What do you think?
Rate this book
$1,000,000 Web Designer Guide: A Practical Guide for Wealth and Freedom as an Online Freelancer
Don’t leave your web design journey up to chance.
There are some times in life where it is fun to not plan ahead. For example, a random day hanging out with friends or a spontaneous holiday trip to some new place.
Web design, though, is not one of those times! If you leave your web design journey to chance, expect to fail.
What this book covers is what I wish I knew when I first started web design. It is the big lessons that make a big difference.
Knowing these lessons will help you avoid becoming yet another burnout who is overworked and underpaid. I will be sharing with you clear steps to get more profitable, move forward quickly, and set yourself up for a shot at real success.
This book isn't just about money, though - it looks at an overall smart approach to having a great business that supports a great life. This is about working smarter - not harder - to enjoy more of what life is all about.
If you are ready to go, then let’s get started!
There are some times in life where it is fun to not plan ahead. For example, a random day hanging out with friends or a spontaneous holiday trip to some new place.
Web design, though, is not one of those times! If you leave your web design journey to chance, expect to fail.
What this book covers is what I wish I knew when I first started web design. It is the big lessons that make a big difference.
Knowing these lessons will help you avoid becoming yet another burnout who is overworked and underpaid. I will be sharing with you clear steps to get more profitable, move forward quickly, and set yourself up for a shot at real success.
This book isn't just about money, though - it looks at an overall smart approach to having a great business that supports a great life. This is about working smarter - not harder - to enjoy more of what life is all about.
If you are ready to go, then let’s get started!
Audible Audio
Published March 24, 2021
305 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Rob Anthony O'Rourke
1 book6 followersROB ANTHONY O'ROURKE is one of the world's leading web design business coaches, an online entrepreneur, and founder of Fox Web School. He has directly worked with thousands of students and helped dozens of thousands more through his YouTube channel and free resources. His YouTube channel alone has over 1 million views.
Through teaching and coaching thousands of web designers, and his own business experience, Rob has been able to uncover why some of these people succeed in business and life, while others get stuck or fail over and over. He is now on a mission to share these discoveries with as many aspiring entrepreneurs as he can, and help them to start on their entrepreneurial journey through web design.
Rob's areas of expertise are teaching easy-to-master selling techniques, web design strategy and core business skills. As a web design consultant and coach he has worked with businesses at all levels from over 50 different countries.
You can connect with Rob through his YouTube channel, which is a gold mine of FREE business and web design advice.
Go to http://youtube.com/c/foxwebschool for more details.
Through teaching and coaching thousands of web designers, and his own business experience, Rob has been able to uncover why some of these people succeed in business and life, while others get stuck or fail over and over. He is now on a mission to share these discoveries with as many aspiring entrepreneurs as he can, and help them to start on their entrepreneurial journey through web design.
Rob's areas of expertise are teaching easy-to-master selling techniques, web design strategy and core business skills. As a web design consultant and coach he has worked with businesses at all levels from over 50 different countries.
You can connect with Rob through his YouTube channel, which is a gold mine of FREE business and web design advice.
Go to http://youtube.com/c/foxwebschool for more details.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 10, 2025
Repetitive. I liked the tale of two designers.
March 17, 2021
Painfully Repetitive!
This book could have been written in between 6 and 10 pagee, and maybe less. Within a single page, the exact same point was made several times. Eventually, every page became painful. At about 20% into it, I realized that it was like those clickbait ads that keep talking and talking but never give you the answers you were promised until you purchased what is being peddled. In this case it's the author's "school". I'm thinking something like Trump University, I don't know, and I'm not going to find out. This book is at least 90% fluff, or fat.
I was generous in giving it 2 stars because it did present a common sense point that it's important to think as much as a businessperson as a technical one if you expect to survive as an aspiring entrepreneur, but ZERO technical advice was presented. Basically, this book is for the utterly clueless in terms of understanding business, and otherwise is completely useless for someone who wants to get into freelance website development. There is ZERO technical advice, not even at the highest level. Not even the mention of a single buzzword, or phrase, like "Full Stack", "Frontend", or "Backend".
If you are looking for a book to help you get started in website freelancing and entrepreneurship, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK for you. I was patient with it, but as a technical person, I cannot recommend it.
