|
|
Posted by The Natural Philosopher on 09/24/07 11:36
Shelly wrote:
> Does anyone have suggestions for a good way (and cheap way) to solicit
> freelance php based web programming jobs? I live in a phenomenal, over-55,
> development (and absolutely will NOT relocate), but it is over an hour from
> the three nearest metropolitan areas and almost all the work here is dot-net
> type work (which I have been busy learning). In order to not have to dip
> into savings, I don't need to earn all that much. I am looking for full
> time work so that I cam pull in enough for the next three years and then
> retire with enough to not have to worry. Pulling in 20K-30K via part-time,
> from home, freelance doesn't seem such a big deal, but I have only worked
> full-time, either perm or contract through agencies, before so I don't know
> Step One in the freelance process.
>
> So, are there any suggestions for a good way to proceed?
>
> Shelly
>
> For private communication off-line, my email name is sheldonlg and the place
> I live in is called thevillages and it is a dot-net type of email address.
>
>
We have found it surprisingly hard.
In similar type areas. Companies do NOT like dealing with an unknown
entity on the end of a pair of wires.
My wife is slowly building up - actually via Usenet mainly - a local set
of clients who value her speed and professionalism in doing graphic type
stuff..and I help out on the techie aspects of web sites.
Word of mouth, a neat little personal website, and that's about it.
Essentially just network online like mad - as you are doing - and don't
expect it all to happen overnight.
Example No 1.
I was doing some work for a site that was mainly PC based in London.
They wanted an occasional PC guru. I knew of someone who had worlked for
a client, who had left and moved to London to pursue a musical career. I
phoned hi,m. He was delighted. He rushes round london on a motorbike,
fixing PC's by day, and in the evening sings classical material in
concert halls..
Example No 2.. A very old friend who has ME. Or something like that. On
bad days he can't get out of bed as hois blood pressure drops to about
1/3rd what it should be.. On very good days he is completely normal. In
between he can handle sitting at a PC and sorting out problems using
remote login stuff. He has a dozen or so people to whom his rates and
unconventional availability are actually highly suitable.
Example No 3. A friends wife makes a living worsdmithing advertising
copy. Unlike most people. she can in fact write grammatically correct
English and spell it correctly in either the US or UK styles. I believe
she originally made contact with clients via an agency. One year they
made more money in an attempt to protect her income against a falling
dollar than from the work itself. Well thats the futures market for you ;-)
Agencies may be worth contacting. But you have to be firm and absolutely
specify that telecommuting is your ONLY mode, or they will want you to
go and work on an oil platform in Alaska, or outer Mongolia, for megabucks.
My approach is a shade different: I have sort of retired, and make
almost enough from investments. I do free work for people, and recently
free work for a company that I will shortly have an equity interest in.
One day maybe that will bring me in a few hundred thousand dollar. Or
nothing at all. Well Its only spare time being wagered isn't it?
Navigation:
[Reply to this message]
|