10 absolute 'Nos' for a freelance web developer

RohanShenoy · November 28th, 2007, 02:37 AM

Excerpt:

Quote:

1) Can you show me a mock-up to help us choose a designer/developer? No.
I fell for this once when I was young and naive. I made no money and wasted lots of time. Don't do unpaid work for the chance to be paid -- this wouldn't fly in any other industry, so why web design? The best case scenario (though rare) is that you get a job with a client who knows that you'll work for free when necessary. The worst case scenario is that they don't pay you, and still use your stuff, knowing you don't have the legal resources to do anything about it. Most likely though, you’ll just waste time.

2) Can you give us a discount rate? No.
There are A LOT of companies out there that do not see web design as a service worth more than $20 an hour. These should never be your clients. In my early post-college years, I used to value "getting the job" so highly, I would take on an inordinate amount of work for the pay. Let me tell you that it's not worth it. Ever. Remember, you may be doing this company a favor, but on the flip side, you're hurting your own future, and your family's. Nowadays, I give my hourly rate immediately, and it weeds out many potential clients. It's simple math really -- if doubling your rate loses half your client work, then you're still making as much in half the time. If you do excellent work, get paid for it – there will always be comparable "firms" charging double what you are.

3) Will you register and host my site? No.
Sure it seems like a good idea -- free recurring revenue right? Well, maybe... if you can first get them to pay, and then if you can justify making $10 a month for the endless phone support you'll have to give at all hours of the night. You see, once the client thinks that you are responsible for their email and website functionality, you WILL get called all the time when their email shows the slightest wavering or their website 404s for any reason on their home computer. Believe it or not, I've even known someone who had a client call about his cell phone functionality just because my friend hosted his site. Don't do it...it's not worth it. Give them a registrar and hosting company and let them sign up themselves.

Read rest of the article at http://www.wakeuplater.com/freelance...eelancers.aspx

alexgeek · November 28th, 2007, 03:27 AM

Thanks mate, good read!

Monie · November 28th, 2007, 04:02 AM

Are you a freelancer web developer Rohan?

RohanShenoy · November 28th, 2007, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monie

Are you a freelancer web developer Rohan?

No.
I am teacher actually.
When I wanted to design my website, I could not afford web-designers. Also i had worked with fromtpage earlier. So I knew that it wasn't difficult to make a website with simple pages. Thats how it started.

Then I realized that managing content with plain HTMl is a big headache. So I swiched to PHP and CSS for layouts.

Lchad · November 28th, 2007, 07:03 AM

Three excellent points Rohan!

My favorite is #3.

RohanShenoy · November 28th, 2007, 07:11 AM

There are more 7 points at http://www.wakeuplater.com/freelance...eelancers.aspx

Do read them.

minute44 · November 28th, 2007, 07:26 AM

I think if you handle your T&Cs correctly there should be no reason not to offer hosting and domain registration.

The other two points are great though. In regards to number 2, I would always agree a price before starting the project rather than trying to negotiate an hourly rate. This saves the potential agro if something takes you longer than expected.

robbied72 · November 28th, 2007, 07:38 AM

I have fallen for most of these points, one of the biggest pain is letting your IM address slip

fantastic post mind you, and a reminder to us all

RohanShenoy · November 28th, 2007, 07:46 AM

^Thank you Robbie

Even I have learnt many points from this article even though I am not primarily a web-designer.

Most of the times, all these mistakes we commit , we call them by a misnomer called 'Extended customer service'. But it takes a toll on our personal lives.

Under name of 'Extended customer service', we lose self-respect, self-esteem in our as well as clients' opinion by showing highly flexible policies and a desperation to earn money. I accept, sometimes its circumstances which make us beahev that way and we have no other options, but some people just refuse to give up these strategies.

Lchad · November 28th, 2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Most of the times, all these mistakes we commit , we call them by a misnomer called 'Extended customer service'. But it takes a toll on our personal lives.

Under name of 'Extended customer service', we lose self-respect, self-esteem in our as well as clients' opinion by showing highly flexible morals and a desperation to earn money.

I hadn't thought of it that way but now that you bring up the point, it is so true. When customers ask me for special service, I feel pressured, and want to say "yes". I'm better now at saying "I can't get that done today but will be happy to do it for you soon".