This book could have been written in between 6 and 10 pagee, and maybe less. Within a single page, the exact same point was made several times. Eventually, every page became painful. At about 20% into it, I realized that it was like those clickbait ads that keep talking and talking but never give you the answers you were promised until you purchased what is being peddled. In this case it's the author's "school". I'm thinking something like Trump University, I don't know, and I'm not going to find out. This book is at least 90% fluff, or fat.
I was generous in giving it 2 stars because it did present a common sense point that it's important to think as much as a businessperson as a technical one if you expect to survive as an aspiring entrepreneur, but ZERO technical advice was presented. Basically, this book is for the utterly clueless in terms of understanding business, and otherwise is completely useless for someone who wants to get into freelance website development. There is ZERO technical advice, not even at the highest level. Not even the mention of a single buzzword, or phrase, like "Full Stack", "Frontend", or "Backend".
If you are looking for a book to help you get started in website freelancing and entrepreneurship, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK for you. I was patient with it, but as a technical person, I cannot recommend it.
May 1, 2021
This book gives important advice for people that want to run a successful web design business.
June 3, 2025
A $1,000,000 Web Designer Guide by Rob Anthony O'Rourke contains a lot of meaningful thoughts and advises correct things.
So, I rate not those thoughts, but the way it's written. The first 30% of the book is an intro; that can be shortened to 1-3 pages. 15% of the book explains how this book is structured. 30% consists of those very unrealistic stories used to explain something to us. And only the remaining 25% is the actual book.
Fortunately, the author did provide a recap after each section.
Mindset Shift Recap:
#1: Sell a result, not a website. A website is only ever a tool.
#2: Business owners always care most about their core business needs; not design, coding or technical aspects.
#3: The market pays you for the value you create; not your time, effort, background, or education.
#4: If you think like a business owner, you will succeed. If you think only like a web designer, you will fail.
Taking Action Recap:
#1: Become a professional problem solver. Make this your number one priority.
#2: Have conversations that focus on problems and frustrations. Don’t just guess; listening is essential.
#3: Start where your trust is highest. Use your current connections to start right away.
#4: Leverage your past results to get better projects. More past results = more future sales.
Parting Advice Recap:
#1: Reinvest in skills that help you create more value.
#2: Keep the end goal in mind.
#3: Start small and start NOW.
So, I rate not those thoughts, but the way it's written. The first 30% of the book is an intro; that can be shortened to 1-3 pages. 15% of the book explains how this book is structured. 30% consists of those very unrealistic stories used to explain something to us. And only the remaining 25% is the actual book.
Fortunately, the author did provide a recap after each section.
Mindset Shift Recap:
#1: Sell a result, not a website. A website is only ever a tool.
#2: Business owners always care most about their core business needs; not design, coding or technical aspects.
#3: The market pays you for the value you create; not your time, effort, background, or education.
#4: If you think like a business owner, you will succeed. If you think only like a web designer, you will fail.
Taking Action Recap:
#1: Become a professional problem solver. Make this your number one priority.
#2: Have conversations that focus on problems and frustrations. Don’t just guess; listening is essential.
#3: Start where your trust is highest. Use your current connections to start right away.
#4: Leverage your past results to get better projects. More past results = more future sales.
Parting Advice Recap:
#1: Reinvest in skills that help you create more value.
#2: Keep the end goal in mind.
#3: Start small and start NOW.
September 24, 2023
It’s a great book touching upon the topic of not only web design freelancing but business in general too. I like how Rob gives the story and process of a good and successful freelancer and its antithesis. He helps show the contrast on what we should be doing as web designers and what not to do. How we should see business problems. And how web design is only ever a tool to help a business succeed. What I felt was kind of missing was some resources to get started on web design though. Author did do a little cheeky sponsor of his own web design online school at the end of the book but I would appreciate a free alternative and some resources to learn web design and start getting our hands dirty with freelancing web design services straight away after we read the book. Other than that, it’s a good guide on freelancing in general. I’d say it’s a must read if you’re starting off on freelancing or are planning to.
March 21, 2021
Okay Read
This isn't a bad book and the length itself is enough of a sacrifice to read it. Mostly focusing on mindset, O'Rourke challenges the reader to think as a business owner rather than a technical position within a company (web design in his example). Book is well written and with a prose that is easily digestible.
