So it has started .
I am now contracted to build a website for someone else! My fledgling business Mind Meld Web Design Studio has its first client.
Those that have followed my blogs will know my cousin asked me to build him a website for his pest control business and initially I said no.
After giving it some consideration and speaking with him more about what he wants to achieve I am building my first local small business website.
So now I am madly researching local SEO. As usual WA has provided with some fantastic training, in particular thank you Jay for all the information :)
How's it going?
Well I'm glad you asked. Not well actually, LOL.
I spent many hours yesterday messing around with themes, thought I had decided on one I was happy with and then changed my mind and I now realise I have wasted most of a day.
Rookie mistake #1.
If I was getting paid an hourly rate I'd be on about 10c an hour at this point.
But I am learning, and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?
Recent Comments
27
At least you are making progress!! YAY...As for me, I feel like I'm spinning my wheels..but I'm still in there digging..I will get it soon (hopefully) but you are at the beginning of a wonderful career..
Lots of wheel spinning happening here too Irishlass, quite frustrating at times, bit I expect it will make us better webmasters in the long run.
Well.....your learning!
Time is always an "the enemy"!
Usually when I start the day to get a lot done, I get tied up in emails, so that when I look at the clock the morning's gone?
Just remember, the good stuff takes time!
Laurel
Indeed Laurel, I hope in the end this site will be worth the time. As I am learning I am happy to give myself a bit of a break and don't expect to make money out of this one.
My cousin is the guinea pig so I can afford to make some mistakes and hopefully learn from them before taking on any more clients.
Congrats Heidi, moving forward with your dream. You will do great i'm sure. Slow and steady will get the job done. Good luck.
jenny
Yes I think some of what I have done if I had stopped and thought a little more about it, even just got up from the computer and had a quick break would have saved me ploughing on ahead and then having to go back and change it.
Good experience anyhoo.
Brilliant post, with great news, good luck with your first assignment. There are literally thousands of WP websites out there, which are poorly maintained, or not serviced by a webmaster, or even worse, in my opinion anyway, just brought out of a box, so of no real value or consequence, so this could be the start of a major project
Thank you Dave. I really do think it's a gold mine for me locally. It seems everywhere I turn there are bad websites. I look at them now and think yep I reckon I could do better than that.
But steady as she goes, I'll get through one first before even thinking about going outside the family LOL.
Absolutely spot on, I believe its the same the world over. You can offer so much more than other so called rivals who claim to be specialists in this field, but who in reality are no where close IMHO to what we can offer
Good luck with your venture. It is normal to question things more, when you are building something for someone else. The more you do, the more easily you will make decisions because you will have the confidence of past successes.
Wishing you every success.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
Oh yes so many questions Grace LOL. I l am quite lucky with my first "client" he has basically given me open slate and said don't ask me if you can make the decisions, so I have a lot more free rein than most.
Yes, it will make you stronger best wishes for building this website for your cousin I hope that all goes better for you.
It is starting to pick up thanks marmar, still not 100% set on the theme but I'm starting to make some inroads on content. Lucky he isn't in a mad hurry!
You are so very welcome. That is a great thing that he is not in the hurry because when you take your time things work out better and you don't make mistakes cause you are taking your time to make it perfect or at least trying to make it perfect. That is wonderful that you are making inroads with the content. Best wishes on completing the site.
Hey :-)
To me, you have accomplished something, helping someone to create their business. Yes, themes will take time and are tricky because your client may not like the one you choose.
Don't look at it as wasting time. You aren't looking for a theme for yourself, you are looking for your client which is a little harder.
The first mistake is a great mistake because you know what not to do again. Great Job on getting your first client!
Best wishes on your journey,
Chrisie :-)
Thanks for the comment.
It is quite interesting to try and divorce yourself from the theme choosing, as you say it isn't for me, so I am thinking what the client will want and what will work for that type of business.
Steep learning curve, but it is making my brain tick, which I like.
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You won't always be a rookie....you're in the game and doing your best. Congratulations!
Debbie
Thanks Debbie, yep everyone had to start somewhere. I think about those I look up to who are doing this for a living, and making quite a good living I believe, and figure they were also rookies once.