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Pulling In Potential Clients In Freelance Web Development

Every freelance web designer wants to approach their clients with the up most courage that they will be able to complete the task. Throughout this article I will explain the INs and OUTs of getting a job as a freelance designer and programmer. Most designers know the technologies needed to get a job, but not the business end of things.

Wham!

The next thing you know your sitting in front of your first possible client for freelance web design at the local coffee shop. How will you "sell" yourself? How can you prove you know what you are doing (despite your small portfolio) ? Are you really worth $xx.xx or can this person pay their grandson to do the same thing? Most often, freelance designers seem to jump into things before their full qualified from the technological and business standpoints. They either are shaky on both, or know one and not the other.

The art of selling yourself

Yes, in freelance design and development you are the product, whether you like it or not. People are going to judge you just like they would in any business field. If you are wearing dirty or worn down clothes it will making a first and lasting impression on you. People will lack confidence in you just for this reason and it is something you need to accept from the beginning. The other side of the equation deals with the technology needed to perform a task such as creating a database-driven website, or creating a shopping cart .

If you currently do not have a solid portfolio to prove you are worthy of performing the task, you need to talk to them and prove in another way how you can prove that you can complete the task. This idea does not just go for development, it goes for design too. If your portfolio simply is not up to snuff you will need to begin by doing free or fairly cheap projects to help build your portfolio.

Are you worth it?

So you think you are worth $50 an hour? Prove it. Do you still design using primarily using photoshop or do you hand-code your website in xhtml and css ? Are your designs still looking like 1998 mockups or are they standards-complaint ? Are you still using javascript to validate form input? If you answered yes to any of those questions, I recommend you definitely rethink how much you are worth to a potential client.

Do you understand your client's business ?

Most often, beginning designer's do not fully understand a potential clients needs. For example they will design a website with out-of-date technologies just to "get the job done", instead of understanding long term problems that could arise if they choose one method over another. One thing I've found very helpful to do when you don't understand completely a potential clients needs, to ask; do NOT guess. Your client will be a lot more understanding if you get the task done the way they want the first time, rather than two or three times. This is something I ran into the hard way when I first started freelance web design. I believe this is key in completing your project quickly and effectively.

Are you sure?

So... do you understand the basics of knowing both the business side and the technological side of becoming a freelance developer? I've found from previous experiences that going with your gut instincts in handling problems or ideas with a client is the best way to go, especially when you do not have guide like this to help you through. I believe if you know your client, you will be able to produce quicker than if you were sitting around guessing at what the client exactly wants. Good luck in your future ventures !