Freelance Web Design Presentation
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Transcript of Freelance Web Design Presentation
Working for Yourself as a Web DesignerWhy, How, When… and all that jazz.
About Me
Erica Volkman
BLOG: http://www.Designeroftheweb.com (new)
COMPANY: http://www.GoodImpressionsMedia.com
Interactive Media Design Grad @ AIP 2006
Work for the Man (and freelance)
Freelance
Work for the Man (and freelance)
What Were Talkin’ About
Freelance Pros and Cons
What would help you get started
Generating Leads
The Freelance Process
The Pros of Freelancing
• Work From Anywhere in the World
• Set Your Own Rate
• Somewhat Flexible Hours
• Variety of Projects (Reject the Rejects)
• Reduced Transportation Costs
• Tax Write Offs
The Cons of Freelancing
You really aren't your own boss, You have many bosses, and they all want something the same day
Time Management
Self-Discipline (Focus)
Lack of Financial Security
Accounting and Taxes
No Health Benefits (buy your own)
Blog Posts
Random Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons from Top Web Designers
Pro and Con Article from MS Money
Pros and Cons of Freelance Flexibility
Getting Started
Choose a name
Make yourself a site
Create a Proposal / Quote / Contract template document and USE IT.
Choose Your Rate
Create an Invoice Template or set-up an account for invoicing
What’s in a Name?Use your own name (Does not need Registered and can use your social security as a Tax ID.)
Create a Fictitious Business Name ($70.00) and get a Tax ID (EIN) so you can open a Business Checking.
OR
Fic Name Requirements (PA): http://www.dos.state.pa.us/corps/cwp/view.asp?a=1093&q=431168
Fic Name Registration (PA): http://www.dos.state.pa.us/corps/lib/corps/20/7/311.pdf
Other States: http://www.business.gov/register/business-name/dba.html
Tax ID Registration: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=102767,00.html
Doing Business In PA Web Site >>>
A Business or Portfolio Site.
People will argue its not needed.
Makes landing clients easier
If your skills are not where you would like them to be as designer, use a template for yourself and your clients. Also consider a content management system (CMS) like Joomla or Wordpress.
Include links to your work, or screen shots, or even just information for now. It makes you look much more serious.
$50 / Year for Hosting + $10 / Year for .com name
•TemplateMonster.com•ThemeForest.net•RocketTheme.com•ElegantThemes.com
Create a Proposal Template
Sample Project Proposal HERE.
Very simple, Not sure how it would hold up in court so please use update and details for each project.
Choosing Your Rate
When / How I first started…
Determine your rate with: Freelance Switch Rate Calculator
OR Choose how many hours you would like to work per week on freelance and how much you would like to make from freelance per week.
$ $
Invoice Em’http://www.FreshBooks.com (suggested)
Download Word Invoice Template
Make your own because you’re a designer!
Generating LeadsAIP – Renee McCafferty
5th quarter or above with a minimum 2.5 GPA
Friends and Fam are #1
CraigsList.org under Web or Gigs
Bidding Sites Such As:
GetAFreelance.com
Elance.com
Grass Roots Marketing
Hand out fliers
Send out post cards
The Process1 . Find Client
2 . Meet / Speak with Client to find out the scope of the project. You need to know exactly what they want – how they want it to look, how they want it to function, what their goals are. EXHAUST all questions.
3 . Do brief competitive review to discover ways that your client can excel over the competition.
4 . Create your Proposal / Be as detailed as possible with EVERYTHING. - get approval
The Process
5 . Create Screen Shots and Wire Frames – get approval
6 . Break it out – make it function. Give the client a test site to visit while they wait for the magic.
7 . Test and Revise x 1000
8 . Deliver Project & Promote if applicable
9 . Invoice
Blog Posts:Web Design From ScratchThe Web Design ProcessEvaluate Your Process and Results
THE ENDThank You!
Find a copy of my slides at DesignerOfTheWeb.com