June 24, 2009 
When it came time to post a website, like many entrepreneurs, I hired an expert. Lacking a technical background, I wanted someone who could explain techy language without sounding like hieroglyphics; who cared about the look and feel of my site; and who seemed easy to work with. Carolyn could do all three.
Because I communicate with Carolyn by phone I assumed it was a potentially portable career. I knew several military spouses who chose similar careers: graphic design, website administration, web application development, and web design. I asked a military spouse who had a successful business to find out how she got started, and how she balances her business with military life and motherhood.
Jennifer enjoyed art as a child and computer skills came easy to her. She majored in graphic design in college, and minored in art and industrial technology. At a print shop, she learned basic techniques and the life of a design from sketch board to computer to product. Passionately she shared, “I have always felt that artists make the world a prettier place and wanted to help companies display their products and people in their best light!”
So What Does It Take To Design Websites?
• Getting Your Foot In The Door With an entrepreneurial spirit, Jennifer’s initial jobs lay the foundation for her work. Even if stationed in a location for a short time, getting some experience can boost your learning curve. Jennifer learned much during her college internship, part-time jobs at a printing press, as a label maker, and eventually in a graphics company. Jennifer confirmed, your first job isn’t about salary as much as experience.
• Patience Until Your Prove Yourself To begin Jennifer’s business, she needed a powerful computer, Internet access, and startup software; it took hard work and initiative until the money started flowing. There were few marketing expenses such as designing business cards, and babysitting so she could attend local networking meetings to get the word out. Initially she kept day-care costs down, working when her kids were asleep. As she landed more clients, she created an official LLC (Limited Liability Corporation), using LegalZoom.com to file the proper paperwork for Web Works, LLC. By creating an official company, Jennifer created more legal and copyright protections for herself while opening the doors to business loans if needed.
• Confidence and Charisma Much of Jennifer’s web-design success was her marketing. She used her web skills for network marketing products she believed in, and military nonprofits, exchanging services for the ability to grow her portfolio and display her business on their sites. She connects with professionals locally (Southeastern Women’s Network) and nationally. Authentic marketing techniques work best. Jennifer starts conversations with prospective clients by simply telling them what they can do themselves, and the ins and outs of internet marketing. She makes recommendations in hopes that when they hire a professional, they remember her. People hire who they know, like and trust!
• A Juggling Act Although part of any career combined with military life, how does Jennifer have time to run her web design business while supporting her military husband and raising her three children (ages 8, 4 and 2)?
“Making my own schedule is key,” she explained. When she worked in a corporate job there were legitimate business responsibilities and client deadlines; she complies while keeping family time a priority. Relying on stable part-time daycare increases her time management, creates structure during deployments, and provides a professional presence as a business owner; because it’s not full time she gets to enjoy being a mom.
What resources do you recommend for those going into web design business?
There are many websites for reference.
http://www.lynda.com/ A great training tool.
http://www.thebestdesigns.com/ A reference tool for design and hot techniques
http://www.alistapart.com/ A reference tool for best practices
http://webtrends.about.com/ A reference point to watch!
Professional Organizations:
www.iwanet.org International Webmasters Association
Krista Wells, Ph.D. Please visit The Military Spouse Coach ®. She provides support, strategies, and solutions for girlfriends/spouses of the military www.militaryspousecoach.com. Krista requests feedback on careers you would like to see highlighted.