eCommerce Tycoon

**pealo86** · 09-11-2007, 01:16 PM

Im going into my 2nd year of uni, and still haven't decided whether or not I want to work for a company, or try and make it on my own.

At the moment to do small design jobs such as websites and graphic work, although I'm still trying to get off the ground [Myspace is my main method of website promotion!].

I think if a lot more people knew about my services, I could probably [just about] manage without having a job, and make a living purely on my own. I'm still living with my parents/student accommodation during uni, so that saves me a lot of hassle aswell.

I'd love to be able to just work for myself, at my own pace, from home. Even if I won't be loaded with mountains of cash.

Do most of you lot tend to work for yourselves? Or do you work for a design company?

**ADAM Web Design** · 09-11-2007, 01:55 PM

A hybrid actually, although not through a web design company.

I have two clients who are agencies (one conference, one ad), but I'm on contract with them.

I work for myself, though, for the most part. Warning, though: it's not easy, and if you have to ask the question you're asking, you're not ready to take it on.

**Learning Newbie** · 09-11-2007, 02:19 PM

If you work for somebody else, you work 8 hours a week and have a steady, guaranteed paycheck. If you work for yourself, you work 12 or 15 hours a day, and your food and rent come not from your work, but from your hustling to find customers.

**pealo86** · 09-11-2007, 02:34 PM

I seeeeeee!

I thought it would be best to look into it now, so that I dont become totally clueless about my life when Im no longer a student, lol.

**blue-dreamer** · 02:42 PM

I work for myself (freelance) but, and that's a big BUT, I have had many years experience in the real world working in all sorts of disciplines and the experience gathered in that time is invaluable to making a success at what I do. I'm talking about things like...

being able to manage projects
communication with customers
being able to solve problems
reacting to emergency situations
people skills
negotiating skills
working to tight deadlines
customer support

... amongst others. The point here is that you will find it hard going when you reach obstacles which you're not sure how to overcome, and often the only way to learn is by being in the real world in those situations.

If you really want to work for yourself then go for it, you will learn a lot as you go along but the more skills you have the easier it will be winning and managing new clients. I'd certainly recommend going on some courses to learn basic business skills, you should be able to find out about business courses local to you, http://www.businesslink.gov.uk would be a good place to start and you should find some help close to where you live.

**downliner** · 09-11-2007, 05:35 PM

I went freelance straight out of university and don't regret it for a second.

As stated before there is no guaranteed paycheck, and you have to be very flexible with your time. Most of my clients are local businesses who are looking to make extra income online. If they only want to work on there websites development when there offices are closed I have to agree to that. Some days I dont start talking to a client until 5pm and I'll work on what they have asked for up until 2-3am. I then have to get up again at 8am just so Im awake incase another client tries to phone me bright and early.

Working freelance is not easy, I'm always shattered, but I wouldnt change it for a 9 to 5 job.

**ForrestCroce** · 09-11-2007, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downliner

Working freelance is not easy, I'm always shattered, but I wouldnt change it for a 9 to 5 job.

I do both. I prefer the freelance work, for a number of reasons, but they each have their pros and cons. These have been covered to some degree, so here are a few questions.

How well do you deal with stress?

How social are you? How emotive? When you smile or nod your head, do other people tend to follow? Can you tell a person they're wrong and keep them smiling at the same time?

Down the line you'll need to deal with questions about a return policy, but you have time before you need to address any of that. The two questions, or groups of them, are more along the lines of how suited you might be to self-employment. You can hire a salesperson to find you customers, but they won't understand what you do enough to answer any question a possible client comes up with - if they did, they'd be in business themselves, keeping all the profit. Most of being a successful business has more to do with business than with your particular trade.

**fitnfree** · 09-11-2007, 11:27 PM

I do freelance but most of my income is generated from my own sites...that's what pays the mortgage. I think I'm too cheap! lol...but I pick and choose who I do work for and don't advertise because I get enough referrels to keep my busy outside of running/maintaining/updating etc., my own sites. This way I get clients I enjoy working with as much as I enjoy working on my own sites.

But as mentioned by others, it's hard work, a lot of work and I spend way more time than a standard 8 - 5 job...but I also absolutely love what I do so...

**K22** · 09-14-2007, 02:45 AM

I have worked for myself since 1993. There are a million opportunities on the web for making long term residual income. The hard part is to filter out the opportunities that are valid from the ones that are scams. You are not going to get rich, or even have a dependable comfortable income from web design. Web design is only an exchange of time for money on your part. You need to take your web design skills and turn them into websites that produce YOU income. Not someone else. Once I find a good product to sell I work day and night fine tuning all the aspects that I can think of to make that website tasty to search engines.

If you work for someone else the rest of your life you will only be helping them to get rich. When you work for yourself everything you do goes into your pocket. The secret is to develop an internet based income that will make you money even if you don't log on to the PC for a month. The perfect business is one that is fully automated and you can make money while you are sitting on the beach.

**adi4x** · 09-14-2007, 09:14 AM

I'm online game developer (freelancer).

And finally, 3 months ago i passed from full time to part-time (i'm Network Administrator)
to follow my hobby

**K22** · 09-14-2007, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adi4x

I'm online game developer (freelancer).

And finally, 3 months ago i passed from full time to part-time (i'm Network Administrator)
to follow my hobby

GREAT! Now just design a game you can sell that will give you residual income!

**pealo86** · 09-15-2007, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K22

I have worked for myself since 1993. There are a million opportunities on the web for making long term residual income. The hard part is to filter out the opportunities that are valid from the ones that are scams. You are not going to get rich, or even have a dependable comfortable income from web design. Web design is only an exchange of time for money on your part. You need to take your web design skills and turn them into websites that produce YOU income. Not someone else. Once I find a good product to sell I work day and night fine tuning all the aspects that I can think of to make that website tasty to search engines.

If you work for someone else the rest of your life you will only be helping them to get rich. When you work for yourself everything you do goes into your pocket. The secret is to develop an internet based income that will make you money even if you don't log on to the PC for a month. The perfect business is one that is fully automated and you can make money while you are sitting on the beach.

I see what you mean! Ive often thought that would be great! Although I can't really think of how to make money from something that isnt really an actual product [don't really have anything that I could sell!]

Ive considered making money from Google Ads, but I'd need to have a website that would get a lot of hits in order for it to pay off.

Arghrghggh I just need an idea!

**adi4x** · 09-15-2007, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K22

GREAT! Now just design a game you can sell that will give you residual income!

Ya.. and maybe i make an early retirement

)

PS: Made more then 20 online games.. but is not a big thing www.playerforever.com

Only few sponsorships

**ukfreelancer** · 09-15-2007, 07:51 PM

I've just started freelancing full time.

At 17, I am finding it hard to get clients (people think I'm too young)

But I am having sooo much fun having spare time and the time to learn more and create personal projects.