The question often arises as to whether or not all the e-books on moneymaking ideas are worth buying and reading. The most truthful answer to that question is sometimes yes and sometimes no. The secret to finding worthwhile moneymaking e-books is in the subject matter.

Some of these e-books are written to teach you the principles behind Internet marketing. E-books such as Brad Callen’s “Search Engine Optimization Made Easy” is a virtual treasure trove of vital information on how to develop your website for the best possible search engine results to bring potential customers to you.

Another great addition to your library of useful moneymaking e-books is Jill Brennan’s “Kickstart Your Article Writing”. Here you will learn the basics of writing the articles you will use to successfully direct more traffic and potential customers to your site. These informational e-books are usually well worth the price of admission as they deal with the basics of moneymaking businesses whether online, by mail or a local brick and mortar store.

You will often find e-books that offer advice on specific niche topics. They will range in subject matter from making money selling beenie babies to amassing a fortune selling real estate. Often they are informational and even helpful. Provided they are not priced very high, you can probably pick up a few new ideas from them. Remember though that you can probably find most of the information they offer online for free if you spend some time utilizing your search engine.

The moneymaking e-books that you should avoid are the one’s who advertise a “system” by which you can make money hand over fist with hardly any effort. Making money at a business requires work, dedication and time. There really are no shortcuts. Anyone telling you they have made millions of dollars with their “system” is not really going to share that system with you. If they are making millions, then it is through selling you their e-book for an inflated price.

There are many different ways to analyze website traffic, but there are only a few that are absolutely successful. These are not things that are difficult to come by if you sit down and think about them, but since others have already been down the path you are now taking, it is important to learn from their experience.

Simply put, when analyzing web site traffic, your goal is to find out exactly what happens to work and then replicate that so that you can compound the amount of success that you experience. At the same time, you want to make sure that you discontinue what doesn’t work, shifting those resources over to the things that work.

So how do you know if something has worked? Quite simply, all you have to do is follow the traffic.

Take a look at the web pages on your site that get a lot of traffic and if you have data regarding conversions, then take a look at that as well. Take a look at the web pages that have advertising that is doing very well and then take a look at web pages that overall perform very well on your website. Make a list of the commonalities between the websites that work well on your site as successful parts of the overall structure and then do the same thing with the sites that are performing poorly.

Once you have done this, you should have a list of things to include in each new website and a list of things to avoid. Rigorously follow this list with every new page that you add to the website and make sure that you update it whenever you take a look at your site statistics. Doing this should allow your website to become far healthier over the course of time.

If you make your living by owning your own business (whatever market the business is in), you have probably said to yourself at some time or another “I need better time management skills!” Here are five steps to help you master time management:

1. Make friends with the list. The list is going to be your best friend. Every day, before you leave work (or put work away for the day) make a list of everything that you want to accomplish the next day.

2. Make a habit of writing everything down in a central location. We all love post-its, but think about investing in an inexpensive notebook. Keeping everything in one place will save you a lot of time later. If you prefer to categorize things, you can easily copy notes from this notebook into other places (a message center, a calendar, etc). Writing it down again will only reinforce it in your memory.

3. Develop a “two seconds now or two hours later” attitude with mundane tasks like filing. Do the tiny tasks (putting a file away, crossing items off of a list, etc) as soon as they arise. This will keep them from piling up.

4. Piles are the enemy. Whether it is a stack of information for a project you want to work on, a pile of messages you need to read, etc. Don’t get into the habit of letting the piles build up. Create a space for everything.

5. Label everything. The piles we talked about in step four? Create files or boxes for them and label the boxes. Labels will save you a ton of time later on when you are trying to find something. Why open three filing drawers and six boxes when you can simply stand back and scan a list of labels?

As you work, you will develop your own time management tricks, but these steps should help you get started.

BKWLD is a a wonderful design and development company with offices in Seattle and Sacramento. I had the chance to get some exclusive sneak peak shots because one of my buddies works there. If you aren’t familiar with BKWLD yet, you will be soon because it’s without a doubt that within the next couple of years they’ll be known nationwide. With an impressive client list (Shakira, Backstreet Boys, E-40, Microsoft, etc.) that rivals the likes of 2 Advanced and Fantasy Interactive, BKWLD has the experience and staff to become one of the greatest. But do they have the offices to prove it? Let’s take a look behind the scenes of BKWLD!

