Web Design as a VA Niche: How to Earn $800+/Month as a Filipino Freelancer
What if you could earn more than ₱46,000 a month — working from home, on your own schedule, and being present for every milestone in your family's life? For thousands of Filipino freelancers, web design has become exactly that kind of career-changing niche.
In Episode 9 of From Kayod to Keyboard, hosts Tata and Roxy sit down with Anthony Meneses — founder of Website Academy PH and the community Freelancers in the Philippines — to talk web design, funnels, systems, and what it really takes to go from corporate employee to successful freelancer. Anthony spent 10 years in corporate IT before making the leap in 2020, and he's now built an entire ecosystem to help others do the same — including a free course for beginners.
Whether you're still on the fence about leaving your 8-to-5, or you're already a VA looking to command higher rates with in-demand tech skills, this episode is packed with honest, no-BS insights you can act on right now.
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode
Want to hear the complete conversation with Anthony? Listen to Episode 9 on your favorite platform:
📋 What You'll Learn in This Episode
- Meet Anthony Meneses: From Corporate IT to Freelancer and Educator
- Why Web Design Is One of the Highest-Paying VA Niches
- Websites vs. Funnels: What's the Difference and Why It Matters
- How to Price Your Web Design Services as a Beginner
- How to Find Clients and Build Your Reputation
- The Skills You Actually Need to Succeed
- Website Academy PH: A Free Course to Get You Started
- Questions & Answers from the Episode
- Key Takeaways
Meet Anthony Meneses: From Corporate IT to Freelancer and Educator
Anthony Meneses is a web designer, funnel strategist, systems builder, and founder of Website Academy PH. He's also the lead of the community Freelancers in the Philippines — and he juggles all of this alongside being a husband and father of four children in Antipolo City.
His road to freelancing wasn't overnight. Anthony graduated with a BSIT degree and got his start in graphic design before moving into IT support roles. He spent almost a decade at one company, collecting valuable corporate experience while quietly dreaming of something different. He discovered freelancing in 2018, enrolled in a paid course, and by 2020 — during the height of the pandemic — he finally made his full commitment to go independent.
"Akala ko nakatakas na ako dun sa 8 to 5 — but in reality, 24/7 pala yung pinasok ko na career or business." — Anthony Meneses, Website Academy PH
But that "24/7 reality" came with a huge upside: he was finally present for his children's school events, he transferred two of his kids to better schools, and he built a flexible working arrangement that let him set his own pace. His story is a grounded reminder that freelancing isn't an escape hatch — it's a different kind of work that rewards those who are intentional about it.
One fun fact Anthony shared right away: he's an introvert. He'd rather type than talk, preferring to build relationships through chat and comment threads rather than big social events. And yet, he has become one of the most prominent voices in the Filipino web design freelancing space. His secret? Consistently showing up online — and letting the quality of his work speak for itself.
Why Web Design Is One of the Highest-Paying VA Niches
If you've been doing general VA work — email management, data entry, calendar scheduling — you've probably noticed that rates in those areas have stagnated. Anthony addresses this directly: repetitive, admin-focused tasks are increasingly being handled by AI tools. The VAs who will thrive are those who add a layer of strategic and technical value that automation simply can't replace.
Web design sits squarely in that premium category. Businesses will always need humans who can understand their goals, build systems that convert visitors into customers, and translate brand identity into a digital experience. That kind of work requires judgment, creativity, and communication — none of which ChatGPT can fully substitute.
💰 The Numbers: What Can a Web Design VA Actually Earn?
Anthony walked through a quick breakdown using a $5/hour starting rate as a baseline:
- Full-time hours: 40 hours/week × 4 weeks = 160 hours/month
- At $5/hour: $800/month → approximately ₱46,000+
- As skills grow and projects become project-based or value-based, earnings scale significantly higher
Compare that to many local jobs where monthly pay hovers around ₱12,000–₱15,000 for equivalent or harder work. The math speaks for itself.
Anthony also noted that web design has evolved beyond just "building websites." Today, the most in-demand skill set combines web design + funnels + automations. Freelancers who can offer all three are positioned to charge premium rates and attract higher-quality clients — particularly agencies and established businesses in the US market.
