Make money as web designer
Home » Web Design » 7 Ways You Can Make Money As A Web Designer And Do Your Living

If you're reading this, chances are you're interested in learning how to make money as a web designer. It's a valid question – after all, as a web designer, your job is to create websites! But where do the websites you make come from? And how do you get paid for designing them? Read on to learn the answer to both these questions, and more.

The biggest question here is How to make money as a web designer. And the shortest answer is to specialize in your field. If you do not have any specialization, then start working to develop those specialized skills. The better you get at your web design skills the more money you can earn. As you get your design career up and off the ground, here are some ways you can make money online using your basic design talents.

7 Ways To Earn With Web Design and Selling Designs

working in an agency

1 - Work for a Design Agency

Earn By
  • Creating Websites
  • Making Mockups
  • Delevering To Agency Customers
  • Getting Paid Projectwise

Working for a design agency is often the best way to get started in your career. Design agencies typically have a team of designers that work on various projects for different clients. This gives you the opportunity to learn from more experienced designers and expand your skill set.

The downside of working for a design agency is that you may not have as much creative freedom as you would if you were running your own studio or freelancing full-time. If you manage to fit in and deliver what the agency wants, You can start earning a good amount of money.

Pros
  • A web design agency can help you build your portfolio as a beginner.
  • They can also help you work with different clients. Since Agencies has a lot of connections with companies, It helps you learn different design style.
  • A web design agency can also provide you with ongoing maintenance work. Maintenance work is good money in the long run.
  • You can also rely on a web design agency for expert advice on improving your website.
Cons
  • A web design agency can pay less in the beginning.
  • You may have to sign a contract with a web design agency, which could lock you into their services for a set period of time.
  • You can find cheaper alternatives to a web design agency, such as hiring a freelance web designer.
  • The pressure to meet deadlines and produce high-quality work can be stressful.
working in a company

2 - Work as an In-House Designer in a Company

Earn By
  • Working on Long-term Projects
  • Delivering Designs On-time
  • Maintaining Their Web Sites
  • Get Paid Weekly or Monthly on Salary Basis.

Unlike a design agency, If you join a company, A company has various departments where they need designs, Website design is one of them. If a company doe not actively work on web design, You'd have some of the free time to come up with creative ideas for existing products or website updates. You can expect to work on more long-term design projects while working in a company.

If you want to work as an in-house designer, you will need to find a company that is hiring designers. You can search for open positions on job boards or websites like Indeed.com. Once you find a position that you’re interested in, you will need to apply and go through the interview process.

The downside of working for a design agency is that you may not have as much creative freedom as you would if you were running your own studio or freelancing full-time. If you manage to fit in and deliver what the agency wants, You can start earning a good amount of money.

Pros
  • Able to work more closely with other departments and learn about the company as a whole
  • Can build better relationships with clients
  • Get a better understanding of the company's brand
  • More flexible hours
  • Possible to work from home
Cons
  • May have less creative freedom
  • Could be less variety in projects
  • May be more pressure to meet deadlines
  • Could be more distractions from co-workers
  • Less opportunity to network with other professionals
working freelancer

3 - Work as a Freelance Web Designer

Earn By
  • Doing Client Websites
  • Making Mockups For Clients
  • Get Paid On Shor As Well As Long-term Project
  • Working For Individuals and Small Businesses

As a freelance web designer, you can work with businesses and organizations of all sizes to create websites that achieve their goals. To be successful, you need to have a strong understanding of web design principles and be able to create engaging user-friendly websites.

You can attend networking events and meetups related to web design and freelancing. This is a great way to meet potential clients and get your name out there. Also, get involved with online communities related to web design and freelancing.

Pros
  • Work from anywhere in the world.
  • Set your own hours and work as little or as much as you want.
  • You are your own boss and in control of your own career.
  • Choose to work with clients that you enjoy working with.
  • Have the potential to earn a lot of money if you are successful.
Cons
  • May have trouble finding steady work.
  • Could have to work long hours to make a good income.
  • Dealing with difficult clients.
  • Have to sacrifice some of your personal life for your work.
  • There is a lot of competition in the field.
own agency

4 - Start Your Own Agency

Earn By
  • Starting a Business
  • Hiring Top Tallent
  • Managing Design Work
  • Managing People

As a web designer, you have a lot of skills that can be monetized in many different ways. One way to make money is to start your own web design agency. This can be a very profitable business venture, as long as you have the right strategies in place.

Start by creating a portfolio of your best work. This will be essential in order to attract potential clients and show them what you’re capable of. Research the prices charged by other web design agencies in your area, and set your rates accordingly.

