 | Last login: 11 days agoDan O is a married guy from Greenfield, Indiana, USA. My name is not really "Danoshops"... that would be a funny name. My name is Dan Osmundson - not so funny but harder to say.
Anyway, I am here to network, learn new stuff and help other like-minded folks (when possible). I would like to pick up some freelance web design jobs, so if you have advice or leads for me (if you are a designer/developer)... or need a site, please contact me (click the "Send a message" button -->).
Check out my portfolio site at:
dano-dna.com.
I will also launch
dano-design.com soon. |
- Aug 5, 2008 9:03am
- Freelance Folder Birthday Contest - Entry:
I have been freelancing for only a short time and so far things have gone pretty well. In one instance, we'll say my third client (and still active with a project underway since April), has been a real challenge due to communication issues. I bid on the client's project via Get A Freelancer and won. During the bidding process, after viewing the requirements of the website redesign and proofreading project I was very careful not to overstate what I would do to complete the work; I put a lot of effort into the bid with the hopes that we could clarify up front what was expected. The client's native language is not english, so since all of this took place via email and other electronic communication it was a challenge. Anyway, she was elated that I was in the US (as is she), stating that her last experience was with a design group from Pakistan who did not provide her a completed site.
Well, the client liked what I had to say about the project and awarded me the bid. Then it took a while of waiting for the client in which I spent my time organizing/forming my LLC, DanO Design LLC, web design and consulting. When the client was ready to go I sent her a contract (one document) and project specifications detailing what she said she needed and what I would do (another document) to review. When I sent her the documents I requested any further clarification of what I put into the specifications document. She requested a few new things which added a little more to the project budget, so I amended the contract and specs accordingly and resent them. After I received her signed copy both by fax and snail-mail, she very non-chalantly started requesting more, new requirements via email. One very big new request was a rather clear indication of the language barrier; she now wanted me to write the content for her website. I quickly took great care to explain that there is a huge difference between writing content, copywriting, and proof-reading. I gave her resources, etc. that explained in further detail and told her I would proof-read what she could provide but that our contract said nothing about copywriting which requires another type of professional service, not me.
Lesson learned? It took a bit of convincing but the client is now having her site professionally copy-written. I have been done with the design work and am awaiting the rest of her materials, so I can finish up the job. This job has been on my plate for a long time and the client "expected" something more, so I can only guess that the feeling is mutual: this project is taking way too long!
So my big tip to anyone writing specifications for work to be done for a client is that you need to write super-explicit project details/specifications. I had specified that I would "redesign" (with all the steps spelled out) and "proof-read" her site but I had not gone an extra step to state what I would not do, "I will not do copywriting for your website". This (and a few other items) will become a new clause in future agreements. I hope this helps someone out there.
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