"Simply selling websites isn't enough anymore. Businesses need funnel systems and automations — that's where the real demand is today." — Anthony Meneses, Website Academy PH
Websites vs. Funnels: What's the Difference and Why It Matters
One of the most educational parts of this episode was Anthony's clear breakdown of websites versus funnels — a distinction that many beginner VAs and even some business owners don't fully understand.
| Feature | Website | Funnel |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Build authority, credibility, online presence | Guide a customer through a journey toward a specific action (sale, sign-up, booking) |
| Structure | Multi-page; like an electronic brochure | Linear sequence of pages (landing page → thank you page → email sequence) |
| Paired with | SEO for organic traffic | Email automation, paid ads, lead magnets |
| Best for | Established brands, local businesses, portfolios | Coaches, course creators, agencies, product launches |
| Common tools | WordPress, Elementor, Webflow | Go High Level (GHL), ClickFunnels, Kajabi, System.io |
Anthony explained the funnel concept using the classic AIDA marketing framework: Awareness → Interest → Desire → Action. A funnel is simply a designed path that takes someone from "I've never heard of you" all the way to "take my money." When combined with email automation — where prospects receive a nurture sequence of emails before being presented with a paid offer — the system works around the clock without the freelancer having to be present.
This is also why platforms like Go High Level (GHL) are exploding in demand right now. Agencies and business owners are actively hiring freelancers who know how to build and manage these systems — and they're willing to pay well for that expertise.
🎯 Take Action: Explore the Funnel Niche
- Step 1: Search "Go High Level VA" or "funnel builder Philippines" on Facebook and LinkedIn to understand current demand and rates
- Step 2: Sign up for a free trial of a funnel tool (System.io has a free tier) to start learning the basics
- Step 3: Enroll in Anthony's free course at Website Academy PH to build your foundational web design knowledge
How to Price Your Web Design Services as a Beginner
Pricing is one of the most anxious topics for new freelancers — and Anthony broke it down with refreshing honesty. He outlined three pricing models that apply to web design and VA work:
1. Hourly Pricing
The most common model, especially when working with agencies. Anthony recommends starting at $5/hour if you're a true beginner — and he's not embarrassed about that number. Why? Because at that rate, working full time, you're already earning more than many local jobs. It's a starting point, not a destination. As you build your portfolio and reputation, raising your rate becomes a natural progression.
2. Fixed / Project-Based Pricing
Once you have experience, Anthony strongly recommends shifting to fixed pricing for website and funnel projects. This protects you from scope creep — where clients keep adding requests beyond what was originally agreed. A clear deliverable (e.g., "5-page website for ₱25,000") makes expectations mutual and protects your time.
3. Value-Based Pricing
The most advanced model, and the one with the highest earning potential. Here, pricing is tied to the outcome the client receives rather than hours worked. Anthony's example was illuminating: if a client sells a $5,000 coaching program and you can redesign their sales page to increase conversions by just 2–3%, the ROI for the client far exceeds your fee — making a higher price not just justified, but expected.
"You're not selling the website. You're selling the outcome — what that website will do for their business." — Anthony Meneses, Website Academy PH
The key insight: learn to justify ROI. When you can connect your work to the client's revenue, pricing conversations become much easier. This is a skill that develops over time, but it starts with asking better discovery call questions — like "What does a new lead mean for your business in peso value?"
How to Find Clients and Build Your Reputation
Anthony started just like most freelancers: with a free project. He interned inside a community, built his first funnel on Kajabi at no charge, and used that experience to learn, document, and refine his process. His first paid clients came through referrals — and to this day, inbound referrals remain his primary source of new business.
So how do you build a reputation that generates referrals? Anthony's framework is straightforward:
Optimize Your Profile First
Before you reach out to anyone, make sure your LinkedIn, Facebook (or dedicated business profile), and Upwork profiles clearly communicate who you help and what result you deliver. A vague profile wastes every impression you make.
Prospect with Purpose
Identify your ideal client type — coaches, agencies, e-commerce sellers — and find out where they actually spend time online. LinkedIn for B2B clients, Instagram or TikTok for coaches and creators, Google for local businesses with websites. Add them, connect with them, and engage genuinely.
Show Up Consistently
Anthony calls this "the art of showing up." Post content that's relevant to your target clients, comment on posts in your niche, and contribute value in communities. You don't need to be a thought leader overnight — you just need to be visible and consistent.
Content Strategy: The 70/30 Rule
Anthony shared his personal content mix: 70% client attraction content (addressing the pain points and goals of potential clients) and 30% freelancer authority content (tips, insights, and community-building for other freelancers). The platform matters too — LinkedIn skews toward client attraction, while TikTok is better for building a freelancer audience.
