The single skill that has caused me to grow the most as a web designer is learning how to find the right web design inspiration. I’m not just using hyperbole here to prove a point. You’re probably reading this thinking, “Yeah right!? What you meant to say is web development skills or design acumen is […]

When I was first getting started as a web designer one of my first goals was to figure out how to make better websites. That probably should be the case for every new web designer, right? But, you’d be surprised. I would often dream of one my sites making it on one of those web […]

I may be a little biased, but I believe building a web design side hustle may be one of the best things you can do for yourself…like, ever. After all, I did …get out of debt…change careers in my 30s…earned an extra $3k a month All with a web design side hustle. Listen, web design […]

I’m gonna be honest with you. It’s taken me a while to cultivate the skills necessary to deliver what I would consider “creative web design.” If early images of my portfolio are any indication that no one is a lost cause for building creative websites then allow me to painfully show you what my first […]

There is nothing that can derail a project quite like a poor web design client onboarding process. But, listen, we’ve ALL BEEN THERE. The excitement of a new client. The thrill of that deposit hitting your bank account. The reconfirmation that you can in fact keep doing this thing you love and don’t need to […]

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” Or in our case, if you fail to web design business plan, you plan to web design business fail? I don’t think that works the way I thought it would, but you get the picture, right? 😂 In all seriousness, I think a lot of folks […]

As a web designer, your need to generate and land web design leads feels like a scene taken straight out of “Groundhog Day.” You know? The movie with Bill Murray where he somehow gets stuck in this never-ending loop. He’s forced to repeat the same day over and over again until he gets it just […]

Business Management seemed like a safe bet when I first started college. Who knew that single decision would force me to learn how to become a web designer without a degree later in life. If only in your late teens and early 20s could you have the foresight to pick what you would be doing […]

I said it would never be me. I’d never succumb to side hustle burn out. I know how to handle stress. I’m capable. I made it through college on barely any sleep. Surely, I’d be able to manage a full-time job, my four children’s needs, a healthy relationship with my wife, a solid workout routine, […]

“You’ll never make real money on Upwork. People only go there for cheap, poor quality work.” Those are the things I was told when I first started building a portfolio on Upwork. And, here we are now I’ve made over $80,000 from Upwork alone. Oh, and don’t forget about all the projects that came as […]

Mistakes with freelance clients are kind of unavoidable. But a wise woman named Eleanor Roosevelt once said it’s better to “learn from the mistakes of others. [Because] you can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” This week I sat down with my wife, Sarah, to talk about her experience with her first big […]

I have a confession to make. I haven’t always had a great Job Success Score on Upwork. In fact, there was a season when my Job Success Score got all the way down to 78%. In Upwork world, that’s the equivalent of a huge sign that says, “Worst Freelancer Ever. Do Not Hire.” But, despite […]

What makes someone destined to become a truly successful web designer? I get asked that question a lot. People are trying to figure out if there’s some secret they can tap into that will help them know whether it’s worth it to pursue web design as a career. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. There’s no […]

What if you could get hours of your day back? What would you do? Spend more time with your family? Start another hobby? Sleep? As a freelancer, you might think it’s impossible to cut down your work day. After all folks like Gary Vee are literally screaming at you to spend more time growing your […]

The idea of having a gig where you only work a few hours a week on the side but still make a decent amount of money sounds good to just about everyone I know. And, that’s kind of the lure of the freelance side hustle. The problem is making good money requires offering a really […]

Nothing has the power to cripple a self-employed freelancer quite like freelance taxes. In fact, I’ve heard of horror stories with freelance businesses shutting down altogether because they didn’t do their taxes right. Everything was going great! They were making money and had plenty of clients. Then, during tax season, they found out they owed […]

If you’ve been freelancing for any length of time you’ve probably heard of or even known someone that has fallen prey to an Upwork scam. That leaves some folks hesitant to even give Upwork a shot. AND, In my opinion, that would be a tragedy. Upwork has been and still is a huge part of […]

