Embarking on a web design career is financially promising. A typical web designer in America earns approximately $50-55,000 annually, which breaks down to about $25 per hour. Nonetheless, not all designers snag a well-paying, full-time position immediately upon certification.
There are times when you might seek additional revenue, perhaps to complement a part-time job or pay the bills while you’re expanding your skill set. Your web design talents can also be a source of secondary income alongside your day job.
Let’s explore some top strategies web designers can employ to augment their income.
1. Try Your Hand at Freelancing
Becoming a freelancer is an excellent gateway to monetizing your design expertise. The internet abounds with platforms that match freelancers with clients, and here are a few standout names:
- Toptal: A haven for web experts;
- Upwork: Caters to a variety of design fields;
- 99Designs: A marketplace for your creative work;
- Dribbble: A showcase to attract clientele;
- Behance: A platform for diverse creative sales;
- Envato Studio: Specialized in web design packages.
Freelancing offers the flexibility to pick your projects and schedule. You can profit from varied skills, ranging from crafting web pages to designing applications. However, be prepared to chase leads, maintain a stellar portfolio, and handle your taxes.
2. Market Your Unused Design Assets
Your journey as a web designer will amass numerous assets, which may not always be utilized by clients. Thankfully, these assets can be turned into cash flow. There’s a demand for everything from icons to UI components, and if you possess unwanted themes, platforms like ThemeForest welcome such offerings.
Eventually, you could even establish a dedicated platform to sell your creative products.
3. Venture into the NFT Space
Eager to delve into an emerging digital market? NFTs are buzzworthy and are likely to grow with the rise of the metaverse. Numerous entities are scouting for talented individuals to craft NFTs for them, presenting a substantial earning avenue.
If you’re keen, investing time in understanding blockchain and NFTs could lead you to creating your own digital masterpieces. Learn more about the NFT artistic segment here.
4. Position Yourself as a Consultant
If constructing fresh websites isn’t doable at the moment, consider guiding others in their projects. Web design consultants provide valuable expertise to budding freelance designers or entrepreneurs.
Forge your personal brand and showcase your insights via social media and your portfolio. Sharing know-how can be just as rewarding as building a website from scratch.
5. Educate Others About Web Design
Should you possess a penchant for pedagogy, utilising platforms like Udemy or Skillshare can facilitate earning through web design tutorials. Create materials once and reap continuous benefits.
With online learning, you could share your expertise through videos, quizzes, and guides, providing value as you snooze.
6. Launch a Web Design Blog
Penning a blog can be surprisingly profitable. If you can articulate web design concepts well, turn this skill into a side gig.
Use your design capabilities to start a blog, post engaging content, and implement SEO strategies to garner readership. Monetizing can be done through:
- Affiliate marketing and design product promotion;
- Hosting ads or craft sponsored content;
- Selling digital goods, like themes.
Affiliate marketing holds potential, and some worthy programs can be found here.
7. Write for Other Publications
Is starting a blog too demanding? Opt for selling articles to established web design blogs instead. Carving strong relationships with site owners can lead to a steady writing engagement.
Writing lets you establish thought leadership and might include the perk of backlinks to your online presence. Plus, it’s a joy to earn from your passion.
8. Design and Vend Themes/Templates
Given the reliance on WordPress themes and templates, your coding skills could create resources that other designers value. Sell your creations on various websites or directly from your own platform.
Successful themes could yield a substantial passive income, attracting clientele over time.
9. Flip Websites
Similar to renovating homes for profit, web flipping involves sprucing up underperforming websites and reselling them. While it entails time investment to enhance the site’s appearance and traffic, it can refine your skills and potentially lead to profit.
Learning the ropes of website profitability might also enhance your appeal to future clients.
10. Author a Book
Though not an instant money-maker, authoring a niche book in web design can evolve into a lucrative source of passive income. A book solidifies your expertise and, when promoted actively, can magnify your professional stature.
Crafting a side income from your web design skills requires creativity and dedication. Whether opting for a single hustle or combining passive strategies, these methods can significantly elevate your earnings.
Featured image via Unsplash.
