Independent Web Design: Is it practical? — OZONE Asylum, home of the Mad Scientists

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Independent Web Design: Is it practical?

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Your Text: Insert Slimies » Insert UBB Code » Close Last Tag \| All Tags UBB Help	I've been dabbling in freelance for a long time. Finally last year I moved across the country, and did exclusively freelance for several months. This January I did get a job again, but I made sure that my commitment is 30-40 hours at my discretion. That way I still have time to dedicate to my personal clients. I find freelance work very rewarding, but you have to be careful. For one thing, you should avoid high-maintenance clients like the plague. I don't necessarily mean people that are demanding, but rather people that don't value your work. I'm talking about the kind of client who calls up furious that their site is down for one hour, but yet doesn't want to pay more than $5 / month. Or the people that think $1000 is a lot to spend on a website, yet have a laundry list of particular details that they want custom-designer and programmed. As for getting clients, word-of-mouth is the only way to go. Rapport with the client is the most important thing in freelance, and a personal referral starts you off right. From there its just a matter of doing your job well, being honest, and talking to the client on their own terms. Clients come in all shapes and sizes, and have varying level of interest in the technical details. What will really set you apart is if you are able to discuss technical things at the business level. If you can accurately translate technical decisions into business costs, ROI, pros and cons you will be freelance gold. I have one client who I work for on a straight billable hours basis who just tells me in general terms what they want and then I propose and implement solutions. They actually come to me for help with the decision making process at a very high level. It feels good, pays well, and really empowers me to do my best work. These are not the kind of people that are going to be bargain hunting on elance.com. -jiblet Loading...
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