potential customers and miss out on potential revenue. Not only that, but you also run the risk of getting blacklisted and banned from major search engines such as Google.
When you first start out as a freelancer, you will likely be building a lot of websites with WordPress. This is a very common type of job, and you can easily find clients who are looking for WordPress developers. However, if you want to make more money, you will need to diversify your skill set and keep up to date with the latest programming languages and tools.
Clients who need a new website built will often have very specific requirements and wants. They will want to know that their site will be compatible with a specific language or that it will be built on a specific platform. This could be a huge bonus for you if you are skilled in these areas.
Although WordPress is easy to use and has many great features, it is not always the best platform. If clients are very specific in what they want, then it’s up to you to either learn how to use a new language or find a new client. Keep an eye on industry news and always be on the lookout for new tools and language.
A lot of freelancers like to work at home or in a quiet space. However, working from home all the time can become isolating and difficult to manage. Instead, try to find a coworking space or a coffee shop where you can go and work each day.
You will meet other people while you are working, and they will be able to provide you with fresh ideas, which can help you to come up with new ideas for projects. Working from a public place will make you feel like you are part of a team again. It’s also a good idea to join online communities.
You can join forums, Facebook groups, and even Reddit subgroups related to your profession. You will make connections with other freelancers and get advice from experts in the field. You can also use an online collaboration tool, such as Trello or Slack. You can use these to find potential clients and networking opportunities.