Have you always wanted to learn web design but have been put off by all the talk of how it involves science and art? Well, we are here to tell you that you don’t have to be Aristotle or Da Vinci to be an excellent web designer.
You only need dedication, attention to detail, and a keen love for visual designs. Afterward, you will be drawing lots of attention as one of the top-draw web designers anywhere.
And by top-draw web designers, we don’t mean “experts” like Chris that design pizza websites. We are talking about professionals like Amed and Adham.
Mind you: Amed and Adham are no scientists or sculptors. Yet, they are both pulling fantastic reviews for their web design services.
So, believe it when we say you can learn web design today and by yourself. That sounds too good to be true, eh?
Well, it is possible to design websites without formal education or experience. And fortunately, this post will show you the steps.
Here, we will discuss:
- The basics you need to start designing websites with zero experience.
- The tools that will transform web design to ABC for you.
- Where and how to win your first client as a self-taught web designer.
Learning Web Design: What Are The Basics?
Note: The tips here are not steps to learning web design yet. While they are equally important to you being a fantastic web designer, we only listed them to prepare your mind!
The Foundation Is Recognizing A Good Visual Design
We understand you want to jump straight into coding, but that won’t help you – at least not yet. So, grab the fundamentals of web design first.
Start at the elementary level: check around and see what makes a great web design. Once you do, note the elements. Why?
All great websites revolve around the principles of visual designs. That means certain elements and their combination ultimately decides if a website is good or otherwise.
Web Design Has Two Sides
Like a coin, web design has both head and tail:
- The head is the beautiful, already-made part users see: the front end. This end is where CSS, HTML, and JavaScript combine to produce masterpieces.
- The tail is where all the rudiment happens; it is the place that involves all sorts of server functions and programming: the back end. This end is where databases, frameworks, and programming goes.
Now before you freak out, know that you don’t necessarily have to learn the two ends. You can major either in front or back end and get tons of sales – and even build an entire business.
Nonetheless, we will advise you to have a basic knowledge of two ends to master web design. And here’s a little tip: If you don’t fancy coding, hold onto front end.
There Are Different Types Of Websites
Even after understanding the elements of visual designs, you still need to decide what type of website to design. Well, you can learn to build it all, but that might be too much for a beginner.
That said, we will advise you to pick and specialize only in lucrative website types. And here are some examples for you:
Note: We sorted this list according to the ease of building the listed websites. And besides the ones here, there are others you’d learn on your own – later.
Landing Pages
As a beginner, it is best that you start with single-page web designs. And one of such designs in demand is landing pages.
Like the name, landing pages are where visitors land on visiting a website. They are mostly funnels for businesses with the sole aim of converting leads.
Pro tip: You might want to learn copywriting too if you would be selling landing pages.
Related article: What Makes Good Content?
Directories
Also known as contact pages, directories are almost as simple to build as landing pages. Fortunately, you don’t need any copywriting skills here.
Directories are simply listings you can either do for clients or for yourself to earn through affiliate links. However, ensure you promote services or products you have used; you owe that to your readers.
Portfolio Websites
You will ultimately need a portfolio to sell your web design services. So, learning how to build one is a no-brainer.
Besides, job seekers, freelancers, and digital agencies will always need portfolio websites to showcase their skills. In a nutshell, this type of web design is incredibly lucrative.
Pro tip: If you are highly creative, portfolio websites are your calling!
Blogs
Blogs are undoubtedly the big fish for web designers and all parallels across digital marketing. Almost all businesses have and will keep needing one – why?
Blogs are tested and proven ways to rank for niche-related keywords. In other words, they help businesses rank on search engine result pages and ultimately attract clients.
And for you, blogs will always bring sales. And the best part: they mostly need just a template to set up.
E-commerce Websites
We will advise you to learn building e-commerce websites last. Indeed, they are lucrative niches, but they can be time-consuming. As a beginner, you might not have all that time to spend.