Exterior Look:

Weren’t too many exterior shots, but from the look of it, it seems like it’s a nice brick building with some decent landscaping. I can’t give it a solid grade though without seeing some real outside shots. N/A

Interior Look:

The interior look of BKWLD is awesome. I love the reception area with the overhead logo along with the brick and wood flooring and decor. The wooden rafters really give it a cozy feel, and the spot lighting gives the room a warmer look. I’m under the impression that they have just moved in recently to their offices as the place still looks pretty empty. But it’s got real potential and once they start hanging up some pictures and decorating, I’ve no doubt that this place will definitely start to shine. I’m going to check back with BKWLD after a couple months to do another follow up report card to see how much they’ve taken advantage of their great venue. But I’ve got to grade it in its current condition.

Grade: B-

Employees:

From the pictures, the employees at BKWLD seem to be very enthusiastic and social. They don’t look corporate at all. My good friend Garrett is working for them and was able to snatch a nice cameo of SNTNCS on the computer screen. That right there should get them an automatic A (as you can tell, Office Report Card is more about seeing the pictures, then it is getting the grade).

Grade: A

Environment:

Nice looking Macs, nice deep red brick walls, some delicious Starbucks, and a cool looking logo in the foyer. What more could you ask for? The environment of BKWLD looks to be a creative one an deviates from the traditional studio look. It’s got a kitchen! Come on now. I’d love to grill some some cheese sandwiches in between breaks.

Grade: A

Furnishings:

The furnishings look a bit empty right now. But they do have a nice plasma TV so that’s a start. At the moment, I know the office is pretty new so there aren’t too many furnishings, but hopefully when I check up on BKWLD again in a few months they’ll have gotten a furniture face lift. But hey…they got Macs.

Grade: C

Overall: B+

I’d love to work here. Great looking environment, friendly looking employees, and of course my buddy Garrett. Thanks BKWLD!

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In our line of work, creativity is arguably the most critical trait.

With that being said, it’s unfortunate that the current job market makes our industry seem as if we’re lucky to work for them. In hindsight, I think should be the other way around. There are thousands of freelancers. Unfortunately there aren’t many good ones, which ironically is also the cause for the dramatic decrease in our services, especially with the growing popularity of uniformed theme purchases (premium Wordpress anyone?). This means that every now and then an employer is lucky enough to “catch” the perfect freelancer. One who is consistent, punctual, and affordable.

But these freelancers are the ones who are the ones who are really fishing. They are looking for ads with creative employers who they feel will bring a positive working environment that’ll help push the project forward towards completion. Without an equally passionate or creative employer, it’s difficult to really convince yourself to work there.

So, my plea to employers - if you want a dependable, conssitent quality freelancer, it’s in your ads. Write good ones, and they will come.

Here are some examples for my fellow freelancers to apply for, and to serve as examples for employers.

Julian is looking for a Web Designer to “Help our company catch up to our growth and communicate our thought leadership.” on Smashing Jobs - check it out here.

The Authors Channel is looking for a Marketer to drive “3 million visitors per month, and we need someone who knows how to effectively use all media in order to get that traffic.” on FreelanceSwitch Boards - check it out here.

SEOmoz is looking for a Designer to “come to a place where your talents are appreciated, your voice is heard, and your code has an impact.”” on 37Signals Board - check it out here.

Woot.com is looking for a Designer to work with “the world’s first, best, and handsomest deal-a-day website, [that] drops mad bargainz every night at midnight, alongw ith near-lethal doses of irreverence and snot.” on 37Signals Board - check it out here.

“Large Business Consulting Firm” is looking for a Designer to “deliver the visual design and strategy for a few key pages” on 37Signals Gigs - check it out here.

So freelancers - it is equally important to pick out creative clients that’ll help put you in the mood when you design. You’ll find that you do your best work when it’s for important clients, or for people who you know can push you to be creative and allow you the space and time to work.

