It’s clear that things have been changing for web designers in the online business space in recent years.
The market is very saturated with new web design businesses popping up all the time. And I’ve heard from many web designers over the past few months who are saying that business is the slowest it has been in years, with fewer enquiries from potential clients.
This all sounds very doom and gloom, I know! But it’s not all bad news.
I know plenty of web design businesses that are thriving right now. I’m seeing web designers who are able to stand out from the crowd and continue booking web design projects regardless of how saturated the market feels.
One way web designers can set themselves apart from others in their industry is by collaborating with a web developer on their projects.
In this post I am going to explain some of the ways in which teaming up with a web developer can help you stand out as a web designer.
Lift the limitations on designs
When you work with a web developer, you are able to lift the limitations on designs. You don’t have to be restricted to designing features and functionality on a website that you know how to bring to life; you can design whatever you like and be confident in the knowledge a developer will be able to bring your vision to life.
When you are able to step outside the box and be completely creative with your designs, you are able to create websites that stand out from all the generic website designs that the market is full of.
Collaborating with a web developer means you can produce eye-catching websites that are totally unique and you’ll attract clients who are on the lookout for something more bespoke and extraordinary.
Work with platforms you wouldn’t normally design for
Working with a web developer can allow you to work with website platforms that other web designers don’t work with.
Web designers who don’t know how to code will typically stick with drag-and-drop platforms like Squarespace, Wix, or Showit. But when you can hand off the coding side of things to a developer, you can start offering design services for more code-heavy platforms like WordPress and Shopify.
Over 40% of all websites are powered by WordPress. This is a huge market for web designers to tap into, and working with a web developer could be your ticket into it. You can truly open yourself up to a whole new world of design clients and stand out from your competitors.
Take on bigger, more complex website projects
If you’ve ever found yourself turning down larger, more complex website projects because you didn’t know how to make them a reality, you’ll know how disappointing this can feel.
As a web designer, you know you have the skillset to design incredible websites that will get your clients results. But the tricky part is bringing those designs to life as a fully-functional website, particularly if that website requires complex functionality.
It can be difficult to say no to projects like this if you don’t feel capable of building a website that requires more technical input. And there’s nothing worse than agreeing to take on a more complex project without feeling totally confident that you can bring it to life. That’s not fair on you or the client.
But when you have a developer on your side, you don’t have to pass on these opportunities. You can say yes to these projects and feel assured that you’ll be able to see it through because you have a developer who can handle the complicated technical work.
When you are able to take on bigger and more complex projects, you are able to charge even more for your design services. And you will stand out from the crowd as you’ll be seen as a designer who isn’t afraid to take on a challenge!
Provide a higher level of service to your clients
Being able to provide a high level of service can truly help you to stand out from among other designers.
I hate to say it, but not every designer out there is focused on creating a high-quality website that will stand the test of time. If you are someone who really cares out getting the best possible results for your clients and delivering a high quality website that you know your client will feel confident in, you can use this to your advantage.
When you collaborate with a trusted web developer, you can feel assured that your clients will be getting the best quality website possible. It will work as expected, be easy to use and maintain, and it will help the client achieve their goals.
Providing an excellent service will result in glowing testimonials and reviews that you can proudly show off to your potential clients. It can also lead to referrals which is a very powerful way of gaining new clients. It takes a huge amount of pressure off relying on social media, SEO and other marketing techniques.
And as an added bonus, when you are able to provide a higher level of service, you are able to charge higher prices that reflect the quality of the service you offer.
Are you ready to outsource your website development?
If you’re a web designer who loves creating beautiful websites but hates the coding side of things, I can help!
I specialise in turning designs into fully-functioning WordPress websites that not only look beautiful but that are also functional, strategic and fast.
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