How to Become a Freelance Webflow Designer / Developer in 6 Months | No Degree, Self-Taught

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 30 тра 2024
  • UPDATED VIDEO: • How to Become a Webflo...
    In this video, I walk through exactly how I would approach becoming a freelance Webflow designer/developer without a degree while being completely self-taught.
    GET STARTED ON WEBFLOW: webflow.grsm.io/4058092
    LETS BE FRIENDS 🎉
    Sign up to my weekly email newsletter - www.stephenwise.com/newsletter
    My personal website - www.stephenwise.com/
    Twitter - / stephen_wise_
    WHO AM I? 🌍
    I'm Stephen, I deconstruct expertise on:
    • 🛠 Building a Business
    • 📈 Growing a Business
    • 🌱 Continuous Learning
    • ⚡️ Better Performance
    • 🧠 Clear Thinking
    I'm on a mission to help creators build independent businesses and lead happy, healthy and wealthy lives.
    GET IN TOUCH 💌
    If you want to chat then tweet me ( / stephen_wise_ , it’s where I’m most likely to see your message. If you have a longer question then send me an email (stephen@stephenwise.com)

КОМЕНТАРІ • 153

  • @jansleyreal
    @jansleyreal Рік тому +74

    I've been learning and practicing UX for the past 7 months. I thought I wanted to get a full-time UX job, but deep down I really just want to do freelance UX. I just started learning webflow, and am designing a website for a solopreneur for free in a exchange for a testimonial. Your video helped validate some of the steps I was taking, so thank you for that!

    • @rgasta7765
      @rgasta7765 Рік тому +2

      Hi. How is your career going? Are u getting clients?

    • @Alfaris_._
      @Alfaris_._ 9 місяців тому

      That's a really smart strategy! Where do you pile up testimonials? Do you use a website ? Or does the client post on his socials ?

    • @fayyaz5785
      @fayyaz5785 7 місяців тому

      Hey Jansley, just a suggestion, you should add your portfolio website in your Links section, preferebably the first link should be your portfolio, so all the potential clients can take a look at your work.

    • @maskedvillainai
      @maskedvillainai 5 місяців тому +1

      Doing webflow sites isn’t a replacement for ux. It will give you a total of zero experience in UX. You can’t start as a freelance UX designer as that excludes nearly all of the UX design process rooted in collaborating with others, pitching and evangelizing design solutions, user research and iterative cycles. You just made a decision to become a webflow layout assistant.

    • @maskedvillainai
      @maskedvillainai 5 місяців тому

      @@Alfaris_._except that testimonials fueled by a transaction for free work are inherently full of shit. Am I to hire someone who bribes clients to say something good, or should I find someone who’s goal is to generate a successful impact from that free work?

  • @dariopenalver9316
    @dariopenalver9316 Рік тому +16

    I've been a designer over a decade and still found lots of valuable lessons on this video. Thanks for sharing them. Keep it up!

  • @sushmitasingh5288
    @sushmitasingh5288 Рік тому +2

    Thank you for sharing a clear path to learning UI and Webflow designing.

  • @jameralist
    @jameralist Рік тому +1

    so much useful information man, definitely deserve more viewers

  • @jonhowlett4011
    @jonhowlett4011 Рік тому +13

    Great video and valuable content Stephen. I'm in this very position right now, am currently working full-time while quietly building a side hustle as a freelance web designer which I hope to eventually turn into my main source of income. Nice easy breakdown of the steps to take. Thanks for sharing!

  • @tomalxrnl2717
    @tomalxrnl2717 Рік тому +1

    Bro this is a great video and i love how you structure it, i took alot of notes from this. Thank you and keep up the good work!

  • @bakeraus
    @bakeraus Рік тому +2

    Great video no fluff and straight to the point

  • @Anahide_design
    @Anahide_design Рік тому +1

    This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you

  • @KeepTheWalkShon
    @KeepTheWalkShon Рік тому +1

    Man thank you for the enlightenment, been walking down this tunnel for a while, thank you for your insight, definitely got to hone in more. Keep up the awesome videos. 🙌🦍

  • @ahanafridi2624
    @ahanafridi2624 Рік тому +1

    Quite valuable things you've covered in this video. Best of luck and keep doing all the good work.

