Every so frequently, any person writes a put up claiming something is lifeless. Email is lifeless. Search engine optimization is dead. Facebook is lifeless.
WordPress Web Design has now not been spared,
and we’ve visible ambitious claims of the approaching loss of life of net design on Mashable. They declare that geared up-made topics are killing the industry:
“Most of the content material you see on the web these days is run via a few frameworks or services — WordPress, Blogger, Drupal, you name it. Frameworks offer you a basis and shortcuts, so you spend less time struggling with introducing an internet website and greater time developing content material. As a result of the ubiquity of these frameworks, a whole world of loose and paid templates helps you to get started with an expert-looking design in minutes.”
They sense threatened with the aid of the sheer quantity of subject matters available. Since it is “smooth” to set up a website and a ready-made subject matter – everybody can do it.
I beg to differ.
WordPress-brand-simplified-rgb
If you’re threatened by way of systems like WordPress and geared up-made issues, I hate to break it to you – however, you’re doing net layout wrong. You’re missing an essential piece of offering any carrier. You’re no longer imparting sufficient value to the consumer.
WordPress Theme Companies and Marketplaces
While there will usually be a need for custom layout and improvement, it’s clear from the 2015 WordPress Business Revenue Statistics via Scott Bolinger; you’ll see that theme centered corporations are thriving.
WordPress Marketplaces – Envato Elite Logo
Companies consisting of iThemes are making more than 1,000,000 greenbacks a yr. WooThemes (recently obtained using Automattic) used to make more than $10 million in step with 12 months. Envato does not launch revenue figures. However, some information is available. Up to 2014, they’ve paid extra than $224 million to authors for 2006. They have more than 50 Elite authors making extra than a $75K in line with yr. 30 of those make extra than 1,000,000 bucks a year. It’s safe to say that the top class issues market is alive and kicking.
Embrace Premium WordPress Themes
Old faculty internet designers and builders pride themselves on the work they do. They strongly experience that an activity nicely executed is a process that begins from scratch and developed as vital for a customer.
The perfect answer in a really perfect world might be growing a custom subject for a purchaser’s exact desires. Although expenses lots of money and time, this route will rate you out of most website design budgets. We stay in a fast-paced international, and whilst cash may not be difficult for some customers, you’ll locate that time is an issue. Most of my clients want matters to be geared up the day before today – so going with a custom solution can be shooting yourself in the foot.
1. Give Your Client Added Value from the Start
One of the biggest challenges we meet while working on net tasks is getting the patron to recognize or believe the final product’s visuals. You are probably thinking of one element. However, you may never fully apprehend what your consumer is imagining from what you’re describing.
A ready-made subject matter can paint wonders for the very last result. Once you have mentioned a few thoughts with the purchaser, cross and search for a few possible templates you may use. Then visit the patron with a choice of templates that could suit their necessities pleasant. These topics are all operating demos so that you can already give the client a remarkable sense of what they may be getting.
Let’s take Avada as an example – in case you take your patron via one of the stay demos, you’re much more likely to win the assignment.
Avada Layouts
Both you and your purchaser will understand what the quitting product will appear like. You’re already placing your self up for achievement and first-rate patron delight.
Participating within the preference of the stop-end result gives the consumer that experience-accurate element. Of route, it’s for your job as a web dressmaker to nudge them in the right direction.
2. Turn Sites Around Faster (and Hence Become More Profitable)
Whilst it may be more a laugh and sense like a higher success while you create a website from scratch, the usage of a premium WordPress theme is extra worthwhile. The foundation and maximum of the work have already been executed using a topic, so you will spend much less time typing. This allows you to do matters:
Reduce your quotes
Make extra profit on every undertaking
Let’s take a concrete instance. Let’s say you charge at a flat charge of $60/hour.
Task Premium topic Custom subject matter
Project Management 10 hours 10+ hours
Design time four hours sixteen+ hours
Development time 16 hours forty+ hours
Content / reproduction 20 hours 20 hours
Total 50 hours 86+ hours
There are different components of the internet site which we gained mention. However, all of us recognize that the layout and development time of a custom subject will spike considerably.
There’s a distinction of 36 hours charged on the fee of $60 might be a difference of more than $2000.
If you don’t rate for the one’s greater hours, you’ve got a leeway of $2000 to paintings whilst giving the very last fee.
If you could get away with charging $1500 out of those $2000, properly success to you – you’ve made very handsome earnings. Even if you charge simply $500 of the $2000, you’re already better off.
You’re spending much less time operating and earning greater.
Three. Charge a Premium for Fast Service Rates
Using stock photography and a familiar WordPress subject – you ought to be capable of a turnaround a brilliant site in 1 to two days.
