Finding website work for a beginner

[simonread]

A friend is currently teaching herself how to develop websites.

The very first website she wrote is at www.hubworking.net

She wants to build some more 'real' websites to get some real experience. Does anyone have any suggestions about how she can go about finding work?

[TWD-Tony]

Well, if you friend is only setting out building website's then she has done a very good job!
The site is clean, easy to naviagate and only has 1 validation error to overcome to be w3c compliant :D

I am currently developing a project that will see some designers getting some work through myself (hopefully). If your friend would like more details she is free to contact me on sales@twdhosting.co.uk

As for finding work - try the freelance site's, www.freelancers.net is a good example...

Tony

[epiphany]

Start local as it's a lot easier to get a client in a face to face environment; offer to do peoples sites for free or at a discount that makes it hard to turn down.

[mumper]

I have to agree with Tony, the site is extremely good - I enjoyed looking around it.

[www.sitepal.co.uk]

Hi

Really like the site, very clean design

Tell your friend not to go to cheap

There is a growing number of designers that will design for under £99

Best

Tony

[Agri-Hire]

Bit confused.

Are we talking about they way this site looks, cos if we are then I can agree it is nice and clean and simple. it does look like a cheap template though.

I thought we were supposed to build sites around certain keywords and phrases and add good interesting content etc.

I cant see any metatags in the code either so isn't it lacking the basics?

I am just setting out to build my first site, but Im getting confused now about what is important.

aargh.

:?

[Enigma121]

Bit confused.

Are we talking about they way this site looks, cos if we are then I can agree it is nice and clean and simple. it does look like a cheap template though.

I thought we were supposed to build sites around certain keywords and phrases and add good interesting content etc.

I cant see any metatags in the code either so isn't it lacking the basics?

I am just setting out to build my first site, but Im getting confused now about what is important.

aargh.

:?

Agri,

The stuff you are touching on is the basics of SEO, not really site design. Meta tags should be incorporated to describe content, but it's not a requirement for valid HTML / XHTML.

These roles are typically provided by different individuals, a team with basic web design skills will often call in an SEO consultant to get their site noticed. Having said this, if a web designer has a basic appreciation of SEO issues it can save everyone a little time and effort in the long run.

For example, DON'T put text in images at least if you want a search engine to be able to read it.

The site discussed is very close to being fully compliant with W3C standards, and is therefore perfectly fine from a web design point of view.

[Agri-Hire]

Ok, thanks for clarifying that.

:)

Lets assum that the owner wants to have his site found.

if we are to incorporate keywords and build a site so that it is found then shouldn't this sort of research e done before the site is built, so as to write the body copy with keywords in mind?

If its done after then doesnt it mean a re-write of the dbody text?

[Richard Conyard]

Give www.jumpforward.co.uk a try - it should be going live soon.

[paulkaye]

Well, I like the site a lot. People think they have to be crazy but they don't - elegant, simple and easy to navigate is the way!

Your contact form skills may come in handy for these guys:
http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=6361

who are having trouble apparently. There's somewhere you could start!

Paul