  • @biftujiru521
    @biftujiru521 Рік тому +3

    Thank you this video was very helpful! I am a college dropout learning web development and web design on my own and looking to become a full time freelancer within the next 2 years or so.

  • @3moreyears
    @3moreyears 10 місяців тому

    Thank you.this video helped me alot. That work chair looks solid and comfy.

  • @subramanianchenniappan4059
    @subramanianchenniappan4059 Рік тому +6

    I am already s full-time programmer / web developer for 15 years . I always wanted to learn webflow and figma . But didn't have time . Your video motivates me to learn web flow 😊😊

  • @zedekai9456
    @zedekai9456 2 роки тому +5

    THIS is the kind of video I was looking for!! Great list, great resources, great guide, great vid.

  • @Baffour
    @Baffour 10 місяців тому

    This video here is so good man so much valuable information. I hope in the near future you could make a longer video of this going into even more detail if possible. Liked and subbed!

  • @KGV_Studios
    @KGV_Studios Рік тому +1

    Thank you sir sounds simple enough.

  • @cr8tivemo
    @cr8tivemo 2 роки тому

    Great job Stephen. Very good and concise video on a real problem. I like your style! Subscribed!

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому +1

      Thanks Mohamed - have a great week!!

  • @michael.2874
    @michael.2874 Рік тому

    This is amazing man thank u!

  • @rokogrga43
    @rokogrga43 11 місяців тому

    This is an amazing video. This man just told you how to build freelancing career that works.

  • @brendinventer6407
    @brendinventer6407 2 роки тому +4

    Appreciate your content and insight mate. Keep the videos coming 🙌 Would love to know more about your workflow and process is when working with clients. Do you go from site maps, to wireframes, then design and finally development or is there another way you like to work.
    Anyways appreciate it

  • @sorosfox3801
    @sorosfox3801 10 місяців тому

    Great video Stephen. I'm a fan!

  • @aleksandargrchev611
    @aleksandargrchev611 Рік тому

    Thank you Stephen!✌

  • @constanciatreasure4738
    @constanciatreasure4738 2 роки тому +2

    Thank you for putting this together, I actually learnt alot .

  • @anisbenhaddada447
    @anisbenhaddada447 2 роки тому +2

    Amazing insights Stephen! keep up these great videos! Just subscribed 😎

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому +1

      Thanks Anis - have a great day!!

  • @aym-2000
    @aym-2000 Рік тому

    Thank you, this was really helpful

  • @nicholashale975
    @nicholashale975 11 місяців тому

    Crazy I thought the same thing about Figma! I put it off for ever, now that I picked it up, my designs are so much better!

  • @kunwaradityapratapsingh4277
    @kunwaradityapratapsingh4277 Рік тому +6

    Hello reader, I'm really grateful to Stephen as he created such an outstanding, full of real information and also in such a sequence that any beginner seeks for. Every second of this video is informative and easy to understand and really helpful. I really recommend this video to please go through once if you're a beginner or even if you're working. Thanks a million Stephen for such praiseworthy and informative video. You cleared my doubts and gave so much to act upon.

  • @skylartkitchen
    @skylartkitchen 2 роки тому +2

    Really great content. Keep em coming!

  • @madhursharma8217
    @madhursharma8217 2 роки тому +3

    Great video Stephan,please make more videos about freelance,studio and webflow.

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому

      Thanks Madhur, glad you enjoyed it!!

  • @IanBourn
    @IanBourn 2 роки тому +29

    Would love to hear a breakdown of your personal story and how you decided to become a Webflow developer

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому +6

      Ohh interesting, I have a video coming this weekend which touches on this a little but I'll be sure to breakdown my story in a little detail in another video :)

  • @poface4827
    @poface4827 Рік тому

    This is very good content. Tins of value. Thanks.

  • @PeterElbaum
    @PeterElbaum 2 роки тому +2

    Keep them coming!

