Hi Don,
1) How much FP experience should one have before diving into this?
The question is not "how much FP experience should one have" but rather "how
much experience and knowledge of web development should one have?" After
all, having a lot of experience with a table saw doesn't make one a
carpenter.
The answer is, "not necessarily a lot." Start by creating some practice webs
on your local machine. Start small, and work your way up to fancy. Read a
lot of the free information on the Internet about web development, and maybe
buy a book or two. Feel free to ask questions here about anything related to
web development and FrontPage. And don't rely on FrontPage to design your
webs (even though it can). However, you may have FrontPage build a few
ready-made webs for you, study them, and modify them, in order to learn.
2) What are ways to get clients?
I had the same problem 10 years ago. I got a domain, created my own web
site, which I figured would make a good sample of my work, and drew visitors
by putting tutorials on the web site that people learning HTML, FrontPage,
and web database programming would benefit from. My web site became my
"store front," my point of contact by potential clients.
I started participating in Microsoft newsgroups, where SPAM is frowned upon,
but help is welcomed, and one can have a f-line signature block that
advertises what one does, at the end of every message post. By doing that, I
not only advertised my business, but advertised that I was knowledgable
about web development, and built a network of friends in the business as
well. As an unexpected benefit, Microsoft eventually awarded me the MVP
award.
In the beginning, I had to look up many of the answers to questions I
fielded. You might say I was "faking" being an expert. But knowing a lot is
not nearly as important as knowing how to find out a lot, and by doing so I
eventually become the expert I made myself out to be! I still research on a
daily basis. I spend a lot of time in the Microsoft MSDN Library every day,
and Google is my browser's home page.
You will notice that I still participate in these newsgroups. There are many
reasons for continuing participlation, although I certainly don't need to
advertise any more. But community participation is beneficial to everyone,
and I still have to learn new things sometimes to answer questions
correctly. Continuing education is essential in this business! Not to
mention the ever-expanding network of friends.
3) How do you determine what to charge?
Good question. Charge too little, and people will think you aren't any good.
Charge too much, and the client's expectations may exceed your ability to
meet them. Research it; Google it, when the time comes. Find a happy medium.
4) Can a person make a living at this as a home based business?
I did, for 5 years, as an independent consultant, before getting a "real"
job, where I didn't have to manage every aspect of the business (thank
God!). If you are self-disciplined, work hard at self-improvement, and
expect the job to never become any easier (like software, the requirements
increase with increasing capacity!), you will do well. And remember that
short-cuts are short-cuts to the poor house! ;-)
--
HTH,
Kevin Spencer
Microsoft MVP
..Net Developer
Everybody picks their nose,
But some people are better at hiding it.
