Freelance Web Designer - The Web Maverick

Design is subjective, but if you want to become a freelance web designer you need to have a great eye for detail. Coding of the html and css is also needed to be known. There are quite a few freelance web designers who are not able to code html. You can learn code, but you can't really learn design getting good at design is something that takes time and experience. Enter design contests, join forums and get your work critiqued. It is said that practice makes a man precise, the same works with designing.

You need to have coding skill under your wrap. You not only need to have offer cracking design skills, you also need to learn how to code well. There are some fantastic resources on web design for beginners you can attend classes, or learn by your own. You can use free online resources to learn.

Know what sort of competition is there going on in your area. Check the websites of local web design companies to see what you're up against. You can aim your services to anyone around the world, but local businesses area great way to start, get a little cash and add to your portfolio. You too can always offer your services to them also.

Your portfolio is one the most important tools in your arsenal. Try to extend it. Pick out a selection of your best work; as it works like quality over quantity, don't put everything you've ever done in there, it not going to do you any favors. Try to have a few decent links in there as offering live links to webpages you've built are a great way of showing off your work. There are lots of ongoing arguments about paid web design contests and spec work, but I would like to say personally that when you're first starting out they can offer a very positive experience for the inexperienced. You get feedback, a portfolio piece and maybe cash if you win.

After you've got the skills, and a swanky, shiny portfolio that you're very proud of but work won't suddenly start falling in your lap, you need to get it all seen. Offer business cards to local companies in need of a web presence. Network, both locally and online, all your twitters, flickr's and other er's offer a great way to get links to your portfolio and into the public eye. Doing this may help you get noticed by someone and can get work.

At first when you're trying to make rent every month the pressure to get work can be pretty intense but this is true in all aspects of the freelance lifestyle, you're selling yourself as much as your work. If you want to fully monetize your skill set you will need some business/marketing skills. This means doing that little bit extra for clients to keep them coming back as well as creating a brand identity; business cards, a decent, recognizable, memorable logo.

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