Thanks for this. I've been coding for about 4 years (java, angular, vue, react). I'm wondering what is the selling point of doing this custom approach as opposed to wordpress for the client? Asking because i've never used wordpress before. Is it simply that it is more customizable? does wordpress have a lot of limitations?
I think it really depends what you client is looking for. Typically for smaller projects it is much easier just to set up a WordPress site or Squarespace. But when it comes to sites that need more customization, I am more comfortable with building something in the Javascript ecosystem. So going with something like Next.js and a headless cms like Strapi makes sense. I just need to only know one programming language.
There are many ways to do this; you can focus on one niche. I used to be in the martial arts business back in the day. So, I build websites for martial arts studios. In terms of picking a theme, I would take care of all of that. I would have a couple of options and go from there. Once we decide on the theme, I talk to them to learn more about what they are looking for so I can customize the theme to their business.
If you are based in the US or a high-cost-of-living country with high wages, those sites will be too competitive since they are global, and you will always be outbid by someone who can do your work for the same amount of money. So, for me, living in the US is not worth it.
You can start with html, css, and javascript. Or do what I did when I started. And actually, I'm thinking more about it. Use WordPress. I used to set up websites for businesses with WordPress while learning React, but it was not yet good enough to use it to build sites. I will make some tutorials around WordPress since it is a valid option for freelancing.
@@CodingAfterThirty thank you ! I want to learn more about html css and JS. I have tried numerous times but then I stop and I have to start again. This may take a long time till I become employable. So in the meantime while I am learning I could earn side money offering services with Wordpress. But Wordpress would have another learning curve. The 3 challenges then are1) learning Wordpress 2)delivering to the customer and 2)finding customers - especially the first customer Also you mentioned that sometimes customers find you and you refer them to web developer friends . How do these customers find you ? And who are your friends doing web development finding customers ?
To stay in the JS eco system, while learning HTML, CSS and Javascript, you can use Astro tied to a headless CMS to build full functional sites even if you are a beginner. This is something I am exploring as well. The cool part about Astro, you can use vanilla Javascript.
You can do either, depending on how involved you want to be in the management process. I prefer hosting in the client's name for frontend and strapi, and I have admin privileges. This way, the client has full ownership. But I also know folks who manage all that process themselves and charge for it.
Do you think about outsourcing the work to other freelancers? There are people that want to do the job with lower price and you can take advantage of that by becoming an agency
Thanks for your time to create this kind of content. Great value 👍.
Thank you for watching it.
Thanks for this. I've been coding for about 4 years (java, angular, vue, react). I'm wondering what is the selling point of doing this custom approach as opposed to wordpress for the client? Asking because i've never used wordpress before. Is it simply that it is more customizable? does wordpress have a lot of limitations?
I think it really depends what you client is looking for. Typically for smaller projects it is much easier just to set up a WordPress site or Squarespace.
But when it comes to sites that need more customization, I am more comfortable with building something in the Javascript ecosystem.
So going with something like Next.js and a headless cms like Strapi makes sense.
I just need to only know one programming language.
Thank you for the awesome content. May I ask what is the process to pick a theme? Do clients search through themeforest and select one? Thanks again.
There are many ways to do this; you can focus on one niche.
I used to be in the martial arts business back in the day.
So, I build websites for martial arts studios.
In terms of picking a theme, I would take care of all of that. I would have a couple of options and go from there.
Once we decide on the theme, I talk to them to learn more about what they are looking for so I can customize the theme to their business.
@@CodingAfterThirty Thank you so much!
What to you think about using sites like freelancer or upwork to get clients?
If you are based in the US or a high-cost-of-living country with high wages, those sites will be too competitive since they are global, and you will always be outbid by someone who can do your work for the same amount of money.
So, for me, living in the US is not worth it.
Getwell and thanks for this video
Thanks for checking out the video and thank you. 🙂
What if you start learning to code and you don't develop in next js or React yet. How would you go on about this?
You can start with html, css, and javascript. Or do what I did when I started. And actually, I'm thinking more about it. Use WordPress.
I used to set up websites for businesses with WordPress while learning React, but it was not yet good enough to use it to build sites.
I will make some tutorials around WordPress since it is a valid option for freelancing.
@@CodingAfterThirty thank you ! I want to learn more about html css and JS. I have tried numerous times but then I stop and I have to start again. This may take a long time till I become employable. So in the meantime while I am learning I could earn side money offering services with Wordpress. But Wordpress would have another learning curve. The 3 challenges then are1) learning Wordpress 2)delivering to the customer and 2)finding customers - especially the first customer
Also you mentioned that sometimes customers find you and you refer them to web developer friends . How do these customers find you ? And who are your friends doing web development finding customers ?
To stay in the JS eco system, while learning HTML, CSS and Javascript, you can use Astro tied to a headless CMS to build full functional sites even if you are a beginner. This is something I am exploring as well. The cool part about Astro, you can use vanilla Javascript.
Do you re-sell the subscription fee for headless CMS (and so have to invoice them every month) or let the client pay/control it directly?
You can do either, depending on how involved you want to be in the management process.
I prefer hosting in the client's name for frontend and strapi, and I have admin privileges.
This way, the client has full ownership.
But I also know folks who manage all that process themselves and charge for it.
Can you cover the tech stack needed for freelance ?
Depending on a project. I would use Astro or Next, using tailwind and Shadcn UI, and a headless CMS like Strapi. Deploy to Digital Ocean.
@@CodingAfterThirty What solution would you use for eCommerce? Nextjs + Stripe ?
is php and laravel good?
I don’t use it but I know a lot of devs who love it.
And how much such websites cost on average?
It is up to you how much you want to charge, if it is something I can build on 2 - 3 days I used to charge 750 - 1500 for basic websites.
Do you think about outsourcing the work to other freelancers? There are people that want to do the job with lower price and you can take advantage of that by becoming an agency