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому

      Got a couple more in the pipeline 🎥

  • @youness_daoudi
    @youness_daoudi Рік тому

    Great advice thank you

  • @IanBourn
    @IanBourn 2 роки тому +1

    This is a phenomenal video. Subscribed.

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому

      Thanks Ian - I really appreciate it. Have a great weekend!!

  • @katstroehm6352
    @katstroehm6352 9 місяців тому

    this was really helpful, thank you!

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  9 місяців тому

      Let me know if you have any other questions, will make an updated version of this video soon

  • @jayellwood
    @jayellwood 2 роки тому +2

    Awesome info brother.

  • @chiobiokey
    @chiobiokey 10 місяців тому

    Wow, this is God-sent. I can't thank you enough 🙌🙌

  • @dragon1210
    @dragon1210 8 місяців тому

    this is really helpful video i learned a lot 👍👍

  • @AntonyNorthcutt
    @AntonyNorthcutt 2 роки тому +4

    You totally nailed it with this one :)

  •  2 роки тому

    Awesome video, really helpful! Thanks man! Great website btw!

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому

      Appreciate it João, have a great weekend!!

  • @Alfigordon
    @Alfigordon Рік тому

    Great video thanks

  • @Lh20D
    @Lh20D Рік тому +2

    Great video, thank you :) +1 suscriber !

  • @lakivicsa
    @lakivicsa Рік тому

    Thank you man

  • @rebeccaray9689
    @rebeccaray9689 Рік тому +6

    Im starting this journey now! Im starting off with a general web design course that covers figma, ui/ux design, color theory, etc and then I would like to learn web flow. Does this seem like a good path to you? I feel like I should learn the basics before niching to a specific web design platform.

  • @yuriyzadorozhnyi3849
    @yuriyzadorozhnyi3849 Рік тому

    Дякую Stephen , Ваше відео мені допомогло розібратись з чого почати , заодно і Англійську мову вивчити , будьте здорові !

  • @avelinileva
    @avelinileva 2 роки тому +1

    Great video!

  • @druthadude
    @druthadude 2 роки тому +2

    thank you sir!

  • @alldatruckus
    @alldatruckus 2 роки тому

    Awesome video.. Thank youuuu

  • @amelies587
    @amelies587 Рік тому +1

    Hey, i love your videos. You make me so much more confident in focusing my path of becoming a freelancer as well.
    I have a question and i dont really find an answer for this in the web.
    How do you charge your clients? I mean the hosting / webflow client billing is not available anymore and i dont really know how to set the billing process up.
    Do you put your clients payment (credit card) information inside the webflow project?
    And also how to hand over the website. I heard different ways e.g to set up a new webflow Account with the clients email and password so that they have a single account just with one project. Or to puy the workspace plan and let all project sit in your personal account? I am very confused and i would appreciate if you could help me out.
    Have a nice day :)

  • @lisalin9375
    @lisalin9375 Рік тому +1

    Hey thank you for sharing the information! It is really useful, a question about you mentioned that you used 6 months to get to full time freelancer, those 6 months you only focused on this or you still have other jobs on going? Right now I have a full time job but I really wanna try to do freelancing myself...but with jobs and family, the time left for practice and absorb knowledge becomes so limited...

  • @otavioalexandre7575
    @otavioalexandre7575 8 місяців тому

    This is amazing bro

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  8 місяців тому

      Appreciate it Otávio, gonna record an updated version - anything you want me to cover?

  • @ArnauRos
    @ArnauRos 2 роки тому +3

    Good video!

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому

      Appreciate it Arnau - love your videos!!

  • @Blackfeet
    @Blackfeet Рік тому

    Great channel.

  • @Tepaldeta
    @Tepaldeta 2 роки тому

    I just found your video before stting up my portfolio, I'd like to do more networking with colleagues in the same industry

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому

      That's great to hear Alejandro - I'd love to checkout your portfolio when it's live!