That lets you charge top-notch rapid service prices for you to permit you in the flip to present your self a chunk of a bonus.
Can Anybody Do Your Job?
Using a ready-made premium subject may make it seem clean to create a first-rate searching web design. Once again, I beg to vary.
If your result is handiest as suitable as that of someone who isn’t always an experienced internet fashion designer – you’re now not doing an awesome enough task together with your net layout.
It is feasible to create an amazing searching web page with a top rate topic. But you – a skilled internet designer ought to no longer settle for a “desirable” site. The result of an internet design mission from you have to leave no stone unturned, and the result needs to be tremendous, no longer just desirable.
You need to understand that there are many behind the scenes matters which you want to do.
It will help if you fit shades and tones.
It would help if you discovered adequate typography and fonts.
You need to have accompanied all top of the line user enjoy guidelines.
You should have optimized the website for search engines like google out of the container.
You recognize a way to create a responsive website online that looks precise on anything device you spot it on, not simply at the computer and browser wherein it’s miles being designed.
Would any person who has now not labored in internet design discern out the idea of a responsive grid?
Really and without a doubt, an awesome web design mission requires a skilled web dressmaker who can understand the nuances of net design.
What Is the Value You Should Be Offering as an Experienced Web Designer?
Understand responsive web layout and set up a website with that in thoughts
Know which and a way to locate appropriate fonts, typography, imagery, and iconography for the ideal design mission.
Know a way to combine everything in a manner which creates a great visual result
Setup a web layout assignment with safety in mind and save the website from getting hacked
Ensure a site is subsidized up for just those times while things cross belly up
Set up a website, content material, and plugins as necessary for search engines like google and yahoo and nearby search engine marketing Install Google Analytics and tracking offerings, connect the web page to Google Search Console, and other webmaster activities.
Ensure you’ve accompanied good User Experience ideas and optimized the web site such that it hundreds of speedy
Tested the website online on various devices and browsers and ensured it really works nicely throughout the board
Mess with the code in which essential to tweak as important to attain an optimum result
Be able to apprehend and discern out any problems or insects which get up at the same time as developing the assignment
And so many extras…
There are of route many other matters which an experienced net dressmaker can cater for. If you’re having a problem justifying your fees, making your consumer aware which you are capable of offering the above will move in an extended manner in winning you the mission.
As a skilled net clothier, you ought to be able to stroll the pleasant line of now not developing a topic from scratch to save time. At the same time, use your revel to generate a great deal greater cost for your customer than all people else could and would.
Give Your Clients Ongoing and More Value
The give up of the net design task has to no longer signal the end of the connection with your client – in fact, I dare say, it ought to be the start! There is lots of value you can provide your patron using your experience inside the enterprise after completing their internet site.
Hosting, updates, and trendy maintenance – a non-techy patron might be very happy to have you ever coping with all their hosting. They need to know that the area and web hosting are renewed on time. CMS updates are carried out as soon as they come out. Any issues with the website hosting are dealt with by you. In reality, they need to understand that their site works. They don’t certainly care about the rest.
Implement a maintenance and updates retainer – persevering with point 1; you have to explain that there may be ongoing paintings and updates. Also, you’ll be capable of offer aid as necessary. You can discuss and estimate with the patron how an awful lot of work they expect – five to ten hours a month might be what I could propose at the very least.
Manage social streams or blogging content material – Small stores and small family groups won’t have the time to hold their social media streams and weblog. Again, speak together with your client and agree on unique painting quantities consistent with the month you’ll offer them. Many small customers may be satisfied to apply your steerage.
Optimize for search engines – every other region which desires ongoing paintings could be optimizing the website for serps. There are masses of work to be executed if you plan to enforce white-hat search engine optimization techniques. This is relatively hard to explain to clients who are not too acquainted – however, the accomplished right may want to acquire tremendous blessings each to you and the purchaser.
Other online guidance – you recognize the customer better than all of us else, there’s going to be something they’ll need your know-how with. Keep your eyes and ears open for possibilities to assist your consumer (and of direction help boom your sales flow).
Increase Your Passive Income Stream
There’s one very last way which we haven’t stated so far. You’ve got the enjoy to increase a subject matter from scratch – why now not develop your next custom theme to promote it? You can then make it available to your very own online shop or sell it on one of the many marketplaces to be had.
Done proper – you’ve got the capacity for notable passive income. This is a great idea for facet projects or an assignment that you can work on among jobs or throughout different downtime.
Start slowly, and iterate through small enhancements to your own theme. Once you’ve got a topic you would be willing to pay cash for, begin promoting it. You must be capable of making a pleasant supplementary passive profits flow.