Boost PC performance: How more available memory can improve productivity
Freelancing as a Student
1. Freelancing as a Student
by: Joe Casabona
joe@casabona.org
@jcasabona
Tuesday, October 22, 13
2. Who Am I?*
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Web Developer, Writer
Started Freelancing at 15
HS, College, Grad School
2 years full time
3. Who Am I?*
*Besides a handsome devil
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Web Developer, Writer
Started Freelancing at 15
HS, College, Grad School
2 years full time
6. 5
Tuesday, October 22, 13
develop one of the first only wordpress courses, 2 books, met zeldman, speak!, travel, work
with people all over the world.
8. You reach a point where you don't work
for money.
-Walt Disney
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
9. ASK
“WHY?”
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Why do you want to freelance? It should be about more than making money.
There is a lot of reward, but there is a lot of stress. don’t get hit by a wave you don’t see
coming.
10. Find Your
Niche
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Select a Market- What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing? Web Dev, Photography,
graphics are all markets
Select a Niche- Who do you want to work with? Weddings? Restaurants? You decide, and get
really, really good at it.
Look for an industry with a need
11. Work For
Free
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Getting clients
Free Work
Friends & Family, school projects
Make up projects!
Put Yourself Out There- lots of resources like freelance job boards
12. You’re very
good at Schmoozing.
-Dr. Ben Bishop
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Network! Network all the things!
Tell story about Dave and I, in Panera Bread. Start talking to guy.
We exchange cards and meet the next week
13. You’re very
good at Schmoozing.
-Dr. Ben Bishop
11
Tuesday, October 22, 13
Network! Network all the things!
Tell story about Dave and I, in Panera Bread. Start talking to guy.
We exchange cards and meet the next week
14. schmooze: v. to converse informally :
chat; also : to chat in a friendly and
persuasive manner especially so as to
gain favor, business, or connections
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Strike up conversations
have a pitch ready
Learn about them
ALWAYS have cards.
15. Build a
Portfolio
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Keep it simple
Keep it short
Keep it updated.
This is some cases is more important than your degree! It is tangible work you can show
people.
18. Own Your
Student
Status
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
There are lots of things you can do to take advantage of being a student.
Tell them: 1st year of Google I/O
Burke Website for CMPS 202
Difference in being a student: Lower risk (financially), develop professional skills, work on
real life projects (speak louder than resume)
People will try to take advantage of you because of your status
Tell Bobby Biz Story. Tell Winn Cards and Comics story. Tell Junior League story (“We’re a not
for profit/I’m for profit”).
19. ❖ Student Expenses = Businesses
Expenses
❖ Student Discounts = Business Discounts
❖ Access to Academic Resources
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Resources: Professors, Trips, Conferences, papers, the library!
20. I am not an Accountant
❖ Student Expenses = Businesses
Expenses
❖ Student Discounts = Business Discounts
❖ Access to Academic Resources
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Resources: Professors, Trips, Conferences, papers, the library!
21. The
Balancing
Act
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
You will need to balance work and school
- Be honest with your clients
- Learn how to say “no”
- Take some you time.
Gauge your semester:
- Types of classes
- Use Rate my Professor!
- Great times for student freelancing: post finals week, breaks, early in semester
- Terrible times: midterms, finals
Finals Schedules: Quick Six, Vitamin Schedule, Projects Galore, Finals Week Lite, Nada
22. ❖ Projects as client work/portfolio pieces
❖ Be confident and act professional
❖ Communication skills
❖ Take advantage of student discounts
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
23. Communication
is Key
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Writing: Spell/Grammar check; read and re-read to make sure you convey the meaning you
want
With email: Have a subject, greet the reader, sign your name
Phone Calls: Speak clearly, no slang, think about what to say, the say it. Pay Attention when
the client is speaking
Talk about more than just business and the weather. Do they have kids? how old are they?
What are their hobbies?
24. Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I
remember. Involve me and I learn.
-Ben Franklin
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Involve your clients. Keep them in the loop.
[something people in our field have trouble with]
-Most importantly, don’t talk down to them. They hired you for a reason.
25. 22
Tuesday, October 22, 13
In Person Meetings:
- Dress to impress. Be professional. You’re asking these people for money.
- Give a good handshake (tell intern story; dead fish handshake)
- Make Eye Contact, Smile, Take Notes: Shows you’re paying attn.
- For the love of God, don’t check your phone unless it rings.
26. Worth
1,000
Words
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
In Person Meetings:
- Dress to impress. Be professional. You’re asking these people for money.
- Give a good handshake (tell intern story; dead fish handshake)
- Make Eye Contact, Smile, Take Notes: Shows you’re paying attn.
- For the love of God, don’t check your phone unless it rings.
27. Worth
1,000
Words
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
In Person Meetings:
- Dress to impress. Be professional. You’re asking these people for money.
- Give a good handshake (tell intern story; dead fish handshake)
- Make Eye Contact, Smile, Take Notes: Shows you’re paying attn.
- For the love of God, don’t check your phone unless it rings.
28. What about
Pricing?
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
Determined by:
- Quality of Your Work
- Your industry
- Your Experience
At first, you’ll probably charge a lot less than the industry; that’s OK. You’re still learning.
Don’t charge for the learning curve.
However, stick by your rates. If someone balks at them, explain why you charge as much as
you do.
My numbers: When I started, I charged $10/hr for my first site. Then I moved to $25. Then
$65. My base rate now is $80/hr and I quote per project.
29. If you want to set off and go develop some grand
new thing, you don't need millions of dollars of
capitalization. You need enough pizza and Diet
Coke to stick in your refrigerator, a cheap PC to
work on, and the dedication to go through with it.
We slept on floors. We waded across rivers.
--John Carmack
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Tuesday, October 22, 13
First PC based side-scrolling game; ported SMB to PC.
Creator of DOOM/Founder of id software.
CMPS 360: You’ve probably done things he pioneered or improved upon.