Comments on: Regardless of What You’ve Heard Freelancing is a Tough Business http://bococreative.com/blog/freelancing-is-a-tough-business-like-most-designers-i-know-i%e2%80%99m-a-person-that-doesn%e2%80%99t-thrive-in-a-corporate-world-i-tried-for-many-years-and-al/ Fri, 11 May 2012 20:31:21 +0000 hourly 1 By: Andi Skene http://bococreative.com/blog/freelancing-is-a-tough-business-like-most-designers-i-know-i%e2%80%99m-a-person-that-doesn%e2%80%99t-thrive-in-a-corporate-world-i-tried-for-many-years-and-al/comment-page-1/#comment-970 Andi Skene Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:24:03 +0000 http://joannaciolek.com/wordpress/?p=1116#comment-970 Hello, I came in off of LinkedIn. This blog is really nicely done. I'm also starting out on the freelance road. I just finished up my bachelor's, thinking I'd be able to leverage it into a better full-time position but the timing just didn't work out so I'm coming from a place of desperation (not good, I know, but the truth is I had fantasized about doing freelance for a long time.) I'll definitely come back and read some more. Good luck! Hello, I came in off of LinkedIn. This blog is really nicely done. I’m also starting out on the freelance road. I just finished up my bachelor’s, thinking I’d be able to leverage it into a better full-time position but the timing just didn’t work out so I’m coming from a place of desperation (not good, I know, but the truth is I had fantasized about doing freelance for a long time.)

I’ll definitely come back and read some more. Good luck!

]]> By: Johnny http://bococreative.com/blog/freelancing-is-a-tough-business-like-most-designers-i-know-i%e2%80%99m-a-person-that-doesn%e2%80%99t-thrive-in-a-corporate-world-i-tried-for-many-years-and-al/comment-page-1/#comment-968 Johnny Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:20:33 +0000 http://joannaciolek.com/wordpress/?p=1116#comment-968 Yes, freelancing is tough, especially in the beginning, but eventually you get the hang of it with time. It's not unusual to make a ton of mistakes along the way either. It's just all a part of the learning curve. One thing that does help with the learning process is to take the time to get to know and communicate with other freelancers on Twitter. Just in the last year or so since I've been on, I've learned an incredible amount through shared links, visiting other users' blogs, leaving comments on them, etc. My knowledge and income has risen steadily during that time too. Yes, freelancing is tough, especially in the beginning, but eventually you get the hang of it with time. It’s not unusual to make a ton of mistakes along the way either. It’s just all a part of the learning curve.

One thing that does help with the learning process is to take the time to get to know and communicate with other freelancers on Twitter. Just in the last year or so since I’ve been on, I’ve learned an incredible amount through shared links, visiting other users’ blogs, leaving comments on them, etc. My knowledge and income has risen steadily during that time too.

]]> By: Saurabh http://bococreative.com/blog/freelancing-is-a-tough-business-like-most-designers-i-know-i%e2%80%99m-a-person-that-doesn%e2%80%99t-thrive-in-a-corporate-world-i-tried-for-many-years-and-al/comment-page-1/#comment-967 Saurabh Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:08:27 +0000 http://joannaciolek.com/wordpress/?p=1116#comment-967 Nice Post. Joanna. I guess, you have learned the art of marketing now :) Nice Post. Joanna. I guess, you have learned the art of marketing now :)

]]> By: Rita Lewis http://bococreative.com/blog/freelancing-is-a-tough-business-like-most-designers-i-know-i%e2%80%99m-a-person-that-doesn%e2%80%99t-thrive-in-a-corporate-world-i-tried-for-many-years-and-al/comment-page-1/#comment-964 Rita Lewis Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:51:55 +0000 http://joannaciolek.com/wordpress/?p=1116#comment-964 Oh man, what you said here is so true. I have been freelancing as a web designer for the past 10 years and still have not mastered the business side of things. I have gotten "fired" or fired myself several times because of communication issues between myself and a client who needs to be educated about good design principles, usability, and all the cost issues you mentioned. For example, I just got burned good and it was my fault. A client on Joomlancers was considering outsourcing a huge project to convert their 10-year old site from Joomla 1 to 1.5. I bid a standard amount for the level of work but the outsource companies bid way low ($300) and stupid me agreed. I did it for the promise of future full-paid work. Second mistake was not realizing that the client didn't understand the scope of work even after three tries to define it together. I had added an amount of money to be held aside to pay for all of the upgrades to extensions--and you are right it is trial and error in both designing and people pleasing (doing too many revisions) and now the client accuses me of padding the expenses (which I most certainly did not -- I had warned him that everything had to be replaced). Third mistake was not explaining the technology and web standards clearly. The client wanted to continue his old way of data entry which produced a site that was disorganized. Trying to get him to see that his organization was too literal was hopeless. I hadn't communicated Steve Krug's mantra of "keep it simple, stupid," clearly enough. Final mistake, trying to please the client by adding extra touches for free (video, photo gallery, widgets, calendar, and so forth. All these communication errors and business errors added up. I'm now going to a lawyer because the client wants twice as much money returned as what he paid me. Lesson learned: communicate clearly the scope of work, about the technology, the limitations of effort based on fee, and most of all stand fast on what I know from 28 years in the business about web standards, technology, and usability while listening carefully to what the client needs. Thanks for writing this column. It made me think hard. Oh man, what you said here is so true. I have been freelancing as a web designer for the past 10 years and still have not mastered the business side of things. I have gotten “fired” or fired myself several times because of communication issues between myself and a client who needs to be educated about good design principles, usability, and all the cost issues you mentioned. For example, I just got burned good and it was my fault. A client on Joomlancers was considering outsourcing a huge project to convert their 10-year old site from Joomla 1 to 1.5. I bid a standard amount for the level of work but the outsource companies bid way low ($300) and stupid me agreed. I did it for the promise of future full-paid work.

Second mistake was not realizing that the client didn’t understand the scope of work even after three tries to define it together. I had added an amount of money to be held aside to pay for all of the upgrades to extensions–and you are right it is trial and error in both designing and people pleasing (doing too many revisions) and now the client accuses me of padding the expenses (which I most certainly did not — I had warned him that everything had to be replaced).

Third mistake was not explaining the technology and web standards clearly. The client wanted to continue his old way of data entry which produced a site that was disorganized. Trying to get him to see that his organization was too literal was hopeless. I hadn’t communicated Steve Krug’s mantra of “keep it simple, stupid,” clearly enough.

Final mistake, trying to please the client by adding extra touches for free (video, photo gallery, widgets, calendar, and so forth.

All these communication errors and business errors added up. I’m now going to a lawyer because the client wants twice as much money returned as what he paid me.

Lesson learned: communicate clearly the scope of work, about the technology, the limitations of effort based on fee, and most of all stand fast on what I know from 28 years in the business about web standards, technology, and usability while listening carefully to what the client needs.

Thanks for writing this column. It made me think hard.

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