So where is the Web Development Business heading to?

Many of us are dedicated to working as freelance web developers. But sometimes we wonder if there is just too much competition, now that every kid on the block, even in third world countries, has a PC and a broadband connection.

I am opening this thread to exchange some ideas as to how to find our niche, specialize or whatever, so as to better establish ourselves since many of us are people committed to working freelance no matter what it takes.

Perhaps the moderator thinks this thread should be moved to another forum, I don't know.

Personally I am trying to focus on my local market and the international market at the same time. Perhaps I still have a ways to go to get those focuses right, I'm sure. In the meantime I chose to specialize on Drupal CMS because I find it has been growing exponentially, has a large user support, and it has potential to do almost any type of site.

Any comments from other [brave and tenacious] freelancers here?

I think a good developer has to be able to showcase things that most clients don't even know that they want. So as a developer you have to be also a consultant to the client. You need to talk them about security, scalability and optimization. In other words they should know why they will pay you $2000 for a project that can be done for $700 by an Indian developer who does not know how to those things ;)

In that terms I suppose you have no problem, as 99% of the developers can't deliver such things. Also 99% of developers have no real experience as webmasters which makes their work harder (and less productive for the client) With those things you don't have to play with prices, your clients know that they getting a better service from you and I am sure they don't have a problem paying for it too :)

yeah I see so many crap (code) in "older" projects by customers...

Customers trust people with experience and they like to have this person in their own area. The only people I know working with offshore companies are looking for the fast money. they don't care about the customer.

I want to suggest that the team at webdigity take a hard look at ki work, ki-work.com. It is going to change the way freelancers and remote workers find projects and build reputation. Through hierarchies of accredited experts and professionals the teams on ki work will be ocnsidered the best choice for people seeking resources. Take a look and find some work.

Sorry salestrainer, but I removed your link since the post is NOT about "outsourcing is great", if you like to discuss how "great" outsourcing is start your own thread...

You make it sound as if today's webmasters haven't gone through the appropriate training to cover those things, or that specifically in India they have not enough training.
I think one has an edge with local customers which prefer to speak to someone in their own country and language, especially is they are entrusting projects that do carry some private data, even if it's only because you set them up their email on a server you have access to, etc.
As far as international customers, yes, one probably has to excel in the features one can implemente for them.
Then there's the old problem of having a good portfolio to get in the door, which is really a difficult situation because how can you get a portfolio if noone contracts you because you don't have one?
In anycase I was just wondering if there is a future, because throughout the years I keep on reading in the news that they expect a big deficit of IT skills in places like Great Britain and other European countries, but I still don't notice that big surge in demand.

Nikolas is correct that many programmers can not provide those things; many of my fellow writers don't get it either. Being able to program or develop a template is only a small piece of the puzzle.

Problem is with web designing and programming is that children can do it. The price for entry into the field is often simply a copy of some WYSIWYG editor. As a professional you will have to show why someone should not just do it themselves or get their nephew to make their site.

Many designers and programmers do wonderful work but totally fail to provide what the client actually wanted - this is particularly true with business websites. That neon colored site might be worthy of design awards but if the site is going to be used to sell funeral services it could be totally inappropriate. The failure here is not in the programming or design skills but in failure to listen and identify what the client needs and wants.

Keep in mind, your client probably will not know what they want other than a website. Trust me, it is surprising sometimes how little clients know about what is available to them. After all, if they are selling widgets, why should they have to know about all of the things Drupal offers them? It will be your job to educate them on what they can have.

Yes, that's right, part of providing a service online is education. Look at the web designers who are successful. Many frequent forums and provide newbies and do-it-yourself'ers with help. Many have articles on their sites about what it takes to have a successful website. All of them are doing one thing - convincing prospective customers that they know what they are doing and might just actually be worth the investment.

What Nikolas was trying to explain to you is that the designers and programmers who focus on meeting and exceeding their client's desires have a good future in this industry and the chance to make a living from their efforts. People who are simply making templates will have to compete against the multitudes of low-cost providers from India and elsewhere who have a one site/template fits all mentality.

You know web site design is more expensive and complicated thing.
But templates can be different as well. It all depends on the company.

A freelancer should definitely under-promise and over-deliver. This will guarantee repeat business, not to mention referrals for their work.

more software for web development will definitely arrive and it's all up to you to catch up

You get what you pay for when finding freelancers.  And the range is insane.  It is common to find pricing ranging tenfold for the same project. The cheap stuff will have errors, be delayed, etc. 

Hi,
Freelancer should definitely under-promise and over-deliver. This will guarantee repeat business not to mention referrals for their work.

Good client  still know what's the worth of quality of work.

greater developments indeed!

Yeah I agree with olaf!!
Most of them look for fast money.. .
But all aren't the same... I as a freelancer ... look for work first... Then money!!
It all started with my first client ... for whom I worked with 100% dedication.. and he was so happy with my work that he got me more 2 clients from different niches!!
So the bottom line is work smart .. and earn clients .. !!!

But still there are freelancers o dont care about all this and look for money!!

THE web development business is growing very fast these days, it is getting sucess day by day at present every one wants to have knowlegde about the web development and it also helps the peoples in promoting their sites