freelancing as a student

Freelancing as a Studentby: Joe Casabona

joe@casabona.org@jcasabona

Tuesday, October 22, 13

Who Am I?*

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Web Developer, WriterStarted Freelancing at 15HS, College, Grad School2 years full time

Who Am I?*

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*Besides a handsome devil

Tuesday, October 22, 13

Web Developer, WriterStarted Freelancing at 15HS, College, Grad School2 years full time

Ugh. Retail

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Working at Model’s and how terrible it was.

Divine Intervention

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Tell Mt. Carmel Story

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

develop one of the first only wordpress courses, 2 books, met zeldman, speak!, travel, work with people all over the world.

Getting Started

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

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You reach a point where you don't work for money.

-Walt Disney

Tuesday, October 22, 13

ASK “WHY?”

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Why do you want to freelance? It should be about more than making money. There is a lot of reward, but there is a lot of stress. don’t get hit by a wave you don’t see coming.

Find Your Niche

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Select a Market- What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? Web Dev, Photography, graphics are all marketsSelect a Niche- Who do you want to work with? Weddings? Restaurants? You decide, and get really, really good at it. Look for an industry with a need

Work For Free

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Getting clientsFree WorkFriends & Family, school projectsMake up projects!Put Yourself Out There- lots of resources like freelance job boards

You’re very good at Schmoozing.

-Dr. Ben Bishop

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Network! Network all the things!Tell story about Dave and I, in Panera Bread. Start talking to guy.We exchange cards and meet the next week

You’re very good at Schmoozing.

-Dr. Ben Bishop

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Network! Network all the things!Tell story about Dave and I, in Panera Bread. Start talking to guy.We exchange cards and meet the next week

schmooze: v. to converse informally : chat; also : to chat in a friendly and persuasive manner especially so as to gain favor, business, or connections

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Strike up conversationshave a pitch readyLearn about themALWAYS have cards.

Build a Portfolio

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Keep it simpleKeep it shortKeep it updated. This is some cases is more important than your degree! It is tangible work you can show people.

14/workjoec.co/acm-01Tuesday, October 22, 13

Work For Free

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Remember this?

Own Your Student Status

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

There are lots of things you can do to take advantage of being a student. Tell them: 1st year of Google I/OBurke Website for CMPS 202

Difference in being a student: Lower risk (financially), develop professional skills, work on real life projects (speak louder than resume)

People will try to take advantage of you because of your statusTell Bobby Biz Story. Tell Winn Cards and Comics story. Tell Junior League story (“We’re a not for profit/I’m for profit”).

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❖ Student Expenses = Businesses Expenses

❖ Student Discounts = Business Discounts

❖ Access to Academic Resources

Tuesday, October 22, 13

Resources: Professors, Trips, Conferences, papers, the library!

I am not an Accountant

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❖ Student Expenses = Businesses Expenses

❖ Student Discounts = Business Discounts

❖ Access to Academic Resources

Tuesday, October 22, 13

Resources: Professors, Trips, Conferences, papers, the library!

The Balancing

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

You will need to balance work and school - Be honest with your clients - Learn how to say “no” - Take some you time.

Gauge your semester:- Types of classes- Use Rate my Professor!- Great times for student freelancing: post finals week, breaks, early in semester- Terrible times: midterms, finals Finals Schedules: Quick Six, Vitamin Schedule, Projects Galore, Finals Week Lite, Nada

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❖ Projects as client work/portfolio pieces

❖ Be confident and act professional

❖ Communication skills

❖ Take advantage of student discounts

Tuesday, October 22, 13

Communication is Key

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Writing: Spell/Grammar check; read and re-read to make sure you convey the meaning you wantWith email: Have a subject, greet the reader, sign your name

Phone Calls: Speak clearly, no slang, think about what to say, the say it. Pay Attention when the client is speakingTalk about more than just business and the weather. Do they have kids? how old are they? What are their hobbies?

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Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.

-Ben Franklin

Tuesday, October 22, 13

Involve your clients. Keep them in the loop. [something people in our field have trouble with]-Most importantly, don’t talk down to them. They hired you for a reason.

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

In Person Meetings:- Dress to impress. Be professional. You’re asking these people for money.- Give a good handshake (tell intern story; dead fish handshake)- Make Eye Contact, Smile, Take Notes: Shows you’re paying attn. - For the love of God, don’t check your phone unless it rings.

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Worth 1,000Words

Tuesday, October 22, 13

In Person Meetings:- Dress to impress. Be professional. You’re asking these people for money.- Give a good handshake (tell intern story; dead fish handshake)- Make Eye Contact, Smile, Take Notes: Shows you’re paying attn. - For the love of God, don’t check your phone unless it rings.

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Worth 1,000Words

Tuesday, October 22, 13

In Person Meetings:- Dress to impress. Be professional. You’re asking these people for money.- Give a good handshake (tell intern story; dead fish handshake)- Make Eye Contact, Smile, Take Notes: Shows you’re paying attn. - For the love of God, don’t check your phone unless it rings.

What about Pricing?

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Tuesday, October 22, 13

Determined by:- Quality of Your Work- Your industry- Your Experience

At first, you’ll probably charge a lot less than the industry; that’s OK. You’re still learning. Don’t charge for the learning curve. However, stick by your rates. If someone balks at them, explain why you charge as much as you do. My numbers: When I started, I charged $10/hr for my first site. Then I moved to $25. Then $65. My base rate now is $80/hr and I quote per project.

Remember: Once you learn the ropes, determine how much a project is worth to the client! If it will make them money, charge them for it.

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If you want to set off and go develop some grand new thing, you don't need millions of dollars of capitalization. You need enough pizza and Diet Coke to stick in your refrigerator, a cheap PC to work on, and the dedication to go through with it. We slept on floors. We waded across rivers.

--John Carmack

Tuesday, October 22, 13

First PC based side-scrolling game; ported SMB to PC.Creator of DOOM/Founder of id software. CMPS 360: You’ve probably done things he pioneered or improved upon.

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Questions?

Tuesday, October 22, 13