20 Rules All Freelancers Should Follow

20 Rules all freelancers should follow

Sometimes when being a freelancer things go wrong because we haven’t properly prepared. Today we have put together a list of sort of rules to follow as a web freelancer, let us know which of these you follow and which ones you wish you knew before something bad happened.
1. Always get a deposit
This is a tricky one but a must. It is important that theygive you a percent of the price up front to insure you get paid for your work. The typical rate is from 25% to 50% depending on the size of the project. However this can back fire for clients as I’m sure it’s happened to most of you, I recently hired someone to redesign WebDesignDev and I paid 50%, when he showed me the design I told him I liked the concept but it lacked design, he turned on meand said its obvious you won’t like it so you can either pay me 25% more for PSD or I will just go with your deposit. Everyone has this doubt and it does happen often, reassure your clients about this and make sure you will be there for them, you will follow out the work you have been set to do or you will refund them.

2. Get 100% verification of what you must do for your client
When starting anew project with a client, be sure to find our 100% exactly what it is you need to do. There is no point in starting a project if you’re unsure. You will get half way through it and then client will say it’s all wrong. You will just be wasting time, so get verification.
3. Decide an hourly rate or rate on a project basis
It depends a lot on the freelancer which works best for them. If you liketo take your time and get it perfect then hourly rates are the way to go for you. If you work fast and because of this value your time more highly then you could consider a price per project. However in experience I have found working a hourly rate allows more freedom to explore ideas and get things perfect. It also means that if the client wants revision after revision then you can keep going asyou will be paid more.
4. Never ask for referrals
Don’t ask your clients for referrals. If they say you have done a good job for them, then I’m sure they will refer you to friends, and most likely come back themselves. Asking for referrals can make you sound desperate for work.
5. Offer incentives to your regular customers
If you regally go out to eat at a restaurant, and the restaurant knowyou are regular customers and know you, then I am sure every once in a while they put drinks on the house etc, as a reward for coming back to them. Freelancers should do this with their regular clients, to let them know they are special.
6. Keep your clients notified
This can help you gain / keep that professional status. If you notify your clients every time you reach a checkpoint, then they canstay updated, and it keeps them informed on how fast you’re working and generally what’s going on at your end.

7. If you’re hosting for them, remind them of costs
Hosting clients websites can be a good upsell you can use on your clients but its very important if you are offering it that you let them know that there will be further payments to make, perhaps on a monthly or yearly basis. Makesure you make this clear when you quote the price for hosting or domain names.
8. Be Honest
Be honest with your clients. An example would be if you wanted more work, just say to them, hey if you have any more design projects that need completing, feel free to send them across as I’m a bit short of work at the moment. If the client likes your work and the way you do things, they will sure take youup on the offer – that is if they have any more work.
9. Keep business and friendship separate
So often great friends fool out before they do business together. Keep a strict rule that you don’t work with friends however tempting it may be.
10. Be flexible
You need to be flexible, for instance if you were meant to be having a conference call with one of your clients, and they did not show,...