Having an efficient web design process that you take your clients through on every project is an essential part of being successful as a freelance web designer. But, sadly, most folks approach every project differently without any repeatable system. They kind of shoot from the hip with everything. Maybe a wireframe here… A bit of […]

A lot of people want to get started with web development they just don’t have any clue where to begin. A quick google search will leave you paralyzed with all the possible options to choose from what types of languages you should learn to how to learn them. There’s: Frontend development Backend development Bootcamps Online […]

Becoming a freelance web developer is actually pretty simple. And, in this article, I aim to show you just how simple it is in a 5 step process. Now, wait! Before you start composing an angry email to tell me you disagree OR checkout altogether, hear me out. I didn’t say it was easy. I […]

Most freelancers approach their sales pitch process haphazardly. Typically, you jump on a call or video conference and just kind of see what happens. Cross your fingers that it goes well, right? And, sometimes it DOES go great. Other times, it straight up bombs. So, the question is, does it have to be that unpredictable? […]

Let’s be honest, web design revisions are painful for us freelancers/agency owners. I’ve got some nightmare stories and a fair share of newbie scars from clients who just couldn’t seem to be satisfied with the designs I presented no matter how hard I tried. I once made about 10 different versions of a logo for […]

Building a web design business isn’t a piece of cake. Add to that a busy life and you’ve got a real conundrum. You feel pushed and pulled in so many directions. It’s hard to tell which one you should make a priority. AND, when it’s all said and done you feel like you’re neglecting EVERY […]

If you’ve really tried to become a web developer in the past but have struggled OR if there are certain areas of web dev that you’re wanting to improve in this is for you. Here is what I’ve found to be the best way to learn web development in 2022. I don’t know if you’ve […]

You’re going to face tough times in your freelance business. How you handle them can make the difference between you coming out on top or having to shut down entirely. Check out this podcast to hear my own personal journey through a tough season and how you can thrive no matter what you’re facing. I […]

Pricing is scary as a freelance web designer. Ask for too much and you run the risk of losing the project. Price too little and you might get taken advantage of by a client and miss out on some serious “dough.” Before we dive too deep let’s talk about some principles Time-Driven vs. Value-Driven Pricing […]

I was on vacation with my fiance. We’re married now. So, things went well. But, at the time, we had just gotten engaged actually. We were out in California at a church conference I was a part of. In case you didn’t know, this was my life before web design. The conference went great and […]

Some people take multiple years to scale a web design business to six figures. Then some people do it in 1 year or less. So, what’s the difference between those who are able to do it quickly and those who are able to do it in a fraction of the time? Believe it or not, […]

Austin and Monica had the next few years of their lives planned out. They were recently married and on their way into the Peace Corps. They had sold everything they had, quit their jobs, and ended their lease. They were ready and excited about this new season of life. Then the pandemic hit. And, their […]

Don’t want to read nearly 2,000 words about how to be more creative as a web developer? I got you. Here’s a podcast: I talk to so many people all the time who are convinced they are unable to be more creative as a web developer. Most of the time when we see someone that […]

There is not a freelancer alive that doesn’t struggle with insecurity. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been freelancing or how good you are. Everyone feels like an imposter. This week I talked with Michael who is having doubts about approaching clients. He’s struggling because he feels like there are a lot of web designers […]

Don’t want to read over 1,000 words about how to avoid nightmare clients? I got you. Here’s a podcast: The world of web design freelancing is filled with amazing clients. I’ve had quite a few. But, at the same time, I’ve had a few nightmare clients that were unpleasable, unresponsive, or plain un…… When you’re […]

Don’t want to read over 1,000 words about how to get freelance web design clients when you’re just getting started? No worries I got you. Here’s a podcast. It’s hard to know how to get freelance clients when you’re first getting started. In your gut you know there’s a lot of opportunities out there. But, […]

