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As a self-employed entrepreneur, you want to start off strong and continuously improve your business. Is having a website necessary as a freelancer, and how do you approach that? How do you choose the right web developer, and what can you do yourself? There’s a lot to manage as a modern freelancer. It’s important to attract new clients and make a strong online impression.
We answer 10 essential questions to help you get started:
As a freelancer, having a website is almost indispensable nowadays. It’s not just an online business card but also a powerful platform to promote your services and convince clients of your expertise. A good website can add value in several ways:
In its simplest form, your website functions as a digital resume. Potential clients can learn more about you and your services and directly contact you via a contact form.
Your website can serve as an additional sales channel where you offer products or services to a wide audience, both nationally and internationally.
Use your website as a platform to share your knowledge and position yourself as an expert. This is especially useful for service providers and entrepreneurs who want to increase their visibility.
A website helps you stand out as a freelancer, sell more, and share your expertise. Without a website, you risk your competitors being more visible online and clients switching to them.
Have you decided that you need a website? Then you’re faced with the choice: do you tackle it yourself, or do you hire a professional? Both options have their pros and cons.
The cheapest option is to create the website yourself. While this takes time and may not deliver the most professional result, it can be a good option if you’re on a limited budget and have the time to learn.
If you want a more professional look, you can opt to hire a web developer. This saves you time and ensures a better end result. However, it’s important to clearly communicate what you want so the web developer can effectively translate your vision into the website.
If you decide to outsource your website, it’s important to choose the right web developer. While it may be tempting to focus solely on price, there are several pricing structures to consider:
Do you opt for a template in a CMS like WordPress or Joomla? This is an affordable option where an existing template is customized to match your branding. Expect costs between €500 and €1,000.
Do you want a completely unique design that can’t be found anywhere else? This requires a custom-built website from the ground up. Costs for this range between €2,000 and €5,000, depending on the complexity.
If you prefer to pay monthly, you can choose a subscription. This may seem affordable in the short term, but over several years, it can become more expensive. Subscriptions range from €15 to €100 per month.
If you want to build your website yourself, there are various options available. This can save costs and give you full control over the final result. Here are three commonly used methods:
Tools like Wix are easy to use and require no technical knowledge. You can quickly set up a website, but keep in mind that you are limited to the tool’s features.
Want more flexibility? Use a free CMS like WordPress. This offers more options, such as choosing your own hosting and customizing the source code. Read more about the 10 best CMS systems to help you choose.
For maximum flexibility, you can choose to program it yourself using tools like Webflow. This gives you full control but requires a lot of time and technical knowledge.
Your website is your business’s online business card, and the domain name and branding play a crucial role. They largely determine the first impression you make on potential clients.
The domain name is the web address people use to find you online, such as yourbusinessname.com. Consider a short and recognizable name that is easy to remember and type.
Your branding defines the look and feel of your website. Think carefully about your mission and vision, and how you want to convey this to your target audience.
Web hosting makes your website accessible to visitors. Choosing the right hosting is essential for the performance and security of your site.
When setting up your freelance website, it’s essential to include the right pages. These pages ensure you present yourself professionally and that visitors can easily find what they are looking for:
The homepage is the first thing visitors see when they visit your website. Use this page to present your elevator pitch and guide visitors to other important parts of your site.
On the ‘About Me’ page, you share who you are, what you do, and what your vision is. This creates a personal connection and builds trust in your services.
The services page is crucial for making it clear what you offer. Describe your services in terms of the value you provide, so potential clients immediately understand what you can do for them.
A portfolio or client overview showcases your previous work and achievements. This is an excellent way to prove your expertise and reliability.
A blog can serve as a platform to share your knowledge and improve your website’s visibility through SEO. Consider starting a blog if you can regularly publish new content.
A contact page is indispensable. Ensure you have a simple contact form so visitors can easily get in touch with you.
Tip: Are you primarily using the website as an online business card? Consider a one-pager, where all the important information is presented on a single page.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is essential to ensure your website is easily found in search engines like Google. Here are three key elements for effective SEO:
Good content is the foundation of SEO. Make sure your texts are optimized for relevant keywords. Consider adding landing pages or a blog strategy to further improve your visibility.
Build a strong link profile by gathering backlinks from other relevant websites. This strengthens your online authority and improves your site’s visibility.
The technical aspects of your website also play a role in SEO. Make sure your site loads quickly, is secured with an SSL certificate, and that the technical structure meets SEO standards.
Are you not quite reaching the top of search results with SEO alone? SEA (Search Engine Advertising) is a powerful alternative. With SEA, you buy your spot at the top of search results by advertising through search engines like Google.
With SEA, you pay per click on your advertisement. This means that every visitor comes with a cost, so it’s important to manage your budget well. Although you can start with SEA yourself, it can be complex due to the many advertising options and targeting features available.
Tip: Consider hiring a SEA specialist or online marketing agency if you lack experience. They can help you set up campaigns targeting the right search intent and audiences, ensuring you get the most out of your advertising budget.
A blog on your freelance website offers more than just an online business card. It’s a powerful tool to showcase your expertise, inform clients, and improve your site’s visibility.
To start a blog, you first need to ensure the option is available. If you use WordPress or another CMS, you can easily add a blog page. Ask your web developer to activate this option, or do it yourself by creating a new page.
It’s important to determine in advance what you want to write about. This helps you stay consistent and regularly update your blog.
Use keywords relevant to your services and strategically incorporate them into your blog posts. This helps with the SEO of your website and makes you more findable.
Once you’ve written your articles, publish them on your blog and share them on social media. This increases your reach and drives more traffic to your website.
Encourage comments on your blog and engage with your readers. This builds a community around your blog and can lead to new insights and inspiration for future content.
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Digibouz is een websitebouwer gelegen in het hart van de Randstad, tussen steden en dorpen zoals Amsterdam, Den Haag, Haarlem, Katwijk, Leiden, Noordwijk, Rijnsburg, Rotterdam, Utrecht en Valkenburg.
Digibouz is een websitebouwer gelegen in het hart van de Randstad, tussen steden en dorpen zoals Amsterdam, Den Haag, Haarlem, Katwijk, Leiden, Noordwijk, Rijnsburg, Rotterdam, Utrecht en Valkenburg.