And in turn, you’ll see that the most creative individuals apply for the job ads that seem the most creative and will allow them to have the best opportunity to work efficiently.

As a freelancer, one of the best ways to separate yourself from the competition is how you handle the project. You can be the best designer in the world, but fail yourself because you can’t manage projects correctly. On the other hand, you don’t have to be the best designer to handle your projects properly and give your clients a smooth experience.

There is no reason why any freelancer shouldn’t be using a project management application. They are extremely important and I can’t stress that enough. Yet, so many freelancers don’t use these applications. I’m not sure why, but I hope it’s not because of price because pretty much every solution offers at least one free trial. So that must mean it’s because freelancers don’t know of any applications. Well if that’s the case, you’re in luck because Sentences showing you eight great solutions to make sure you manage your projects successfully.

5 PM:

5 PM is a new project management tool that I’ve had an opportunity to play around with a bit. It looks great, and has a lot of functions, but I think that having so many functions may be a bit detrimental to 5 PM. The beautiful thing about industry leader, Basecamp is that it is simple and easy to use. 5 PM, though it looks nice, seems a bit overwhelming when first opening it. It doesn’t seem to flow to well, and looks more like a program rather then a web application. Pricing is fair though, and I would definitely encourage those of you who are looking for a change from Basecamp to check out 5 PM. It’s definitely got potential.

Teamwork:

Teamwork is a great project management tool that’s been a very popular alternative to Basecamp. It’s got a great interface that closely resembles Basecamp (though it looks much better in my opinion). What I really like about Teamwork is that it offers a time tracker, something that Basecamp doesn’t, and it even has a basic risk manager (which I don’t personally have a use for). But it’s got some bells and whistles that may entertain you, so give it a try.

Basecamp:

Basecamp has long been the leader of the project management applications. It’s got a great interface that is easy to use, simple to navigate, and appealing to the eye. I personally use Basecamp to manage all of my projects, and though I’ve tried a few others, I always come back to Basecamp. I love how I can customize the colors to fit my business. It’s got affordable plans, and my clients have never asked how to use it…they simply learn how because the application is intuitive and simple. I’ve experimented with 5 PM on one of my clients, and he immediately began to ask questions on how to post something. After I heard that, I went straight back to Basecamp and have never had a problem since. They are the leaders for a reason.

Desk Away:

I’ve never used Desk Away, but a buddy of mine pointed it out to me. The first thing that I see about this website that is an immediate turn off is their “logo”. Or at lack thereof. The application looks easy to use, but doesn’t really appeal to me graphically. I do like the reports feature, which offers bar graphs to show the progress of a certain part of a project. Though I don’t see myself paying for an application like Desk Away, it does offer an alternative to the popular applications and could set yourself apart.

Co Mind Work:

A few of my buddies have been raving about CoMindWork. Though it does look awfully a lot like Basecamp, it does offer some great features that Basecamp doesn’t such as Tags, Goals, a better Messaging system, Blogs, Time Tracker, and more. The only problem with CMW is that it costs significantly more then any other application listed here. It offers a powerful punch though with great features and a great design, and though their free trial does allow you to manage 5 projects, the next upgrade is a whopping $75.00 for 25 projects. If they were to offer something smaller, like 10-15 projects for $35 or so, I’d possibly be interested since that’s only $3.50 per project at 10 projects per month.

Action This:

ActionThis is one of the newer project management applications that I’ve had a chance to test out. The interface is pretty appealing, albeit not exactly professional. The icons on the dashboard are a little overwhelming and it seems to get tackier and tackier the more I see it. One of the great features though is integrating ActionThis into Microsoft Outlook so you can manage your email system a little better with your clients. Not bad, though I think an application should be able to handle that without having to use another program.

Huddle:

Huddle is a neat looking program that is nicely designed and easy to use. The pricing is definitely competitive, and it does serve as one of the better alternatives. It got all the basic features that are found in every project management applications. The cool thing about Huddle though is the addition of a Facebook application that allows teams to communicate and work together, even in Facebook. There is also a great knowledgebase for designers to fill out FAQs for their clients. Huddle is extremely promising, and I already know a few European designers who are experimenting with the application and considering moving.

