freelance web designers podcast by Cathy Sirvatka

A podcast for freelance web designers

Practices, Strategies, and Advice to run a successful freelance web design/ development business.

It's Time to Up Your Game!

Freelance web designers, grow your business!

Whether you're thinking about starting your own freelance web design business, have recently started one, or you've been at it for years, the Web Pro Savvy podcast will trigger new ideas and creativity. Not just on how you approach your work, but how you RUN your business.

If you're like me, you want to work for yourself because you have the web design/UI/UX skills, knowledge and tenacity to go out on your own - be your own boss! And since COVID, there are many more doing just that.

And though you know there will be other tasks involved like billing, getting clients, and project management, the reality eventually sinks in that it's way more than you considered. Yeah sure you can do the bare minimum of the "business" aspects and just keep your head down with projects. But eventually everyone finds out that if they want to make more money, if they want to be the CEO of their business rather than someone who still trades time for money, they need to know more.

You need to learn how to run your business rather than your business running you. To work smarter, not harder.

freelance web designer in home office

Listen to successful freelance web designers share their own journey. You benefit from their experience!

And that's what this podcast is all about!

And that's what this podcast is all about!

Here’s what I see as the core a successful freelance web business

The 3 Pillars of a Freelance Web Design Business

01

The BUSINESS you run

It's true that many freelance web designers don't have much experience with bookkeeping, accounting, project management, or client management. These, of course, are key elements to a successful business. Understanding concepts of overhead expenses and outgoing funds versus income streams is at the very core of a successful agency (even an agency of one). On Web Pro Savvy, we talk about these topics in a way that's understandable to regular people and is specifically beneficial to digital agencies.

02

The CLIENTS you work with

In the beginning of your freelancing career, you may take on all clients that come your way. It makes sense. You need the money, the experience and the portfolio. But very quickly you will find that you enjoy working with certain clients more than others. It may have to do with the industry they are in, the type of websites they need, or you simply enjoy working with certain types of people. Web Pro Savvy talks about topics such as how to attain new clients and retain them, concepts of niching in an industry, website type, location or other category, and even how to let go of a client that may not be right for your business model.

03

The SERVICES you offer

The web industry today comprises such a wide variety of services and platforms making it difficult to do everything for everyone. On Web Pro Savvy, we talk about niching with regard to services, ways to offer service solutions utilizing contractors, and identifying specific service features that make up the core of a business for a specific clientele. We also talk about tools necessary to complete projects with quality and speed. Hey, it's your business! You get to decide your own business model. 

What is a freelance web designer?

A freelance web designer is someone who is self-employed, either as a sole proprietor, or has incorporated as an S-corp or LLC. They take on website projects from various businesses as they see fit. They would be considered a 1099 service by their clients. This means the client cannot tell them HOW to do their work - only that they receive their finished website as agreed to by both parties by the agreed deadline.

The term "web designer" can cover a spectrum of website services. It refers to someone who graphically designs websites in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator or XD, and/or works within WordPress or other website development platforms, and may even do coding.

The key for us is the "freelance" part. You may work in any combination of website creation elements, but you are working for yourself. You get to choose who you work with and what services you want to (or don't want to) offer. You make all the decisions of how you run your business. This is the dream!

In this podcast, we talk about...

- Niching

This word, "niche" gets bandied about quite a bit. But it is a key to success for many web pros. It could be you work with a specific type of client or specific industry. Or perhaps you specialize in a type of service like eCommerce.

- Project Tools

Since we all work in tech, we know that it is in constant flux. Some tools we love today will be on the outs tomorrow. And new tools are being developed all the time. It's really helpful to hear what others use.

- Business Tools

Integrating digital tools into your business management for Customer Relationship Management (CRM), bookkeeping, time management, secure contract delivery and more, makes your business run more smoothly and makes you look good to your clients!

- Project Management

If you are like me, you didn't go to college for business. I always welcome any ideas from others about what procedures they find most helpful and when they decided they might need to hire a professional to help.

- Working With Contractors

Part of your desire to work for yourself is probably having more control over your work/play time. As your business grows, you may find it too difficult to work on all aspects of all client projects yourself. It's easy to burn out. Sometimes a contract is just the right answer.

- Client Contracts

We're not lawyers. So how do we create a contract that holds clients accountable for paying and us for delivering? Learn how others have done it.

...and so much more!

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