  • @adilbek.ermekov
    @adilbek.ermekov Рік тому

    Such a cool intro

  • @arshiz4174
    @arshiz4174 Рік тому +2

    thank you so much man. i took a course for webflow and figma and now im able to make a full website but the thing that stress me is that i dont know how to code at all and im still wondering if starting without that would be a good idea. im gonna read the books that you mentioned but do you think it would be a good idea? the plugins are what scares me the most.

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  Рік тому +1

      Hey, definitely a good idea to dig into coding. You don't need to be an expert you just need to know the fundamentals of how things work together. I have a video on learning webflow in 30 mins - in the first few minutes I talk about the box model + code that may be helpful :)

  • @faizon4091
    @faizon4091 Рік тому

    Hi, when you were making websites for your clients on webflow. What package did you buy for webflow?

  • @T9gotchu
    @T9gotchu Рік тому

    thanks bro

  • @Joilsonday
    @Joilsonday Рік тому

    Great content! Thanks for shared!

  • @mars-kd8ft
    @mars-kd8ft 2 роки тому +4

    Really liked this video from start to end but I want to ask a question, what should I do if I don't know web design? I am really struggling with making designs for a website.

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому +5

      Thank you, I appreciate the kind words! So I don't feel like I am naturally a good designer but I learned by doing 2 things:
      1) Surrounding myself with good design (use sites like dribbble, UI Jar and OnePageLove to find inspiration)
      2) Practice - take inspiration and recreate those designs. Tweak them to your own style and do this a lot then you'll start to find your own style :)

  • @jadmalak1
    @jadmalak1 Рік тому +1

    I'm looking for freelancers who can either design a figma website, convert a figma website into webflow / react
    , or do both

    • @depthbyvfx9604
      @depthbyvfx9604 6 місяців тому

      Still looking for designers? That could design a Figma website or convert a Figma website into Webflow ?

  • @andreslopezcontrerasromrto1770

    name of the monitor and the monitor mount :)?

  • @bhushan_366
    @bhushan_366 Рік тому

    which books you will recommend for web designers?

  • @filetmignon9978
    @filetmignon9978 2 роки тому

    Checking out your studio website, in your previous work, are the illustrations made buy you (your team?) or do you hire an outside person for that?

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому +2

      Heyo 👋🏼 we typically work with freelance illustrators on a per project basis!

  • @chrysangeloskougioutas7556
    @chrysangeloskougioutas7556 Рік тому

    Great video, one question what's your monthly income from webflow builds?

  • @jaydenrussell7491
    @jaydenrussell7491 7 місяців тому

    Has their been any new programming languages that are in more design for web designing ? Im coming from a backend position.

  • @HenryBelcaster
    @HenryBelcaster 2 роки тому +2

    🙌

  • @jomfawad9255
    @jomfawad9255 Рік тому

    Should i freelance on upwork, or post my content on social media and add my personal website for clients?

  • @nicolatoledo
    @nicolatoledo 2 роки тому +3

    Hi Stephen thanks for the video, What do you think instead for those who only want to do Webflow development, in my opinion by going to that niche you can make more money or it is better to do both, and in the case of development only, how would you find the customers? 🙂

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому +2

      Hey Nicola, I think specialising in Webflow development is a great idea. In terms of earning more I'm not sure it will make a huge difference as if you do both design + development you can charge more per project but work on fewer projects where as being a specialist developer means you can complete more projects.
      I have a video coming soon on finding freelance clients but a couple recommendations would be:
      1) Become technical - a lot of people can build good webflow sites but few can build great sites. Master the tool and learn Javascript
      2) Become friends with other freelance designers - they will refer work your way
      3) Get in front of the kind of people hiring webflow developers (typically CMOs & CTOs at companies)
      Hope this help!

    • @user-yz4iy4kc6p
      @user-yz4iy4kc6p 2 роки тому +1

      @@stephen_wise Thanks for this.

    • @nicolatoledo
      @nicolatoledo 2 роки тому

      @@stephen_wise thanks for your reply, o thinks that the best way to get in front of the right people is with content, blog, video and social, I don't like upwork and similar

  • @uncleanAlibertine1
    @uncleanAlibertine1 2 роки тому +2

    great

  • @juliuschooi6008
    @juliuschooi6008 2 роки тому

    Great advice! Sub.