Freelancer Panel:

Freelancer Panel is a great application that is geared directly for the freelancer. What of the best things about Freelancer Panel is the ability to install the application on your server. That means that you can customize it to fit exactly into your website so that your clients don’t have to use a 3rd party website to access their project details. Furthermore, it’s affordable (at only $15/month). I think being able to have the application on your own server makes it seem as if it is custom and exclusive to your company, something that may be important for image. You can even send invoices and track time with Freelancer Panel, so the basic features are there, as well as some of the more important ones that some of the popular alternatives have overlooked. Though I don’t use FP for myself, I’d be interested in seeing what some FP users have to say about it, so please share!

Like I said earlier, one of the most important parts of freelancing is how you manage the project. If you have a professional image, you’ll succeed. Project management helps keep you up to date and motivated, while keeping the client informed and safe. If you don’t use any of the above applications, you should be asking yourself how many clients do you get on the regular. Ever since I started using Basecamp to handle my projects, my client list has nearly doubled and remained consistent. It does a lot for your reputation and when you can treat your client to a professional atmosphere, they’ll definitely return the favor.

Best regards,
Bryan

One of the most important aspects for a freelancer before the project begins is the design brief. For the freelancers who don’t have the luxury of working with clients face to face, the hardest part of a project is probably the beginning process - getting to know your client, and understanding exactly what they are looking to gain out of their site design, and what sort of concept they are looking for.

This is the make or break point. For me personally, this is where I can decide whether or not I want to work with a specific client. I tend to work with clients who have a better understanding of the web so that it makes my job easier, but I do select clients who are passionate about their websites, even if they don’t know the jargon to go along with it.

So, how then, do you make that perfect design brief? Well generally, the best thing for me to tell you is that every brief will be different. You must form your brief exactly how you want it so that it makes your process a lot easier. There is no right or wrong way. If you can ask the questions that’ll answer what you’re looking for, then by all means, ask it. Here are a few tips of how I formed my brief, and then you’ll have the option to download my basic brief at the end.

Break down the questions into sections:

It’s very important to break down the brief by sections so that it’s more organized, and allows the client to refer to previous questions, or skip them and come back to it later. It also tells the client what sort of questions are coming so that they can prepare their mindset for what’s coming.

Generally, I break down my briefs into several sections:

• Welcome & Instructions
• General Information (Finding out more about the client and the goals of the design)
• Design Information (the longest section, includes design references, colors, etc.)
• Structure Information (any important aspects of the site that need to be made evident)
• Additional Information (anything else the client would like to include)

Download my basic design brief.

Avoid Jargon:

I have a couple different design briefs that I usually send depending on what type of client I’m dealing with. I have one that contains hardly any jargon and really breaks everything down so that the client is comfortable. This is for people who usually don’t deal with the web, and these clients are new to the whole web-design process. I try to make it as friendly and personal as I can so that they enjoy the experience. It’s important not to overwhelm anyone with jargon - it doesn’t do you any good if you client can’t fill the brief out because they donut’ understand it.

However, the opposite is quite true as well. Originally, I had only that one brief that didn’t use any jargon, and broke everything down to layman terms. I got a friendly suggestion from one of my clients after filling the brief out saying that he “felt dumbed down” because the brief was so simple that it got a little frustrating and felt demeaning. So, I decided to create two different briefs - one which was easy to read and follow for clients that are new to the internet, and the other is for my more internet-savvy users who know what AJAX, xHTML, CSS, etc. is.

It’s an easy thing to do that will really take you a far way. Clients can sometimes be intimidated by the process, and it’s important that you make them realize it’s not as bad as they may think. The opposite is true, and those who feel extremely comfortable with the web don’t want to be insulted by reading a brief that was intended for someone who had no idea what the web is.

Don’t be afraid to ask too many:

Originally, my brief had only consisted of a few questions on each section. They were very general, and in the end, it made it very difficult for me to get a feeling for what the client wanted. More of it was interaction and trial & error, and it got to the point where it was extremely difficult for me to dictate the design concepts. So, I decided to find the problem, and it was in the brief.

