UG, you got so much advice you're probably not reading any more... but if you decide to become a freelancer, an ad in the yellow pages may work for you. Older businesspeople who are afraid of the web tend to look there for the services they need, not on the web. And since most web developers advertise on the web, you'll face less competition. Normally, people 45 to 65 years old won't ask to see your website. They want to look at you, shake your hand, and once they decide you are trustworthy, they'll give you business. How do you create trust among the older set? Try this:

1. Print out a nice business card for yourself, complete with physical address and telephone number. It can be from your home inkjet printer. What matters is that you are telling people that you have no intention of hiding.

2. Dress nicely, like you mean business. The more clothing, the better. Avoid jeans and leave your nose ring at home.

3. Print a one-page resume and bring your polished portfolio on a power point presentation. Print it out, too. You can bring your laptop to the meeting, but don't count on wireless internet access.

4. You may have to explain what a domain is and how it is different from hosting. So be patient. The more questions the person asks, the better.

5. Once you think you know what they need, go back home and make a detailed quote. Don't quote less than other designers, instead, add a set number of visits of a set duration into the quote, for the purpose of revisions. Add services like configuration of email boxes to work with Outlook, or other seemingly insignificant but necessary activities. For you they mean nothing but to them it can mean the difference between hiring you or someone else. Include a timeline of revisions and payments.

6. Be 100% honest, 100% of the time.

Soon they'll be recommending you with their business colleagues. It took me like 2 years to build a steady clientele of about 20 businesses. Now on my 3rd year, I get like 3 new clients a month. Now have 1 full time employee and 2 freeelancers.

Good luck!