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So you have decided you want to become a website
designer, or more commonly known as a webmaster, but have you
really thought about what that decision will mean? Todays world
of site design is more competitive than ever. The global impact
makes striking out as a website designer even more difficult.
When you think about competition, you have to think globally.
Technology makes it easy to be a website designer because you
can market your skills to just about anyone and anywhere. The
website designer does not suffer from geographical boundaries
as most other business types do. Moreover, if you are just starting
out and not established, then entering the market will be even
more difficult.
Lay of the Land - Expectations for Website Designers and Webmasters From a Potential Customers Point of View
Todays website design customers are expecting more and more
from their designers. Once upon a time, it was enough to offer
a great looking page with easy navigation and aesthetic looks
to draw customers back. That is no longer the case. Today
they expect more abilities from their website designers. They
expect that not only will their pages look good, but also
is good enough to rank highly in search engine positioning.
Todays website designer must be a hybrid of design plus marketing,
copy-writing, content generation, and search engine optimization
/ positioning. Not only will you need the latest design skills
like ASP, PHP, JavaScript, and the likes, but you will need
to keep up on emerging technologies as well.
You will need to know about things like link relevance, link
popularity, search engine optimization / positioning, graphic
design, page layout, and the list goes on and on. You could
abandon all of these suggestions, but how satisfied will your
customers be if you cant fulfill their needs? Furthermore,
how much business will you be able to maintain as the results?
Theres allot to take into consideration when deciding to
strike out as a website designer or webmaster. Fail to evaluate
such considerations and you will almost assuredly fail in
your quest.
Even if you have this entire suggestion list ready to go,
and you know what youre talking about. You can design great
pages that position well in search engine results. You can
write content that will bring visitors back to your customers
site, but there are still other legal considerations to take
into account before you strike out as a website designer or
webmaster. Self-employment is nothing to jump into lightly.
Legal Implications for Website Designers and Webmasters
The first question is what is your business structure? Will
you operate a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a corporation?
Each one has its own unique advantages and disadvantages.
The key-determining factor is usually the eventual goal you
have in mind for the business. Do you want to make a part
time income to supplement your present day job? Do you plan
to make a full time living out of being a website designer
or webmaster? Do you plan to become a driving force in the
website design or webmaster community? The bigger the steak
the more protection you will need.
If you are only out to make a part time income, or a full
time income, then the sole proprietorship or partnership may
be the right business structure for you. The sole proprietorship
means that you are the business. When the business gains,
you gain, when the business loses, you lose. Everything transfers
right to you in the end, the profits, and the expenses. You
are on your own.
The partnership allows you to share the things mentioned
in the sole proprietorship. Two or more people work together
through a legal agreement that evens out the profits and expenses
of business operations. They will usually also share in the
work. Partnerships should always be formed with the aid of
a legal professional. The agreement should outline all responsibilities.
How profits are split, and how the expenses are paid. Make
sure you know your potential partners before you enter such
an agreement with anyone. Money can make people act strangely.
Get it all in writing so there are no misunderstandings later.
If you are striking out to be a driving force in the website
designer or webmaster community, intend to have numerous sales
to other big business and large corporate clients, and intend
to have high income through such clients, then the corporation
might be the way to go. Corporations are their own entities,
and help shield you from potential problems. The corporation
choice offers the most protection of all business forms. Claims
must go through the corporation entity before they can transfer
internally to the corporate officers. The corporation offers
the ability to shield personal property from potential claims
brought against your business. Always seek professional legal
assistance when forming a corporation.
After you figure out what kind of business form you are going
to operate under, it is then time to look at other legal implications
related to website designers and webmasters. You may need
to obtain a business license, a Doing Business As (DBA) certificate,
and even a zoning permit. You may also need to file state
and federal forms on your business. Speak with your local
offices to determine what they require for business operations.
If you have a Town Hall, then start there.
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Website
Designers & Business Plans (Article Continues)
About the Author
James R. Sanders is the owner of Sanders
Consultation Group Plus. He has been a webmaster and website
designer since 1997. He has also been involved in self employment
ventures since 1992. He is presently a contributing author
of NewbieHangout,
and has been published through WebProNews
and 4Rankings.com.
His writing is targeted to webmasters, would be webmasters,
website designers, would be website designers, self employed,
or those researching information looking for solutions to
questions associated with design, business operations, and
promotion today. His goal is to provide practical information
based upon his years of experience to help webmasters, website
designers, and self employed people achieve their goals in
today's competitive global market. You can subscribe to his
free newsletters at SCGP
- Newsletter.
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