Posted in General Freelance Info at 8:41 pm by andy

I’m working on a web site for a client and he keeps adding one or two more new features every time I talk with him.  I make those changes or create those new features and then it’s “Just one or two more changes…”  I want the web site to go “live”, but there always seem to be one or two more features or changes that have to be made before we can do that.  What can I do to wrap this project up already? 

It sounds like scope creep is infecting your relationship with the client.  You need to get a grip on the client relationship. 

Your first step: Stop! Just stop. No more “just one more things”. No more immediate response to every new feature request. Continue immediate response to important bugs, of course. Read more…

Posted in Starting Out as a Freelance Consultant, Marketing Your Freelance Consultancy at 6:28 am by andy

What should you include on your freelancer web site?

1. Make sure every single page has a way to contact you without viewing any additional pages.  You just never know how many clicks you can get a person to do on your site.

2. Never include pricing unless you plan to offer products or packages that are the same every time.  It’s just distracting and — since the customer wants to know the price anyway — provides an excellent reason for customers to contact you.

3. Don’t be too verbose.  This is especially hard for non-writers, so it might be worth having someone who is a good writer look over your text when you’re done to see what you can pull out to “tighten” your message.  If you want to be verbose, add a blog to your site and do it there.  Your marketing text must get to the point quickly to keep the client’s attention.

4. Include the latest news about jobs you just landed.  You don’t have to have more than one sentence on each job and aren’t required to even list the client name, but it’ll give customers a sense that you regularly land new business.

5. Make sure your site includes specifics on why choosing your business is a smarter choice than some of the alternatives that get a lot of press time (like outsourcing to Elbonia).  What’s your hook that makes you different/better?

Remember: you likely have one minute of eyeballing time to impress the client with your web site.  Don’t waste that time with things that aren’t going to convince the client to contact you.