People find me for their projects in a number of ways… sometimes they search the internet for a web designer, other times they see my link on the bottom of one of my project pages, and then there are people who hear about me from someone they know. In certain cases I’ve approached someone I want to work with, generally via email, pointing them to my portfolio and letting them know that if they have a future project they think might suit me, to keep me in mind. In one particular case, they have turned out to be one of my best clients.

One of the things I’ve never done is any sort of advertising, and I don’t know whether it’ll be something I’ll need to do when I’m freelance fulltime. I’ve found a niche with author/book sites, so I could always target literary sites that offer advertising. I’m reluctant do try it at this point, because I’m not sure I could take on any additional clients right now, but that may not always be the case.

Interestingly, especially when people find me themselves, they are all over the map with their understanding of the internet & many times my projects begin with me explaining how to purchase a domain, and “what is a web host anyway.” A great way to build trust with a new client is to spend the time to answer *all* of their questions up front… and to anticipate what they may ask you next. It’s a great opportunity to establish a rapport with someone new, and to help them feel like they made the right choice hiring you. Usually, the time you spend here isn’t billable, so think of it as an investment in your business.

Once the domain and host are organized, I usually begin by building a simple Visio visual sitemap of the site based on conversations with the client. This helps to make sure nothing is overlooked, and that the site is organized so that the client is happy, and it’s easy to navigate. I do this ahead of sending a contract and a 25% deposit invoice. Only once has a prospective client walked off with it and used it on a site they built themselves. I treat it like an addendum to the contract — it defines the scope of the project.

I generally send over the contract, a 25% deposit invoice, and the sitemap together. I also ask the client to send me links to designs that they really like, or really hate. I point them to places like CSS Beauty, Web Creme, Screenalicious & Smashing Magazine to help them out with this, as many times it’s very hard to describe in words what you’re after. Once I receive the signed contract and the deposit in the mail, I start the actual design work.

Usually, I create a visual design mockup in Photoshop. I make sure to keep in mind what will work well in a CSS layout, but not to let that get in the way of the desired effect. I start with a 1024×760 document, put up guides for a 780 pixel wide, centered column, and go from there. Usually, I design fixed-width layouts, and I find these dimensions work really well. Sometimes I’ll create a single mockup, other times, usually when I have less to go on from the client, I’ll create more than one and let them choose. Some clients are happy with it straight away, and others want to get really involved in this part of the process and do a great deal of art direction. I really let the client dictate this part of the process, but to keep things efficient, I make sure to stipulate in my contract that I include up to 5 revisions in the project cost, and beyond that I charge my hourly fee. Speaking of which, usually I charge a per-project fee, and only bill hourly beyond what is defined in the contract & sitemap.

After the client signs off on the visual design, I get to work on the HTML/CSS. If the client’s web server is available, I FTP the files over there. If not, I host them on my own server for the client to review. I usually ask that as much of the content as possible is available before I start in on each page. And if the exact text isn’t ready, to give me an idea of how much I should anticipate. This helps make sure we’re both using our time efficiently.

Once the pages exist and all content is included, the project is finished. This is when I send over the final invoice, update my portfolio (if it’s something I want to include), and make sure my invoicing spreadsheet is up to date.

And that’s the standard process. Of course each client is different, and each project is unique… and I’m constantly evolving this process as I learn.

I started a blog called “Outbox Online” in the year 2000 almost immediately after moving to San Francisco. My plan was never to move to San Francisco, but when the opportunity came up to have a job here, I jumped at the chance, and drove across the country with my houseplants in the back seat. Having just left the UK, and with friends there and all over the east coast of the States, I needed a way to keep in touch, and this new “blog” thing seemed like it might be just the thing.

Since I was starting a career as a designer, I used my then-blog as a playground for new ideas. I changed the design and layout sometimes as often as once a week, and pretty soon other people were asking me to design layouts for them. Then I met Catie. Catie had a greeting card business, and she wanted an online storefront, and she wanted me to design and code it for her. I had never done anything beyond html with a little CSS and javascript, but I jumped into the project and taught myself how to make a shopping cart. Thankfully, there are wonderful (and cheap) outsourcing solutions for that now, as my biggest lesson was that the kind of work involved in creating a shopping cart wasn’t really my cup of tea.

Catie was my first official (wonderful) paid client, and since then I’ve taken on more and more projects, and am working towards doing freelance design fulltime. I still work on Catie’s site, and am thankful to call her a great friend.

Transitioning from the regularity of a well-paid fulltime gig, to the uncertainty and irregularity of a freelance career is a huge undertaking. One that requires lots of planning and preparation, courage, organization, and smarts. This blog will be about that transition (and beyond). Beyond doing various web design projects, I plan to create and market print, ceramic and multimedia art items, and so it will also be about balancing my creativity, and creating a working life.

I’m married to *the* Graeme McMillan, my best friend & the sexiest man in the whole world. We live in San Francisco with our cat, Luna — but to make our freelance life more affordable, we may move to Portland, OR or Portland, ME. Stay tuned.