freelance web design presentation

16
Working for Yourself as a Web Designer Why, How, When… and all that jazz.

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Freelance Web Design presentation for AIP Students. 10/27/09

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Page 1: Freelance Web Design Presentation

Working for Yourself as a Web DesignerWhy, How, When… and all that jazz.

Page 2: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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)

Page 3: Freelance Web Design Presentation

What Were Talkin’ About

Freelance Pros and Cons

What would help you get started

Generating Leads

The Freelance Process

Page 4: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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

Page 5: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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)

Page 7: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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

Page 8: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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 >>>

Page 9: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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

Page 10: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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.

Page 11: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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.

$ $

Page 12: Freelance Web Design Presentation

Invoice Em’http://www.FreshBooks.com (suggested)

Download Word Invoice Template

Make your own because you’re a designer!

Page 13: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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

Page 14: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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

Page 15: Freelance Web Design Presentation

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

Page 16: Freelance Web Design Presentation

THE ENDThank You!

Find a copy of my slides at DesignerOfTheWeb.com