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Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

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Re: Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

#51

There is lots of opportunity out there, but it depends on what you mean by ‘small business’. Super small companies (under 10 to 15 people in this context) are usually best off with SquareSpace or Wix. Companies slightly larger than this invariably end up wanting/needing things that these platforms can’t offer, and have the kind of budgets that can support a solo operator or small team. At this level, you are competin…

If (I assume) your skills are on the coding and architecture side of things, how so you cope with the visual design side of things, for your "build me a web site" clients?

Re: Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

#52
post #40
post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did well over 200k last year building, fixing and maintaining WordPress websites Does this involve making themes? Plugins? Is it only client billing or are you selling anything else like, reselling themes, affiliate etc? My clients are a mix of agencies I've heard this mentioned many times. How does one get agencies as clients?

You contact them. They are typically pretty vocal online, so finding them is not that difficult.

You mean, cold email them? Just pitch them and ask if they have surplus work?

Re: Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

#53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Curious - which is a more profitable relationship, the agencies or serving a mid-sized business directly? I imagine there's a longer selling cycle for the mid-sized business, offset by higher pricing? Which group is harder to serve? (eg. more iterations and drama inserted into the job vs. shaking hands, getting it done, and getting paid)

Agency work is less profitable and higher hassle. They tend to want to “manage the project” and many of them do it rather poorly. My sales cycle is very short. I usually close the sale in the first meeting - or walk away knowing that a PO is imminent. Or I finish that meeting knowing that there’s no real opportunity there. Over many years I’ve developed a pretty good instinct of what is an opportunity and what isn’t,…

Thank you - matches my expectations.

The older I get, the more I value clients who are willing to shake hands once and let us handle it from there (or better yet, send me an email before a project and a check after it).

Having some 23 year old AE clumsily attempt to "manage" us is a recipe for imminent violence.... (us => spouse and I)

Re: Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

#54

There is lots of opportunity out there, but it depends on what you mean by ‘small business’. Super small companies (under 10 to 15 people in this context) are usually best off with SquareSpace or Wix. Companies slightly larger than this invariably end up wanting/needing things that these platforms can’t offer, and have the kind of budgets that can support a solo operator or small team. At this level, you are competin…

Wow! And after doing wordpress for a while, I can't imagine getting even close to that. Are you hiring or looking for someone to throw some projects his way. I can be of help.

I am. Do you have a portfolio?

Re: Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

#55

There is lots of opportunity out there, but it depends on what you mean by ‘small business’. Super small companies (under 10 to 15 people in this context) are usually best off with SquareSpace or Wix. Companies slightly larger than this invariably end up wanting/needing things that these platforms can’t offer, and have the kind of budgets that can support a solo operator or small team. At this level, you are competin…

Wow! And after doing wordpress for a while, I can't imagine getting even close to that. Are you hiring or looking for someone to throw some projects his way. I can be of help.

Unfortunately no. I’m a solo operator for many reasons, and have decided that being responsible for the work of others just isn’t for me. Any referrals I do make tend to be ones where there’s a clean break, and the referral is local.

Re: Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

#56
I’ve positioned myself as a CRO consultant who does UX work. My projects span from e-commerce to landing pages and apps. I never mention “web design” anywhere and will turn down a 5k project pretty quickly if there is poor fit. I think opportunities exist for those who position to offer solutions to business problems. You must be able to say “no” many times to give one yes to find the right client - this means having lots of leads which can be tough.

Re: Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

#57
Of course; how many small businesses want to tinker with Squarespace or Wix for hours? They are easier than Wordpress but far from turnkey.

Learn those platforms down cold and you will be able to build a site on them way faster than almost any small business owner. And interacting with you will be way faster for them. Combine those deltas and that’s your business.

Or, if you want to do more custom work, target bigger businesses, like midsize. Or look into PR firms, which are constantly setting up new sites for campaigns, coalitions, candidates, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

#58
post #51

There is lots of opportunity out there, but it depends on what you mean by ‘small business’. Super small companies (under 10 to 15 people in this context) are usually best off with SquareSpace or Wix. Companies slightly larger than this invariably end up wanting/needing things that these platforms can’t offer, and have the kind of budgets that can support a solo operator or small team. At this level, you are competin…

If (I assume) your skills are on the coding and architecture side of things, how so you cope with the visual design side of things, for your "build me a web site" clients?

If he’s maintaining sores then maybe that’s already done.

Re: Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

#59

There is lots of opportunity out there, but it depends on what you mean by ‘small business’. Super small companies (under 10 to 15 people in this context) are usually best off with SquareSpace or Wix. Companies slightly larger than this invariably end up wanting/needing things that these platforms can’t offer, and have the kind of budgets that can support a solo operator or small team. At this level, you are competin…

> ...over 200k last year building, fixing and maintaining..., working from home in a region with a relatively low cost of living...

THIS! My goal is to move away from my full-time day job and concentrate fully on my current side hustle...and arriving at or close to where you are now - both income and low expenses/cost-of-living, etc. Even if i'm a little under the 200k, that's squarely within my goal. I applaud you on having reached this, and wish you continued success!!!!

Re: Ask HN: Is there any money in website design for small businesses anymore?

#60
I guess the underlying question here is will designers be able to add any value to the marketing requirements of firms over and above what is readily available and templatized... be it SMEs or large corporates, doesn't matter.

Refer to the literal meaning of standard and template, they originally are meant to perform the same duties they have been assigned in the same manner. On the contrast, any business who aims to succeed has to continuously innovate..(do not confuse it with discovery), keep thinking differently, keep changing strategies, keep upgrading themselves to be at par with this rapidly changing environment and cut throat competition. And this is where creative minds chip in.

Gone are those days when businesses use to write paragraphs after paragraphs to explain their products and USPs. Today, just one right and well though word is enough to put your point forth that directly hit the mind of consumers.

Design is deep. Mere creating graphics is not design. Decoding, understanding and relating to the subconscious message behind a thought or a communication being sent and being able to represent it in its most impactful form is true designing.

The day a designer starts empathizing with this, he will not find himself in doubt and out of work a single day.

I am a co-founder at http://draftss.com and we are catering to all kinds of businesses from SMBs, Freelancers, Agencies and even budding founders who require design and development. What differentiates is the approach and brand placement.

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