Since setting a goal at the beginning of the year, I’ve made 3 attempts to get my first paid developer work. These are the big takeaways and things I’ve learned:

• Know when to not accept a project, even if you’re just trying to get a foot in the door.
• Get the site content from the client as early in the process as possible to avoid project delays.
• An “approved” prototype does not mean there won’t still be changes after I do a lot of coding!
• Working to milestones (with specific dates) and showing work at each milestone is better than sharing work in progress.
• I got a good handle on how much time freelance projects actually take me.
• When estimating how much to charge, don’t forget about the time you’ll spend on the project for things other than coding. Calls, check-ins, revisions, and training may add to the project time and you should be paid accordingly.

Show Links:

• Upwork
• Episode 50 - 6-Month Goal Setting
• Episode 56 - Planning A New Web Project
• Episode 62 - Prototyping With Figma

This episode was originally published 29 May, 2018.