tip for becoming a freelance web developer

[craigp86]

I could do with some tips on becoming a freelance web developer please.

[essellar]

First, know your stuff (there's a profanity filter here, so the more canonical version of the phrase can't be posted). And if you think you know it all, you've already lost the game. Read. A lot. Start with the YCombinator community news aggregator. (It's called "Hacker News", but that's "hacker" in the sense that we meant it back in the old days -- somebody who refuses to be told that something's impossible and hacks away at the problem until it's solved. Paul Graham, YCombinator's founder, calls himself a hacker and funds other hackers. Steve Wozniak, of Apple fame, is the prototypical hacker.) Make friends with Smashing Magazine and A List Apart.

And read the following two blog entries by Ryan Waggoner: How to become a freelance web developer and How to become a freelance web developer, Part 2. Build things -- they will speak much more loudly for you than you can for yourself. Be mercilessly mercenary. Never stop learning.

[krofunk]

Yeah, what he said

...The one thing I would say as well, be prepared to accept there is more than one way of doing something - it will save you having arguments with other developers if you are seeking help with something.

[farscapeone]

http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/
http://net.tutsplus.com/

[frankfriend]

Clearly you need to know how to design, and use good techniques, css etc etc.

But focus on your CUSTOMER - what does your customer really want? Chances are they will not be able to tell you, you have to talk to them, and LISTEN, to get the spirit of what they really want. You could show them examples [even by other people], get their reactions to different styles, to ways of working.

Keep it SIMPLE, easy to change and update.