The New Web Design Sub Forum (Intro Post)

[Fox]

Thanks to @MJ DeMarco for making a new web design (and related hustles) subforum.

If anyone has any web design related questions, suggestions, feedback, progress reports etc please get posting.

This thread can also serve as an introduction thread to this sub-forum so please share your web design related experience below.

What have you done so far and what are your goals with web design?

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Yah! Happy to see this.

Web design as a hustle was how I got my start.

It paid my bills and allowed me to pursue my business ventures.

Happy to help others set themselves free from the job grind.

 

[Sashioni]

Just coming here to share my progress. Started just over 1 month ago. Got my first portfolio client, did their site in about 2 weeks and nailed it getting some great feedback. Got the first paid job after that ($150 or so). Got the 2nd paid job a week later (trade for trade worth about $600). Then another paid job last week (also about $150).

Now I'm set up, I've set goals for myself to get my first $1,000+ this month followed by generating recurring revenue through SaaS.

@Fox's system works. Just follow what he says and take some action. You'll make some frikkin mistakes but that's part of it.

Awesome to see web design getting its own sub forum btw. Kudos to @Fox!

 

[Fox]

I need to start creating websites in order to fund my initial business idea as you can't work a job in my area unless you're above 16 and you cannot work on freelance sites if you are under 18.

However, I believe there may be a problem because of my age, 14 to be exact. I see this as a problem because potential clients may feel as if I am less experienced even though I first started learning HTML and CSS in school at the age of 12. I do not know if I am over analysing it or if I am just manufacturing the problem in my mind.

MJ DeMarco said this on Fox's
'How to Learn Code, Start a Web Company, $15k+ per month within 9 months' thread.
1. Find a notable company in a larger industry with a poorly designed website.
2. Find the decision maker and "try" to get authorization to redo their website... TOTALLY FREE OF CHARGE. If they like it, they can use it.
3. If you can't find the decision maker, DO IT ANYWAY.
4. Redesign the website.
5. Make sure it is your best work, and a clear improvement over the original website.
6. Email the entire upper management the link of the new website -- reiterate that it is FREE and that you will change anything they want.
7. Once they see the work and realize it is FREE, they will probably accept it.
8. Now you have your first client -- giving you the ability to say "We recently redesigned XXX's website." -- giving you social proof with a notable company. Now you can look to start charging. If not, repeat.
9. The above can be done for APPS as well. (I noticed you didn't have a mobile app?)
10. At some point, it will become easier and easier to find paid work.
11. Pick color of Lamborghini.

I believe this is a great way to build your portfolio and to gain trust from other companies, but will my age still be an issue?

• Has anyone experienced this issue?
• Is there a way to get around it?

If you go directly to cold prospecting it might be.

Start with some close friends or family and build a little proof first.

If you got some real examples (and real results that go with them) people will be open to hearing what you have to say regardless of age.

Keep us posted and best of luck!

I wish I started at 14 ha

 

[MattR82]

Been in the school for about 5 months, great value and have made some great connections with people from the Facebook group.

At the moment I'm really focussing more on doing a great job with my portfolio sites (mostly friends amd family) and just helping their sales as best I can. But if I had to put a figure out there my first goal is to get to 2k a month recurring. Then at 3k I can start looking at working on my own projects with the skills I've learned. I'm not trying to set up a monster agency, just enough that I can always be working on my own thing.

Took me a lot longer than I hoped to get to the level I'm at with wordpress/elementor/woocommerce and everything related to setting up a site like hosting, optimisation, email, security, APIs etc. But now I've reached a point where I'm desperate to move onto AdWords and on page seo/gmb optimisation. The last 10 to 15% of a site build is taking me so long that I'm trying to outsource it so I can move on. The plan going forward is to do this with paying clients as well until I can outsource the build completely. Although I do enjoy creating the initial layout.

