Web Building - best skills to invest in etc

suejoh · 07-19-2009, 01:54 PM

Looking to develop my skills so that I can earn as a freelance coder - hiring out and building web sites on demand.

Have looked through some of the advice here - thanks all - really helpful.

So am OK on html
Learning CSS and Javascript
Bought Dreamweaver - very nice - need to learn how to use it though.

My other thoughts were PHP and MySQL.
Would you all think this is a good way to go?

Just wondering which skills were most in demand in the small business and personal market - which I guess is where I will be looking????

Also - I know you are all into books and teach yourself - and that is what I am doing now - but if I took a course in one of the above which would it be? and can you recommend a course?

Finally - can you make a living doing just as I described?

It is a bit worrying sometimes wondering whether anything is out there, typing away at the keyboard and communing with the mouse. Just nice to know you are not alone.

Have worked in IT in a corporate environment for years - so it seems there is a bewildering amount of things you need to know in webby things.

Sue

bcarl314 · 07-20-2009, 04:52 AM

I think a good place to start is - what do YOU like to do? If you like programming, then I'd definitely look into learning PHP / MySQL. If you like graphic design, then learn photoshop, dreamweaver etc.

The bottom line, make sure you're doing what you want to.

There are a lot of factors in web development and a lot of different needs as well. You can me a "renaissance man" style developer that knows some graphic design, some programming, but not be a real expert in any of them. The advantage of this is there are a lot of smaller projects out there that need this type of developer (think mom-and-pop shops / local work).

The other route would be to focus on one aspect (programming, database, design, etc). These are typically higher paying jobs, but also usually harder to find.

The choice is ultimately yours. My only advice is to do what you love because you love it, not for the money.