What career options does someone with a low-moderate amount of web design knowledge have? Should I do freelance or aim to get a job with a bigger company?

What routes have you taken toward becoming a better (and higher paid) web designer/ or web marketer.

I love web design and I hate the idea of throwing away all that I know to do something totally unrelated. I only have one website to display for my portfolio, and I need a paying job of somesort rather quickly.

In the end this is really going to be a choice only you can make based on what you want out of life. Working for someone else will offer you a steady paycheck (as long as you have a job), while working for yourself offers you greater potential and perhaps a better quality of life.

If you need money rather quickly I'd say you're best bet is to look to work for someone else for the moment. Building a business takes time and effort and you have to be prepared not to make anything at right away. You might make money quickly, but there are no guarantees.

You also mention moderate skills so working for someone else will give you a chance to improve those skills while still making money.

You could attempt to start a freelance business or a a full scale web design business in your spare time after the 9 to 5 if you want.

You could also become an entrepreneur. If you know how to build a site figure out how to monetize it. One of the easier ways to monetize a site is advertising through AdSense of YPN or any of the other ad networks. Easy doesn't necessarily mean you'll make a lot of money. Easy just means it's easy to set up.

Other monetization options include selling products as an affiliate or maybe hook up with a drop shipper or create your own products and sell directly.

Quick though likely means getting a job for now. There are almost always companies looking to hire web designers and developers and also many looking to hire for a limited duration contract.

I appreciate your enthusiasm and willingness to learn, it's refreshing. If you already have a job that earns you something to live on then I suggest taking the freelance route. There are several people on this website daily that ask for someone to do some sort of freelance work for them. Start using them as a means to build your portfolio.

I'd combine both vangogh's and Repulibikin's ideas. Build sites that you can market and monetize to give you a (small) income base and a (small) portfolio, and then use other sites that people pay you for to add to it.

^The only ideas I have for a website that I can market and monetize aren't something that would be appropriate for a portfolio if you catch my drift. lol.

I think I'm going to see if I cant rustle up some freelance work. Thanks guys.

freelance work isnt for everyone - but the payoffs can be huge. I started freelancing in 1994 it took about 6 years to build a solid company but now it is a full blown development company with 8 full time employees.

It can be tough to get started, it takes time to build up your rep and get your name out, get clients, etc. And it takes serious work and commitment, I once did a 30 straight hour design session on a 32mhz mac performa for a deadline. (move the graphic, wait for the screen to refresh, repeat...)

You have to be driven if you want to succeed, but if you like web design then go for it. You could always get a day job then work on your freelance at night until you can support yourself.

Originally Posted by Noobstein

^The only ideas I have for a website that I can market and monetize aren't something that would be appropriate for a portfolio if you catch my drift. lol.

I think I'm going to see if I cant rustle up some freelance work. Thanks guys.

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I think I know what you mean.

I do adult design work all the time you can make huge money doing that
and its great practice for when you do mainstream designs.

I started with my own content site. I then developed my skills and started even more sites. Now I have a network of 10-15 sites and took web design more seriously as to even start a firm. I'd say you need to work a lot of projects. Start on some other things you are passionate about, or even design some free templates .. I made some free skins for forums so that I can satisfy my creative drive since I already had too many sites

Making skins for popular CMS's/Forums/etc is also a great way to build up name recognition and popularity. Just make sure that each template also links back to your design services.

I don't think you'll find a better, as in more complete and concise, guide to running a successful business than the one I just linked to, written by WMT's own Adam Web Design. Another great resource is VanGogh's blog.

You're cheating yourself if you don't read what Adam had to say, though.