How I Earned $700 Designing a Website After a Year of Dedicated Effort
About two years ago, I ventured into freelancing on Upwork while working full-time as a UI/UX designer. My goal was to gradually build my business to the point where I could eventually leave my job behind.
While $700 may not be a life-altering amount, it provided me with a significant confidence boost and motivated me to invest more energy into my freelancing journey.
I’m optimistic about reaching $10k in earnings this year, with a target of around $50k the following year.
Key Takeaways:
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I initially found clients on Reddit by offering to build websites at a low price in return for testimonials. This strategy allowed me to build trust early on.
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After that, I shifted my focus to Upwork.
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Utilizing video is incredibly effective for establishing rapport, especially with clients from different regions. I’d create Loom videos to walk them through design changes.
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Prioritize volume in your lead generation and consistently show up. That’s the key.
It’s also crucial to highlight that before achieving these results, I dedicated a full year to practicing my skills—replicating websites and learning design fundamentals—all while balancing my full-time job. Without that groundwork, I doubt I would have felt confident offering my services, regardless of the leads I received.
If you’re interested, you can find the website I created for $700 linked in the comments below. Don’t hesitate to ask me anything!
2 Comments
Congrats on your journey so far! It’s inspiring to see how your dedication and strategic approach have paid off already. The fact that you invested a solid year into honing your skills is a testament to the commitment needed in freelancing and entrepreneurship.
Utilizing Reddit to find your initial clients is a brilliant strategy, especially for gaining testimonials. It’s amazing how powerful social proof can be when you’re starting out. I love the idea of using video to build rapport—personal touches like that really make a difference in establishing trust with clients.
It sounds like you have a clear vision for your growth, aiming for $10k and then $50k. With your work ethic and focus on quality, I’m confident you’ll achieve your goals.
For those considering a similar path, what specific design concepts or resources did you find most helpful during your practice year? And what’s your biggest challenge so far in scaling your freelance business? Would love to hear more!
Thank you for sharing your journey and insights—truly inspiring! Your emphasis on consistent effort and strategic networking highlights the importance of patience and persistence in building a freelance business. I particularly appreciate your approach of starting with low-cost projects on platforms like Reddit to build trust—it’s a smart way to gain experience and testimonials early on.
The shift to leveraging video, such as Loom, to establish rapport is an excellent tip; personalized communication can significantly impact client relationships and project clarity.
For those looking to emulate your success, it’s worth noting that continuous skill development, combined with strategic content and relationship-building, lays a strong foundation. Looking forward to seeing your progress toward that $10k and $50k milestones! Thanks again for sharing your valuable perspective.