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому

      Appreciate it Julius, thanks for the Sub!

  • @dextrimgaming
    @dextrimgaming Рік тому

    Just finished learning javascript to a decent degree and my css knowledge isn't lacking either
    Can I become a freelance developer or do I need to learn any other thing

  • @LUCKY-ei2so
    @LUCKY-ei2so Рік тому

    Hey I'm a webflow developer and wanted to learn web design will refactoring ui teach me the whole process of designing a website?

  • @rgasta7765
    @rgasta7765 Рік тому

    Stephen may we ask you how is your web designing career? I mean are u making a decent salary? Id love to know. Thanks.

  • @growth3038
    @growth3038 Рік тому +4

    Hey Stephen just wanted to know Can I become a web designer by just learning webflow and not wordpress? If yes then which types of businesses will I need to target?

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  Рік тому +4

      Absolutely! So Webflows selling point is that it's great for marketing teams to update copy etc so the typical clients would be startups and small - medium-sized businesses.
      I actually get a lot of work where companies want to move away from Wordpress and build a new site on Webflow.
      I'd reccomend learning 1 platform (webflow or wordpress) and going all in on it!

  • @shobowalesurdeeq3156
    @shobowalesurdeeq3156 5 місяців тому

    Thanks Wise. Can you please share your website. I'm a new designer and I want to see how I can make my portfolio website better. Thanks

  • @marisaksaunders
    @marisaksaunders 2 роки тому

    which webflow university course do you think would be good place to start? I am a beginner as far as design but I know a decent amount of html javascript and react and very basic surface level css

  • @DTechPlace
    @DTechPlace 5 місяців тому

    Thank you Stephen, I’m looking to start my freelancing career building websites for customers. I’d love any advice anyone can give to help me throughout my journey

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  5 місяців тому

      Would love for you to share any questions you have as I will be creating more videos on this soon :)

  • @AG-mo2hg
    @AG-mo2hg 11 місяців тому

    Webflow is so easy to use

  • @lucaschaves1676
    @lucaschaves1676 Рік тому

    What headphones you're using at 02:42?

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  Рік тому

      Jabra Elite 85h would not recommend tbh. Ended up getting airpods pro and they are way better

  • @birthing4blokes46
    @birthing4blokes46 11 місяців тому

    why Webflow? I'm wondering if wordpress would be a better investment, given that most of the web is built on it? If I become a Webflow designer am I not tying myself to the software and hosting package, when if I was with wordpress I could offer hosting anywhere, getting the best price etc. How would you sell Webflow to me? I do not know code at6 the moment.

  • @goharakram339
    @goharakram339 2 роки тому +2

    The kind of skillset that your are discussing, Stephen and especially the level that can be attained in 3 to 6 months.. Is it enough to make 3k per month.. just as an average?

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому +1

      Absolutely, so to hit 3k consistently the main thing will be to work on your network. When I first started my income would fluctuate, some months I'd earn 5-10 k others 1-2 k. The key to keeping it consistent is having a few clients you work with regularly!

    • @goharakram339
      @goharakram339 2 роки тому

      @@stephen_wise a 5k month sounds great! How long did it take you to hit your first 5k month?

  • @JordanStambaugh1
    @JordanStambaugh1 Рік тому

    What’s your average amount you charge your clients for a Webflow site?

  • @michaelz8235
    @michaelz8235 29 днів тому

    I have over 20 years of freelance website and graphic design experience, have used SquareSpace for several years and I know HTML and CSS... Think my time to learn Webflow would be much less than 6 months?

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  29 днів тому

      Yes, if you focus hard on it you could become pretty damn good in 1 month I think

  • @muhammadbilalqureshi4272
    @muhammadbilalqureshi4272 Рік тому +2

    Do we really need to learn and go hard towards coding? Like can we design and make a good webflow website without coding?