📍 A Note on AI-Powered Discovery
Anthony mentioned something many freelancers overlook: AI tools like ChatGPT now surface web-based profiles when users search for specific service providers. His own name has appeared in ChatGPT search results — because he built a website back in 2020 and has maintained a consistent online presence ever since. SEO and visibility still matter, even in the age of AI-assisted search.
🎯 Take Action: Build Your Client Attraction System
- This week: Audit your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles — do they clearly say who you help and how?
- Next week: Identify 10 ideal clients in your niche and connect with them on the platform where they're most active
- Ongoing: Post at least 3 times per week — 2 client-facing, 1 community/personal — using Anthony's 70/30 rule as your guide
The Skills You Actually Need to Succeed
Anthony was asked directly: what does it take to succeed in web design freelancing? His answer surprised some listeners — because he led not with tools or platforms, but with character.
Character and Soft Skills Come First
Before Figma, before Go High Level, before any tool — you need to be someone clients trust and want to work with. Anthony was emphatic: good character and strong communication are what separate average freelancers from those who build long-term client relationships and high referral rates.
And when he says communication, he doesn't mean fluent, call-center English. He means being clear, honest, and responsive — in writing, over chat, or in discovery calls. Many of his early clients were closed entirely through email and chat. You don't need to sound like a native speaker; you need to be understood and to understand your client's goals.
"Lagi niyong unahin yung character niyo. Kahit gaano ka kagaling, kung wala kang soft skills at character — hindi ka magiging truly professional." — Anthony Meneses, Website Academy PH
Time Management — or Better: Prioritization
Anthony reframes "time management" as prioritization management. The question isn't how to fit more into your day — it's deciding clearly what matters most and protecting those tasks. He uses a personal tracking system to manage his client work, mentoring responsibilities, and family obligations simultaneously. His advice: build the system, then build the discipline to follow it. One without the other doesn't work.
Technical Skills: Learn as You Go
The good news? Technical web design skills are more accessible than ever. YouTube, ChatGPT, and structured courses (including Anthony's free one) can take you from zero to functional in a matter of weeks. His personal tool of choice for design and prototyping is Figma. For funnel work, platforms like Go High Level and System.io have become industry standards.
| Skill Area | Why It Matters | Where to Learn |
|---|---|---|
| Web Design (Figma, Elementor) | Foundation of all client work | Website Academy PH (free), YouTube |
| Funnel Building (GHL, System.io) | Highest demand + premium pricing | Platform tutorials, paid courses |
| SEO Basics | Increases value of website deliverables | Ahrefs blog, Moz, YouTube |
| Email Automation | Core of funnel systems | Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign tutorials |
| Client Communication | Directly impacts retention and referrals | Practice, templates, mentors |
| Project Management | Lets you handle multiple clients without burning out | Notion, Trello, ClickUp (free tiers) |
Anthony also addressed the mental health dimension of freelancing honestly — something not enough mentors talk about. Freelancing can be isolating. Without office mates to vent to, stress can pile up quietly. His solution circles back to community: when you have people around you with the same vision, who understand your struggles, the loneliness becomes far more manageable. It's not a bonus — it's a necessity.
Website Academy PH: A Free Course to Get You Started
The story of how Website Academy PH was born is classic Anthony — accidental, humble, and community-driven. While he was regularly sharing content and documenting everything he learned for his own reference, a community he was part of reached out and asked if he'd run a webinar. He declined. Then they asked again. And again. On the fourth ask, he finally said yes — with the condition that at least five or six students would join to make the time worthwhile.
That first batch was paid. But over time, as the community grew and demand evolved, Anthony made the core course free — because his students told him a free community was what the market actually needed.
What's inside the free course? Anthony designed it to cover two tracks:
- Freelancing landscape fundamentals — how the market works, what clients expect, and how to position yourself as a professional
- Web design practical skills — building actual websites and understanding the tools used by real clients
The course is designed for serious beginners — people who are committed to learning and implementing, not just lurking. As Anthony put it, no course in the world can fix inaction. The course gives you the map; you still have to walk the road.
🎯 Ready to Learn Web Design for Free?
