Hey Joe- I was wondering if you’d be able to give us a sample design so we can see what kind of work you do. It will help us make a decision on which designer we should go with.

This is not an uncommon email, especially in the world of web and graphic design. And it seems harmless to a lot of people. Sure, they just want a sample design. But they are really asking for free work. While you as a freelancer might be tempted to do comp/spec work to try and seal the deal on a contract, it’s not the way to go. Last week I posted 10 Reasons to Say No To Spec Work by No!Spec; here is my take on spec work.

Tags: clients, comps, gigs, proposal, relationships, samples, spec work, tips, work | Posted in Advice, Lessons | 4 Comments »

Dave Shea's portfolio is a true work of art.

A few days ago, I mentioned the importance of having a portfolio, as well as some tips for creating one. I was going to write a post about 10 good designs I’ve found, but as I was sitting down to write this post someone in my Twitter feed (@studiorohan) posted a link to 50 Impressive Designs, which not only found better ones but trumped the 10 I was going to do. So instead I’ll post the really good ones I have, and let you peruse the ones over at Spoonfed Designs.

Tags: links, portfolio, samples | Posted in Lists | Comments Off

I realized early on that it was important to have a portfolio- someplace online people could go to view my current work. I had my niche, which means I had a few projects I was ready to show off. That coupled with somethings I was doing for school, and I was golden.

The thing to remember about your portfolio is that, for all intents and purposes, it’s better than your resume. Someone looking to hire a freelancer doesn’t care about what school you went (or go) to, your GPA, or your volunteer work. They want to know what you can produce and your portfolio will show them that. So first thing’s first: build one. And if you need a little guidance…

Tags: links, portfolio, samples, tips, tools | Posted in Advice | Comments Off

You didn’t think all my resources would be other people’s stuff, did you? I wouldn’t be a very good freelancer if I didn’t give some stuff away for free. Today I’m providing a template I use when coming up with proposals for clients. I’ve generalized it and it’s ready for you to adapt and make your own. I’ve also provided a sample proposal so you can see how I use it (all company names, specs, prices are fictitious).

For furture reference, all documents I upload and make public will go in this folder. You’re free to use any of them free of charge. Though if someone asks, a reference would be nice

This (and most documents) are in a .doc format. If you need it in another format (Open Office, for example), let me know and I’ll convert it for you.

Finally, you might want to take some time to read the Read  Me file in the folder.

(link to post)Visit Freelance Proposal Template