Write your home page fast

If you’re a freelancer and you’re having trouble finishing your website, it’s possible that where you’re stuck is on your home page. So, let me give you a simple formula for writing your home page. By the end of this post, you could be on your way to having a functional, easy to read home … Read more

Does it ever make sense to discount your price?

In my previous post, I talked about the pitfalls of discounting your price because you’re new. I talked about the emotions that may be involved, and how the Triple Constraint framework can help you keepyour thoughts straight. Now I’m going to talk about two instances where you could be more flexible in your pricing. Clients … Read more

The Easiest Place to Find Clients

Grape arbor illustrates the easiest place to find clients (low hanging fruit)

New freelancers know that the easiest place to find clients is your own network. But what if you don’t know anybody who would want what you provide? There’s a reason why your network is such a great place to find your first client. Quite simply, people want to buy from those they know, like, and … Read more

What do freelancing prospects really want?

A new freelancer asked, “What do prospective clients look for, and how can I show that I have those skills?” The first time a prospect reached out to me, I wondered the same thing. I know it’s an exciting moment, but nerve wracking too. For your first two-way communication with the person, you want to … Read more

Choosing and Using Fonts on Your Website

Examples of fonts

Do you know what makes your web page readable? Here’s a thought from curator, educator, and critic Ellen Lupton, from her book Thinking with type. The impatience of the digital reader arises from culture, not from the essential character of display technologies. Users of websites have different expectations of print. They expect to feel “productive,” … Read more

You volunteered, but you didn’t ask for this

Christine Inherits a Website I first got to know Christine, the president of my community league, when I approached her about starting a community garden in our neighborhood. She liked the idea, but when we talked about how I can spread the word to get volunteers, I began to think this will take years. And … Read more