I withheld 2 stars because on balance, the author really only mentions 2 strategies to succeed I mentioned the first one already and the second is word of mouth, starting with your inner circle and working your way outwards as you scale your business. It isn't bad advice and will probably bring you in some clients. However, I don't like berating my family and friends to buy products from me much alone asking them to ask their network. Some people don't have that type of network set up so some other ways would have made my rating this book higher.
This isn't a bad book and the length itself is enough of a sacrifice to read it. Mostly focusing on mindset, O'Rourke challenges the reader to think as a business owner rather than a technical position within a company (web design in his example). Book is well written and with a prose that is easily digestible.
I withheld 2 stars because on balance, the author really only mentions 2 strategies to succeed I mentioned the first one already and the second is word of mouth, starting with your inner circle and working your way outwards as you scale your business. It isn't bad advice and will probably bring you in some clients. However, I don't like berating my family and friends to buy products from me much alone asking them to ask their network. Some people don't have that type of network set up so some other ways would have made my rating this book higher.
June 1, 2021
An interesting take on web development as a problem solving tool, and how to keep your mindset on providing value to business owners. Start small but focus on projects where your skills actually bring tangible value to a business - even if you have to take on project for free in the beginning, don't focus on money in the beginning but on providing value.
However, the book say that you can "lean code within a few days online" which is bogus. Sure you can learn how to set up a WordPress site with some plug-ins - but to be able to solve more complex problems with coding you need a broader knowledge base.
However, the book say that you can "lean code within a few days online" which is bogus. Sure you can learn how to set up a WordPress site with some plug-ins - but to be able to solve more complex problems with coding you need a broader knowledge base.
June 21, 2021
Didn't meet my expectations
When I picked up this book, I anticipated learning about web design. This is not what this book is about. It is a business development book. The advice the author gives is sound and helpful. It just wasn't what I was looking for. If you are looking to start a web design business, you will probably learn some things about that, but the same advice will work for a dog grooming service. Don't read this book to learn about web design. However, if you need business advice, this book is well written and effective.
When I picked up this book, I anticipated learning about web design. This is not what this book is about. It is a business development book. The advice the author gives is sound and helpful. It just wasn't what I was looking for. If you are looking to start a web design business, you will probably learn some things about that, but the same advice will work for a dog grooming service. Don't read this book to learn about web design. However, if you need business advice, this book is well written and effective.
July 20, 2024
First things first, this is a business book, not a web design book. Web design is just used as a marketing term here and being used as as the example industry. While the advice in the book is "good", it's very repetitive and way too long. Could be summarized as:
- Don't focus on web design, focus on solving business problems and providing value
- Don't focus on web design, focus on solving business problems and providing value
August 30, 2021
Not what it says
If you want to know how to produce a great website this is not for you. It has no information about producing a website. It is about running a business writing websites. Hardly a practical guide to becoming a web designer
If you want to know how to produce a great website this is not for you. It has no information about producing a website. It is about running a business writing websites. Hardly a practical guide to becoming a web designer
December 27, 2021
Not worth the time.
Spends most of the time and too much detail telling stories. No real substance. This reader became bored and did not gain any substantial knowledge. Poor title for book.
Spends most of the time and too much detail telling stories. No real substance. This reader became bored and did not gain any substantial knowledge. Poor title for book.
January 7, 2023
It’s a decent book with some good principles to keep in mind. Great long term and actionable mindset things to do.
It’s a book that’s better sped read than to really think about that hard on. Blitz it, take what you need, and move onto the next
It’s a book that’s better sped read than to really think about that hard on. Blitz it, take what you need, and move onto the next
March 27, 2021
A great first attempt by the author at publishing. I give him credit for taking action. The content is basically what's available on his YouTube channel but packaged conveniently in this book.
March 29, 2021
My key takeaway - focus on generating (and selling) results rather than just a cute design.
September 14, 2021
Good mindset stuff in it, serves as advertising for a longer course but hey its free and contains some good actionable advice at the same time!
February 28, 2023
The core idea behind the book is solid but I believe it would have worked better as a Medium article rather than a book.
March 28, 2023
A recommended quick read for everyone thinking in freelancing as a web designer.
August 23, 2024
This was a clear, concise read, with actionable steps.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews