Freelancing tips and tricks for you.

[jamble]

I was just thinking as I was doing a little reading that it would be nice to share a couple of links with you folks. Links offering advice on winning clients, running a business or writing a contract. Who knows, it might prove helpful

Here we go then:

SITEPOINT:
Super useful webmaster/developer resource site. The articles on offer are superbly written and informative on a massive range of subjects, in particular Brendon Sinclair's section which has some great tips on winning business and the all important customer service side so many businesses lack.

Also on Bendan Sinclair's articles (at the bottom) there is a link to a "Brendon's Freelance Starter Kit!", be sure to download it, it contains an assessment sheet, a design acceptance form and a methodology document. For those people who have suffered client problems in the past with non payment or changes in the scope of the project then these are well worth downloading and using.

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ELANCE?

A lot of people consider elance at some stage, I've joined and cancelled on elance personally.

Here are some elance related threads as many people have asked about it at some stage.

• * "elance"
  * The whole list of elance threads

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PRICING/CHARGING CLIENTS:

• * "charging for pre-built code"
  * "include mockups in pricing?"
  * Matt's super page on website pricing! - Make sure you read this one!

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OTHER USEFUL THREADS:

• * "where can I find freelance work?
  * "any advice for going freelance?"
  * Intellectual Property

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Feel free to add your own useful/interesting links

[Off Top]

very resourceful thread... it's all info from other places, but this is a nice collection/summary/reference point. thx

[MG315]

[from sitepointforums.com]

Getting Started
"The first contact with the client" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=12375
"Some questions from a young business man" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=41014
"Suggestions for first time meeting" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=65798

Business Documents (Contracts, Proposals & Other Forms)

Proposals:
"How to write a winning proposal" - http://www.creativepublic.com/visit...rticle_vis.html
"How to write a basic web development proposal" - http://www.edevcafe.com/viewdoc.php?id=173
Sample Proposal: http://www.millsgroup.com/design/proposal.html

"What should a proposal include.." - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=50358

Contracts:
"Step by Step guide to a signed contract" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=80499
Always have a contract: http://www.scottmanning.com/archives/000406.php

Sample Contract: http://www.webprosnow.com/html/boil...econtracts.html
Sample Contract: http://www.wilsonweb.com/worksheet/pkg-con.htm

Business Letters and forms: http://www.businessnation.com/library/forms/
http://officeupdate.microsoft.com/templategallery/


Management (Time, clients & Project management)

Time:
"Managing your time" - Sitepoint article - http://www.sitepoint.com/article/48
"Climbing out of the Tar Pits: Time Management" - Sitepoint Article - http://www.sitepoint.com/article/372
"Dealing with Distractions" - Sitepoint Article - http://www.sitepoint.com/article/935

"Post your best motivational trick" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=90545
"A distraction to keep me on task.." - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=40407


Clients & Projects:
"Customer Management" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=26862
"Keeping track of clients/customers?" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=99729
"Keeping Track of work" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...threadid=120622
"Managing multiple website projects" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...threadid=114496


Pricing and Quoting

Pricing:
"Freelance Pricing Part #1 Set your Rate" - Sitepoint Article - http://www.sitepoint.com/article/670
"Pricing web work, what should you charge" - Sitepoint article - http://www.sitepoint.com/article/483

"How much to charge for web design.." - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...p?threadid=4238

Quoting:
"Freelance Pricing Part #2 Quoting to win!" - Sitepoint Article - http://www.sitepoint.com/article/693



Ownership & Copyright

"Who owns the copyright to your website?" - Sitepoint Article - http://www.sitepoint.com/article/504
"Copyright myths explained" - http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html
US Code collection: http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/201.html

"Copyright issues without a contract" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=89904
"Who owns the website?" - http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...threadid=119515


Privacy Policy

Privacy resource Guide: http://truste.org/bus/pub_resourceguide.html
How to develop a privacy policy (and generator): http://cs3-hq.oecd.org/scripts/pwv3/pwpart1.htm
Policy generator: http://www.netprivacypower.org/policy/
Privacy Policy Template: http://www.perfectlyprivate.com/easy_template.shtml


Other Useful Bits

Legal Resources: http://www.sitepointforums.com/show...?threadid=48452

Sitepoint articles - Sell your services:
Get started: http://www.sitepoint.com/subcat/107
Find Clients: http://www.sitepoint.com/subcat/108
Work Smarter: http://www.sitepoint.com/subcat/109

All Threads by Jackman: http://www.sitepointforums.com/sear...searchid=237062

Edev cafe - Business solutions articles - http://www.edevcafe.com/viewcat.php?id=38
List of marketing forums - http://www.profitpuppy.com/marketing-forums.htm

[jngabi]

Wow, now that are great resources for all of us freelancers...
I'm gonna start reading right away, and make sure my clients respect my work, as i respect their's :P

[vexcom]

Some good places to get work from too

http://www.freelancedesigners.com
http://www.freelancejobsearch.com
http://1234-find-web-designers.com

All these sites have free listings

[jhjsaat]

I use for all my freelancer work just two sites

Scriptlance and getafreelancer

This sites got lots of project everyday, when you got the skills you sure can find some job's!

[raj_flashkit]

Today I come to know about a site www.CoSwap.com where i registerd and they provide service only for Web Designers and Creative people. I am impressed with their support. CoSwap is month old and hope they will do good in future.

[vexcom]

check this out

Are you a web designer that needs sales leads?
Would you like 20 or more leads a month delivered to your email, to review and decide if you want to purchase the lead info for $25 or less per lead? If so please read this.


http://www.freelancedesigners.com/leads/

[Naked inc.]

www.tannedfeet.com

[juliezax]

Thanks for the information guys! I'm gonna read this one. This helps a lot, especially to a newbie freelancer like me.

[nitsingh]

Such a good resource.......