How To Become A Web Design Expert

  How To Become A Web Design Expert

Web developers and programmers are in high demand. And while it may seem complicated, if you have a passion to learn the languages, free time to practice, and some know-how on finding and working with clients, you can make a nice living building top-notch websites.

Learn the languages

1. Choose either front-end or back-end web development (or both). Make a choice to study either front-end or back-end programming. Front-end (or client-side) developers need to know a variety of languages from HTML to CSS and JavaScript to build websites with attractive designs and useful features. Back-end programmers use languages like Python and Ruby to make the site work seamlessly.[1] Studying both front-end and back-end development will help you take on multiple types of jobs. You can also focus on user experience (UX), user interface (UI), or software development. Parts of these disciplines are incorporated in any web-development education.
2. Study the skills you’ll need in your spare time. Whether you decide to forego schooling or you just want to learn some languages your degree program doesn’t offer, it’ll help to hone your skills in various web development applications. Various languages you need to learn include:[4] HTML: Main page content CSS: Page styling JavaScript: Dynamic content (like videos and interactive graphics) jQuery: Makes scripting in JavaScript easier PHP: Server-side scripting SQL: Database management Bootstrap: Develop mobile-first sites.

Get Jobs

1. Advertise yourself as a freelance web developer and programmer. Offer a variety of services from logo design to web design or basic coding when you’re just starting out. Often times, clients don’t know what exactly they need so be prepared to offer them a range of services.^[10]

• Reach out to people you know and small local businesses that might need your services.
• Think about a "pitch" to sell your services to clients. For instance, your pitch could be as simple as, "I’m a web developer who is eager to create clean, user-friendly, and creative content for businesses and entrepreneurs.

    2. Create a website to show off your portfolio of work. Build your own personal site with         your portfolio of work. Be sure to include a "contact" form so clients can hire you. Your             website is going to give potential clients an idea of what you can do, so make it look                 great!^[12]

• Include a brief resume on your site that includes your educational background (if applicable) and all of the languages you can work with. When it comes to work experience, focus on web programming and design only (i.e., remove any non-relevant jobs).
• Your website is going to act like your own brand, so make it memorable and show off your most creative, beautiful designs!
• Create separate tabs within your portfolio to show your versatility. For instance, organize your work by commercial or more niche-oriented designs. Or, you can have a tab for logos and a tab for website templates.

3.    Go to web development conferences to network and hone your skills. Attend conferences to meet other developers, learn new tricks, and keep up with the latest design trends. These types of conferences are held around the world and are usually geared toward either front-end or back-end development. However, you can find conferences that focus on both as well as a myriad of coding languages.[13] Carry business cards with you to connect with other developers and programmers who may share some tips and help you find clients. The events often last a few days and host workshops and speakers sharing the latest technologies to take your skills to the next level.

Working with clients

1. Create a contract between yourself and potential clients. Write a contract containing some rules and guidelines for yourself and the client. The contract should include an overview of the services you’ll be doing, invoice and payment information, and some terms and conditions relating to copyright and confidentiality.
2. Do your best work and communicate with your client regularly. Ask your client for clear goals, so you know how to approach the work. Check in with them to make sure they’re happy with the project you’re doing. Also, be honest with your client about any unrealistic expectations they might have about timing or pricing.
   • For instance, if they expect you to have their website up and running in less than a week, kindly explain the fundamentals of building a site and how long each part will take.
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