Anee

Hello Andys,
As a freelance I never get any advantages from Gumtree or Freelancer web sites.
I am happy to share what I did to get my first web design project.
First I thank God for his wisdom and all Glory to God.
 
1. I search some non profit organization in my local area / city and check there is a web site for them or not?
2. If they dont, I did a small mockup in Photoshop and show it to them that I can make this 4/ 5 page web site for free.
3. In return, I can put a credit link to my own portfolio. ( That time my portfolio contain just some of my own photoshop web site mockup designs )
4 And ask them to launch the web site on one of their event. In those kind of non profit organization people always invite their city business men or who are willing to donate MONEY. and thats a great great chance to stand near to the stage / Computer to explain how the web site works and what it containes IN FRONT OF THOSE DONATORS - OR BUSINESS PEOPLE
5. After the event, just introduced my self with them and gave my business card ( just printed from vista print for £15 ). It works. I got contacts and calls. Never mind if I got the project or not. But I am happy that they are called me to discuss.
 
Just try. keep trying. never giveup.
 
Good luck and post your suces story
 
Cheers

Hi, it's my first post so I thought I'd make it a good one and share some of my experience.
 
Firstly, don't give up!
Although this is a poor financial climate for most businesses to get started in, it's a promoters paradise if approached correctly. Think of all those businesses out there dying to boost their turnover and exposure now that the market is down. It is YOUR job to boost their image/exposure/custom.
 
The hard part is pricing yourself right - if you cannot afford to undercut the competition (not something I subscribe to), offer a little something that makes you unique and desirable. Be it your style, customer service, going the extra mile.
 
You only need one great client to recommend you and you can begin to grow - one turns into two.. which turns into four - etc etc...
Offer a brochure of your services with a couple of spare business cards to each client with the final work delivery - perhaps a referral scheme, a discount on future work with a referral?
 
Ok now here's the bit where you have to do some legwork - Go to networking events and meetings, meet business leaders / owners head on in an environment where they want to hear about you. The contacts you can make there are priceless. You may not get a job right away, but these people know LOTS more people. If your business cards and talk are up to the job, they'll get you noticed.
 
Distribute leaflets / brochures by hand to accountants waiting rooms, and law offices (with their permission), leave enough for people to take one away - it's a worthwhile investment since the one's that get left are still there to attract a new client, and the ones that get taken are taken by your new hot leads.
 
Keep your website pristine - and keep a blog. Talk about what you do, and link it to facebook, linkedin and twitter. People love free tips and a human touch to their designers. After all, while working for a client you will build a relationship - back and forth communication, ongoing support, and potential future jobs. So they want someone who they can understand.
 
Phew! - I hope these random ramblings help you in some way.
 
Best of luck.

Anee, Sorry I don't agree with one thing you are saying - using Wordpress is a technique to charge more.
I don't think designers build CMS powered sites, simply for the sake of charging more. If you build a HTML/CSS only site, you can charge a maintenance fee.
 
You may have not meant that, but think what if someone out of the web community reads your post - they will think every designer who suggest using Wordpress / CMS is simply trying to charge more, which is not true.

Well you're doing it for a relative so price will be influenced by this, what price would you be happy with? Personally, if a close family member approached me for a website then it would be free, especially a 4-page website that could be made in a day or two; a not-so-close relative would receive a hefty discount on my hourly rate.
 
I disagree Anee, I charge less for WordPress unless I'm making a custom theme or a page with my own plugins etc. I'm sick of seeing "Web Designers" think they can charge excessive amounts by buying a cheap WP theme (or even free), adding a load of free or cheap plugins and claiming that it was difficult to make. A website made from scratch can also have a CMS coded into it.

It depends what you consider to be too much. To be honest 70 quid doesn't get you much, that would only be what 3 hours of my time. Its not right to charge by the page, it's how much time goes into a project and the overall quality of that work. For 70 quid the design work will be very minimal as will the functionality of the website. A CMS site works pretty much the same, (Anee), it can be set up in no time at all, however it comes down to the details of where the design came from. Too many people sell a CMS site with a cut up theme that they purchased for next to nothing. To have a custom built design for a CMS tends to cost in the thousands range, and for good reason.
 
The only reason to charge more is if you are good at what you do. Skill set and experience are key.
 
Back to the original question by teodora, I think for a family friend that is probably still a little cheap. You should charge them a reduced rate per hour, show that reduced rate on a quote and they will know they are getting a good deal from you.
 
 
Stevo!

Now, I have little market experience. However, elance sounds like a bad place full of clients you don't want, even if you could outbid designers from other countries. A client who is looking for a lowest bidder instead of highest quality is a big red flag.
 
Also, this book by David Airey is really good: http://www.amazon.ca/Work-Money-Design-Love-Frequently/dp/0321844270
 
Don't give up just yet!

...and make sure it's a recorded delivery.

Was ranking for the terms ever in the contract she signed? If not then she has no right to ask for it to.
So long as you fulfilled all terms of the contract as was signed by both parties, then you're entitled to financial compensation for the work undertaken.
 
First mistake was putting the site live before payment, second mistake was leaving it there. Take it down until payment has been made and funds are clear in your account.

As Rob has said, most domains are not transferrable within 30 days each side of renewal. So, just renew with GoDaddy, then in 31 days time, do yourself a massive favour and get bthat domain the hell away from them