If you’re looking for a way to make some extra money, there are plenty of options. Service-related side hustles, like web design, can be a great option.
This article will cover the basics of why you might want to work as a web designer, and the steps that you can take if you want to get started making money as a web designer. As a side-hustling web designer, most of your clients are likely to be small businesses and organizations. The cost of hiring a larger agency to design and code a custom website is out of reach for many small businesses.
Freelancers and side hustlers can fill the gap by offering services that small businesses and non-profits can afford. There are so many small businesses and organizations out there, and new ones popping up all the time, that there is plenty of demand.
1. Good hourly rate
Don’t be put off by the statement above that freelancers can offer “affordable” services to small businesses. I’m not suggesting that you work for extremely low wages, and you shouldn’t need to do that. To put it into perspective, many agencies have a starting rate somewhere around $25,000. That means they won’t work on any web design product that has a budget below $25,000.
Of course, that’s a generalization and every agency is different, but in general, a high percentage of small businesses cannot realistically afford the services of a web design agency. As a freelancer, you can charge a fair rate and still come in well below the price of just about any agency.
2. Learning new skills
You may be wondering, “If it’s possible to create a website without coding anything, why would small business owners hire someone else to do it for them?” Well, some will choose to do it themselves, but many business owners would rather hire someone to do it so they can use their time for running their business. Even though it may be possible for them to create their own website, it’s usually not the best use of their time.
Creating a website may not require coding, but a business owner who has no experience with websites is unlikely to be able to create an effective website without some help. Things like design, layout, and usability are all important too.
There’s also a learning curve to create websites with WordPress themes and plugins like Thrive Architect and Divi. Business owners may not want to take the time to learn it when they can just hire someone like you to set it up for them.
If you’ve been running your own blog or website for a while, you may already have the skills needed to set up a customized WordPress theme for clients. If not, you can certainly learn how to use the available tools.
3. Offer additional services
In addition to web design, there plenty of other related services that you could also offer. If you’re skilled with design, you could offer:
- Logo design
- Brochure design
- Business card design
- Other types of graphic design
In terms of running a website, you could offer:
- Social media marketing services, designing graphics or managing social profiles for clients
- Ad campaign management
- On-going website maintenance
- General VA (Virtual Assistant) services.
Offering add-on services does a few key things. First, it allows you to make more money per client. Less time looking for clients, or talking to potential clients who never wind up moving forward, means more time to spend on paying clients.
Second, some of the services allow you to retain clients month-after-month. Instead of just designing a website, passing it off to the client, and being done, you can continue to provide services and get paid by that client. Those on-going services can include things like website maintenance and updates, managing social media profiles, and managing ad campaigns.
4. Become full-time web designer
This may or may not be important to you, but web design, like many other service related side hustles, is a side hustle that has the potential to turn into a full-time income. If you have an interest in being self-employed and working from home (or working while traveling), this side hustle could give you that chance.
The purpose of a side hustle is to make extra money outside of a traditional job. Some side hustles, like taking online surveys for example, are great for making a small amount of extra money, but will not give you the potential to make a full-time income. That’s something you should consider before you choose a side hustle. If the possibility of making a full-time income is important to you, choose a side hustle that gives you a realistic chance, like web design.
A side hustle that makes $1,000 – $2,000 per month is really good. That could equal $12,000 – $24,000 of extra income per year, just for something you do in your spare time.
That type of income with a service-related side hustle is not only possible, but it’s realistic. If the service you’re offering, like web design, allows you to charge a decent rate, you can make good money even with limited hours.
5. Be paid for your time
With web design, you’ll be making a nice amount of money from each client, so you won’t need too many clients in order to make a nice income from it. This is especially true if you’re offering on-going services and you’re able to make more from each client.
One of the nice things about service-related side hustles is that you will be paid for your time. Some other side hustles like starting a blog or building a niche website give you the potential to make a lot of money, but you’ll have to put in a lot of time before you start making money.
With a service-related side hustle, you can start making money with just a single client, and the work that you do will be earning real money. Most service-related side hustles, especially those that are done online, will allow you to have a flexible schedule. You can do the work around your existing commitments, whenever you are available.
A lot of people are looking for ways to make money with a blog, but most people ignore the possibility of monetizing a blog with a service. If you’re a blogger, think about the types of services that you could offer to your readers. The possibilities will vary depending on the niche of your blog.
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