From 0 to $2k Shopify builds in 5 months: How to make money as an Instant Expert

Nick Carvajal, a Shopify Designer & Developer, has built a thriving freelance business helping eCommerce brands improve their storefronts. But his momentum really took off when he became an official Instant Expert and began finding clients through Contra.

In just 5 months, Nick went from charging $500 for his first projects to commanding up to $2,000 for custom Shopify landing pages, product pages, and homepage redesigns. 

Here’s how he did it, with Instant as his core Shopify design tool:

Getting started as an Instant Expert

Nick discovered Instant on Contra, but it was a direct message from Instant’s co-founder, Sam, that sparked his interest.

“Sam was very kind and welcoming about his product and wanted to give me a hand in progressing my career.”

Since then, he’s built conversion-focused pages for merchants across industries: everything from jewelry and spices to trading cards and beauty products.

“My projects focus on conversion rate optimization and redesigning home pages and product pages. I also help with projects that are partially built and need to be finalized and polished, which I charge hourly for!”

Nick’s process: Redesigning Le Jardin’s product page

One of Nick’s standout projects is with Le Jardin, a premium hair serum brand. Although the brand already had solid conversion rates, they wanted to compete more effectively by leveling up their product page.

“I love working with premium products because the details matter even more, and the balance between information and subtleness has to be very gentle.”

Nick first checked against specific competitors and the market for additional design reference points, and then came up with the best approach for the redesign. 

Nick’s redesign focused on storytelling and emotional connection, especially for the mobile version, which he developed first before adapting it for desktop.

“We’re bringing elements that are normally hidden in dropdowns after the buy button into their own dedicated sections with photography and conversion-focused emotional information… This project needs to speak to the female consumer and not be overly logical—we’re highlighting how a woman perceives herself and how the product has worked for others.”

Why Instant improved his design to Shopify workflow: 

Before Instant, Nick used Webflow for design and had to manually export pages into Shopify, an inefficient workflow that slowed him down. 

“The biggest issue was that I couldn't make direct edits in Webflow and have them immediately translate to Shopify - it was an annoying export and import process for each change.”

Instant changed everything.

“Instant has allowed me to be creative and fast, something the market has always valued and will continue to value. I start on Figma and develop on Instant.”

He loves how easy it is to build tailored Shopify experiences, whether that’s a homepage, a landing page, or product-specific content.

“I particularly like how you can build entire pages, sections, and specific product pages for individual products. This gives me and the client the freedom to place tailored information so consumers see details on exactly what they're purchasing.”

Standing out as an Instant Expert on Contra

Nick took a smart approach on Contra: start small, build reviews, and stand out by specializing.

“On every freelancing platform I've used, I've taken the strategy of starting with low prices, taking on small projects, and creating lasting relationships. Instant has allowed me to stand out in a crowd of people that are just 'Shopify developers/designers.’”

Being certified as an Instant Expert gave him credibility, and a niche that brands are actively looking for.

“With Instant, I can be part of a niche where the market is already looking for experienced Shopify experts. I'm extremely grateful for this tool and the projects it has allowed me to work on. It's a major reason why I've experienced such tremendous growth over the past 5 months.”

What he tells other Shopify freelancers

With freelance work, strict deadlines and tight timetables often leave no room for roadblocks. That’s why, for freelancers considering Instant, Nick has two words: support matters.

“I would say that Instant has the best support team you could ever imagine… The moment I had questions, I received immediate responses, and that hasn't stopped. This isn't preferential treatment; the team is very active on Slack and helps everyone in real-time.”

“The tool is advanced and constantly releasing updates. But as a designer and developer, a tool is only as good as the support behind it.”

Final thoughts

Nick’s story shows what’s possible when you combine skill with the right tools and community. With Instant, he’s gone from taking on small freelance projects to building premium Shopify experiences that are both strategic and conversion-focused. And with Contra, he has found a steady stream of merchants actively seeking experts like him!

Whether you’re building your first storefront or looking to specialize in conversion-focused eCommerce design, Instant gives you the creative freedom and professional support to scale your Shopify design business, just like Nick.

Hire an official Instant Expert

Nick Carvajal, the Shopify Designer & Developer behind high-converting pages for brands like Le Jardin, is a certified Instant Expert and available on Contra to help you bring your store to life. Work with Nick or start building with Instant today!