Freelancers - do you feel exploited?
Monday June 16, 2008
Remember the writer's strike last year? You know, the one where all the movie and TV writers stopped writing and we were forced to watch hours and hours of "reality TV" and re-runs? Well, Copyblogger wrote an article at the time called What Web Writers Can Learn from the Writer's Strike. Now you may not consider yourself a Web writer, but chances are you do freelance work. And many of you blog and you may even do blogging for hire. Well, Brian Clark said:
"If you’re freelancing for online producers or blogging for hire, you’re setting yourself up to be exploited. No wait… you are being exploited."
What do you think? If you write (online or offline) or create Web pages for a producer other than yourself, are you being exploited?
- Advice on Freelance Web Development
- Freelance Web Designers - What Does Your Web Site Say About You?
- What to Charge for Freelance Web Design Work
Comments
I have been freelancing for a few years now.
I have some golden clients with good ongoing relationships.
I also have good relationships with professional colleagues who specialize in graphic design and flash programming (I am primarily a developer) and we frequently team up on projects.
I occasionally take on projects for low fees but only when I want to - in other words, I decide when I will allow myself to be exploited because I have a specific reason (good portfolio piece, long-term gain etc).
I am looking (casually) for a “job” but many employers are leery of me being self-employed for so long (despite my career in film post-production - very similar to web site production - in the 80s - and my Ivy League degree).
There is a lot to be said about rolling out of bed and right into the living room to “go to work” - but of course I am still “at work” long after the sun goes down, being self-employed there is a lot of unpaid work like prospecting for new accounts and just maintaining one’s online profile and web site.
I should also mention that I am involved in building a Drupal community web site for a nonprofit which I proposed as a “volunteer” - I thought it would be a good portfolio piece and I am involved with the organization’s activities, I believe a web site can really enhance its operation and outreach.
As a Drupal site, they can perform most routine updates and maintenance by themselves.
I also helped them find free hosting and domain at Grassroots.org (must be 501c3)
The organization is so impressed with the site that they are insisting on paying me (something, I am sure they cannot afford the “going” rate - but I did not expect anything for my work) and also they are referring me to their parent agency for more paid work. I suspected the referral to the parent org might happen, also a motivation in my proposal to “volunteer” the web site.
I would agree with Jenn’s advice, that “volunteer” projects should be treated as seriously as paid projects - you just might be surprised with the results!
I feel exploited when a customer takes to much time to send me all the images, texts, videos, ideas etc that I need to complete the project. In the meantime, severals changes are asked from the client. A web site project could take 3 months! Eating peanut butter 3 months in a row is not very interesting (it’s juste an exemple of how poor I can be cause I wait for my money). A project could be finished in 2 short weeks (that never happened to me)… Even if I charge 40% of the total price at the beginning, I always feel that I’m more interested in finishing the project that the customer is. Sometimes I wonder if I’m in the good job in my life, but I prefer to be poor sometimes than having a boss. I’m open to any ideas to not feel exploited, and sorry if I’m definatly not in the topic, that’s what I understood from the article, feeling exploited in any way. Ask for 100% cash at the beginning? Please write me some ideas if you ever encoutered this feeling and got it right now…
Sorry for my english I only speak french.
Steve–
I totally agree with you. I frequently have projects where I wait for weeks for photos and copy to put on the site. The best thing I have found to counter this is to sit down with your client and set a timetable. Type it up in Microsfot Word (or another program) and print 2 copies of it–one for you and one for your client–and then keep the copy on your hard drive AND email it to your client. That way, you both have two copies of the timetable. Most clients respond well to having deadlines to submit their information to you, and it gives you a polite way to say, “Hey, I need this info from you.” If you haven’t received the information by the day before it’s “due” (according to your timetable), you don’t have to feel guilty about sending your client an email or giving them a phonecall to say, “I just wanted to touch base and see how it was coming with that info you were going to send to me tomorrow.”
The other two motivators I have found are to create placeholder images and to NOT use the “Lorem ipsum” text. A placeholder image should be two-toned (I like black-and-white) and say in big, bold letters” Placeholder Image.” Make it a little snazzy so it looks professional, but it also screams, “You haven’t sent me the photo for this yet!” “Lorem ipsum” text is useful for creating a test page for your client so they can see how the text will look on the page, but once your layout is approved, TAKE IT OFF. Unless the page is going straight into production/onto the client’s site, I don’t even put “Page Under Construction” on the page. Nothing shouts, “I need text!!!” like a blank page.
Thanks alot! That is some great ideas! I will use the timetable on my next project cause it looks like a good way to tell the client “you’re late” in a professional manner.
The ideas to make the website look like it’s waiting for content is brilliant too. Thank you for you post I very appreciated it.
I wish you sucess,
Steve
Steve, I’m a graphic designer primarily focusing on print media, but I’ve done a few sites. This might help:
Before I even so much as estimate a web site (yes, before i even QUOTE it!), I demand that the client provide me with a flow chart of how many pages they want the site to have, and also provide me with all their copy. This way, I know how much work the site will entail before I estimate it, and it also forces the client to be serious. I’ve had a few instances where the client said, “Well, I don’t have it written yet!” and that tells me they’re not really serious yet. In a very nice way, I simply say “When you’re ready, give me a call.” This method prevents me from taking on a year-long project and it forces the client to do their end of the work.
By the way, I also use a similar method in designing. I’ll quote the job, but insist that all copy and client-selected images be provided to me before I start on the design. I do not give any options in this area.
I assume these methods don’t work for everyone, but they work for me and I hope they can help you.
Thank you Kristine, I will take your advices in consideration too!
By the way I have 1 dream client. When we did the website he gave me all I needed by email, section by section in each email, that was awesome. I work on this website updates since 2 years now, very profitable and fun client to work with.
ok have a good day and thanks to all
Occasionally I do get exploited by a client who simply won’t complete the site. I’m quick to move on, though. I’m like an airline: I’ll over book, well aware that clients are going to lose interest.