How do you define success as a freelancer? Is it measured by the number of clients knocking at your door? Or is it just the fact that you’ve stayed a float by being able to pay your bills and take some time off here and there? When was the last time you were contacted to speak at a conference hundreds or thousands of miles away that relates to your industry? Is that considered success?
For many of us “success” means something entirely different. While some of us would be happy just being able to manage their bills, some of us want to be the next big thing. We want our names mentioned in every corner of the blogosphere, we want our expertise to be published in various editions of industry magazines, and we want to be wealthy of course.
There isn’t a lot of room on “the top” but some of us do succeed getting there. How does someone go from something like a moderate web designer to a hot commodity? They get there by reaching The Boiling Point.
Continue Reading »
Q: How Do I Deal With The Stress of Multiple Deadlines? - Pieter Keil
A: I know exactly where you are coming from Pieter! I will sometimes find myself so stressed out during a really busy week that I feel like going to work at the local gas station and leaving the whole world of freelancing behind! Luckily, I’ve learned to accept this and turn the stress and fear of missed deadlines into motivation and productivity… how? Read on…
Continue Reading »
Whether you are a Web Designer, Developer, Graphic Designer, Logo Designer, or even a Freelance Writer, there are many places out there that you can sell your work directly online. And the best part about it all? You don’t have to deal with any clients!
If you’ve just dumped 5 mock ups on a client and they rejected every single one of them, all is not lost! You may be able to resell each one of those mock ups online and many times you can end up making more than you might have with that client. Be aware that if you signed a contract to make sure you still have the right to sell that work!
Either way this is a good way to make some extra income when times are slow. Or better yet, a perfect way for those up-coming designers or writers to get the ball rolling and find out if they’re talented enough to go out on their own!
Continue Reading »
Welcome to the second addition to the freelance bootcamp series! Last week we asked if you were really ready for full time freelancing. Many of you weren’t quite ready to take the full leap so instead you may have decided to do this safely and securely as a part time job. Smart move hotshot! In this episode we explain how to land your first clients, what to charge them, and how to handle the deadlines your client(s) set!
We figure the best way to gain experience as a freelancer in the beginning is to get your feet wet right away. Once you have a couple clients under your belt, you will have the right mindset when you begin to set yourself up as a legitimate freelancer. Once you have example work to show, you can then begin to build your online portfolio and begin to gain exposure to find a steady client stream.
Continue Reading »
Here at FM we were lucky enough to snag an interview with Paul Boag of Boagworld. If you are a Web Designer or Developer and have not heard the name “Paul Boag,” then most likely you’ve been hiding under a rock for the past 4 or more years.
Paul has helped make a name for himself as well as his web design company Headscape Web Design Solutions by not only publishing the most popular and longest running podcast for web designers, developers, and website owners over at Boagworld, and by speaking at several conferences and engagements such as SXSW, @media, FOWD and The Highland Fling, but also writing articles for such publications as .NET magazine and Think Vitamin.
As if that last paragraph didn’t contain enough links and mentions (slow down Paul!) he has also written a new book which should be of importance to our readers: The Website Owners Manual. With chapters such as “Secrets to a successful website” and “User centric design” it’s a must for anyone involved in website deployment. Not only grab a copy for yourself but for your clients as well (go a head, make them think you love them!).
Continue Reading »
