Project Management
Articles about project management, organized by topic.
As a freelancer, you get to decide how to bill your clients – and there's no right or wrong billing strategy. In this article, we'll look at hourly rates, daily rates, weekly rates, monthly retainers, fixed-fee projects, and value-based pricing methods and identify the pros and cons of each.
Freelancers How to Defend Your Design Decisions Without Sounding DefensiveWhen you put a design in front of a client, they're inevitably going to have an opinion on it. These strategies move the conversation away from who is right or wrong and re-focus both sides on the business goals the project aims to achieve.
Freelancers How to Make Your Invoice Names a Little Less AwfulMost freelancers don't spend time thinking about the best way to name an invoice, but caring about the seemingly trivial aspects of your business (that other freelancers ignore) is what will set you apart in the eyes of your clients.
Freelancers Don’t Break Your Own RulesI only experience problems with clients when I break my own rules. Accepting that position, attitude, and perspective is what enables you to learn and grow from your mistakes and make better decisions in the future.
Freelancers How to Turn One Small Project Into Years of Predictable IncomeThere's nothing more valuable than having predictable income when you're a freelancer. Unreliable income holds us hostage to our business even if we've managed to free ourselves from past employers.
Freelancers 5 Tips for Managing Sick Days as a FreelancerYou aren't allocated a specific number of sick days each year as a freelancer. That's why it's important to have a plan for sick days before they happen.
Clients 25 Simple Design Terms Every Client Needs to KnowHave you ever worked with a designer and felt like they were speaking a totally different language? Every industry has it's own vocabulary. Before you invest thousands of dollars into a designer, you should familiarize yourself with their language.
Clients 15 Simple Development Terms Every Client Needs to KnowHave you ever worked with a developer and felt like they were speaking a totally different language? Every industry has it's own vocabulary. Before you invest thousands of dollars into a developer, you should familiarize yourself with their language.
Everyone How I Solved a Complex UX Problem Using the BibleFind out how I used the Bible to solve a complex UX problem and design an interface that made browsing municipal code online easier for anyone.
Everyone A Simple Design Process to Use for Every Digital ProjectThere's a simple 3 step process that you can use for every digital project by breaking the design process down to it's fundamental elements.
Clients 5 Tips for Qualifying a FreelancerFinding and qualifying a freelancer for your next project business isn't easy. Hire the perfect person for your next project without a hassle.
Freelancers Struggling with Late Payments? Stop Blaming Your ClientsHave you ever been stiffed by a client? You convinced them to hire you, everyone was eager to get stared, and everything seemed to be going great, but the client either paid you late or never paid you at all.
Clients 5 Ways to Prepare Yourself for Hiring a FreelancerFreelancers often underestimate the amount of questions you have and the number of objections you need to overcome in order to hire them. The best thing you can do before hiring a freelancer is take the time to identify and define the purpose of the project.
Clients 3 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a FreelancerHaving worked with a lot of clients over the years, I've realized that the most successful ones do their homework. Outsourcing work to a freelancer or design agency you know very little about is a scary thought, especially if it’s work your business depends on.
Clients Good Looks Don’t Bring In SalesPretty doesn’t count. There are plenty of designers out there capable of providing a brilliant design for your website. However, form and function don’t always solve underlying problems and meet the clients ultimate goals.
Freelancers The Most Effective Way to Present Your DesignsEveryone has an opinion about the way things look. Even the most trusting clients will have revisions and change requests waiting for you after you present your work. But why? After all, they hired you because you are the expert, right?
Clients How Long Does it Take to Build a Website?Whenever I am prospecting a new opportunity with a client, I often get asked how long it will take me to build the new website or application. The short answer is, it depends. Here are some factors that affect the timeline of a web project.
Clients How Much Does a Website Cost?It’s surprising how many clients ask for a ballpark quote. Unfortunately, answering that question requires more information as each quote should be tailored to the clients specific business and needs.
Freelancers The Purpose of WireframesWireframes are the skeleton or structure behind the user interface. They don't define the "look and feel", but rather the layout, hierarchy, and interactions that make a good user experience.
Freelancers You Can’t Patent a Good User ExperienceEvery company is different, making it unique. So, making the UI or UX unique isn't hard to do because I'm designing for the clients specific needs, not to satisfy my own creative desires. But let's face it, websites have things in common and sometimes those needs overlap.