Submitted by http://www.allfreelancework.com/ - Freelance Jobs
As a new freelancer, there is nothing scarier then starting your
first project. This article will take a closer look at the steps
you should follow when in charge of a project. Hopefully, if you
are aware of what the process should be, you won't be as
concerned about getting things right. Since I am assuming that
this is your first client, return business is essential to
growing your business. Follow the below steps from start to
finish and you should have a happy client and a check in your
hands.
1. TRACK TIME
It is important to track your time when you are working on a
project. Start logging time as soon as you start to give your
attention to a project. Place a time log into a new docket and
write onto this log start and finish times along with other
detailed information every time you work on this project.
Take a look at a good time log at Figure I.
FIGURE I. ================================== DATE
================================== TASK / ACTIVITY
================================== COMMENTS
==================================
========START===FINISH===TOTAL TIME
For several reasons, it is important to use the time log
accurately. First and foremost, your client might expect you to
break down your hours for him so they are aware of where their
money is going. Secondly, in order to increase your
productivity, examining where your time is being spent is
essential. After freelancing for a while you will be able to
figure out how much to bid on projects easily from experience.
2. OPEN UP A DOCKET
A docket is a huge envelope or sleeve to keep all papers
together. Nothing looks worse than going to a meeting with a
client and forgetting essential paperwork. In order to escape
this possibility, I suggest using a docket for each individual
project.
I recommend using a black marker to distinguish this project
from other projects. I have always named my project's computer
files and dockets by the company's name and then follow this
with consecutive numbers. So for example, XYZCompany001 would be
XYZ Company's first project.
3. NEW CUSTOMER?
If this client is working with you for the first time you should
start an information sheet on him or her. You might not think
that this is important, but if this client ends up being a dead
beat, you will be glad to have his or her address and phone
number. After you have completed this form, place it in your
docket.
4. SCHEDULE STAGES OF A JOB
Start every job with a piece of paper. List steps that need to
be involved in order finish production. Otherwise, you might get
stuck with having to go backwards three steps in order to go
forwards again. Sometimes stages of a project will need to be
reworked because you didn't take the time to write down your
game plan. Try not to let this happen to you.
5. CONTRACT
Protect yourself against problem clients by writing a contract.
Make sure to have your client sign and send back the contract
before starting the project. You can find generic contracts for
your business on the Internet. Here are some places to find
contracts to customize for your own business:
Manage Jobs Software Digital Contracts Online Smart Agreements
Contract Swipe File Law.net Legal Documents Online Sample
Freelance Contract
6. ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS
A great way to begin your project is to plan out how the web
site is going to be organized. A mind map is one way to do this.
You can do this by taking a blank piece of paper and placing
your pen onto the middle of your page. Write down a word or two
that matches the subject of your previous notes. Branch out with
lines to related topics. Take a look at Figure II as an example.
FIGURE II.
Your mind map is now similar to a Flow Chart. Make sure that all
navigational routes have been mapped out. If possible, have
someone else take a look at your Flow Chart to see if you have
missed anything.
7. STORYBOARDING
Storyboarding is a device used to layout the design and
navigation of a site. It could simply be a rough sketch on a
scrap of paper. However, I always send out a storyboard to a
client before starting to actually layout the site. I recommend
laying out rough sketches in Illustrator or Freehand. Use your
mind map or Flow Chart to help guide you through this process.
Ask your client to sign off on the bottom of this Flow Chart.
8. THINK ART
One of the most engaging attractions of a good web site is its
graphics. Listen carefully to your client carefully in order to
find out what he wants. If the client can't explain what he is
visualizing, help out with a few questions. The following five
questions can be used.
1. What sites are visually appealing to you? 2. On a scale of 1
to 10, how important is a fast-loading site to you? 3. What
colors are you partial to? 4. Do you already have existing
collateral (brochures, catalogs, etc.)? If so, what flexibility
do I have with your fonts, logo, and colors? 5. Do you have any
art that we need in order to complete this project?
If you are having a hard time finding your creative self, I
suggest taking a look at CoolHomePages.com to get a few ideas to
build on.
Once you have an idea of what your client is expecting you are
ready to storyboard the site.
9. PHOTOSHOP
Now that your client has signed off on your storyboard it is
time to start the design process. Finally! Follow these steps to
ease the design process.
1. Take a screen shot of your browser. 2. Bring this image into
Photoshop and save file. 3. Layout all design elements into
layers for home page of site first. 4. Design at least three
different design variations. 4. Go to your local service bureau
to print out 2 copies of each design, one for you and one for
the client. Remember to charge the client for printouts with 5%
- 10% markup. Place one of each printout copy into the project's
docket, this is your copy. 5. Go to a business supply store,
like Staples, and buy black board, a portfolio case big enough
to hold several black boards, Utility knife, Exacto knife, spray
adhesive, labels, and a straight ruler. 5. Use an Exacto knife
and straight ruler to cut off excess paper of Client's printout
copy. 6. Measure width and length of the printout. 7. Cut black
board to be about 4 inches taller and wider than the printout
is. 6. Spray the back of the printout lightly with spray
adhesive. After spraying the back of the printout, put one
corner down about 2 inches from the top and 2 inches from the
left of the black board. Then pull printout taut from the bottom
right as you slowly press down the paper from the upper left.