More so, e-commerce websites need various other tools like payment gateways and all sorts of security patches. And often, they require a team of web designers of different skillset to set up.
Now, we have handled the basics of web designs. It is time to discuss the step-by-step guide to getting started and making sales from it.
Suggested reading: How To Become a Freelancer In 30 Days (With No Experience)
How To Learn Web Design On Your Own: The 7-point Checklist
Go Over The Basics Of Visual Design Again
Yes, we have handled the basics, but go over them again. And this time, let’s be specific: take time to understand the concept of colors, grids, lines, shapes, and texture.
More importantly, study how the five components of visual design can improve your skills as a web designer. We understand that might seem like an enormous task.
So, take the elements one after the other!
Learn HTML
Finally, you have started coding – cheers. And should you have a phobia for codes, don’t fret.
HTML, Hypertext Markup Language, is not as difficult as you think. It is just an aggregate of tags and elements that direct browsers on how best to display your web designs.
And fortunately, there are tons of resources you can check online to learn HTML. We recommend w3schools!
Extras: Add CSS to your learning objectives too. They are more like HTML but streamlined for styling.
Learn UX And Topography
Beyond HTML and CSS, websites need more to engage with their visitors and appeal to emotions. This part is where UX, user experience, come to the fore.
UX allows you to stir interest and breathe life into your web designs. That seems complex – right?
Don’t chicken out now; UX basically involves understanding users’ behaviors, especially to various designs. Most importantly, it helps you organize your ideas in a simple manner that enhances flow and consistency.
Another concept that is similar to UX is topography. It focuses on your fonts and how they can evoke emotions through their styling and legibility.
Also, typography improves the aesthetics of your web designs. And to some extent, it can reflect the formality of a brand or business.
Master Layouts
While UX handles flow and consistency, layouts help users to explore your web design with ease. When you master layouts, you will create websites that convert leads almost instantaneously – how so?
Layouts narrow your web design to your desired focal points. Fortunately, those points also make for the focus of users’ attention.
Boom: conversion!
Note: It is best to work with widely used layouts such as the Z and F patterns. Since users are familiar with such designs, you’d easily attract their attention to your clients’ CTAs.
Research Website Builders
While learning about layouts, UX, and HTML is worthwhile, you can make your entire web design process faster with website builders. Notwithstanding, it is best that you understand the basics of building websites before calling for help.
That said, we’ll recommend two beginner-friendly website builders that you should try: Wix and WordPress. While the two platforms are both efficient, they have their different strengths – how so?
- Wix is super-easy but limited in terms of security and customization. Also, they are not particularly friendly for SEO.
- WordPress will take a bit longer to operate than Wix, but it’s a more robust platform. Also, it is secured and comes with tons of customization tools. Most importantly, it has plugins that particularly enhance SEO.
Practice, Practice, And Practice
You have the tools to start web design already, so start. Practice and don’t stop until you have perfected your skills.
Pro tip: Start with simple websites like landing pages and work your way up to e-commerce websites. Also, learn Content Management System; it will help you attract more clients in the long run.
Don’t Stop Learning
Even after you have perfected your web design skills, don’t stop learning. Join groups, interact with other web designers and learn about new trends.
Most importantly, teach another person how to build a website. While transferring knowledge, you will also get insights into new ways of designing websites.
Now that you are at the peak of your web design skill, it is high time that you started monetizing it. Where can you start, and how?
Where Should You Sell Your Web Design Services?
Short answer: Legiit!
But first, you need to register an account. More importantly, you need a sales page.
About that, don’t write a robotic sales page. Instead, agitate your prospects’ worries and expertly prove how your service can help – include your portfolio!
Need more guidance on writing the perfect sales page?
Read this guide: Conversion Checklist For Your Legiit Service Page!
Like we said earlier, web design is not hard as you were led to believe – we hope you see that now. You only need dedication and the steps we have mentioned to start and excel.
And you never know; you might eventually topple Amed and Adham and be the best web designer on Legiit. We hope you do!
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