I’m a 24 years old guy from India. Making websites with wordpress for last 3 years, and I love wordpress. I’m shy and not great at talking to people.
I see posts here about developers charging $1000s for websites. The most I’ve ever got is $150 for a full site. It’s tough to admit, but many clients in India want everything for cheap.
Being shy, I don’t know how to say no or ask for more money. I’m always worried if I turn down a job, I might not get any work at all.
I tried finding a regular job too. That didn’t work out. I don’t have a tech degree, and many places don’t think WordPress is a real skill. The ones that do hire only pay about $200-300 a month.
I’ve tried to upskill myself, like learning new coding languages, but I’ve found it’s not for me. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t code. I don’t want to code. I know HTML, CSS, and a little bit of JS, but I’ve always got suggestions to learn more languages. Trust me, I’ve tried, but I failed.
When I was younger, I dreamed big. I thought I’d make good money, help my family, and start a business. I wanted to create jobs, be more outgoing, and travel. But now, I feel like I’ve failed. It’s hard to see my dreams slip away. I keep trying, but sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get there.
I think I’m good at what I do. I know my stuff. But I don’t have much confidence.
I’m not sure what to do next. Any advice? Help me with this, please.
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I think there is a huge difference in what country do you live. I don’t know what’s the average salary in your country. But I guess US has much higher prices and could never offer a website for 150$ or less.
What would be if you try to get customers out of India?
Feel free to write me a few references via PN. I may have better paid jobs for you.
I think you are confusing the terms which could be causing issues in you getting hired. Anything with “Developer” in the title is meant to mean working with code. Building a website with a page builder on WordPress is not a developer. That would be a Designer/Manager role. If you want to be considered for Developer roles you will have to learn how to create completely custom wp themes with code.
Your story is 100% like mine. Thanks for posting your story bro.
I can’t speak too specifically to your regional hurdles or your technical skills but what I can say is the hardest skill that I had to learn as I grew my own business was how to be approachable and more outgoing. Basically, getting over my shyness and my natural introvert form was my most valuable skill development.
Easier said than done, I know. But I still drum up some of the best business by being in the right place at the right time and being able to start conversations. Keeping working towards that, and everything else will follow.
For every post like yours, I can find you someone else who has the reverse story.
Many potential clients of ours are stating that they find devs in India to do it for 150$, we’re in Germany. charging 10x the price at the least.
Globalization is a thing, for some good, for some bad, but it’s a thing.
**Know Your Worth:** It’s crucial to understand the value of your work. WordPress development is a real skill, and your experience is valuable. Try to research the market rates for similar projects, even if it’s outside India, to get a sense of what others charge. This can give you confidence when negotiating with clients. Do not undersell your worth. If one person does not pay, another will.
**Improve Your Communication Skills:** This is a must. Being shy can be challenging, but communication is key in freelancing. Practice makes perfect. Start with small steps, like joining online forums or groups related to WordPress development. Engage in conversations, ask questions, and share your knowledge. This will help over time.
**Build a Strong Portfolio:** Showcase your best work in an online portfolio. Highlight the unique features of each project and the value you brought to the client. A strong portfolio can often speak louder than words and help you attract higher-paying clients.
**Set Clear Boundaries:** Learning to say no is essential. If a project is underpaid or beyond your capacity, it’s okay to decline. Setting clear boundaries will help you maintain your self-worth and ensure you’re working on projects that are worth your time and effort. Dont worry if you have more misses than hits, keep pushing.
**Seek Out Better Markets:** Sometimes, local markets might not appreciate the value of your work. Platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or even LinkedIn can connect you with international clients who are willing to pay more. Explore these options to find clients who value your skills.
**Network and Learn:** Attend online webinars, workshops, or local meetups related to WordPress and web development. Networking can open doors to new opportunities and help you stay updated with industry trends. Join as affiliate to product you like and learn more so that you become more knowledgeable about the products, and can consult for them.
**Boost Your Confidence:** Confidence comes from recognizing your achievements. Reflect on the projects you’ve completed and the skills you’ve gained. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small they might seem. No just opens another door for
Remember, it’s okay to dream big and have setbacks. Every successful person has faced challenges. Keep pushing forward, stay passionate about what you do, and don’t be afraid to seek help and advice. You’ve got this!
WordPress, in and of itself, isn’t viewed as a primary skill.
You need to market yourself as a **web developer** or **front end developer**, then look for jobs in the marketing realm, where the company is heavily using WordPress.
Even huge WordPress focused companies like WP Engine advertise their roles as “web developer”.
Bear in mind, if you want to *technically consider yourself a web developer* (as it pertains to WordPress) you will need to have some PHP and JS skills at a minimum (and now, some React experience), and preferably SQL as well (you can get away with minimal SQL skills as long as you can at least use PHPMyAdmin or Adminer and understand the basics of how the post meta is stored).
Too often people toss around “Wordpress developer” and they are just page builder users (which is a fine skill and sort of a low level dev/design hybrid skill), but it won’t get you in the door as a “web developer” (with the exception of less formal/small marketing agencies), which is really where you’ll find the WordPress skill requirement under.
Get the Personal MBA book. It will help you understand business in a better way, and you might find that knowledge gives you the confidence to ask your value.