The Economy and Web Development

[rulian]

With all that has happened in the US recently, i've heard various people from various sectors talk about widespread job loss and downgrades.
Although opinion vary widely about exactly what areas will be affected and to what extent I havent heard much from the Web Dev community on the subject.
As a freelance web developer, I have relatively low costs of operations however it does seem that if things slow down for all of us at a community that freelancers will find themselves in trouble fast being how I dont have a steady paycheck to being with. I am not however worried about losing my job and having to start from scratch in this economy. So my opinion remains mixed and unclarified on the subject.
I see it as in one had web development is still a thriving and booming market, on the other hand it is still a funded by a large margin by companies who are being affected.

So as working web developers, have you or do you think you'll feel the pinch from these events?

[NogDog]

If the credit crunch continues, I don't see how any business sector can avoid the effects. That being said, for some reason I've been busier in the last few weeks than I was for all of August, so who knows?

[rulian]

That is kind of what I mean, everybody around me is freaking out and struggling but I've been much busier then usual as well. I'm trying to figure out if it will last or if I should start practising singing guitar for change at central park.

I'm thinking that as the economy grows tighter and so do peoples budget, maybe they are turning away from larger companies with higher price tags and leaning towards the independent single source development like freelancers and small teams.
Just a though, but its lika like how the Repo-Towing industry is booming because people cant make their car payments. Although that sounds terrible

[Davidc316]

Well, I can report that a few of my clients have been struggling (particularly in the motor industry) but overall I am busier than ever.

Overall, I have a rather more optimistic view. I think that people are going to respond to the economic situation by investing in advertising and particularly in the web.

I think that we're all going to be recession winners!

-David

[rulian]

I'm kind of experiencing the same thing. I have in influx of jobs that need to get done right away with with bigger payouts. I think it what vultures must feel like flying over doomed animals in the desert.

[jazz_snob]

I see lots of local job openings lately, don't know what they're paying though; I'm talking php developers too, not just developers in general. I have also more work for more money right now than ever before. At the same time, my grocery bill has gone way up as portions shrink and prices rise.

[cretaceous]

Accepted wisdon for corporates is 'cutback on advertising in a recession' - if the public dont have the money to buy, advertising won't help - I certainly wouldn't want to invest in an advertising company now

back to thread: I'm really busy and some nice projects in the pipeline - I'm a sole person operation so I'm much cheaper than a city centre operation - so I think smaller operations should be ok, providing they spread their client base
(one friend specialises in design for a single market sector - and he's done zilch for the last six months)

I bet we'll see development prices dropping if it goes on for another year or two.
But another thing is that companies in trouble go down quickly (as we've all seen) so once some of the big competition is gone there's more left for everyone else!

[rulian]

I agree that the smaller developer will probably weather this storm better. It lends itself in his favor that companies will look for less expensive alternatives to larger development companies.
Prices will drop overall as well I believe but given higher demand a freelance developer could wind up getting MORE money. Wierd how it all works.

[schwim]

I plan on providing design & hosting solutions for the tanking companies that are desperately trying to reverse the monetary nosebleed they've found themselves weathering until there are no more to provide a service to.

I will do this until they pry gedit from my cold, dead fingers.

thanks,
json