- Find Website Academy PH: Search "Website Academy PH" on Facebook or check Anthony's socials — the link will be in the episode description
- Join Freelancers in the Philippines: Anthony also leads this community where he regularly shares real-world client experiences and project tips
- Commit to the course: Serious beginners only — if you're ready to implement, this is your head start
"Walang course na makakapagfix ng problema mo kung hindi mo naman susundan. Kahit high ticket pa yan — if Hindi ka gagalaw, walang mangyayari." — Anthony Meneses, Website Academy PH
💬 Questions & Answers from the Episode
Q: How did Anthony stay confident when he first started freelancing with no clients?
A: Anthony's answer was raw and refreshing: he didn't have any other choice. With a family to support and a clear decision already made to leave corporate, failure wasn't an option he could afford to entertain. He channeled that into confidence — and backed it up by joining a community where he had accountability and shared vision. His advice: confidence follows commitment. If you leave yourself a back door, you'll use it.
Q: What's the hardest type of client to work with?
A: Start-ups and early-stage businesses with no clarity on what they want. They're excited, but their branding and offer keep changing — which leads to endless revisions and scope creep. Anthony's advice at the beginner stage: be patient and educate these clients. At the experienced stage: pre-qualify and filter them out. You don't have to take every client just because they're asking. Most importantly, always document everything in writing — email trails protect you both.
Q: Is a tech degree required to become a web design VA?
A: Absolutely not. Anthony knows successful freelancers who graduated with nursing degrees or didn't finish college at all. What matters is your willingness to learn, your soft skills, and your commitment to delivering results. The technical skills can be self-taught — Anthony himself had a 10-year gap in web design practice and essentially relearned it from experience rather than starting from scratch.
Q: What's the biggest mistake Anthony sees new freelancers make?
A: Helping people who can't be helped — or more accurately, lending money or energy to people who won't give back. Anthony learned the hard way that you cannot pour from an empty cup. Prioritize yourself, your growth, and your income first. Only then can you sustainably help others. The freelancing journey requires you to guard your resources — financial, mental, and emotional — especially in the early months.
Q: What advice would Anthony give his day-one freelancing self?
A: Have a support community, find a mentor, and eventually become one. He described this three-part journey — having people to look up to, people walking alongside you, and people you're guiding — as the most powerful accelerant to any freelancing career. Also: make the sacrifices now. Cut back on Netflix, late nights, and unnecessary spending temporarily. The short-term discomfort buys you long-term freedom.
🔑 Key Takeaways from Episode 9
- Web design + funnels is a premium VA niche: Even starting at $5/hour full-time yields ₱46,000+/month — and skilled specialists can charge far more through project-based or value-based pricing.
- Know the difference between websites and funnels: Websites build authority; funnels drive conversions. Learning both — plus automation tools like Go High Level — positions you for high-ticket work.
- Start free, build proof: Anthony's first project was unpaid. The portfolio and confidence it built were worth far more than any hourly rate could have been at that stage.
- Soft skills beat technical skills every time: Character, communication, and reliability are what turn a one-time client into a long-term relationship and a referral machine.
- Community is non-negotiable: Freelancing is isolating by default. Having a community with aligned vision — whether that's Website Academy PH, Freelancers in the Philippines, or VA Masters — is not a luxury; it's a career survival tool.
- A free course is waiting for you: Anthony built Website Academy PH specifically for serious beginners. If web design has been on your radar, there's no financial reason not to start today.
Ready to Level Up Your VA Career?
From Kayod to Keyboard brings you real stories, honest insights, and actionable strategies from Filipino freelancers who've built careers on their own terms. Subscribe so you never miss an episode — and take your next step today.
Subscribe to the Podcast📻 More Episodes You'll Love
- Episode 6: How Darwin Built a Salesforce VA Career and Why Niche Skills Pay More
- Episode 4: The Reality of Transitioning from BPO to Freelance VA Work
- Episode 8: Operations and Admin VA Life with Princess Cuasay
Anne is the Operations Manager at VA MASTERS, a boutique recruitment agency specializing in Filipino virtual assistants for global businesses. She leads the end-to-end recruitment process — from custom job briefs and skills testing to candidate delivery and ongoing VA management — and has personally overseen the placement of 1,000+ virtual assistants across industries including e-commerce, real estate, healthcare, fintech, digital marketing, and legal services.
With deep expertise in Philippine work culture, remote team integration, and business process optimization, Anne helps clients achieve up to 80% cost savings compared to local hiring while maintaining top-tier quality and performance.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +13127660301
