We have established in the introductory lesson that our focus is to learn how to build a profitable business as a digital solutions consultant, not just how to build websites.
However, we will start by learning how to build websites. This will give you the practical skills and fundamental knowledge that you can then build upon. So your first assignment is to build your own website which will serve as the platform for promoting your business.
Having said that, I need to make it clear that a website is not a business. From previous trainings and mentoring sessions, I discovered that many people think that once you have a website, you automatically start making money. That’s not true.
A website is a means to project your business. To make money from a website, you must have something to sell. You could sell your products and services, other people’s products and services, coaching and professional advice, premium subscriptions – literally anything that provides value to your audience.
In light of this, your first job is to build your own website to create trust, build credibility and publicise your services as a digital solutions consultant. Like I said earlier, a website is not a business. Rather, it is a tool for getting people to know about your business while building trust and credibility so that they can patronise you.
Another way of saying this is that for you to gain clients, people must first:
- Know you
- Like you and
- Trust you.
In the long run, people only do business with people that they know, like and trust. A properly utilised website will help you achieve those three objectives of getting people to know you, like you and trust you enough to desire the solution you provide and be willing to pay for it. You can then go ahead to create a business out of helping them replicate your results.
You hear people talk a lot about following your passion; but most of them fail to realise that passion alone is not enough to build a business. You need the right knowledge, skills and attitude. Apart from that, a business can only exist for as long as it is profitable. In other words, you must have value to offer, something that people are willing to pay for.
So the most suitable business for you is a business that lets you do:
1. What you love
2. What you’re good at and
3. What people are willing to pay for
Now, if you love something and you’re good at it but people are not willing to pay for it, can you build a business out of it? The clear answer is “No”, until you figure out how you can make money from it. Otherwise, you would be building a charity or non-profit instead of a profit-making business.
Conversely, if you have something that people are willing to pay for but you probably don’t love it or you’re not good at it, can you make a business out of it? The answer is “Yes”, as long as you understand the process and can get people to get the job done. A building contractor for instance doesn’t need to know how to build houses but he makes more money than the builders themselves.
In the same way that everyone recognizes the need for housing, every serious business owner recognises the need for a decent online presence and most of them will gladly pay for it. So, like the building contractor, you too can help people build websites as a digital solutions consultant, without actually building the websites yourself.
However, it is advisable that you understand the process. And you may also start by building your clients' websites by yourself until you create a system that allows you to conveniently outsource without compromising quality of delivery.
Jumpstarting your web-based consultancy business
Ultimately, our goal is to build a web-based consultancy business but building websites for others provides a practical way to start making money while you work on building your consultancy business.
Here are seven reasons I’m encouraging you to offer website development as part of the service portfolio for your web-based consultancy business.
1. You don’t have to quit your job, you can do web design after work and on weekends.
2. You don’t need to learn how to code. You can use an established platform with pre-made themes and templates.
3. You don’t need an office; you can work from home or anywhere as long as you have your laptop, electricity and internet access.
4. Web design business gives you control over your time; the important thing is meeting agreed timelines. You can work when you choose without having to rush into traffic early in the morning and return late at night.
5. The market demand is high. Every serious business owner understands the power of the internet and more people are willing to invest good money in a decent web presence.
6. You don’t need much money to start. Your most expensive tool is your laptop – and you don’t have to buy a new one. You can borrow from a friend or use the one you already have. Apart from your laptop, you only need a domain name (from N1000 – N4500), web hosting account (starting from around N6500) and a premium theme. A good premium theme costs around N12600 to N21700 but it is optional, at least when you’re just starting out. You can get a lot of free themes that do an excellent job.
7. You enjoy high profit margins. As you learn to maximise your time and resources, you’ll be able to make more money without necessarily doing more work.
One other interesting thing about offering website development service is that you don't even need to know how to do it yourself. I made my first income from building websites in 2014. It was far more than two months’ pay in my salaried job at the time. And I did not even know how to design complex websites then! But I understood the process and I had marketing skills. So I got the job and worked with a professional website developer to deliver it.
I shared this part of my experience so you can see that it’s not rocket science; anyone can do it. I should also mention that I had earlier built some websites for free, apart from my personal website, so that I could at least gain some confidence in my ability and have samples to show prospective customers.
Since I sealed my first web design contract back then in 2014, I have gone on to attract profitable projects locally and internationally. Eventually, I mastered the process so well that it provided the launchpad for starting a proper business instead of just being a freelance website designer. This training will equip you to achieve the same result if you diligently implement everything you learn.
LESSON FOUR: Anatomy of a Website
Now that you understand the purpose and ideology of this class, it’s time to dive straight into business. You’re about to learn everything you need to know about building a professional website as a beginner. Before we get into details, let me lay a foundation that will help you better understand the process, especially so you know how to negotiate with clients and explain option