Ten Tips for Working With Clients Remotely: Part 1

Collaborating with clients you never meet face-to-face has become normal for most web workers. Ours is an industry where working remotely poses very few real obstacles — nearly every part of the web design process can be done from the comfort of a home office or coffee shop. We’re lucky to have this flexibility, especially in tough economic times when a swanky office doesn’t fit in the business budget. Even if you do have an office, chances are you will land a few clients who aren’t located around the block. But you quickly discover that working remotely has its downsides. Without face-to-face interaction it’s easy for major communication issues to develop… often without you knowing until it’s too late. Avoid a major meltdown with these simple tips.

Webdesigner Depot (2009). Careers>Freelance>Telecommuting

Taking the Guesswork Out of Design

Clients, like other humans, often fear what they don't understand. Daniel Ritzenthaler explains how sound goal-setting, documentation, and communication strategies can bridge the gap between a designer's intuition and a client's need for proof.

Ritzenthaler, Daniel. List Apart, A (2009). Design>Web Design>Freelance>User Centered Design

How to Estimate a Copy Writing Job

It’s not easy to estimate how long a copy writing job will take due to the many factors involved in the estimation.

Technical Communication Center (2009). Careers>Writing>Freelance>Estimating

Essentials for the Mobile Writer

For the freelance writer on the go, there are some items that are essential for what they're doing. This post looks at the gear that one writer uses when working away from the home office.

Nesbitt, Scott. ScottNesbitt.net (2009). Careers>Freelance>Telecommuting>Writing

Fifteen Steps to a More Productive Workday

Freelance designers, as well as those who work for small design studios, often face the challenge of getting the most productivity out of their time and achieving maximum efficiency. While this can be a struggle for anyone in a more “typical” job, freelancers have added distractions, unique challenges, and no one to hold them accountable. To be a successful freelancer you’ll have to place a priority on productivity and find ways that work for you.

Vandelay Design Blog (2009). Articles>Freelance>Project Management>Workflow

Nine Myths About Freelancers And Freelancing

Many people are mistaken by what a freelancer actually is and how they use their time. There are many myths that clients think about freelancers, freelance work, or becoming a freelancer. I have made a short list of freelance myths, and what the reality of the myth actually is.

Johnson, Andy. Web Design Tutorials (2009). Careers>Web Design>Freelance

Eight Ways Freelancers Can Make Money In The Holiday Season

Christmas and the holiday season are often the time of the year where people spend the most amount of money. So if your outgoings overtake your freelance in-comings, then you may need to take a look at re-branding your business for the holiday season. Here is WebdesignDev’s short guide on how freelancers can make a bit of extra money on the side during the holiday season when times are tough on the wallet.

Johnson, Andy. Web Design Tutorials (2009). Careers>Web Design>Freelance

Freelance Technical Writing in Israel

Observations about freelance technical writing in Israel.

Hurwitz, Charles. Freelance Technical Writing in Israel. Careers>Freelance>Technical Writing>Israel

To the Man With a Hammer Everything Looks Like a Nail

An engineer at a company once called me and asked me how much it would cost to edit a Service Manual that he had written for a medical device. I asked him to send it to me so that I could give him a quote. When I received it I saw to my amazement and horror that he had written a 200 page manual (including many graphics) in Excel. When I asked him why he didn't use Word, he replied 'I'm an engineer I know how to use Excel, not Word.'

Hurwitz, Charles. Freelance Technical Writing in Israel (2009). Articles>Documentation>Freelance>Software

Do We Need to Hire a Salaried Technical Writer or Should We Go With a Freelancer?

You are a high-tech/Bio-tech company and your first product is nearing release. The product requires documentation and you ask your self what are our options? Before deciding you should consider these factors.

Hurwitz, Charles. Freelance Technical Writing in Israel (2009). Careers>Management>Freelance>Technical Writing

Five Ways To Scare Your Web Dev Clients Away

Some folks may find it impressive that you know the ins and out of UNIX and how your last open source coding project attracted media attention, but the majority do not. Especially when acronyms start spewing forth with articulated speed. Keep in mind that executives are employed to keep you employed and need to understand your ideas to communicate them to stakeholders and customers. One way to minimize 'tech' talk is to include the following words into each technical statement: We are using [technology/programming language] to enhance [a specific part] of our business.

Varty, Sue. Web Design Dev (2009). Careers>Freelance>Advice>Web Design

Freelance Contracts: Do’s And Don’ts

Drafting a contract that covers you, and doesn’t just enumerate information, is more than important: it is a must. Freelancers do not have the benefit of a legal department dedicated to protecting their interests with a watertight contract. Nevertheless, a freelancer’s contract must be comprehensive, concise and clear. It should outline the scope of the job, scheduling demands, the expectations of both parties and more.

Bowen, Robert. Smashing (2009). Careers>Consulting>Freelance>Contracts

Freelancers: Do You Need a Business Plan?

Is it really true that a freelancer shouldn’t bother with a business plan? There are thousands of freelancers, after all, who started taking on clients without even thinking about writing a business plan. Nobody seems to have suffered from that approach. However, there are a few steps along the way that are significantly easier when you have a business plan in hand.

Bram, Thursday. FreelanceSwitch (2009). Careers>Freelance>Management>Business Communication

Process, Not Portfolio 

Not long after I went independent, a friend who works at a well-known global advertising agency asked if I would be interested in helping out on a high-profile Web site redesign project. I was pretty stoked. He suggested I come in to meet his team. After meeting with the lead developer and project manager, I was told they wanted to bring me on. All I had to do was to meet the creative director. “Can I see your portfolio?” I hadn’t brought one. “I can give you the URL,” I said. We weren’t near a computer. His glassy response: “I’m not sure what we have to discuss if I can’t see your work.”

Hess, Whitney. UXmatters (2009). Careers>Freelance>Portfolios>Web Design

Listening: An Essential Skill for the Freelancer 

How often do you really, truly listen to what a client has to say? Probably not often enough. This post looks at why you should.

Nesbitt, Scott. ScottNesbitt.net (2009). Articles>Freelance>Collaboration