DH Templates

Working as a webmaster, questions.?

Hey! I have been thinking about working as a webmaster. I've been doing website design since I was about 7 years old, and I am 14 now. I can handle XHTML and HTML, Java, C++ and some other languages, but mainly I would focus on XHTML, CSS, and other languages used in the making of websites. I have worked with photoshop and dreamweaver, although I write all codes down using notepad (don't have dreamweaver). Now I would like to know, how much would someone like me get out of doing a job like this? I would maybe webmaster about 5 sites, add updates and things to the page, and on the side, make website designs (templates) for others to use on their own. How much can I ask for? I want more challenges, which is part the reason I want to do this. I feel like I have the experience and want to do it, and I have loads of ideas to work with. Basic point, how much can I get out of this in money? What is working as a webmaster like? Have you done it?

Public Comments

1. You are not talking about a webmaster job. They need to be responsible for site security, they do NOT generally do updates to site content. You would need to fully understand the server programs, including Linux OS and the Apache, php and mysql servers. You need to be able to control user security on the site, and would usually be responsible for the use of emails for each domain on the site. You would be responsible for user's illegal content. You will NOT get such work without several years working for a known hosting company. It is the kind of job where you will be expected to stay on duty whenever there is a problem, cancelling dates and holidays if there is a serious crash or malware problem. Even hardware failure will be your problem.
2. First of all- if you're using Notepad right now, try Notepad++ . It will make you a much happier developer. :) It depends on your skillset, and, unfortunately, your age. Even as a talented 14-year-old, you'll have trouble pulling in the big-bucks because nobody will want to trust you with large projects. My biggest recommendation for you would be "GET OLDER", but that's also probably not as easy as I would imagine it is. A person just performing basic site maintenance, site updates and such, usually doesn't command too much in the way of a salary. Casual websites are usually maintained by volunteers, whereas professional websites are usually maintained by underpaid office-jockeys. You really have to luck in to a decent maintenance job. Website designs, however- templates, themes, and such- can be lucrative. Right now, for example, building a custom Magento or Wordpress theme could net you a couple of hundred bucks. (I've done both.) I'd recommend you work on your portfolio- build free websites for friends and family, and put together a few themes for popular web software packages (Wordpress themes aren't too hard)- and, if at all possible, keep your personal web-site looking as sharp as possible. Between word-of-mouth and a portfolio of attractive web-sites, you should be able to pull in some business on your own.
3. Ok, 'webmaster' as you understand it, is something like this? What you are describing is to act as an intermediary between clients (small businesses, usually) and then you create the sites and upload them to some cheap hosting provider. You're talking about a job that is basically disappearing. More and more, such simple brochure-like websites are generated automatically or by the user. They can even generate entire web stores this way. The next wave is going to be entire applications that are hosted on sites like Google Apps or AWS. So don't go after the small business market who only want one or two updates a year. You theoretically could get anywhere from $50 to $150 an hour for the work, but they will never want you to even put in an entire days work -- they want just thin slices of your time once or twice a year. You would need hundreds of clients to survive. It's very difficult to acquire such clients and they never want to pay you. Selling styles and blingy graphics for MySpace was a hot idea about three years ago. Personally, I wouldn't go into that now, unless you think you can serve some need that isn't being served already. Since you are very young it's possible you know what kids today want better than any adult will. People make real money on the web by: - constructing big sites for giant corporations. - the same, for intranets. - writing web applications (Java, PHP, whatever) - being great system administrators (actually pretty rare) - web UI design These things are going to require way more effort than your plan does. Sorry, the gold rush for people who just knew HTML ended about 1999.
4. I think what you are talking about is more like a web developer or software developer/engineer. If you want to find out how much your skills are worth try signing up for a freelance website and do some jobs there. Check out sites like rentacoder.com .