I need an advice

[Unlapealeri]

Hello!
I'm new here. I've been browsing tons of forums for an idea of what to do. I was laid off from my job about 3 month ago. I've been looking for a job since then, but did not even get a single interview. I worked as a web designer for a publishing company for the last 5 years. Looks like fourhourworkweek.com is an active forum with active members and may be someone has some experience working as a freelance web designer. May be "Definition: Target Monthly Income TMI Getting Started Dreamlining Fear-setting..." category is not the most appropriate for this question, but I want to try anyways to get some opinions before I go ahead with my life. I'm wondering if it is possible in the current economy to find work for a freelance web designer and make enough to pay for rent and groceries. I was able to find a small project on craigslist and I developed a website for a company. It was a small project and took me only a week to complete. I got paid $800 for 1 week of work which is not bad. Please people give me some ideas. I have 2 kids and my wife is out of work as well. Thank you in advance.

[sphelps]

After reading this book, I would look into the elance site. I know that many people may be looking to get a new website up and running if looking to start an online business. Good luck.

[DaveCraige.com]

eesh, so sorry to hear that you are having a hard time.

feel free to post your portfolio. would love to see your work.

[Stallion]

There is plenty of work. When it comes to business online, things have been expanding so fast that business hasn't been able to keep up. There's plenty of work.

Elance
Get A Freelancer
Rent-A-Coder
Guru
oDesk

Also go to where your customers are hanging out... webmaster forums.

Digitalpoint
Warrior Forum
Wicked Fire
ETC

[xvx]

Definetly Elance matey, I've put lots of work up on there.

[janet444]

Many people need web designers.

Have you created a website advertising your services? This would be the first step. If you're a web designer without a website, it will be difficult for you to sell yourself.

Ask the person you did the freelance design for if you can use that website as a sample on your portfolio. Also ask that person for a testimonial.

Create two more fake sites - or make one for your wife or kids - and use those as samples of your work. Or ask your former employer for a testimonial and ask if you can use a page from their site as a sample.

Don't lie about the samples being fake. Don't go out of your way to tell people, but if they ask, just tell them the truth. You were employed as a web designer and now you're becoming a freelancer.

Advertise your services on Craigslist and the other places people mentioned here and post on the forums that were mentioned in this thread.

I think you could do very well with this.

Best of luck.

Janet

[Jon Alan]

Sorry to hear about that but you know it could be a blessing in disguise. You ought to try elance like they said. I am a free lance copywriter and have found some good jobs on there. You pretty much need to bid every day (the sponsored bids get the most replies) and be really aggressive but with your experience you should be able to do well. Especially if you are familiar with PHP and MY SQL. I realize that we do not know each other but if you want to stay in touch I am sure that I will have clients who need your services and vice versa. I have been at this freelance thing for months now and building my business online. Believe me, there are all kind of snares to get your foot caught in which can cost you a lot of time and money. Anyway, If you decide not to get in touch with me I'll understand but it might be worth a shot. jonalan@vqsuccess.com Wish you the best! -Jon Alan

If you do put a site up and you can do php scripting you could probably attract a lot of visitors by providing turnkey scripts for them to download as well.

[DaveCraige.com]

I am sorry, but I have to disagree with a lot of recommendations here.

I may be wrong, but I really wouldn't advise you to try freelancing full time. If you were single and eating Ramen that would be fine, but with a family in tow it seems too risky.

I hope you can get a real fulltime job, and try freelancing at night or on Saturdays.

Keep us posted, and drop your portfolio if you want to.

[webgal]

It would be really tough to start freelancing right now. Those of us who've been out there have such an advantage and there simply isn't much to go around. I'm referring to other writers and freelancers since I am fortunate to have plenty at the moment. But it's taken a lot of work to get there.

I network a lot, sponsor events etc. In fact, I'm networking like a madman on crack and I know where the work is. Most of the freelancers in my area are about 50 cents away from living in a cardboard box. One friend of mine is working ferocious hours at an agency with no life since work elsewhere has dried up.

So right now, I would recommend doing this in off hours. While there is a lot of work online, there are those who've been doing elance a while and have reputations already. It also doesn't pay as well many times. To get the high paying jobs, you have to pay your dues. And even then, it's a tough nut to crack. You may bid on a lot but not win the contract. While I get online work, I'm picky and it just comes to me. But again, that did not happen overnight.

[Jon Alan]

I can certainly understand people's concern about beginning in freelancing at such a time. However, good work is always hard to come by and if you know how to market yourself I believe that you will do fine. I just started 2 months ago and have already replaced my income. Therefore, while I certainly respect that everyone has their own way of looking at it, I encourage you to give it a shot.

[janet444]

I just want to add that I would take Webgal's advice over my own advice. I'm NOT a web designer, so I apologize for throwing out the idea that you could do well with this, given that I don't really know.

Meanwhile, if you have the time, it couldn't hurt to try it out, but you would need a website. I don't know about others, but I would not hire a web designer who hadn't created a website for himself/herself.

Also - I realized that I know webgal from another forum! Hi Webgal! :-)

She's worth listening to, though I'm happy to hear that the last poster before me is doing well. That is encouraging.

If I were you, I'd be looking for a job and also putting up a web design website, if you have the time. Couldn't hurt.

Janet

[webgal]

Hi Janet. Welcome to 4HWW. Are you the Janet with heart in your biz title?

Freelancing is very cyclical. It can be feast or famine at times.

[bryancolligan]

My company has a training program that may help you ... we are a union of developers that profit share on website builds.

Please PM Bryan for Info