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Work
at Home as a Web Designer
by Angella Kay,
The Light Keeper.com
The field of Web Design combines a unique blend of artistic
ability and technical knowledge. Once you learn HTML, you can
manipulate text to create beautiful, well-organized websites
for businesses and individuals!
Tools you'll need:
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Computer, typewriter or word processor
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Good design skills, such as desktop publishing
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Good grammar and ability to write copy
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Ability to meet deadlines
Every business, whether they know it or not, needs a web page.
In today's high-tech world, many people enjoy the convenience
of pointing and clicking to learn more about a business, their
location and even their products. If you have an eye for graphic
design and a desire to contribute to the community as well as
your finances, you might find web design a good career choice!
The first step in learning web design is to learn HTML. You
can do this by attending a class, perusing online materials
such as those offered by Cerebellum
Corporation/The Standard Deviants
or reading a book (I recommend any book by Laura LeMay, such
as Sam's
Teach Yourself Web Publishing with HTML, available at Amazon.com).
Once you've learned HTML and invested in any web design tools
you'll need, how do you get customers? Start by designing web
sites for charitable organizations, community organizations,
or friends. This will help you build your portfolio as well
as gain practice and knowledge.
Once you have a decent portfolio, create your own website for
your business. Remember that your website is essentially your
business card, so put your best work into it. Avoid flashy graphics
(they look cool but business clients are looking for professional,
not cool), animations and other "personal"-type web
site goodies. Focus on keeping it simple, easy to navigate and
well-designed. If the potential client likes your page, and
your portfolio, it makes your services more desirable to them.
There is much more to web design once you've learned how to
do it. Check out the links below for tips on learning Java,
marketing your web design business and big bad webbie no-no's!
Good luck in your web design career!
Web Design Links
(Note about the following
eHow links: these were written by the authors noted; however,
eHow has removed author credit from the tutorials. Also, eHow.com
now requires registration and log-in to view the articles.)
eHow
to Learn About Java by Angella Kay
eHow
to Choose a Web Design Application by Angella Kay
eHow
to Create Your First Website, by Matthew Holohan
Webmaster
Tools from WebmasterBase.com
Web
Design Job Links
Creative
Moonlighter - A moonlighting spot for creative types, including
web designers and multimedia pros.
Visit the Lightkeeper Bookstore for these great
titles!
Web
Design in a Nutshell: A Desktop Quick Reference by
Jennifer Niederst
This guide is full of helpful tables and lists, making it
a perfect desktop reference. The book breaks down the huge topic
of Web site development into understandable, readable segments.
Learning
Web Design: A Beginner's Guide to HTML, Graphics, and Beyond
by Jennifer Niederst
This book starts from the very beginning--defining the Internet,
the Web, browsers, and URLs--so you don't have to have any previous
knowledge about how the Web works.
Microsoft
FrontPage 2002 Software
Microsoft FrontPage 2002 is a Web site creation-and-management
solution that gives you the tools you need to create and control
professional-quality Web sites.
Are you a web designer? Please share
your knowledge with us!
Angella Kay is the webmaster
at The Light Keeper.com, a website for at home parents. Sign up
today for The Light Keeper's Journal,
a free weekly newsletter highlighting at home parenting!
Copyright 2002
by Angella Kay.
Reproduction without permission prohibited.
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