Don’t want to read thousands of words on how to overcome freelancing fears? I got you. Here’s a podcast Want to know the one thing I’ve found holds most people back from getting started as a freelancer? It’s not a lack of ability. It’s not even a lack of opportunity. Plain and simple, most people […]

Typography in Web Design is often something web designers think about last when they’re working on a project. The checklist often goes something like this: Good images? Check ✅ Nice visual balance? Got it ✅ Appealing Color Palette? Done ✅ Typography? Oh yeah…I need to think about that 😂 But, text and typography often take […]

A lot of salaried employees are starting to buck the norm and learning how to become a digital nomad. The truth is a lot of people spend their entire lives devoting most of their energy to their careers. But, something has happened recently. Many are starting to ask, “Why am I adjusting my lifestyle for […]

It’s tough to make a career change no matter what season of life you’re in. But, it gets even tougher the older you get. For 13 years I was a worship pastor for a large church. I had no desire to switch up what I was doing. Then my wife of 10 years walked out […]

Building a side hustle into a million-dollar company is kind of the dream, right? It’s fun to daydream about what life would look like if you had multiple employees, office space OR EVEN an entire HR department.  Okay, maybe you don’t dream about HR departments but all of us dream about having outrageous success.  Well, […]

It’s inevitable. You will one day be faced with a list of objections from a potential client as a freelancer. And, the way I see it is you’ve got a few options when that happens: Act defensive and turn them off from working with you altogether Throw your hands ups and not even try Figure […]

I’m a coach for my 8 year old’s soccer team. It’s a lot of fun, but it’s also excruciating at the same time. During their games I’m forced to stand on the sideline while I watch them make really simple mistakes that are super easy to fix and would end up making a HUGE difference […]

There’s not much that strikes more fear into the hearts of freelance web designers than the need for having good web design contracts. I’ve known web designers who wouldn’t even get started freelancing because they were so afraid of getting sued. OR, they feared messing up a contract in such a way that they end […]

Don’t want to read almost 3,000 words about making a winning Upwork profile. I got you. Here’s a podcast! A good Upwork profile is absolutely essential to attracting and landing clients on Upwork. I mean, think about it from the client’s perspective.  You’ve got a job and you need to hire someone. BUT, you don’t […]

Don’t want to read over 2,000 words on why you’re getting rejected on Upwork? I got you. Here’s a podcast: Rejection is never fun especially when it comes to freelance clients on Upwork. You work so hard to craft the perfect cover letter or pitch. You read it and then reread it, and then have […]

Don’t want to read over 2,000 words about why you should freelance on Upwork in 2021? No worries! Listen to the podcast: There are a lot of people who will tell you you should freelance on Upwork. And at the same time, a lot of people will tell you not to waste your time. There […]

Don’t want to read over 3,000 words on how to find your first freelance web design clients? Listen to the podcast OR watch the YouTube Video. The first time I tried getting potential freelance web design clients was not pretty. I had just finished the very first site I had ever done. It was for […]

Most people begin to build a web design side-hustle without thinking much past the “How do I get started?” phase. There are a ton of resources out there all about how to learn web design or development, how to land your first client or build your portfolio. And, all of that is super important to […]

When you first begin thinking about becoming a freelance web designer or developer you don’t naturally think of finding a freelancer community as the highest of priorities. But, the reality is finding a community that you can walk with through your journey as a freelancer is one of THE most important things if not THE […]

We’ve always been told that there was really only one way to build a freelance web design business. Step 1: Learn web design/development skillsStep 2: Find clientsStep 3: As you get better you charge higher and higher prices Then for the really ambitious, you start an agency and make really big bucks. Sure, a lot […]

I remember being on the phone with a client that would be my biggest paying customer yet. Here I was talking with an agency from San Francisco looking to outsource some work. The words came out of my mouth with a tiny little quiver and that “yelp” sound you hear from boys who just started […]

When people first start going down the path of becoming a web designer they begin trying to learn a lot of things about design and development. Things like: Color theory Visual hierarchy HTML & CSS OR JavaScript And, listen, those are super important to understand, practice and get better at. But, after a while, it […]

