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🏃♂️ Introduction
OB is a freelance web designer who works just 4 hours a day. He plays tennis, goes for a walk, and chills the rest of the day. On the other hand, Fred is also a freelance web designer but works 10 hours a day. Despite the difference in their work hours, both earn the same income. How is this possible?
This article will walk through how this is not only possible but also realistic with five different approaches to making websites faster and smarter. All of this allows you to focus on working on your business rather than in it, granting you more freedom.
📑 Use Templates & Themes
Most freelance web designers are not creating custom websites that take months to build and cost $50,000 or $100,000. This means there’s no need to code websites from scratch. There are several solutions to this, starting with templates and themes.
Templates and themes are incredibly beneficial. You can purchase high-quality templates for under $200 and have a professional website ready within an hour. ThemeForest and Envato
Elements are excellent resources for templates. Another underrated option with free templates is Wix Studio, where you can choose from various professionally built and maintained templates.
These templates cover portfolio websites, agency websites, business services, e-commerce websites, and more. They are all maintained, so you don’t have to worry about plugin issues or updates.
🛠️ Choose the Right Platform
The platform you use to build your website is crucial. You need a platform that is reliable, has good support, is affordable, offers good user experience (UX), provides good security, and includes all the features you need.
There are hundreds of options available, but a personal favorite is Wix Studio. It allows you to create professional websites from scratch in a clean interface. You can integrate marketing tools and apps without worrying about constant plugin updates.
If you need help, you can quickly get support from the Freelance Fam community. It’s advisable to test a few platforms and see which one you prefer.
🔌 Utilize Figma to Website Plugins
Most web designers use Figma to create wireframe designs. However, rather than copying the code of each element, you can use a plugin that converts your design into a website.
For example, the Figma to Wix Studio plugin allows you to convert your Figma designs into a website seamlessly. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Open Figma and search for the plugin.
Install the plugin and click “Get Started” or “Setup Export”.
Copy your Figma file URL.
Open Wix Studio, go to Tools, select “Import from Figma”, and paste your Figma URL.
Click “Connect” and allow access.
Ensure your frame width matches Wix Studio’s requirements.
Start the export process by selecting and exporting styles and frames.
Import the design into Wix Studio and apply the styles.
This process saves hours and makes your Figma design look professional as a website.
🔄 Reuse Components
Reusing components and assets is another way to speed up website creation. Depending on the platform you use, always save sections or reusable components for future projects.
For instance, if you create a three-tier pricing page with a toggle for one client, save it as a reusable component for another client. You can also start building websites with existing components and wireframes that are already mobile-responsive.
Tools like Tailwind and Shuffle.dev are excellent for those who enjoy coding and building with existing frameworks.
💰 Does Faster Mean Charging Less?
A common question is whether making websites faster means you need to charge less. The answer is no. The tools you use don’t matter; the outcome does. Clients pay for the outcome, not the tools used to achieve it.
For example, if two painters quote $3,000 to paint a room, one using a paintbrush that takes a day and the other using a spray machine that takes an hour, should the faster painter be penalized? Absolutely not. The outcome is the same, and clients pay for the outcome.
Similarly, you don’t need to tell your client you’re using a template. Clients care about the result, not the method. Whether it’s a lawn service using a diesel-powered mower or an accountant using software to calculate taxes in minutes, the principle is the same.
👥 Outsourcing
When you reach a tipping point in your business, consider outsourcing tasks. Outsourcing is an excellent way to stop trading time for money and is essential for scaling your business. It allows you to focus on higher-level tasks and not be the bottleneck in your business.
Outsourcing helps you achieve more freedom and efficiency, ensuring your business can grow without you having to handle every task personally.
🔚 Conclusion
Making websites faster and smarter is not just possible but also realistic with the right approaches. By using templates and themes, choosing the right platform, leveraging Figma to website plugins, reusing components, and considering outsourcing, you can significantly reduce the time spent on each project while maintaining high-quality outcomes.
These strategies allow you to work on your business rather than in it, giving you more freedom and the ability to scale. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments below. Also, consider joining the Freelance Fam community for more tips and support.
Thank you for reading, and here’s to making websites fast in 2024!