Just gotta figure out a way to make it work financially with the remaining portfolio sites, otherwise I'll be in the same position now in 3 to 4 months.

Regardless, things are looking good. I can now build a great site for myself when need be at the very least.

 

[rogue synthetic]

Great to see this here @Fox

I'm not a web designer myself.

After I moved overseas about a decade ago I found myself bored waiting on visas to clear. I decided to brush up on my web design skills which I hadn't used since the 90s. I was so out of date that the last time I'd designed a web page there wasn't such a thing as CSS. I taught myself that from scratch and then moved on to hacking on Wordpress and WP themes.

All casually, I had no entrepreneurial spirit back then. I was using these skills to maintain a blog and a couple of other hobby websites with no real ambitions behind them.

Around the same time I taught myself to get comfortable with a Linux command line and the bash shell. Eventually I got to a point where I was spinning up VPS servers and working as my own sysadmin.

Since then I went through the Sass revolution, and these days I'm keeping an eye on the newest CSSNext and PostCSS tools with all the crazy Javascript tools rolling out now. Some of it is interesting, most of it is overkill for the simple static pages and WP sites I run.

I don't want to be a web designer. But I might want to be a copywriter who builds nice-looking sales funnels, and also happens to have the skillset to install and maintain them on a fresh VPS optimized for security and loading speed (which I can do in under 10 minutes from the time you tell me the domain name you want).

 

[DifficultTruth]

Super excited to be a part of this, am a current student of @Fox web school and will try to keep up with posting execution here and the fb group.

 

[Fox]

Just a reminder on how to post in this sub-forum when starting a new post...

 

[Andy Black]

Tremendous idea. Will add a lot of value to the forum.

Well done @Fox.

 

[The Abundant Man]

Tell them you're a child prodigy.

Say, "There are 15 year old Olympic athletes. I am your 15 year old Olympic athlete when it comes to websites. Alexander the Great conquered the known world at the age of 19. I am out to conquer the world of websites."

 

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[nutleydotie]

Excited to see what knowledge I can share and what ideas I can pick up


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

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[keith4444]

Great idea for a sub forum!
I’ve designed a few websites now and learning fast. I’m a member of Robs latest course which is fantastic and highly recommend to all.
Looking forward to this. Thanks @Fox and @MJ DeMarco

 

[Explorer]

Firstly thanks MJ and Fox I think this thred will be a great addition to the many value filled threads on the forum.

My journey with web design is just getting started.
I have some experience with HTML/CSS through a few papers I opted for in university, although I have gained my bachelor in marketing I found the web design papers I had and paper around digital marketing were very interesting to me and also seemed to 'click' faster for me than other topics. I have just graduated last month and I am now looking to hustle this web design to see if it is for me. I have completed the codeacademy and udemy courses reccomended so I have a basic understanding of HTML/CSS itself but no real world experience building websites for clients.



My goal at the moment is to first complete two sites for clients in an ideal industry for free so I have a portfolio to show when I start charging. Ideally sites that will not take too long(1-3 pages). These sites will enable me in the future to showcase quality work for relevant future clients/businesses. A few of the niches I have websites bookmarked in are, accountants, lawyers, landscaping/builders( could move into construction after I get more xp), dentists.

I have been accumulating a list of websites/leads that fit my criteria to be contacted. I am going to finalise some super personalised cold emails, the goal of these emails will be to ultimately set a time for a call with the client. I am going to set a goal by this time tomorrow I want to have 8 emails set to go out the next day at 8am. Because I am still learning, it can feel like a juggling act, like getting the foundations right for for a house before you can put the frame up. I have been only learning for a while on this topic and I am going to start doing(while still learning).

Question regarding website pricing. @Fox or anyone else who can weigh in.

If I use a page builder for some sites. Would I work the price of Wordpress subscription, into the total price for the website. Or would I let the client know in my terms that their is a monthly maintenance cost and include the price for wordpress plan in maintenance plan? Or have the client cover the Wordpress subs?

