BeeDeeDubbleU - 1:47 pm on Sep 10, 2011 (gmt 0)

So that means any Tom, Dick or Harry is throwing up websites, free of charge?

Yes, more or less.

I have had a few jobs come to me that people had originally done for nothing. Some of these were OK too but eventually the folks who do this move on to other things and the website owners have to look elsewhere.

The problem with website design is that there is virtually no investment required to start up. If you have a PC, suitable web editing software and an imaging package (all available open source if required) you're all set. All you need is a little knowledge of what's involved. That is why there are so many people doing it.

I started this way myself. I started another business ten years ago. I have some IT background so I decided that I would try building my own website. I managed to do so then someone I know asked me if I could do a website for him. I took this on and it grew from there. When I started I new absolutely nothing about web design but that was ten years ago and not nearly as many people were doing it back then.