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Here are a few tried-and-true bits of wisdom for anyone considering a career as a freelance web designer.

by iManda

If you've ever successfully put together a Web site that truly made you proud, chances are the thought of becoming a self-employed professional has crossed your mind. After all, why wouldn't you want the freedom of setting your own hours, being your own boss, and using your creative talents in a rapidly growing industry? Maybe you've already done some research on starting your own web design business, and you're pretty convinced you will be prepared for anything. The truth is, you'll be surprised at the unexpected lessons that the wonderful world of professional web design will teach you; it's virtually impossible to forsee all of the potential obstacles you'll have to navigate along the way. If you don't mind trial and error, and you have vast reserves of patience, optimism, and emergency cash, then you'll probably do just fine.

That said, here are a few invaluable truths to help you get a head start in the battle:

Have a decent savings and a short list of good clients before you start.

This may seem like common sense, but unless you have signed, detailed contracts (and I do mean more than two), it's better to keep your day job and build up your portfolio on the side. Not only will the income most likely be wildly unstable at first, but you're entering a severely oversaturated market — which also means it's unlikely that you'll get rich in this field. Fifteen out of twenty people will already have a Web site, four will "have a cousin who will do it for free", and the last one has been approached so many times already that she's now waging a violent campaign against anyone who says the word "Web site". Most personal home pages and banner farms now also advertise web design services, which means it's getting harder to be taken seriously as a professional. Your winning solution will mean coming up with an irresistible pitch; you have to be able to convince new clients that simply having a Web site isn't effective, but having a GOOD Web site (designed by you) will make all the difference.

Get everything on paper.

Even when you've landed that project, there are no guarantees until you come up with a contract. You've heard it a million times: "I don't know what I want, but I know what I DON'T want." Kids, this doesn't narrow it down. It's easy to ignore this part of the process if you're working with someone you know, but having no firm set of rules, deadlines, or project plans can create animosity on both sides down the road. With a contract and a detailed project outline, you will save your client some pricing fears and save yourself the trouble of watching the project spiral out of control and far away from the original request. Which brings me to one of the most important lessons to learn...

Part 2