Cheers
Explorer

 

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[Scot]

Damn, I need to get my crap together enough to get my own sub forum haha

Good idea @Fox and keep being awesome!

 

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[MiLeung]

I didn't think web design would be part of this forum cuz I didn't see it in either TMF or Unscripted . I started out as a developer, but I try to make my apps and websites look nice. I use calltoidea.com a lot for inspiration.

 

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[dmichaelmccann]

Awesome idea Fox and MJ, I'm super excited to be a part of this. The web school and facebook group have already helped me out so much so I hope this subforum can grow to the same level. I'll definitely try to contribute here as much as I can.

I have a web design progress thread in the general execution subforum but if you want to @Fox you can move it in here if that is possible.

 

[Fox]

Awesome idea Fox and MJ, I'm super excited to be a part of this. The web school and facebook group have already helped me out so much so I hope this subforum can grow to the same level. I'll definitely try to contribute here as much as I can.

I have a web design progress thread in the general execution subforum but if you want to @Fox you can move it in here if that is possible.

Done!

Anyone else wanting the same thing hit me up or post here with the link.

 

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[Doug Smith]

This is great to see. I've made money building websites for many years, but didn't get serious about turning it into an actual business until recently. I'm learning a lot from @Fox and others here at the Fastlane Forum, excited to see this new section.

 

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[itech]

Excellent idea, thanks @Fox @MJ DeMarco

 

[Davidc]

I'm in @Fox Facebook groups and am also a student in his main course.
I have taught myself WordPress, HTML and CSS. I'm just now beginning to look for some clients in order to build my portfolio.

 

[Hijena1]

@Fox I am just getting started to read your GOLD thread and you got me pretty inspired already.
Thank you for spreading your knowledge with others.
"It isn't code and it isn't design - its solving problems and building sales. " - your words, really like that one.

 

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[Castro]

This is a great idea! As someone who is progressively picking up on the fundamentals of web design, this will be a place I visit often to share new ideas.

 

[Everyman]

Congrats Fox! It's a huge recognition from MJ to have it here.

So when is your book coming out?

Is the program a good fit for me without the coding knowledge?

It's fit for everyone (everyman) willing to do *some work.

I am one of the Fox's students and no coding knowledge is required. Even more, it's not the most important skill you will acquire or you need.

Check this one:

GOLD! - How to Learn Code, Start a Web Company, $15k+ per month within 9 months

My God! It's been almost 2 years already...

*by some work I meant a lot of disappointment, sweat, tears but fun too.

 

[Fox]

Hey @Fox,

I planned to sign up for your web school in the next 2-3 weeks once I finished up with the Udemy course that you listed. However, recently when I tried to view your site it directed me to a login screen with "You need to sign in or sign up before continuing." I don't see the option to sign up listed. Is registration currently closed?

Just switching things over to Kajabi right now (from teachable). If you want to join just send me a PM and I’ll let ya know the options.

Thanks

 

[GaryPhoenix]

Yah! Happy to see this.

Web design as a hustle was how I got my start.

It paid my bills and allowed me to pursue my business ventures.

Happy to help others set themselves free from the job grind.

Absolutely! @Fox is an inspiration that led me to read both your books back to back in a couple days. Looking forward to following suit as a way to break free from the scripted life now and pursue other ventures only after this one has taken off. Already have done 3 sites so it is working!

 

[Fox]

@Fox I've played around with a few ideas for the last few years had a little success here and there, but as a whole action faking. So ive decided I'm gonna code a blog that I'll post on to practice seo and start a seo company down the line, probably will be a few years before we start seeing results but "eventually, the time that was not spent on learning new skills will catch up with you, and the fall will be painful" Robert Greene.

