5 Essentials Of A Freelance Web Site

Every freelancer who hopes to find work online needs a web site. It’s obligatory, much like a telephone in the office, wheels on a bicycle or butter in a bacon sandwich. But what are the important elements to include?

For each type of freelancer, it’s a bit different: web designers need usability and a sharp, cool look; graphic designers need stunning imagery; one-man companies need to promote their brand and so on.

In every case, however, these five items are essential:

1. Contact

There’s no point having a web presence if your visitors can’t contact you. Not only that, but it needs to be obvious and easy. Have a look at any big company’s site and you’ll see a prominent contact option – whether it’s a list of details across the bottom of the page or a separate tab.

It’s also desirable to be contactable without leaving the site. Unfortunately, with spam-spiders crawling all over the Internet in search of @-signs, providing an unmasked email address is generally an invitation to junk mailers. Instead, how about having a page on your blog where potential clients can leave a message as a moderated comment?

2. Portfolio

No matter what you do, it’s worth showing how you do it. Some clients will contact you based purely on reputation, but most would like to see some kind of work. It gives them an idea of your ability. If you’re a writer of some form, the web site itself is your portfolio – every entry on every page.

Deisgners, programmers and other businessmen may need to put something together for potential clients to peruse. A great example of this is over at Paul’s site, The Feisty Empire: he has a Samples section, where visitors can see exactly how good he is in various formats, for different media.

3. Testimonials

Putting trust in a freelancer is not an easy step for many employers: they’re a notoriously flaky bunch (especially the online ones) who disappear without warning, miss deadlines or simply don’t deliver what they promise. That’s why a couple of testimonials from happy customers make a difference.

Feedback is always worth requesting when you finish a job: the bidding sites all provide a mechanism for this, but if you’re working direct with the client it’s a good idea to ask them for a few words once the project is complete. Post it up on your site and you’ll reassure future clients not only of your ability, but that you’re here to stay.

4. Bio

Strangely enough, many clients like to know who they’re paying. While the first part of any site’s About page should cover the content (so that new visitors know what they’re getting), some personal or company background is also useful.

Career history, specialisations, interests, skills and hobbies can all go in there – how much you include is up to you and depends on whether you’re selling yourself or your services. Make sure you let your visitors know if you have unusual talents, too!

5. Spelling And Grammar

Yes, I know I harp on about it all the time. Say what you will about the way language changes and evolves (and no, I’m not going to get into that discussion again), but a potential client is unlikely to hire you if your entire site is written in txtspk.

Language is very difficult to get right: for freelance content providers it’s a matter of style (writing in ebonics or tabloid-speak works fine if that’s your niche, for example), but for most others the site should be thoroughly spell-checked and grammar-checked in the accepted standard for your working tongue. This is your marketing. Get it right – or appear on Failblog.

That’s your homework assignment: check your site!