Don’t be afraid to ask too many questions. If you’re hesitant to do so because you don’t want your brief to look like an exam, make sure to break it down into sections so that the client can refer to the brief on and off. Make sure that they understand they have a few days to fill the brief out, and that they should really put some work into it.

Asking a lot of questions makes it seem as if you really want to get into the nitty-gritty of what they want. However, be sure to avoid asking redundant questions, or ones which can simply be tied into another. Try not to be too repetitive, and make sure that each question has a purpose - you don’t want to ask more then you need to, but you shouldn’t be afraid to ask as many questions as it takes for you to understand what your client wants.

Overall, the design brief is probably one of the most important aspects to the pre-design process. It determines what direction you should take your concept, and what your client is looking for. The more exact you can get the brief, the less time you’ll spend on revisions, which means (for those of you who charge flat rates) less time working on the project.

With that being said, your design brief should be something that constantly changes to suit your needs, and to answer the questions that you need to know. All designers are different, and so it helps to make sure the brief is tailored exactly to your specific needs.

Download my basic design brief.

Finally, I’m getting over my flu!
Bryan

Well, this is the first Monday Magic of the New Year!

At one point, I had considered dropping this feature all together because it wasn’t garnering any responses (comments) and wasn’t doing as well as I had originally thought it would. However, after I ran the feedback survey, I was surprised to see that pretty much everyone wanted me to continue running this feature and that everyone approved and enjoyed it. So here I am again after missing last week’s entry.

This was a lot of fun to do this week because there were so many new sites out with great designs. It was extremely difficult being able to narrow it down to the categories that I’m working with, but I some how managed to do so and I think that the winners this week are definitely worthy. So take a look, and let me know what you think!

Most Original:

Paul J. Noble has one of the most original and refreshing sites I’ve had the pleasure of seeing in a while. Sure the whole “side-scrolling” thing isn’t entirely too original, but this is a great twist to an old gimmick. Navigation is handled either by clicking the arrow buttons on the bottom left, clicking the thumbnail boxes that you want to see, or by using your arrow keys (which is what I used). It was very fun and felt a lot more interactive then simply scrolling around and clicking on someone’s work.

Tip: It’s definitely difficult to come up with original ideas. So, do what you’re best at doing. Think creatively. How would you twist an old idea into something that’s new and refreshing? Think innovation. Some of the greatest inventions are simply improvements on existing technology.

Boldest Design:

I’ve seen some creative portfolios that were hand drawn in the past, but none for a larger agency. BootB delivers a new site almost entirely hand drawn and it looks good while doing it! In my opinion, only some of the best designers in the world can pull off this kind of look, and while BootB’s site struggles a little with its content and navigation design because of this, I think the initial impressions are strong enough for you to disregard that fact. This is a very bold design, countering all of their competitors while delivering a refreshing experience to its clients. BootB is pretty much an international design agency that caters to world class corporations (or at least, that’s what I understood from it).

Tip: Sometimes going against the norm will help you out. It’s also equally important to understand that while some fads have come and gone, seeing them again every now and then when the mediums have completely changed, may have a refreshing “retro” feel to it. Great job BootB.

Most Professional:

Flash Loaded is one of the best flash resources that designers have available to them. With that being said, it’s great to see that they’ve launched a new interface for themselves, and it really spotlights their products and services. With this redesign however, it seems that their target demographic has changed as well, and instead of selling smaller flash nifties (which FlashDen has really dominated) they are instead focusing on larger flash tools and interfaces. This is a great move in my book and their website really reflects their intentions and the rebirth of a new image.

Tip: It’s important to communicate with a website design. The best ones are the ones that speak for itself. FlashLoaded’s site talks to professional flash developers and designers with high profile clients, instead of FlashDen’s community ran site for smaller designers (and most likely freelancers).

