One of the things I'm asked most often is, "Do I really need a contract?" And the answer: YES. 100% YES. Do not make a website without one! I don't care if you're working with a stranger, your best friend, or your grandma. You NEED a contract to protect yourself, and them, and keep your relationship from heading south. So it might be no surprise that the next question I hear all the time is, "Where do I find a contract I can use to sell my web design services?" Well, you're in … [Read more...] about 3 Resources for killer contracts!
Blog – Articles for web designers
How to help clients with tiny budgets
“But my clients can’t afford a $10,000 website. They can’t even afford a $3,000 one!” Does that sound like you? It sounds like a lot of web designers I know. And while I could (and often do) tell them to target clients with more money, sometimes the people you want as your clients don't have money, but you WANT to help them, and choosing a new audience just is NOT what you want to do. I get it. Sometimes those low-paying clients are non-profits you’re passionate about helping, or small … [Read more...] about How to help clients with tiny budgets
Why I don’t believe in competition
As entrepreneurs, we're often pitted against each other in some sort of weird business-death match to be the first to reach six-figures. We're told to either watch our competition and outdo them, or ignore them completely, and focus on ourselves. I don't believe either option is a good one. Mainly, because I don't believe in competition. There's more than enough work out there for everyone. (Yes, really!) I'm asked often about why I share my competition's articles and products. … [Read more...] about Why I don’t believe in competition
What to do when your client is wrong
If you’ve been involved in any kind of service industry for long, you’ve probably heard the saying, “The client is always right.” While we all know there are lots of times when the client is not right, most of the time we just pretend like it’s all good. We smile and figure out how to make it work, even if it’s not a good idea at all. Except for those times when the client is wrong. And I mean, epic-failure-on-the-horizon wrong. Those are the times when you have to get your clients to do … [Read more...] about What to do when your client is wrong
The huge mistake you’re making with your email list as a web designer
Are you still sending your list a new email each week or so? When new people sign up, do they get whatever your latest article is? If so, you're doing it wrong Look, if you've been blogging/writing to your audience for a long time, then you're assuming that they're at a certain stage, and the article you're sending is relevant to them. But that's not the case. The article you're sending out at week 38 of your newsletter, likely isn't the article someone new to your list needs to … [Read more...] about The huge mistake you’re making with your email list as a web designer
How to set goals you’ll actually achieve
The new year always brings a fresh start. And with that fresh start, we set goals. But the problem most of us face is that we set goals that sound great, but with no plan to actually achieve them. So how do you set goals that you'll actually achieve? Set goals that are measurable If you can't measure your goal, how will you know if you've achieved it? Too often, we keep our goals vague, which makes them impossible for us to track. Maybe you want to get more clients. Well, "Get more … [Read more...] about How to set goals you’ll actually achieve