This will keep bubbling from happening. There should now be 2
inches of blackboard framing each side of the printout. 7. Place
a label on the back of black board with copyright information,
your logo, and a place for client to sign off.
If your client is local, setup an appointment in order to show
him the mockups. If you have a long distance relationship, I
suggest using Fed Ex to ship the mockups to your client. Ask
your client to sign off on the back of the mockup that he likes.
However, if the client doesn't like any of your layouts, which
happens to the best of us, you are back to the drawing board.
Once you get a layout that your client likes, you should rename
your Photoshop file to reflect this and move the unused files
into an "idea file". There is no reason that these unused
mockups cannot be modified for your next client. Also, you
should proceed to taked the unused mockup copies out of the
project's docket and leave behind the chosen mockups. I would
suggest placing unused mockups in a binder for new clients to
look at to see what style they like.
Now is when you will be glad that you have created your
Photoshop files in layers. Duplicate the already existing file
and make mockup files for inside pages as well.
10. OPTIMIZE IMAGES
Now that you have all of your pages laid out in Photoshop, it is
time to cut out the images that you will use in the web page. A
good rule of thumb is not to exceed 30K per page. Otherwise,
your web page will take too long to load. Here area few more
tips that you should follow:
1. Illustrations should be saved as a gif. 2. Photographs should
be saved as a jpeg. 3. Keep the amount of colors in an image to
a minimum. 4. Aliased images are smaller. 5. The more
compression you apply to a jpeg - the smaller the image.
11. PROTOTYPE IT
Take your printed mockups and Flow Chart. Place them by your
side and use them in order to layout your page. Create your
pages so that they are all linked together. The following tips
will help you organize your files.
1. Place all images in an images folder. 2. Place every section
of your site in a separate file. 3. Structure your directories
to roughly match your Flow Chart. 4. Make sure that your file
names make sense (It is a good idea to have a company code in
front of each file. For example, for XYZ Company's About Us
page, I would use xyz_about.html.). 6. Have an archiving system
in place in order to backup your files. Name your files
accordingly in order to link all of your html files together in
order to create a working prototype that the client can test.
12. TESTING PHASE
Before you send the prototype to your client, test out the
usability of the site with friends that haven't been involved
with this project. Write down all input that they can give to
you - both good and bad. Also, try as many different browsers,
plugins, and operating systems as the visitors are likely to
use. Make sure to fix any problems that you find and make a
mental note for further projects on what works and what doesn't.
After internally checking the site, upload the site to the host
server to test out access speed, plugins, and configurations.
When you are sure that things are in working order, it is time
to let the client test out the prototype site. There will likely
be several things that your client won't like. Listen carefully
to your client and make sure to give merit to all suggestions
that the client makes. Make sure to have the client sign off on
the prototype in order to make the site live.
13. MAKE IT LIVE
Once the testing phase is complete, it is time to make the site
live. Cross your fingers and hope for the best. Inevitably,
visitors will always find something that they aren't happy with.
You should always give support to your newly launched sites for
at least 2 to 4 weeks.
14. REVIEW AND INVOICE JOB
Now that you have completed the project it is time to fulfill
your administrative duties. It is time now to review your time
sheet. Add up all of the columns to calculate total hours spent
on the project. Break this number into how many hours were spent
on each phase of the project.
Make a copy of the time sheet for the client and create an
invoice to reflect your agreed upon hourly fee. Always reference
the client's purchase order number on your invoice. Otherwise,
many Accounts Payable departments won't pay your invoice. If
your client has not given you a PO# then you should contact him
to make sure that there isn't a PO# linked to this project.
Include all necessary information on your invoice. I always
include the following:
1. Your logo, name, company name, address, and phone number 2.
Client's Contact name, company name, address, and phone number
3. Purchase order date (date job was ordered) 4. Invoice date 5.
Invoice number 6. Payment terms (for example, net 45 days) 7.
Break down of how many hours were spent on each phase of the
project 8. Add on expenses (Printing expenses - remember to add
10% - 15% markup)
Staple the purchase order to the invoice. Make sure that your
invoice is neat and professional and then send it out to the
client.
15. ARCHIVE THE PROJECT
Now that you are finished, you can use the docket to archive
this project. Remember the black marker and label that
previously was used to name your project's docket? You are now
going to file your project by this number. In order to find this
project easier, I suggest placing a filing tab on each docket.
Place everything in alphanumeric order.
Make sure everything that belongs in the docket is there. Place
all corresponding files on a Zip or Jazz disk and then place it
in the project's docket. All administrative documents, such as
invoices and POs, should be placed in the docket. Also, any
printouts, emails, or notes that correspond to this project also
belong in the docket.
16. EVERYTHING IS REUSABLE
You shouldn't ever reuse projects that are copyrighted by your
client. However, portions of every project are reusable. For
example, you wouldn't reuse a design that you specifically
created for a client. But, you could reuse Photoshop paths or
textures that you created.
You will find that as you complete more and more projects, each
one becomes a little bit easier. As you start out in
freelancing, use each project as a learning experience. Each
project completed results in a more experienced and valuable
freelancer. Good Luck!
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