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  Рік тому

      Hey, you definitely don't need to know how to code from scratch to build a good website in Webflow but you do need a fundamental understanding of how code works and how browsers + search engines interpret that code.
      Webflow doesn't require you to code to build, you just need to know how that code works so you can build websites in the right way :)

    • @muhammadbilalqureshi4272
      @muhammadbilalqureshi4272 Рік тому

      Thanks alot for this much appreciated , i really love your content watch every video please keep making videos and have a really nice day.... I was so worried where to start but you solved 90% of my problem. Thanks once again.

  • @riyajuneja777
    @riyajuneja777 2 роки тому

    Webflow provides with just 2 projects with it's free plan. So how can you put more than 2 in portfolio?

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому

      To display more than 2 projects you'd need to pay for the webflow account plan that allows more - once you start building a lot of sites for clients this plan is a must because it gives you a lot of benefits!

  • @Adam326
    @Adam326 Рік тому

    Can you share how the HTML & CSS book has helped you? I understand the concepts and how they work, but I can’t write any code myself. But Webflow is almost NoCode, so I don’t see how it will help me learn Webflow

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  Рік тому

      You build in Webflow using HTML & CSS fundamentals so people who understand how to write code are often better at building clean sites. Definitely not needed to begin with but good to have the foundational knowledge

  • @RubDev
    @RubDev Рік тому +2

    Wait a minute. 6 months from starting to learn until first fulltime client?

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  Рік тому +1

      More focused on 6 months to go from nothing to having a consistent stream of clients that enable you to make a full time living :)

    • @fatfriend78
      @fatfriend78 Рік тому

      @@stephen_wise Any tips on how to stay focus?

  • @milanvala
    @milanvala Рік тому

    Good

  • @AnthonyMorvillo
    @AnthonyMorvillo Рік тому

    How much money do you make?

  • @literallyshane4306
    @literallyshane4306 2 роки тому

    Nice video Stephen. Where are you from mate?

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому

      Thanks Shane, I really appreciate it! I'm from the UK (North Yorkshire but living in Manchester)

    • @literallyshane4306
      @literallyshane4306 2 роки тому

      @@stephen_wise ah! I'm from Preston, used to live in Manchester. Nice to know there are other WebFlow devs. around here :)

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому

      @@literallyshane4306 Awesome, if you're ever in Manchester send me a DM on Twitter and we can grab a coffee!
      twitter.com/stephen_wise_

  • @darshildixit3438
    @darshildixit3438 2 роки тому +2

    Insightful Video!
    Ohh I see it's coming from a person who has SKIN in the GAME.

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому +1

      Appreciate it Darshil! I actually also have that book on the shelf behind me 😂

  • @halimayusuf8007
    @halimayusuf8007 Рік тому

    Hi sir I just had to watch your video from the beginning to the middle because it's packed with valuable information, I had to also subscribe immediately because I needed this alot, I am a complete newbie to web design and web development, I truly need to learn all this stuff, am truly happy I came across your channel, but any ways I could start as a complete beginner?? Like any video tutorials you can also share? Please reply thank you👍

  • @jimmoefoe1471
    @jimmoefoe1471 Рік тому

    Now the question is, how the hell do I get projects?

  • @brouhaha8734
    @brouhaha8734 Рік тому

    ilv u

  • @valentina111lobs_
    @valentina111lobs_ 2 роки тому +3

    mmmmm...where would you learn about actual design? Grids, responsiveness, negative space...? What about learning about your users? I truly believe that you can't do all this in 6 months.

    • @stephen_wise
      @stephen_wise  2 роки тому +5

      Hey Valentina - I agree you can't learn everything in 6 months but you can easily learn enough to provide value to businesses.
      The learning never stops and there's no better way to learn than apply the knowledge :)

  • @riyoudesign5576
    @riyoudesign5576 2 роки тому +1

    hello thanks for the ifnormation
    is there is a discord for the channel so new people can start supporting each others their?

  • @nicholashale975
    @nicholashale975 11 місяців тому

    Crazy I thought the same thing about Figma! I put it off for ever, now that I picked it up, my designs are so much better!