It's the altimate question which could trash my career, am I a good web designer? good enough to charge more?

a full works of my work from the last 6 months is here: http://www.vkw91.co.uk/portfolio.pdf and i have other stuff on http://www.vkw91.co.uk .

Well Vicky, if your portfolio is anything to go by, then I would say yes, you are a good designer.

In terms of charging more, you should charge what you think your talents are worth. I've seen designers out there charging a lot more than you and they haven't got any skills. If you are thinking of rising your prices maybe should only raise them slightly and see what the response is like. If the response is good, then maybe you can think about raising them again.

yes, you are really good designer

Mate, your designs are definately worth alot of money. Most of your designs are for buisnesses and companies and you should be chanrging them more than any ordinary randomer that comes up to you asking for a day to day site such as a gaming site ect. Your designs are varied and alot of the time i see peoples portfolios and all the designs are similar in some sort of way. To me you look like a very talented induvidual and your portfolio is among the best for those type of websites. If you was to go and look at a professional design buisness they would be charging £200+ for a buisness design so i would definately think about increasing your charges varied on what type of user is wanting it. Good work lad.

Thanks guys, i think i might try adding between £2-£5 to certain prices, do you think i should introduce package prices rather than a brake down of prices?

Pricing can be tough, but after being diddled several times, I realized the bottom line was, if I didn't value my work, why should any one else? So have confidence in your work and value it -- but don't get over-inflated, either.

It can be a tough call, but the end result should be a happy customer. I'm sort of new in the design field so I'm still in the same boat you are regarding pricing, but as you go it gets easier.

So much depends on what a client wants, too -- and just how much their web site means to them. I have one client where I did the site for my Internship and now they just expect constant updates for nothing, which wasn't part of the deal. Six months was all I offered. So when I told them it was time to charge for updates, they squawked and squealed and now won't talk to me.

But, that's okay then -- don't want my rep to be "the stupid designer who'll work for nothing", either, right!?

Personally I like the break down of your packages. But its totally upto you on how want to do things.

But I think you've got the right idea on increasing your prices slightly. That way you can see what the response is like, and whether or not clients are willing to pay the new prices.

Vicky, you're a very talented designer, especially when it comes to graphics (you draw way better than I do...not that that's saying much). But the problem with your ultimate question is that you're coming at it from the wrong angle.

What we think of your skills means absolutely nothing as far as your prices go, unless we're the ones buying off you (and 10 to 1 says the majority of your customers aren't coming from WMT). What matters are questions like this:

1) Do you have enough/too few/too many customers?
2) Do you have enough/too much/too little time?
3) Do you need to start pricing lower to crack a market or higher to reduce workload?

Answer those questions, and you'll be fine. (If it were me, I'd jack up the price just on what I saw on the surface, though.)

If that is all original and i'm assuming it is, then I think you already know the answer. I am more tempted to comment on the "I am a writer check out my site," thread when there are several writing mistakes. Alternatively, I don't know how you could do such fine quality work prolifically, then ask if you are any good.

I suggest choosing an hourly wage if you aren't already. Compare it to what you think you should make and what other designers are making.

yeah..i like your designs; good visuals and everything...
how long have you been making websites/designs for?

I don't think you really need to base your prices on the quality of your designs after a certain point. You are certainly talented enough to do this professionally and to charge good money for it. I think you need to base your prices on things such as how much you need/want to be earning out of this, how much you think people will pay, and how willing you are to charge perhaps a little more than you could

Yep I give you a good rating, I see your style as Clean.

Yup, very good website design

Better then I Can do.. So yeah >>>You Rock<<<

Originally Posted by emenace

yeah..i like your designs; good visuals and everything...
how long have you been making websites/designs for?

Thanks everyone for the comments and input. In reponse to emenace's question, i have been a "web designer" for about 1 and a half years now, thats why my code can be a bit rough now and then.

I think from this, i am going to add an extra £1 or so to some prices and see how it goes. I do have a few constant outsourcers who bring me work all the time who i can't really increase the prices...

Thanks for your help...

Hey, VKW91, what are you talking about?

You'r designs are just great! Stop underestimating yourself, and add another 2 pounds , don't be shy!

btw, let me ask you what graphics software do u use, and how do u get inspired9what inspires u most)?

here's my website
http://www.merrynation.hit.bg
and I am not asking if I am a good designer, because I know I need to try even harder than that

you do great designs....and it is worth it to add more.
but also consider the prices in the market when doing the increase on your rates.

Wow, nice portfolio.
I would say you are a good designer.

You are a good designer for sure! It's hard to believe that you have been dealing with web design only a year and a half! Good work. i think you can charge more for your work, but take into consideration the prices in the market.

Originally Posted by merrynation

Hey, VKW91, what are you talking about?

You'r designs are just great! Stop underestimating yourself, and add another 2 pounds , don't be shy!

btw, let me ask you what graphics software do u use, and how do u get inspired9what inspires u most)?

here's my website
http://www.merrynation.hit.bg
and I am not asking if I am a good designer, because I know I need to try even harder than that

Thanks again for the comments, much appreiated.

In reponse to merrynations questions, i mainly use photoshop & fireworks. (i started with fireworks, then worked my way up to photoshop)

As for what inspires me, i'm not sure really. I think one of my main inpirations is in magazines such as .net, creative arts and web designer...i always seem to go for anything glossy...