How To Become A Freelance Web Designer with WordPress

The gig economy isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In fact, according to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 53 million Americans earning income from a side hustle or freelancing, making self-employment practically the norm. And if you’re looking to hop on this train while making some serious cash, then you might want to consider learning how to develop on WordPress.

WordPress is a staple in the web design and development world as one of the most popular CMS platforms out. Almost everyone knows someone with a WordPress site, especially with how easy it is to buy a domain, a layout, and tweak things to your liking. Best web designers and agencies from the Ramotion blog handle this very well. And even if you’ve never written a lick of code, it’s incredibly easy to pick up. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps, and you too will be working on your own in no time. Here’s how:

Why WordPress?

When it comes to learning development, WordPress, by far, is one of the greatest tools to use to get started. As noted by Tyton Media, approximately 27% of the internet is powered by WordPress, which is a pretty staggering figure when you think about the immense amount of websites worldwide. However, with how intuitive WordPress is as both a customizable template and excellent CMS, it’s easy to see why the platform has become so successful.

As a developer, picking up WordPress will give you a foundation to make a vast majority of the websites clients are looking for, especially with small to midsize businesses. Considering how long WordPress has been around, other developers have made libraries of plug-ins and API’s to serve an array of needs, as well as make the development process much simpler. Overall, this is one of the best places to get started when learning web design/development, as the rest will fall into place.

How To Get Started

Assuming that your development skills are a most likely entry-level to intermediate, you’re probably going to want to brush up on your skills. Sites like Codeacademy can be a great resource in introductory courses, giving you the rundown on the languages you’re going to need to know, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and even WordPress-specific scripts. As you build up your skills, start looking for reference points on sites you could potentially develop. For example, this Progress For Maine site is a simple one-pager, but packs in a few design elements to make the information readable/understandable. Knowing how other websites function is going to be vital to understanding the in’s and out’s of what someone else might want, and how you can deliver.

Another important note about development is to not go after anything that’s too out of your reach or skill. For example, if a client wants a logo but your design skills aren’t quite up to par on that yet, try looking into free logo generators or bringing on an additional freelancer. Part of you developing WordPress sites is going to be how well you do as an entrepreneur, including managing clients and their needs, as well as being able to seek out new business. And while this process is going to take quite a bit of legwork starting out, the payoff is going to be well worth it in the end.

Moving Forward

Once you’ve established how to freelance and successfully land clients, the fun part of being your own boss can begin. This means that you can utilize work to travel, taking trips to places like New York to both enjoy the city as well as land clients. Furthermore, you’re now in a position to make your own hours, hire/fire clients, and even take extended vacations if you desire. Yes, the world of self-employment is one that’s a goal for many, but few really know how to make happen. And for you, this is the perfect opportunity.

While it might sound like I’m glamorizing the freelance life quite a bit, the overall amount of happiness you’ll feel doing it beats out a 9-5 any day. Granted, this is a never-ending hustle and one that might feel like more work than play. But through time, you’ll find yourself landing better clients, working with people you like, and getting paid more while working fewer hours. Overall, WordPress development is an opportunity that many overlook, but for this reason, you’re in the running to be competitive in a healthy market for a long time.

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What’s your experience with freelancing as a WordPress Developer? How have you gotten better at landing clients? Comment with your insights below.