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