Setting up on my own!

[adejones]

Hi everyone

I am a self-taught web developer with a full time 9-5 job. Over the past 18 months or so I have been developing my web-related skills and developing websites for friends, family and colleagues, also with a number of personal projects.

After 11 years in my 9-5 day job, i'm starting to get a bit bored and want to concentrate on my new found skill. I'm obviously not experienced enough to just pack in the day job and set up my new venture full time but I want to start slow, perhaps drop a day in work and try to get some work.

I do have an online portfolio but this is just to showcase websites I have done to date, not to sell a service, so that anyone who would want me to make their website for them could see what kinds of sites I have done previously.

I want to re-develop my portfolio, but as a service. I want to list services that I can offer so that i can then advertise my website for potential clients who can see more than just what I have done, they can also see what I offer and how much I am going to charge.

My question is this. What would I need on my website besides the obvious services and contact me. Do people really read "about me" pages? I also find testimonials tend to get skipped as nobody but the developer really knows if they are genuine. Twitter/Facebook feeds are popular on websites these days but if someone is coming to me for a website, do they really care what I last tweeted?

Can anyone please contribute any advice so that I can develop my site as a professional yet straight to the point and relevant website.

Thanks

 

[Press48]

If you're a web developer, I'd suggest that an about page is useful, but don't write paragraphs of text, just a quick intro about who you are, what you do and your experience. Presenting your experience with icons or photo's and a percentage scale showing which you're more confident with, cuts down on the text content.

In terms of testimonials, I agree that a seperate page probably isn't necessary, but maybe include a snippet of a testimonial on the actual portfolio detail page? That way, it lends more validity to the testimonial if they can attribute it to the project.

Links to your social media is good, but I agree that the feeds are a bit redundant - they're usually just to capture interest in the hopes that people will follow you based on an interesting tweet.

A blog is the main reccomendation I can give you, mainly from an SEO standpoint as Google values fresh content. You can use it to pin interesting design ideas, things you've spotted that you liked, post up package deals, or just explain the design process. The blog is mainly for people who have seen your site, like your work, but want to see a little more before committing or contacting you.

Keep your contact details at the top and bottom of each page too - so that if they see something that sparks their interest, they can pick up the phone or email straight away.

Hope that's helpful

 

[adejones]

That's very helpful, thank you, I have had numerous topic-specific blogs in the past but didn't consider adding a blog to this type of site, I agree that potential clients might want to read further about my techniques for example or special offers so a blog could be handy.

 

[DuaneJackson]

Do people really read "about me" pages?
Yes. They do.

I also find testimonials tend to get skipped as nobody but the developer really knows if they are genuine.
If they're genuine, put the persons name and phone number next to them. They do help.


Twitter/Facebook feeds are popular on websites these days but if someone is coming to me for a website, do they really care what I last tweeted?
They care that you're real, that you're a human. They're then interested in "the man". So your Twitter feed is insightful. Especially if it's apparent from your feed that you live and breathe web design.

Who are your competitors? I suspect other one-man firms. So how are you going to stand out from them to get business? I suspect your website alone wont do it - it'll be based on recommendations. So imagine someone has just been told that you're good and they should check you out - what would they expect/want to see on your site? I'd suggest an About Me, a Portfolio, further testimonials and contact details as a minimum.

But don't expect your website alone to bring you in business. Field of Dreams and "if you build it they will come" is a lie.

 

[selfemployed]

Site will not get you job and clients at least in first few years. It will help you to represent yourself to client in a good and professional way. Quality website need to have about page, twitter, facebook connections and testimonials.

 

[Deleted member 203048]

He Adejones

I'm also web developer so we can start some fruitful co-operation.