How to Become a Professional Web Designer and Programmer

Web developers and programmers are in high demand. And while it may seem complicated, if you have a passion to learn the languages, free time to practice, and some know-how on finding and working with clients, you can make a nice living...

Method 1 of 3:

Learning the Languages

Choose either front-end or back-end web development (or both). Make a choice to study either front-end or back-end programming. Front-end (or client-side) developers need to know a variety of languages from HTML to CSS and JavaScript to build websites with attractive designs and useful features. Back-end programmers use languages like Python and Ruby to make the site work seamlessly.^[1]
1. Studying both front-end and back-end development will help you take on multiple types of jobs.
2. You can also focus on user experience (UX), user interface (UI), or software development. Parts of these disciplines are incorporated in any web-development education.
Get an associate's degree or bachelor's degree in web programming. Look to local trade schools and colleges to find a degree program in computer science or programming. If you have strong skills in mathematics, science, and technology, you'll have an easier time getting accepted to undergraduate programs.^[2]
1. You don't have to get a formal degree, but the traditional route is a good choice if you need a more structured learning experience.
Take an online course in programming. Online learning platforms like Udemy and Coursera offer lots of programming courses. These are a great option if you don't live near trade schools, don't want to shell out money on a degree, or prefer to learn from home at your own pace.
1. Udemy courses typically cost around $10 to $20 dollars.^[3]
2. Some Coursera courses are free or offer a free trial period. However, to receive an official certificate of completion regarding specializations (like particular coding languages), you'll need to pay a fee ranging from $39 to $79.
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Study the skills you'll need in your spare time. Whether you decide to forego schooling or you just want to learn some languages your degree program doesn't offer, it'll help to hone your skills in various web development applications. Various languages you need to learn include:^[4]
1. HTML: Main page content
2. CSS: Page styling
3. JavaScript: Dynamic content (like videos and interactive graphics)
4. jQuery: Makes scripting in JavaScript easier
5. PHP: Server-side scripting
6. SQL: Database management
7. Bootstrap: Develop mobile-first sites
Learn HTML and CSS to make unique web designs. HTML and CSS are the backbone languages that will help you build creative websites that stand out. Understanding these two languages will also help you understand other types in the long run.^[5]
1. To start practicing HTML and CSS for free, go to https://www.w3schools.com/.
Learn Javascript to build front-end and back-end content. After you've learned the basics of HTML and CSS, study Javascript to jazz up your programming skills. Javascript is a great language for creating fun site functions like animated graphics, scrolling video, and interactive maps.^[6]
1. JavaScript programmers are in high demand and, as a result, they tend to make more money doing freelance work or working with an in-house team.
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Practice making vector graphics by using a graphics editing application. Pay to download Adobe Illustrator or Muse to start practicing designing vector graphics. Graphics make a website unique and interesting, so knowing how to do it is essential to becoming a good web developer.^[7]
1. Affinity Designer is a cheaper application that's similar to Adobe Illustrator.
2. http://inkscape.org is a good free (and open-source) alternative if you don't want to shell out money for an application.
3. Vector graphics are basically computer graphic images made by 2D points. They're often higher quality than painting with pixels (which is called raster graphics).
Familiarize yourself with Wordpress. Learn how to customize themes, plugins, and default settings on Wordpress to create unique-looking content. The site mainly uses PHP, you'll need to know HTML, CSS, and some JavaScript to work with it. Start practicing building sites and blogs by going to https://www.wordpress.com.^[8]
1. It's an important application to use because many companies and small businesses prefer its versatility and user-friendliness.
Learn from other great web designers and programmers. Take a look at other well-designed websites, and note how a menu or content area is laid out and then apply that knowledge to your designs.^[9]
1. For example, if you like how a menu function looks and behaves on a particular site, try to emulate that when you practice building your own websites.

Method 2 of 3:

Getting Work

Advertise yourself as a freelance web developer and programmer. Offer a variety of services from logo design to web design or basic coding when you're just starting out. Often times, clients don't know what exactly they need so be prepared to offer them a range of services.^[10]
1. Reach out to people you know and small local businesses that might need your services.
2. Think about a 'pitch' to sell your services to clients. For instance, your pitch could be as simple as, 'I'm a web developer who is eager to create clean, user-friendly, and creative content for businesses and entrepreneurs.'
Take on pro-bono jobs to build your portfolio. Contact non-profits or other low-budget businesses to see if you can volunteer to build their website for them. Put as much effort into pro-bono work as you would paid work.^[11]
1. Offer your free services on sites like Craigslist to help connect with clients and build your portfolio.
Create a website to show off your portfolio of work. Build your own personal site with your portfolio of work. Be sure to include a 'contact' form so clients can hire you. Your website is going to give potential clients an idea of what you can do, so make it look great!^[12]
1. Include a brief resume on your site that includes your educational background (if applicable) and all of the languages you can work with. When it comes to work experience, focus on web programming and design only (i.e., remove any non-relevant jobs).
2. Your website is going to act like your own brand, so make it memorable and show off your most creative, beautiful designs!
3. Create separate tabs within your portfolio to show your versatility. For instance, organize your work by commercial or more niche-oriented designs. Or, you can have a tab for logos and a tab for website templates.
Go to web development conferences to network and hone your skills. Attend conferences to meet other developers, learn new tricks, and keep up with the latest design trends. These types of conferences are held around the world and are usually geared toward either front-end or back-end development. However, you can find conferences that focus on both as well as a myriad of coding languages.^[13]
1. Carry business cards with you to connect with other developers and programmers who may share some tips and help you find clients.
2. The events often last a few days and host workshops and speakers sharing the latest technologies to take your skills to the next level.

Method 3 of 3:

Working with Clients

Create a contract between yourself and potential clients. Write a contract containing some rules and guidelines for yourself and the client. The contract should include an overview of the services you'll be doing, invoice and payment information, and some terms and conditions relating to copyright and confidentiality.^[14]
1. For instance, a simple contract might read: 'Joanna Tillery (contractor) will provide Kline LLC (client) with a working website as dictated by the specifications detailed in the Terms and Conditions below. Invoices will be generated on the 1st of the month, and payments of $70 per hour are accepted via credit card or bank transfer. Joanna Tillery may use the finished works as part of her portfolio for future business opportunities, with consent from Kline LLC. All documents and interactions between Kline LLC and Joanna Tillery will remain confidential.'
Set an hourly rate for short projects or if you're just starting out. Choose to price yourself according to the amount of time you'll be putting into the work. Most beginning programmers start by charging $45 to $50 per hour and reasonably skilled freelancers start out with an hourly wage of around $70 to $75 per hour. Designers typically charge between $30 to $80 an hour.^[15]
1. Shift your price based on the difficulty of the work or your relationship to the client. For instance, you might raise your hourly rate if the website has multiple pages or lower your price if you're trying to court a new client.
Charge a fixed-price rate for long-term projects that require updates. Set a flat rate for your work if the client wants to keep you on board for updates and maintenance. Be sure to ask the client about their budget and project requirements so you know exactly what the job entails. This is important so you know when the project is finished on your end. Here are some common flat prices for different services:^[16]
1. Setup: $160
2. Building and design: $5,000
3. Content: $500
4. Maintenance and updates: $500
Do your best work and communicate with your client regularly. Ask your client for clear goals, so you know how to approach the work. Check in with them to make sure they're happy with the project you're doing. Also, be honest with your client about any unrealistic expectations they might have about timing or pricing.^[17]
1. For instance, if they expect you to have their website up and running in less than a week, kindly explain the fundamentals of building a site and how long each part will take.