Thinking of becoming a small time on the side web developer, thoughts please

Soldato
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I know this question has been asked over and over.

Basically my main career is in the Networking and Voice field, but I have had previous experience with HTML (XHTML) and CSS markup in personal instances/times.

On the side I started getting a few clients here and there for fixing PC's and setting up small home networks, now the thing with this is I find the work I do has minimal return, since I discovered this I thought of ways that I could possibly focus on some on the side work which will give me better return for my time.

The idea came about as small time web development on the side. I have been asked here and there about creating small contemporary simple websites for people and was wondering how people approach this idea (keeping it in mind it will be done in my spare time).

I was thinking of maybe creating a website of my own advertising me and my work and use it as my first stepping stone, then hopefully if I get a few clients here and there use there creations as a portfolio on my webpage.

The only thing is my knowledge of webdevelopment I feel is limited, I obviously know how to create websites using HTML/CSS, I also have PHP and some SQL knowledge. Obvisouly any further technologies I would have to learn, is it easy to get away with this as obviously different clients want different things from a website. I dont want to undersell myself but I still want to get across to people the fact that I can create nice simple contemporary websites.

What are you thoughts people of OcUK??
 
Web is a technology. If you find that interesting good - however do/will you find the type of work that accompanies it interesting?

I'm going to suggest something a little further outside of your comfort zone. Especially as the web page engineering at a basic level has been done to death you'll need something to make you a little more unique.

Have a read of "The New Rules of Marketing & PR" by David Meerman Scott. It's not a tech book but what it does is show how blogs, websites, podcasts etc can all be put together better. It will then help you work with your clients more as you can offer a little more than just engineering a website.
The design of a website is very important as it has to fit with the other parts and the customers way of working. It'll add WHY things are important rather than just adding a store or a blog page to the site.

It's an easily accessible book that's highly regarded. Just a thought..
 
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