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FREELANCE WORDPRESS LESSONS
LEARNED

Or things I’ve learned about making a living with
WordPress for fun and profit

WordCamp Chicago 2012                     Becky Davis
ABOUT BECKY
 Designer/Dev from Chicago
 1st WordPress site in 2009
 1st WordCamp – Chicago 2010
 1st WordCamp site design – Chicago 2011




 Number of WordPress custom themes built – 25+
 Solopreneur (for now), making a decent living
 Mom – both kids in college
LESSON 1 – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KARMA
 Collaboration not Competition
 Pay it back
     Thank plugin developers
     Teach
     Meetups

   Rely on Friends
     Share resources
     Share ideas
     Bounce ideas and problems


    It’s all about the community.
LESSON 2 – MAKE THE COMMITMENT
 You will never be a FT freelancer if you don’t do it
  FT
 Have faith

 Accept the risk

 Network, network, network
       Try everything at least for a while
         Meetups
         Chamber of Commerce

         Local organizations


   Charge more as you build skills and confidence
LESSON 3 – NEVER STOP LEARNING
 Stop saying “No” to clients
 Challenge yourself and figure it out

 Ask questions – this is what the WordPress community is
    all about
 Have tutorials ready for when you’re not busy
 Be open to new ideas

 Read

 Google is our friend
LESSON 4 - MANAGE EXPECTATIONS
 Much easier said than done
 Don’t assume what they understand

 Educating the client is part of the process



   Designers need special education
       How to give you files
       The dynamic nature of a WordPress site
       Balance between user editing and designer ideal


   Don’t ask, Don’t tell is not a good policy!
LESSON 5 – DO MAKE IT EASY
 Consider the end user in all decisions
 Add drop down styles in the editing area




   Make TRAINING a standard part of your bid and
    process
LESSON 6 – GET PAID
   If you don’t track your time, how will you ever
    know how to charge?
       Track out of scope changes
 Use contracts whenever possible
 Don’t launch without final payment

 Pay yourself the same every week
     Set aside taxes first
     Get off the roller-coaster


The only way you’ll make money is by knowing what
your time is worth.
LESSON 7 – LEARN HOW TO BREATHE
 Step away from the screen and get out of the house
 Disconnect regularly




   Remember it’s all about the Karma
CONTACT INFO
 Beckydavisdesign.com
 @beckyddesign

 Slides on slideshare.net/bdgardengirl




   MEETUPS IN CHICAGO!
     City – North side http://www.meetup.com/Chicago-
      WordPress-Meetup/
     North suburbs (Lake Co) - http://www.wplc.us/
     West suburbs (McHenry Co) - http://www.wpmchenry.com/

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Freelance WordPress lessons learned

  • 1. FREELANCE WORDPRESS LESSONS LEARNED Or things I’ve learned about making a living with WordPress for fun and profit WordCamp Chicago 2012 Becky Davis
  • 2. ABOUT BECKY  Designer/Dev from Chicago  1st WordPress site in 2009  1st WordCamp – Chicago 2010  1st WordCamp site design – Chicago 2011  Number of WordPress custom themes built – 25+  Solopreneur (for now), making a decent living  Mom – both kids in college
  • 3. LESSON 1 – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KARMA  Collaboration not Competition  Pay it back  Thank plugin developers  Teach  Meetups  Rely on Friends  Share resources  Share ideas  Bounce ideas and problems It’s all about the community.
  • 4. LESSON 2 – MAKE THE COMMITMENT  You will never be a FT freelancer if you don’t do it FT  Have faith  Accept the risk  Network, network, network  Try everything at least for a while  Meetups  Chamber of Commerce  Local organizations  Charge more as you build skills and confidence
  • 5. LESSON 3 – NEVER STOP LEARNING  Stop saying “No” to clients  Challenge yourself and figure it out  Ask questions – this is what the WordPress community is all about  Have tutorials ready for when you’re not busy  Be open to new ideas  Read  Google is our friend
  • 6. LESSON 4 - MANAGE EXPECTATIONS  Much easier said than done  Don’t assume what they understand  Educating the client is part of the process  Designers need special education  How to give you files  The dynamic nature of a WordPress site  Balance between user editing and designer ideal  Don’t ask, Don’t tell is not a good policy!
  • 7. LESSON 5 – DO MAKE IT EASY  Consider the end user in all decisions  Add drop down styles in the editing area  Make TRAINING a standard part of your bid and process
  • 8. LESSON 6 – GET PAID  If you don’t track your time, how will you ever know how to charge?  Track out of scope changes  Use contracts whenever possible  Don’t launch without final payment  Pay yourself the same every week  Set aside taxes first  Get off the roller-coaster The only way you’ll make money is by knowing what your time is worth.
  • 9. LESSON 7 – LEARN HOW TO BREATHE  Step away from the screen and get out of the house  Disconnect regularly  Remember it’s all about the Karma
  • 10. CONTACT INFO  Beckydavisdesign.com  @beckyddesign  Slides on slideshare.net/bdgardengirl  MEETUPS IN CHICAGO!  City – North side http://www.meetup.com/Chicago- WordPress-Meetup/  North suburbs (Lake Co) - http://www.wplc.us/  West suburbs (McHenry Co) - http://www.wpmchenry.com/