The one thing that I have just recently learned and I hope this comes in handy for others...
I have so many clients that call me during the day to discuss changes in their site, ask for marketing advice, general web questions. Some of these conversations can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Sometimes I can get several of these during the day. By the end of the day I have spent 2+ hours on the phone getting none of my actual work done. Then I'd have to work into the evening to catch up.

I was not charging for this time on the phone until recently. Now I do charge. Phone consultation is something I consider chargeable time. I also charge when someone emails me and I need to draft a long detailed email outlining my thoughts on their project. If it's related to web design/development I now charge.

I feel better that my self-respect has gone up since.

RohanShenoy · November 28th, 2007, 08:02 AM

^ Also charging people makes sure that don't wander between the talks on some other non-relevant issues. People will also try to speak everything as quick as possible without wasting your time.

Another problem with phone-support is that people call at anytime of the day and their expectation rise every day.

And I must admit, I have always has problems asking for MY money and MY time. It had reduced now though.

Earlier I felt a sort of embarrased to ask for money. Not now. Ofcourse you need to consider some really deserving people who may not be able to afford whom you many, to discount a little bit because you know they can get many refferals to you and promote your service . but again, these are not guaranteed, so better to discount for 'name-sake'

minute44 · November 28th, 2007, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbied72

I have fallen for most of these points, one of the biggest pain is letting your IM address slip

The good outweighs the bad for this though. The communication you gain with your client can be invaluable. Simply delete them from your IM list when the project is done.

welshstew · November 28th, 2007, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minute44

The good outweighs the bad for this though. The communication you gain with your client can be invaluable. Simply delete them from your IM list when the project is done.

Or set up a business one...

Some good points to keep in mind when dealing with Clients. Thanks.

Aso · November 28th, 2007, 09:04 AM

I agree ^. Though I use a seperate 'business-only' IM anyway

RohanShenoy · November 28th, 2007, 09:15 AM

and I think deleting something from your contacts list would make them feel bad.

robbied72 · November 28th, 2007, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RohanShenoy

and I think deleting something from your contacts list would make them feel bad.

But it can get quite awkward sometimes as a lot of my clients are in the states and they feel they can IM me anytime, think I may introduce a business only one and sign on to that ONLY when I am in business mode and not in relaxation mode.

RohanShenoy · November 28th, 2007, 09:49 AM

Yep, many clients do not consider our need. They would treat as on-call customer support, we we aren't anyway.

My case: I am on orkut(social network like myspace) and write articles for students in relevant communities. Many students get back to me and ask for help by leaving messages in my scrapbook. I ask them politely to post their difficulty on my forum, to which I answer when I have free time. This way, I don't oblige myself to answer the difficulty immediately.

I also restricted my scrapbook to only freinds and friends of friends.

I don't how many of you have come accross this: I find many people have a habit of asking for advice and tips just for the sake of it, not with very seriously. And when you give them advice and tips, they start asking for shortcuts. Such people are very bad for business, be that my teaching field or your we-designing field! Keep such people at bay!

simonb · November 28th, 2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lchad

Three excellent points Rohan!

My favorite is #3.

Same here. I hosted some ones site. O dear. They lock them self out my fault. lol

sannbe · November 28th, 2007, 02:34 PM

Starting out I had my work guidelines as part of the contract we signed. Now, If I take on a new client, they are referral only so they already know how I work and what I will and will not do. It makes the jobs and clients easier to deal with and every body knows what's going on.

November 28th, 2007, 04:07 PM

Hello

I'm new to this site, and this was the first post I read. I completely agree with point #3, as me and my boss have had the same problem. Basically, we are a computer store in a small town; which also provides websites. My boss does the graphics/deals with clients, while I write the CSS/JS/HTML/PHP code for the actual functionality and internal structure. We host the site for them, and I hear day after day "my site is down/my e-mail is not working" or, my favorite (this was a big issue and we almost lost a client) "there is too much spam in the e-mail address you provided for me!!" it really is a pain in the ass, and, from experience, I would advise: do not host websites for clients!

But this looks like a cool community, perhaps ill stick around for a while

-nelson