Web Developer's Future & The Client
It is amazing for me how much prospective clients expect from you by paying so little. I think this has been caused by the 'free of charge' mentality that is created by a marketing illusion online. For instance people argue that Facebook is free... But is it really? They use your name for their ads and also bombard you with ads and trackers to know what you do online... Is that a version of free? Will you go to a free amusement park if it meant solicitors could torment you at every turn and spies could keep tabs on what you do? That would probably make you feel uncomfortable right? Well it should, and you should be equally worried about people tracking you online.
Anyway back to clients expecting more for less. The internet is going to change rapidly to the point that every person will be their own internet television station - that's the future. Web pages may become few and web designers even fewer because the process that put online content will become automated. This means if you do have an online talent you will be expected to do A LOT more for a lot less. If you can... Get rich now or save enough that you can switch jobs.
You're right JB people just want it free and if they don't get it free they go to the next site til they get something for nothing. I don't think that will change so we need to expect la whole load of more ads jumping in front of us because sites cannot continue without some kind compensation.
I develop websites as a profession and at some point I was about to start my own business. One of my first clients had found a other developer who could for a lot less than I had estimated. I told her that I couldnt do it for that kind of money (I got kids to feed!).
Long story short, she now has a website thats really ugly and looks amateuristic. Even the guy that was supposed to design her businesscards declined because of the way the website looked.
The biggest problem with Google and Facebook is that people are not even aware of the way they pay for the service provided.
My point is, nothing is free, if it is you are paying in a different way.
And if its cheap the quality of the product will be less. That client has now learned that lesson.