7 years ago, if you told me I’d one day be offered $10,000 to build a website I probably would have laughed at you. At the time, the most I’d ever gotten was a $100 gift card to Amazon. And, that was because someone was just being nice. The possibility of actually making that much […]

I hear it almost once a week now. Someone looked at getting into web design but decided there wasn’t much of a future in it. Why? Because of new technologies and all the dang drag & drop website builders like SquareSpace, Wix, WordPress, etc. People imagine a world where pretty soon all you’ll have to […]

One of my favorite quotes is from Richard Branson founder of the Virgin Group. He says: “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” This was my philosophy when I first got started as a web designer […]

Don’t want to read over 3,000 words on how to stand out as a freelancer? Listen to the podcast OR watch the YouTube Video. It’s tough to stand out as a freelancer when there are currently 57 million of us in the US, and that number gets bigger every day. In a lot of ways, […]

Don’t want to read almost 3,000 words on what you need to do to become a top rated freelancer on Upwork? No worries I got you. Here’s a podcast: Becoming a Top Rated Freelancer on Upwork was a game-changer for me. It was like almost overnight I went from clawing and scratching to find and […]

No one starts out as a freelancer hoping to one day be mediocre. We are all determined to become a successful freelancer maybe even one of the better freelancers out there in our field. The problem is being TRULY successful as a freelancer isn’t easy. It even feels impossible sometimes. After all, if it were […]

If I were to ask you, “what sets apart a really professional freelance web designer from a newbie?” What would you say? Some people might say it’s, “all about the quality of the design!” Others might tout the web designer’s ability to communicate their ideas or hit deadlines. But, none of those things really separate […]

Don’t want to read 1000’s of words on how to find web design clients? I got you. Here’s a podcast instead: Or if you prefer, there’s a YouTube Video. Ahh, the timeless tale of finding freelance web design clients. It’s a tale as old as time, really. And with that tale comes a certain amount […]

Okay, you’ve decided it’s time to start a web design business. All the signs are pointing to it. You’ve got a decent eye for design maybe a bit of code know how It’s a growing market It’s fairly easy to get into AND, every business/blogger/influencer/whatever needs a website, right? Great! Now what? Start a Web […]

Don’t want to read 1000’s of words on where to learn web development for free? Cool…I got a podcast for you. OR you can watch the YouTube Video: These days, there is so much information at your fingertips it’s hard to know where to go when you’re wondering how to learn web development for free […]

Don’t want to read 1000’s of words on career change? Listen to the podcast instead! I was pretty much a full-time musician for about 13 years. To be fair, I was the worship leader of a church. Which is probably a lot different than what you’d think of in the usual sense of a “full-time […]

After you’ve had a bit of success as a side-hustler the question that always comes next is, “When is it time to go from side-hustle to full-time?” After all, things are starting to pick up. You’re starting to be a bit more confident in your skills and in your ability to make money with this […]

There’s a lot of fear behind the question, “How do I price my services as a freelance web designer?” I can feel it everyone time someone asks me. And, I get it. In the early days of being a freelance web designer, it feels like most of what you’re doing is just guessing followed up […]

Don’t want to read 1000’s of words on how to recover from mistakes with freelance clients? I got you. Listen to the podcast below OR watch the youtube video. Making mistakes with freelance clients is inevitable. You’ll do your best to keep it from happening, but one day, when you least expect it…WHAM! Out of […]

Don’t want to read a few thousand words on how I got out of debt with web design side hustle? No worries! Listen to the podcast OR check out the video: My wife and I were married in February of 2018. With our marriage came love, joy, excitement and about $30k of debt. And, listen, […]

Most high school seniors automatically think their next big life decision is choosing which college to go to. They graduate dreaming of the fun they’re about to have from dorm life or fraternities or the general “college experience.” But, not Michael. Michael knew that even if did go to school for computer science he would […]

Jumping into the world of web design can be a bit overwhelming. There are tons of things to learn like design principles and development skills.  And then there are all these different web design tools out there. Some people swear by one tool and then another person comes along and completely contradicts them.  Even if […]

“Should web designers use templates to build their client’s sites?” Honestly, the freelance world is a bit divided on the answer to that question. Ask one person and the answer will be a resound, “YES!” Why wouldn’t you? If a template can get you even half the way there without having to do something from […]

Some times the most inspiring stories come out of disappointment. That certainly was the case with this week’s guest: Jasmine Glasgow. Jasmine had a fairly steady job at her family owned company. Then COVID hit and they had to make cutbacks. Her job was one of the first to go. BUT, instead of going the […]

If you haven’t figured it out by now you will soon enough. Some people will be really, really bad freelance web design clients. The kind that will make you want to quit freelancing altogether. You have to make sure you do what you can to avoid nightmare clients. You know the kind that doesn’t get […]

Don’t want to read 1000’s of words on how to accomplish freelancing goals? Here’s a podcast! It seems like we start every year with high hopes for making huge progress on accomplishing freelancing goals.  We sign up for new goal setting systems. We read new books and swear to ourselves that this year will be […]

As 2020 begins to wind down we turn our attention to the newly minted 2021 web design trends. Okay, there are probably a lot of things you are glad to see go coming out of 2020. The coronavirus An election year The return of fanny packs And, while there is a lot to celebrate seeing […]

Don’t want to read 1,000s of words on how to make a winning bid on UpWork? I got you. Listen to the podcast instead. Or you can watch the video. If you haven’t figured it out yet, you can’t just create an account on Upwork and sit back as the jobs start rolling in. No! […]

It’s pretty tough to know how to price your services as a freelance web designer. There are so many people that will tell you something different. Some say you should charge hourly while others say a flat rate is the only decent thing to do. Some will tell you to charge a minimum of $5,000 […]

UX design bootcamps are all the rage these days. People are opting out of the traditional college education route and instead choosing bite size programs that focus entirely on the skill they’re wanting to get hired for. Personally, I think that’s awesome. But, not everyone agrees with me. In fact, there’s a bunch of people […]

When you think of making more income as a web designer you probably think of two ways to do it. You either have to: Charge higher prices OR Take on more projects But, what if there was another option? What if there was a way to make more money without adding a ton more work […]

Making 6 figures as a freelance web designer is kind of like a rite of passage. When I was first introduced to the world of freelancing I was kind of shocked at how freelancers would just openly tell me they made over 6 figures a year without me asking. When I asked a friend about […]

There are probably a lot of reasons why someone would want to become a freelance web designer. There are motivations like being in control of your time, having flexibility in your schedule, or being your own boss. But, one that probably trumps them all is earning more money. That was one of my biggest motivations […]

The creative process is pretty torturous. I don’t say that lightly. I’ve experienced it. When I was a full-time musician I would have an idea for a song that I knew was going to be my big break. I’d pull out my phone record a little bit of it and go to bed. Then, I’d […]

Being unhappy with your job is pretty much a given these days. That’s why everyone posts those stupid memes about how bad Mondays are. A recent study found that over half of all US workers were unhappy with their career. But why are we so content to stay and do work we hate for a […]

Freelancing as a web designer is known to have feast or famine seasons. It seems like you either have more work than you can handle or you’re worried about being able to find another client before it’s to late. What if I told you there was something you could put into place today to keep […]

Becoming a self-taught web developer is all the rage these days. And, for good reason. With rising cost of traditional universities and a world of educational resources online A LOT of people are opting out of the old model of learning something. I myself DIYed my web development education and I’m a big advocate of […]

It’s crazy to think that only a few months ago having a remote job wasn’t the norm. Now, almost the entire world is working from home. And, while a remote job as a web designer might be a dream come true, it comes with its fair share of challenges. Being on a remote team makes […]

“How do you have time to work on a web design side hustle?” I get that question a lot. And, I understand where it’s coming from. The older you get the more responsibilities pile on and the less time you have to take up new hobbies or even build skills that make you money. But […]