Site of the Week:

Now before you complain or question my political stance, please understand that my decision for picking this site is simple: It’s beautiful. Politics played no roll whatsoever, but I can tell you that Obama is definitely not my #1 choice this year (who is? well, that’s for another story). But there’s no denying the fact that the Barack Obama website is beautiful. The colors are smooth, the graphics are nice, and it really brands the client himself. All of his competitors really have lame websites (Ron Paul is the closest one to above average status) and separating himself with such a site really improves his reputation in my book.

Tip: Your client’s brand and identity is probably the most important thing to them. They want it to be repeated throughout the website. Don’t think of a project as completely separate from your client, but rather an extension of their personality and reflections on the industry. This will help strengthen their identity. The best designers in the world are the ones that can carry on their client’s brand recognition through site design (this is also probably the hardest thing for a designer to accomplish).

Artist of the Week:

Colbie Caillat is one of my favorite new discoveries. She’s got a very pure and smooth voice that really touches you. It’s very soothing and allows me to work very well. It definitely gets my creative juices flowing. She’s got this great bluesy voice that’s really deep and intimate. I’d really recommend you get this one if you like female vocalists singing calm music while you work.

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As freelancers, we limit what we make according to how many projects we can take on. With that being said, sometimes the most time-consuming (and often dull) aspects of a project can be the xHTML/CSS or CMS Integration phase, where the design is done, there is hardly little to no client contact (until the site’s coded) and its extremely monotonous. One of the fastest growing markets are xHTML/CSS/CMS slicers and coders who do quality work with a fast turn-around time.

Below is a list that we compiled of all the service providers that we could find and share with you, along with their prices and some services offered. In our search, we found hundreds of different service providers, but from that list, we narrowed it down to a few quality looking sites with decent portfolios. This list is not in any order, and we do not support or endorse any of the companies listed.

psd2html

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $117
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, +$195
• Advanced Options: Yes
• Turnaround time: Very Fast (hours)

WeUseScissors

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $195
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, +$100
• Advanced Options: Some
• Turnaround time: Average (3 days)

CMS Themer

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $249
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, $495
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Slow (5 days)

PSDchopstick

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $129
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, $209
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Fast (2 days)

XHTMLGenius

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $250
• Wordpress Integration: No
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Average (3 days)

xHTML Slicer

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $200
• Wordpress Integration: No
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Average (3 days)

InstantCoding

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $129
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, $250
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Very Fast (Hours)

XHTMLiT

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $119
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, $250
• Advanced Options: Yes
• Turnaround time: Very Fast (Hours)

W3 Markup

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $129
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, $408
• Advanced Options: Yes
• Turnaround time: Slow (5 Days)

Choppr

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $200
• Wordpress Integration: No
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Average (3 Days)

PSDtoCode

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $119
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, $179
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Average (3 Days)

Slice ‘n Dice

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $279
• Wordpress Integration: No
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Slow (6 Days)

Slice R Us

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $135
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, +$150
• Advanced Options: Yes
• Turnaround time: Average (3 Days)

We’ll Code It

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $199
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, $399
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Average (3 Days)

xHTMLized

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $249
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, +$399
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Very Slow (7 Days)

xHTMLized

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $77
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, +$115
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Very Fast (Hours)

PSD Slicing

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $110
• Wordpress Integration: No
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Very Fast (Hours)

PSD Gator

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $99
• Wordpress Integration: Yes, $199
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Fast (2 Days)

Design2HTML

• Basic xHTML/CSS: $45
• Wordpress Integration: No
• Advanced Options: No
• Turnaround time: Very Fast (Hours)

We’re looking to hear your responses. If you’ve had a chance to work with any of these companies, we’d like to hear your testimonial about them. We want to be able to mark those companies that do good work, and those that don’t. So please, share your experiences with us by leaving a comment.

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If you’re struggling as a freelance designer, you may want to consider taking a moment to wonder why. It may lead you down one road and that is - your reputation. How do others view you? More importantly, how do potential clients view you?

When thinking about your reputation, ask yourself the following questions:

• Have I always been on time with a project?
• Do I treat my fellow colleagues with respect?
• Does my portfolio receive any traffic?
• Am I considered an expert at what I do?
• Will my previous clients refer me to potential ones?
• Am I actively involved in my market/community?
• And the easiest one of them all: Is my work any good? (Don’t just listen to your momma)

If you answered no or weren’t sure how to answer them, then your reputation may be the reason why you aren’t getting projects or clients. If you look at all of the top designers at the moment, you’ll realize that they all have one thing in common: they are idolized within the industry.

