I am a developer, and recently, alongside my regular development work, I started freelancing with a friend. We also recently received a project.
While talking to the client, I noticed something very interesting: whenever the topic of payment comes up, I always hear the same thing: "It's just a website, right? What's so hard about it? It can be built easily. It shouldn't cost that much."
And I find myself thinking... yes, it is "just" a website, but it’s only the visible part that you see. What about everything happening behind the scenes? That isn't visible.
A website isn't just about creating a few pages. When someone looks at a website, they only see those pages, but for a developer, that’s where the real story begins.
First, you have to understand the client's requirements. Then, you have to figure out what the website will look like, what features are needed, the design, and which technology stack to use.
Then come the frontend, backend, database, APIs, and responsiveness; then testing and bug fixing. On top of that, clients often lack patience—asking for "just a small change" here and there. And the change that seems small to them often isn't actually that small.
It’s not just that, though; there’s so much more involved—knowledge, problem-solving, and hours upon hours of sitting at the desk.
Speaking of which, something else funny happened to me recently. 😂
I have a childhood friend whose cousin wanted to get an astrology-related website built. My friend suggested my name for the job.
Everything was fine up to that point, but then she proposed a deal that made me laugh as soon as I heard it.
She told me she had struck a deal with her cousin: I would build the website, and in return, I would do her palm reading. 😂😂 At first, I thought she was joking. Then I told her, "Girl, you’ve made a really bad deal here." When we discussed it further, she said, "How much effort does it really take to build a website?" How do you explain to someone that taking on a project involves so much research, countless hours of sitting at the computer, and so much more?
People only see the final product, which is perhaps why the work seems so easy to them; they don't see the hours the creator spent working in front of the computer. They don't see the frustration involved when you can't figure out a bug.
If someone solves a problem for you quickly, you are paying for the value of their knowledge, time, and experience.
And this isn't just about development. A photographer doesn't just see a photo; they see the lighting, the camera work, the editing, and all the preparation involved.
A writer doesn't just see a few paragraphs; they see the time spent thinking and writing.
A director doesn't just see a film; they see the entire process behind it. Similarly, a developer doesn't just see a website or software; they see the entire process and the struggle behind it.
We are still new to freelancing. I still have a lot to learn, and what I find most interesting is that with every project, I get to interact with new people and fresh perspectives—opportunities that allow me to learn something new.
For me, understanding the value of my work is just as important as doing the work itself.
I am still new to freelancing, and my very first project involved a client who seemed to think, "What could possibly be difficult about this?" 😅
If any of you have faced a similar situation, please share your experiences—it would really boost my morale! 😂 That’s all for today. See you after the break. Until then, stay healthy and happy. Radhe-Radhe. ❤️❤️
Disclaimer: All images featured in this blog were generated using AI. Translations were assisted by Google Translate.