Don’t want to read 1000’s of words on getting good web design clients even with a tiny portfolio? No worries. Listen to the podcast. Here is the conundrum: good clients are looking for web designers with a strong portfolio before they hire them. But, how do you add to your web design portfolio if no […]

Starting a web design business is a scary thing. There are so many questions! Should you get an LLC license? Is a sole proprietorship okay? What about taxes? How much should I set aside? What if I don’t know how to do something the client asks for? All of those questions can be enough to […]

Don’t want to read 100’s of words about staying focused working from home with kids? No worries. You can listen to the podcast OR scroll all the way down for the video. It’s that time of year again. Back to school! In a normal world, school starting up brings a bit of relief to working […]

If you don’t want to read nearly 3,000 words on 5 important things every web designer needs to know, I got you. Here’s a podcast Well, it’s official. Selfmadewebdesigner.com turned 1 year old! ? It’s been a pretty awesome year. I’ve gotten the chance to help a lot of people up their game as web […]

Have you ever worked on a web design project and been super proud only to present it to the client and quickly realize what they said they wanted is nowhere near what they actually want? I wish I could say that’s never happened to me ??‍♂️ When a client comes to you it’s very likely […]

Getting into a UX design career has become incredibly popular lately. It’s almost like a modern day gold rush. As a result, there are a lot of companies capitalizing on the sudden increase in attention toward tech design jobs by creating products people can buy to help them get into those types of careers. One […]

The frontend development field is constantly changing and advancing in your career is becoming more and more difficult. For one, the sheer amount of people in the industry has gone up drastically. AND, not to mention, what it actually means to be a frontend developer worthy of a tech job is getting more and more […]

The Self-Made Web Designer podcast is pausing until July 7th. There is an important conversation that is happening right now concerning racism and diversity. It’s my heart to give space for that conversation to be fully heard. So, I am pausing for the rest of the month to listen and learn how I can be […]

Make sure to put people before profit. At the end of the day, that’s what marketing honestly boils down too. It’s a simple idea in theory. But, if you’re honest with yourself, it’s actually a tough idea to practice. “But, Chris!” You say, “Of course I would always put people before profit.” Well, hold on. […]

Selling your services as a web designer comes with its fair share of ethical dilemmas. You want to be honest about your ability but you don’t want to sound like you lack confidence. You want to get paid a good amount but you don’t want to overcharge someone just because you can You want to […]

I don’t know about you but writing a resume freaks me out a bit. The idea that the future of your life depends on a small piece of paper is more than just a little bit nerve-racking. AND, as a UX designer, you have to worry about more than your resume. You’ve got to think […]

“Can you really get high-paying clients on Upwork?” That’s a question I’m asked a lot. It’s not always that direct BUT every so often someone will mention something slightly negative about it in passing. It comes in forms of: “Upwork is fine…if you’re just getting started.” Or “If things get slow enough I guess I […]

I got an email this last week. And it wasn’t a fun one: I have to be honest. That was a blow to the gut and it’s even pretty hard to admit that it happened. For the longest time I’ve been a huge advocate of Upwork. I’ve even been featured on some of their advertisements. […]

You can’t have a successful side hustle without having a healthy family. At least not for very long. Most of us like to think that we can compartmentalize different areas of our lives. You’ve probably heard something like this before: “whatever personal issues you have, leave them at the door of your office.” But, the […]

So many freelancers think it takes some secret to find good web design clients. But, in reality, it’s actually pretty simple. Here’s a hint. It has nothing to do with how long you’ve been in business, how many skills you’ve mastered or even whether you’ve got a degree in some related topic. If you want […]

SEO can sometimes seem like a mystical concept. We all know we need it but we can’t quite figure out how to get it. So, we figure the people that are doing well with SEO have some kind of magic formula they’ve concocted and are probably unwilling to share with anyone else. But, thankfully, that’s […]