STRENGTHEN YOUR PORTFOLIO this seems like a no brainer, but the first step to getting any client is to have a portfolio of previous work to show. A sufficient portfolio will have about 5-8 pieces of work. This will show any potential clients that you’re serious about your work and you have the past experience to prove it. Anything fewer and clients may think you don’t have the experience, or that people aren’t hiring you for a reason. Furthermore, you’re able to develop a distinct style that will inevitably separate you from the rest of the field. No two designers are alike and you should always aim to be original.

Ask yourself what distinguishes you from other designers. Why do you think your clients should choose you over the other million freelancers? After you’ve answered that question, take the solution and build on that. Is it because you can offer quick turn around time? Is it because you are experienced? How about because of your affordable prices? These answers should be the main focus of your portfolio. Support your strengths, and if you have to, use your weaknesses to your benefit.

Do This:

• Enter Sitepoint Contests to learn how to handle feedback and make revisions (make sure that your end pieces are allowed to be displayed in your portfolio)
• Create a self identity (if your name is easy to remember, go with it. If not, create an identity)
• Have an actual portfolio (with an actual domain), even if its a temporary one

Don’t Do This:

• Show your bad work - instead, display only selected works (what you think your clients want to see)
• Don’t display your work using folder views

WATCH HOW YOU CARRY YOURSELF you need to be active in the community. Join forums such as Talkfreelance, Digital Point, Sitepoint, etc. and make sure that you get yourself noticed. Be helpful, courteous, and know what you’re talking about before you say something. Everyone is watching, and it’s very important to remember that it only takes one negative comment to make yourself look bad. Your potential clients will also be on these forums and its important to make yourself look likable and easy to work with. Network with other designers.. There have been countless times where I’ve referred my potential clients to other designers that I know can handle the project because I was either booked, or busy.

Looking like a charismatic and likable guy, you’ll definitely be held in high regards. The more people talk to you or talk about you (in a positive way) the better chances you have to expose your skills and portfolio to the right people. The more you can get your name mentioned and your portfolio viewed, the higher odds you have for yourself to get hired.

Do This:

• Display your work and ask for feedback to improve your designs
• Critique other people’s work and give them feedback (this helps you improve your sense of design as well)
• Do what your momma taught you: if you haven’t nothing nice to say, don’t say it.
• Register as your real name (or an easy to remember and professional identity) - this builds trust and personality

Don’t Do This:

• Name yourself something ridiculous
• Continuously post advertisements for your services
• Act stuck up or seem like a know-it-all

TREAT EVERY CLIENT LIKE GOLD because in essence, they are. Every client has the potential to multiply exponentially. However, it only takes one disaster project to ruin your hard earned reputation. But remember, the exact opposite can be true. At any time during your career, you may come across an opportunity to define your future. If you are able to complete one of these you’re good for life. Clients like to talk to each other, and often times, the will name your services to colleagues in passing. However, everyone is always looking for a designer and the more you can make your name present in conversations, the more you’ll get project leads - it’s as simple as that. Furthermore, if your clients are willing, you can even give them a few extra of your business cards and let encourage them to hand out your cards to interested parties. If the project you had with them was completely successful and fun, they will have absolutely no problem in recommending your services to a friend.

Do This:

• Send your clients (both current and previous) small presents on relevant holidays (New Years, Christmas, etc.)
• Give your clients extra business cards at the end of a project
• Ask for testimonials and feedback so that you can improve your own services

Don’t Do This:

• Take your clients for granted
• Make up excuses and delay the project
• Basically anything where you can piss your client off

In the end, you control your own faith.  The internet is a global stage for your taking and whether or not you decide to make a leap of faith to improve yourself, that decision is up to you.  The great thing about being a freelancer is that you have control over your own destiny.  If you work, you’ll receive work.  If you slack off, you won’t get anything.  Create your own motivation and let that fuel you.

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