1. Volunteering
Yes, volunteers usually don't get paid , and that's a minus. But you can get a great portfolio, no exaggeration. There are many charitable organizations in the world that need help from specialists in various fields. For example, look at the UN vacancies, among them there are interesting tasks for web developers. Imagine what experience you can get and how it will favorably emphasize your professionalism in the eyes of other clients?
It is not necessary to look for large international organizations, try offering your services to local charities. Working with them will have a positive impact on your personal brand, and beginners will get excellent practice and understand how to create custom websites .
2. Freelance exchanges
Most often, people register on two or three popular platforms in Russia (FL.ru or Weblancer.net, for example) and work only with them. This approach limits both professional development and how much you can earn . Domestic freelance exchanges do not always offer highly paid orders. The work is also often monotonous and uniform. In such conditions, you will have to put in maximum effort and time to grow as a specialist.
International freelance platforms and services will help speed up the process. In addition to the well-known Upwork and Freelancer , these include:
Fiverr
Designhill (for designers)
Supersourcing
lemon.io
This is not a complete list, if you wish, you can find other, more convenient options for yourself. The main drawback is that all platforms are English-language. Some are additionally translated into other languages, such as French, German or Danish, but there is no Russian among them. Discussion of orders in most cases also takes place in English. But usually, an intermidiate level and Google/Yandex translator tips are enough to communicate with clients.
Pay attention to freelance exchanges popular in Russia's neighboring countries - Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and others. This will further increase your chances of finding interesting and highly paid projects.
For example, in Ukraine, Freelance.ua is among the most popular , and among Belarusian platforms, itfreelance stands out .
Before taking an order on foreign freelance exchanges, find out in advance how much they pay for creating a website . If you do not understand the rates right away, you risk selling too cheap or, on the contrary, overcharging your own prices to the client.
According to the WebsiteBuilderExpert portal, in the US and Europe the cost of a simple website made on a constructor is $200 on average. If you involve a professional web developer, the price will increase to $5000 on average. According to other data , Junior and Middle level IT specialists in the US and Canada ask for $40-60 dollars per hour of work.
3. Internships
They are offered by almost all more or less well-known IT companies, so it is not difficult to find an interesting option for yourself. Internships allow you to work not at home , but in “field conditions”. You will participate in real projects and see how they work from the inside. Such experience can be useful in building communication with clients on a freelance basis.
The main disadvantage is that most internships are aimed at students and recent graduates. It is more difficult to find a suitable option for older people, but it is also possible . Not all internships are paid, but as a source of experience and inspiration, they are a great option. Especially for beginners who want to learn more about how to make money creating websites .
4. Marketplaces and bulletin boards
Unlike freelance exchanges, marketplaces provide users with a wider range of services — from washing machine repair to legal advice. There are also more users on such sites than on freelance exchanges, so it is more profitable to advertise your services.
The brightest and most famous representative of service marketplaces is Kabanchik . It operates not only in Russia, but also in neighboring countries, only under different domains. That is, to work with Ukrainian customers, for example, you need to visit the site Kabanchik.ua , with Belarusian ones - Kabanchik.by .
Classified ads as a way to find clients are no longer as relevant as they used to be, largely due to the development of freelance exchanges and marketplaces. However, posting an ad offering your services on Avito or flagma.ru makes sense. This will help you reach a larger audience and find clients faster, especially for beginners.
5. Subcontracting
If you already have experience in website development, you can try to partner with a large web studio. Then you will accept orders directly from them as a contractor. But there are some nuances here.
Firstly , studios prefer to work not with individual freelancers, but with a team that includes all the key specialists for creating and promoting a website (web designers, copywriters, SEO specialists, content managers).
Secondly , contractors usually get orders that are not kuwait phone number library the most interesting and profitable. Most often, studios give out the work that is simply a pity to refuse. But even so, you can increase your own client base and make new useful contacts. And subcontracting is a good way to track trends in the field of web development.
Examples of the best sites
This is what the best websites of 2020 look like according to awwwards
6. Additional services
You pay for website development once. That is, you do the work, get paid, and look for a new client. Website promotion and development is another matter. SEO and SMM support, content creation and publication are all continuous processes. Without them, the website will simply get lost in the search results and will not bring in any profit.
The client, if he does not want to do the promotion himself, will have to pay the contractors regularly. Or you, if you offer the corresponding service. Of course, for this you will have to undergo additional training and find reliable contractors to help, but it is worth it. Additional website promotion services will provide you with a stable income.
Payment formats for website development
The four most common are:
Fixed payment upon completion of work
Hourly pay
Prepayment
Payment depending on complexity (that is, you determine the time of work individually for each client and form the price depending on this; easy orders for a couple of hours of work cost less, complex ones, accordingly, cost the client more).
The choice of payment format depends on the situation and your personal preferences. For example, customers prefer a fixed price option - they immediately understand how much money they have to spend. But such a scenario does not always take into account force majeure. For example, there are often cases when a client asks to redesign a finished website, the contractor spends additional time on this, but does not receive compensation. The client pays only a fixed rate, which was agreed upon in advance. To avoid such problems, you need to discuss such nuances in advance and assign an additional payment. Or - use the hourly payment format. But clients agree to it more readily if the contractor is an already proven professional.
Prepayment (full or partial) is most often required by large web studios that have earned the authority and trust of their clients. For them, this is a way to protect themselves. A guarantee that the customer will not change his mind at the last moment and go to another contractor.