So yh I need to add more skills to my locker and get serious I won't be 23 forever & life is getting on. Where would be the best place to start, with a udemy course? people have said good things about yours, so I gonna get on that tomorrow. Its currently 01.57, can't sleep cus I've been working nights and I have college tomorrow, need to be up for 6

Get a piece of paper. Write down everyone you might know or could approach who owns a business.

Now mark the businesses you might think have some problems that you could (don't worry about how exactly right now) help with.

They need ________. They have issues with _________. They might have a problem with __________ .

Now go approach those businesses. Tell them you are motivated to help and you want nothing more in return than to see if it added value.

If you are motivated and have the conviction someone will let you.

That is all you need to do to get started. Approach one business and make a small/big difference. That is the start of a business to business service.

If you can do just a little you can learn to do more. If you can help one you can help a lot.

Coding and that stuff comes later when you got a real problem to try solve.

 

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[Fox]

@Fox Still doing the udemy course, there's is a lot that is covered, need better focus to study for longer everyday, really not doing enough at the moment if im honest, my job is very mentally draining, but excuses don't produce results, just got to DO THE WORK and thats all there is to it. Still going though, some progress is better the zero.

Keep doing what you can and it will add up over time.

 

[AshrafI]

I need to start creating websites in order to fund my initial business idea as you can't work a job in my area unless you're above 16 and you cannot work on freelance sites if you are under 18.

However, I believe there may be a problem because of my age, 14 to be exact. I see this as a problem because potential clients may feel as if I am less experienced even though I first started learning HTML and CSS in school at the age of 12. I do not know if I am over analysing it or if I am just manufacturing the problem in my mind.

MJ DeMarco said this on Fox's
'How to Learn Code, Start a Web Company, $15k+ per month within 9 months' thread.
1. Find a notable company in a larger industry with a poorly designed website.
2. Find the decision maker and "try" to get authorization to redo their website... TOTALLY FREE OF CHARGE. If they like it, they can use it.
3. If you can't find the decision maker, DO IT ANYWAY.
4. Redesign the website.
5. Make sure it is your best work, and a clear improvement over the original website.
6. Email the entire upper management the link of the new website -- reiterate that it is FREE and that you will change anything they want.
7. Once they see the work and realize it is FREE, they will probably accept it.
8. Now you have your first client -- giving you the ability to say "We recently redesigned XXX's website." -- giving you social proof with a notable company. Now you can look to start charging. If not, repeat.
9. The above can be done for APPS as well. (I noticed you didn't have a mobile app?)
10. At some point, it will become easier and easier to find paid work.
11. Pick color of Lamborghini.

I believe this is a great way to build your portfolio and to gain trust from other companies, but will my age still be an issue?

• Has anyone experienced this issue?
• Is there a way to get around it?

 

[rwhyan]

However, I believe there may be a problem because of my age, 14 to be exact. I see this as a problem because potential clients may feel as if I am less experienced even though I first started learning HTML and CSS in school at the age of 12. I do not know if I am over analysing it or if I am just manufacturing the problem in my mind.

I believe this is a great way to build your portfolio and to gain trust from other companies, but will my age still be an issue?

• Has anyone experienced this issue?
• Is there a way to get around it?

Present yourself honestly as a 14-year-old.

Tell them about your experience with web design and that although you are new to helping businesses, you are an eager learner and you believe you can help them get more customers.

Many will likely turn you down, but some will say, "It's free, what is the harm?"

Then, let your work do your talking.

Nobody cares about your age if you are able to provide them real value.

 

[AshrafI]

Present yourself honestly as a 14-year-old.

Tell them about your experience with web design and that although you are new to helping businesses, you are an eager learner and you believe you can help them get more customers.

Many will likely turn you down, but some will say, "It's free, what is the harm?"

Then, let your work do your talking.

Nobody cares about your age if you are able to provide them real value.

Thank you, I believe the best thing to do is to state the fact that I am 14 and to show them previous websites I have created.

P.S. What do you mean by cold prospecting? (might sound like a basic question)

 

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