rossH - 2:15 am on Jun 14, 2003 (gmt 0)

ps..I don't mean the above to sound like a lecture, it's not, just trying to say that if you become a pro web designer, you are in business, and all of your questions about how to conduct your affairs have already been answered very well in business publications. So you can turn to that body of knowledge for help and it will assist you (no need to wear a suit or anything)

on other points about the market, I'm glad everyone already has a website, I don't especially want to build a first-time one for someone. Everyone needs maintenance, and the second and third-time people are so much more matter of fact about what they want. Suddenly it's like you're a mechanic, you have a shop, you can do these things, people do business with people they know and like, and there you are. Then cultivate that client for life.

when you get your critical mass, you truly can have that family for life (if you study the business knowledge a little) - maintenance, upgrades, your specials, your newsletter, the demonstration effect to your clients when you launch some new features with one client - marketing to your own clients is a never-ending source of revenue vastly better than finding new clients.

and pitching your clients to find you new clients works better than cold calling.

and my point about failing a client was supposed to relate to knowing how to handle growth when you're a one-person band - how to subcontract, delegate, replace yourself, etc, so that you can handle success.

it's all business knowledge, the advice is easily found.