It’s important to not undervalue your services, as this will only lead to frustration down the road. You'll have to pay for all of your expenses like hosting, office, marketing, bills, etc so it's important to have the right price for your services.

Pros
  • You can be your own boss.
  • Set your own working hours.
  • Work from anywhere.
  • Complete control over your work.
  • Choose your own clients.
Cons
  • You have to market yourself.
  • You have to find your own clients.
  • You have to do your own accounting and taxes.
  • You have to manage your own time.
  • You have to be self-motivated.
Starting a blog

5 - Start a Design Blog or Youtube Channel

Earn By
  • Writing and Monetizing Blog
  • Start A Channel
  • Paid Partnerships
  • Advertisements
  • Teaching Others

One way to make money is to start a design blog. A design blog can be a great way to share your knowledge and expertise with the world and to build up a following of readers who are interested in what you have to say.

Whether it’s web design trends, Photoshop tutorials, or UX tips, focus your blog around a specific subject that you know well. Make sure that each and every post offers value in some way.

You can record tutorials and put them on social media channels like youtube and Vimeo for other people to learn from you. Although a blog or a channel is considered a passive income, but there are people out there who are just crushing it.

Pros
  • Share your designs your perspective, and opinions with the world and get feedback from other designers.
  • Learning new tips and tricks from other designers and sharing them with others.
  • Showcasing your work to potential clients or just getting more traffic/followers in general.
  • You can network with other designers and create a community of like-minded people.
  • You can get hired by design firms or work on their projects.
Cons
  • It takes time and effort to maintain a design blog.
  • You need to have a strong understanding of web design to writing blog posts
  • You have to promote your blog/channel in order to attract readers.
  • You may not get paid for your writing unless you find sponsors or advertisers for your blog.
  • You may receive negative comments from readers and viewers which can be discouraging.
Theme Designer

6 - Become a Theme or Template Developer

Earn By
  • Making Comissions
  • Affiliate Marketing
  • Paid Promotions

As a web designer, one of the most viable ways to make money is to become a theme or template developer. This allows you to create and sell your designs for others to use on their own websites. If you have a strong portfolio of beautiful and functional designs, this can be a very lucrative way to earn an income.

Whether you specialise in designing for businesses or personal sites, choose a style that you’re passionate about and focus your efforts there. This will show potential buyers that you’re keeping up with the times and that your designs are modern and relevant.

You have become consistent with your design, support, and updates when selling your work to market places. Some marketplaces allow you to share your design on multiple marketplaces.

Pros
  • Can be a very lucrative career choice
  • Allows for creativity and self-expression
  • Can work from anywhere in the world
  • Flexible hours, You can hire a VA to do management tasks for you
  • Can work independently or as part of a team
Cons
  • May require long hours and hard work to be successful
  • May need to continually update skills and knowledge
  • Competition can be stiff
  • Client requests can be challenging
  • Your Product has to be maintained for trends and technology changes.
stock graphics

7 - Sell Stock Graphics and Design Files

Earn By
  • Selling Your Designs
  • Earn Commission On Each Sale
  • Earn By Refrals

The Myth is a web designer can only create websites. Well, a designer can create anything needed to fulfill the project requirements including creating beautiful graphics prior to websites.

With the right platform, you can easily sell your designs and earn a commission on each sale. There are a few things to keep in mind when selling stock graphics and files.

First, be sure to choose a reputable platform that will give you a good return on your investment.

Next, make sure your designs are high quality and meet the needs of buyers. Whether it is a mockup, a template, or any graphic.

Finally, promote your designs through social media and other online channels. There are people out there who are selling just Canva templates.

By this approach, you'd end up earning a penny. But the real game is when you create something valuable and you make a penny, You're giving your customers value. Value brings back more customers. Eventually, you start to see an increase in sales.

Pros
  • You can be your own boss and set your own hours.
  • You can work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.
  • There is a lot of potential to make a lot of money.
  • You can sell products that you create yourself.
  • You can help people by creating websites that solve their problems.
Cons
  • It can be difficult to find good clients who are willing to pay what you're worth.
  • You have to be very skilled and have a good portfolio in order to succeed.
  • It can be difficult to stand out from the competition.
  • You have to constantly keep up with changing trends in web design.
  • There is a lot of pressure to deliver results quickly and efficiently.

Have you started earning already?

In conclusion, if you want to make money as a web designer, you need to have a strong portfolio, be willing to work hard, and be open to new opportunities. You need to be creative, have a strong understanding of web design, and be able to market your skills to potential clients. With dedication and a little bit of luck, you can make a great living doing what you love.

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