Hmm...
See that's the thing. The main competition is a $50/£50 template website. More or less the only way I can see of getting anywhere is to create a custom website/coded and sell it for the same price and use that as a contrast to breaking away from the fold.
Seems like a nightmare almost to be honest. I can understand though a need to make and have templates, though they should be kept up to a standard. It's sorta why I'm curious as to what the standards are in thefield now a days. It's seems all over the place almost.
*edit*
so how do entry web designers survive in this market? I sorta have to build my portfolio up, and as far as my coding experience goes I'm poxed on it atm. So no company will hire me.. which is fair. Just means I have to learn coding again, but.
*edit2
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Oh heh good call on the post quality. Perhaps... this might seem like a odd question, but do you have any examples of a decently designed website that I could view? Obviously I know some myself, but not on selling point understanding. I think the only way I'll be able to create a decent portfolio is to understand what is mainstream so I don't create things that are old news or common.
Hmm, see the only thing I can think of is actually having to go out there and find clients in the beginning. Offering people something unique in design at an afforable price. But it's defiantly not just about the design, it's about all the web applications/user abilities. I'm still a bit miffed on getting a website SEO'd.