HI!

I work full time for a company, and do my web work part-time. I ensure that none of my clients will be a 'conflict-of-interest' to the company that I am working with. I too have considered the full-time web developer route...but haven't been able to find a way to create a 'monthly' income from it. I create pages...and bill on an hourly basis. If there are changes that need to take place after the final site is loaded, the client is billed on an hourly basis. If you find a good method...let me know. :-)

Thanks
Lynn Keen
Keen Web Design
CSS Only Yahoo Group

US$4000 - too little? You've got to be jokin' ....

Right now, after being over a year in this company that I work for, I'm worknig 8h/day and I manage to get in US$ around...$500.

So let's face it... my work suxx :(

Folks I'm no marketing guy...but my logic processes tell me that if you want to do this for a living you have to look at the elements that it will take to get you to the right level. If you create a site that shows your work (portfolio), create a network of business contacts (local and national), join the bulletin boards, join local Business Networking Groups, do a couple 'gratis' or low budget items, offer your services where ever you can. You will develop a name and reputation for someone who is eager to work, creative, responsive, and caring about the needs of your business community. A reputation means a lot in the business world...establishing a good one is half the battle. Once you are known for the great work you do...clients refer other clients.

Lynn Keen
Keen Web Design
CSS Only Yahoo Group

poofeq:
1. Stop bitchin at yourself and get your lazy arse to work.
2. $500 is a good salary in your country for a permanent job (especially if that is your first year in that company - twice more than the minimum salary or even more as I know?).
3. I bet your portfolio isn't worth that $500 per month.
4. You're probably overpaid there.
5. You're a towel.

poofeq:

I guess.. we are totaly underpaid here... but... there is not much of an alternative :/

Come to America! Haven't you heard, we're offering free immigration to anyone as long as you sneak in across our southern border?

$500 a month??? Try $500 a day here in the good old US of A! Have you heard that our streets are paved with gold? (Well, that's not entirely true, some streets are now being paved with platinum.)

cp: There is a huge difference between Warsaw and Cracow.. ;)

And about this bitchin... i'm not bitchin, I don't want to earn god only knows how much money, but a salary that's enough to rent a flat on my own + pay bills and have something to live isn't too much to ask, don't you think?

Anyway as I said - I'm not bitchin'. I just wanted to get an orientation.
But on the other hand... if you're so satisfied with the situation, why did you leave? Don't tell it's because of sights...

Hi, I am livin in Sofia, Bulgaria, and I work for around 250 euros for the moment. I have started to work for thata company 5 months ago. If you compare the prices in Poland and Bulgaria, I am sure thata for a big cities like Sofia and Warshaw, 500$ is too little. I hope that soon I`ll be hired from an American compoany here in Sofia and my sallary will increase twice.

For your question about freelance - I do also like to work as a freelancer and to live in the mointain. I think you could make enough money, but you should have a lot of projects...probably in the process of working for your present company you`ll have some contacts and probably after 2,3,4...years you shoudl have enough work as a freelancer...

And about the money...in Bulgaria 500 euro is a good sallary, but in UK it is not...it depends form your clients at least and where you live...

Greetings and good luck!

I think that "cp", although his delivery may be a bit harsh, has a good point.

Web design is a global industry. I have built websites for people all over America and in other countries. If you have talent and a portfolio that effectively communicates your skill, I see no reason why someone from Poland, China or Tinbuktu couldn't make a decent living as a freelancer. Individuals, small businesses and corporations spend thousands (some millions) of dollars on their websites. If youve got the talent, you should be able to bid on, and win those jobs, no matter where you are located.

Build a great portfolio, network, work hard... make money.

^^^ Sweet jesus

If you are looking to go out on your own you have to set your own price and here is some simple math on how to do that...this way you won't get screwed.

Take all your bills into consideration:

Rent, Car, Electric, Cable(internet), Phone, Hosting, etc.

Then figure out the total cost per month that you need to pay that:

Estimate: $2000.00/month just to cover your bills

Then add in how much you want to "play" with: Movies, Music, Computer stuff, etc.

Then add that number to the other number.

Estimate: $3500.00/month total

Then take that number and divide it by 20. $3500 / 80 hours/month = $43.75/hour...that would cover all your bills plus give you enough money to have some left over to go get beer.

The best way to get work is submit your resume to Advertising Agencies and Design Companies and try to set them up as Resellers of what you do. This will have people giving you work, but your work has to be good...the better you are the more work you'll get. Now we only divided by 80 hours. There are 40 hours in a week which would make roughly 160 hours of 9 to 5 a month. But you have to spend some of that time finding more work, and learn how to save money. If you have 4 months work of bills saved up you'll work much better not trying to hurry everything out to get paid...works for me.