Being an effective web designer takes more than having a good eye for color and lay out. It’s even more than having the best equipment and software available to you. Although these things are helpful, there’s much more to web development than this. Knowing how to do things like incorporate marketing into search engine optimization is imperative. Read on for a few tips to help you begin your journey as a web design professional.

1. Communication
   Communication skills is one of those things that is needed in every job and field. A human can really not exist without perfect in that skill. Well, they can but it will be very frustrating to them and everyone around them and you will most likely not be very successful. Especially when, as web designers, you have to be able to understand what the client wants and needs and be able to communicate clearly and intelligently your opinion of how to get there. Disputes will no doubt arise between the designer and the client when there’s a difference of opinion and web designers need to be able to resolve these easily and quickly through means of good communication.
2. Learn How to Sell Yourself
   You hear it at every sales conference and pitch that you’ve ever listened to: you need to sell yourself. Competition is fierce, especially in web design and you need to be able to show your client why you are better than everybody else. Well web design isn’t necessarily a sales position, finding clients is. You will have to fight out your competitors looking for work with the same clients. You can begin by marketing to every outlet you know of whether it be digital or traditional. Social media, word of mouth, business cards, emails, whatever it takes to get your name out there needs to be done because clients will not come to you; you have to go get them.
3. Plan
   Before you even begin designing you should start with a plan that you put down on paper so that 1. you can show the client what you are working on and 2. you can encourage inspiration to flow faster. Sitting back and waiting for inspiration is one method but planning is better. Start by finding out about the client’s company, ask questions to your client about what he wants and expects and think about what his competitors are up as well as other trends in the industry. This is a much more proactive method that will save you time, money and resources.
4. Evaluate Honestly
   The best way to evaluate your own work is to get feedback from previous projects, preferably from other web design professionals. You need to be able to accept even negative feedback and then implement it into your work. Sometimes constructive criticism him or even straight up negative feedback is the best way to become a better web designer if you will learn from your mistakes. Take time to have other people check your work before showing it to the client. Allow room for mistakes and time to fix them.
5. Stay up to Date with Technology
   There is nothing worse as a client then talking to somebody who works with computers and realizing that you know more about technology than they do. It makes you wonder if they really care about their job and if they are actually that good at it. Web designers should always dedicate themselves to training and always knowing what is new and what is trending and what is on its way out. If you don’t, your competitors will and they will take away all your business.
6. Be organized
   When on top of all your other skills, you are organized it gives your clients peace of mind. Picture your first consultation and meeting with a potential client. If you have papers flying all over the place and a desktop full of icons that make it impossible to find anything, you will not inspire confidence. Having everything neat and organized makes you appear in control and confident in your work. Disorganization makes one seemed flustered and unprepared.

Web designers work in a challenging field but being successful is attainable if you can follow these tips and not give up.