If you crave an extra skill set as an immigrant, web design can be a game changer for you.
Though there are hundreds of millions of websites on the internet today, the demand for web designers will keep soaring. The US Bureau of Statistics says that the demand for web designers will rise by 8% in 2029.
According to Glassdoor, “The estimated total pay for a Web Developer/Web Designer is $86,218 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $74,684 per year.”
No doubt, web design has got solid career prospects.
Interestingly, you don’t need a degree in computer science to get started.
In this article, you will learn how to become a web designer and start creating websites for brands.
Yes, You can be a web designer without coding!
Although programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript continue to power websites, it’s possible to build websites without a line of code.
No-code platforms to kickstart your journey as a web designer include WordPress,
Wix, Boxmode, Squarespace, and Shopify. We’ll focus on WordPress in this post.
WordPress is the most popular website builder tool, powering 43% of all the websites on the internet, including Techcrunch, Usain Bolt, and Microsoft News.
Please note that WordPress.org is different from WordPress.com. With WordPress.org, you have absolute control over your website. You can make use of a hosting platform of your choice and customize your website with so much flexibility.
WordPress.org is the focal point of this post.
Though WordPress is code-based, you can design websites with drag-and-drop web page builder plugins like Elementor and Divi on the WordPress CMS.
These plugins use a drag-and-drop mechanism to structure websites.
There are also templates you can use in addition to web page builder plugins to design functional websites without writing code.
6 Reasons to Consider Web Design as a Side Hustle?
Here are reasons why web design will make a good side business for you as an immigrant:
1. Work as a freelancer to supplement your income.
Web designers can take on corporate or individual brand projects and get paid handsomely.
However, how much you get paid will depend on your skill level and negotiating ability.
2. There isn’t such a steep learning curve.
If you’re consistent, you can learn web design in about a week or less (with the steps you’ll discover in this article).
3. It can help you get a better job.
Having web design skills on your resume can be a plus for you as you seek job roles as an immigrant.
4. You can work remotely.
As a freelance web designer, you can accept projects from any part of the globe and work on them from anywhere.
5. You can learn it free of charge.
You don’t need hundreds of dollars to learn website design. You can learn for free (more information about this in the following sections).
6. You don’t need any money to get started.
You don’t need massive capital to become a freelance website designer (especially as a freelancer). Your skills and portfolio will be enough to get you started!
7 Steps to Become a Successful Web Designer
Anyone can learn to design excellent websites. Learning web design, however, hinges on interest and understanding of basic computer skills.
Job-seeking immigrants, professionals, and students can learn web design and start earning additional income.
So, here are seven steps to a rewarding web design career.
Remember, we are focusing on WordPress.
Step #1. You must be enthusiastic!
You can’t learn web design if you’re not motivated.
Now, a simple way to build up your interest is to examine the merits of becoming a website designer.
Among other things, you’ve got the potential to earn more money and work from anywhere!
So, see web design as an open door to a great future, and get excited!
Step #2: Learn from Experts (At Zero Cost!)
I guess you’re thinking, “Where am I going to start from right now?” No worries, you can get started without hassles.
An effective way to learn WordPress web design is to learn from experts. Yeah.
And that’s pretty easy. You’re going to learn how to make WordPress websites free of charge. You’re not paying a $200 course fee here!
So, I’m showing you three Youtube video tutorials that will give you a walk-through of :
- How to Make a Website for free by Ferdy Korpershoek
- How to make a website with elementor – 2022 by Darell Wilson
- How to make a Website with Elementor Fast and Professional for Beginners by WPCrafter.com
By the time you’re through watching these tutorials, you’ll be able to design a WordPress website from scratch.
You’d have learned about domain registration, website hosting, and the Elementor plugin.
With 5 million+ installations, Elementor is the most popular WordPress page builder plugin. So you’re in safe hands.
As you start using WordPress, you can also explore a plugin like the Astra Starter Templates, which is compatible with Elementor.
Step #3: Practice Your new skills
It’s time to practice what you’ve learned!
A great way to start is to build a website from scratch. So you can buy an affordable domain name and hosting from Namecheap.com or Bluehost and start building your website.
Another option is to volunteer to redesign a friend’s WordPress website.
However, if you’re going this route, back up the website so that you can restore it to normalcy if anything goes wrong.
Step #4: Get your portfolio ready
Now you are ready to show prospects the websites you’ve designed! And that’s pretty important.
While it’s not bad to send links to websites you’ve designed, you can also create a portfolio as time goes on.
You could develop a page with clickable snippets that link to each website you have designed, so prospects can have a quick view of your work.
Learn more about web design portfolios.
Step #5: Market your web design skills
Dear friend, becoming a web designer is not enough. You must also market your skills to attract clients.
Social media platforms are a good place to showcase your expertise. So, you can share links to websites you have created. You can also create social media posts on how you achieve your website design goals and meet deadlines.
With consistency, you’ll start attracting clients.
Furthermore, don’t forget word of mouth. Informing people in your circle of influence can bring referrals.
If you want to take this further, you can choose to pay commissions to anyone who gets you a deal.
Referrals work very well for freelance businesses and are a good sales strategy for your freelance web design business.
Check out this article to learn more about getting clients for your web design freelance business.
Step #6: Set reasonable prices
More often than not, pricing will depend on you, the client, and the hosting company’s charges.
But you can also find out how much web designers in your area charge clients on average.
Generally, your pricing should cover:
- Domain name registration
- Website hosting service
- Set up and design – this would be determined by the scope of work. You need to agree on this and properly document the terms before you start.
- Website Maintenance – that is if the client wants you to maintain the website. You can charge on a monthly basis for this.
As a growing freelance web designer, it is good to set reasonable prices. But, always ensure you have a good profit margin to avoid being disgruntled.
You can check out this web design pricing guide.
Step #7: Join a web design community
As a member of a web design community, you will get inspiration from time to time. You’ll also have the chance to interact with other members and share your experiences.
Furthermore, joining a community can be a lifesaver when you encounter difficulty. Just reach out to the community, and an experienced designer can guide you on what to do.
Conclusion
As an immigrant, you’ve got what it takes to increase your income.
A website design career can open up amazing financial opportunities in your new country.
Of course, you’ll have more money to settle your bills and send money to family and loved ones.
So get ready to learn from experts, practice and market your skills, and do everything it takes to become that successful website designer!
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