Drawing Software - Page 3

CorelDraw and Adobe Illustrator are probably two of the best known, and both are good programs. CorelDraw comes with a suite of programs that serve many functions, but the heart of the program is the Draw module. Both CorelDraw and Illustrator perform similar tasks. CorelDraw's suite is about $150 more than Illustrator alone.

There are others that can perform many of the functions of those two programs, including such programs as Xara Webstyle, Real Draw Pro, XaraX, Compact Draw, and NetStudio.

Another up-and-coming program is Zoner Draw 4, which sells for a fraction of the cost of CorelDraw and Illustrator but still offers a ton of features that would be expected only from a more costly program.

Other Programs

So much of the communications today is either by e-mail or Fax. It is important to have the capability built into your computer. E-mail is the easy part — it comes with your Internet browser if nothing else, but a good Fax program with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) software is also important and, when used with a scanner, can eliminate another costly machine.

Another piece of software that can be helpful is a screen capture program. Especially helpful for Web designers is one that can capture an entire page rather than just what is showing on the screen. That comes in handy when designers want to pull full screen shots of sites they have built and then display those screenshots on their own site.

Yet another program that is helpful is an image mapping program. It isn't always necessary to purchase or even find a separate free image mapper, because many HTML editors include them.

These days a program to produce Flash results is also beneficial, but there are ways to avoid huge expense. Programs that work specifically with words rather than objects is one way, and they often are much cheaper. A search of the Internet can usually find free JavaScripts and other scripts that can produce similar results.

A good FTP [File Transfer Protocol] program is also a must. It does no good to update a client's site — or build it in the first place — if no one else but the builder can see the results. Thus, an FTP program that stores not only your information on your computer but also your clients is a must, saving you the time and trouble to either look for or remember all the passwords that Web designers encounter.

Advertising

Whether any of us like it or not, there is competition in the world, and as the Internet makes the world smaller, that means the competition is all close enough to cut into our business.

For that reason, advertising is often important, but the type of advertising a Web designer chooses should depend on their particular circumstance.

For example, my company could advertise in New York or Boston newspapers, but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of companies that do the same thing locally. Granted, the difference in cost is large, but people generally have more confidence in larger companies and in local companies.

That is why home- and small-office types of Web designers need to concentrate their advertising energy and money more locally. The cheapest way to advertise may be the use of banners ads on the Internet, but I've yet to be convinced they are all that worthwhile.

Radio and TV advertising is gone in seconds, while newspaper ads stay around a bit longer. However, in small markets, radio advertising is a good way to introduce your company to the community, and such advertising can cost a fraction of what you would pay for newspaper or television ads.

Bulk mailing to all the local businesses can help, but all too often such efforts end in the waste basket or the bottom of the bird cage.

In reality, the best advertising for a smaller community — or even for a neighborhood in a large community — is to visit companies door-to-door, introduce yourself, and tell the potential clients about your business. Cold calling isn't fun, but it is one way to get your businesses' name out into the community.

Conclusion

In the end, starting a Web design business does not have to be super expensive or super traumatic. Get the basic tools, determine your market, and then knock on doors until your business catches hold.

Of utmost importance is treating clients properly. If people feel as though you've given them their money's worth, they will tell other people, and there is no better advertising.

It is also important to approach your Web design business as a business and not simply as a hobby from which you hope to make some money. If you are going to have a Web design business in your home, set aside an area away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house to conduct business. The last thing your clients want to listen to is your family discussing what a lousy day they had at work or school.

If the public perceives that yours is not a serious business, then you will have a major obstacle to overcome before you get that first client. Perceptions — accurate or otherwise — can be deadly if they are negative.

Starting a Web design business can be risky, but it can also be quite rewarding. Making sure you are prepared before you open the door for the first time can make a world of difference in terms of how your business is accepted.

And I confess, there was one more act that I performed before I opened my business that first day after leaving a 25-plus year career in the corporate world: I threw all my ties but two into the fireplace. You never know when you may have to close the shop for the day to attend a wedding or a funeral.

Additional Resources:

Legal Tips for Web Developers: Protecting Your Interests Without Losing the Deal

Hardware - Page 2
Setting Up A Web Design Business
Drawing Software - Page 3