Business

  • March 26, 2008

    On Writing Email

    Email correspondence is my normal and most practiced form of communication because of the convenience for both parties. It allows you to quickly send a message to someone and know (in most cases) they will get it the next time they check their inbox. I feel it’s also better than instant messaging or phone conversations in some instances because it allows me to think about what I want to say. However, with the amount of emailing I do, I notice many people don’t know how to write what I deem a proper email.

    Since I am a TA, I get a lot of emails from students like this:

    Hey do u take off for late assignments

    This is sometimes forgivable as it’s mostly freshmen who are relatively new to email as the defacto form of communication. I am sure when I was a freshman, my emails weren’t up to my own current standards. However, even dealing with clients I get some of those emails that come off as less than professional. Using SMS shorthand or incorrect punctuation, spelling errors, etc. are some of the problems I run into. Here is an example of what I would say is a proper email:

    Joe,
    I hope all is well. I was wondering if you took off for late assignments.

    Thanks,
    Jim Student

    The later email includes some important details the sooner email lacked. Here are some ground rules for a good email:

    • Address/Greet the person you are writing. It looks better and it ensure you know who are you contacting. The greeting might not be necessary, but it shows you care at least a little.
    • Use proper grammar. This isn’t instant messenger and your emails will be read more carefully. You don’t want to be judged on simple grammatical errors. Also, use real words- not shorthand. “U” instead of “you” might be ok for texting or IMing, but it’s not for email.
    • Spell check! I’ve been guilty of this from time to time, but now that most browsers have spell check built in, there is really no excuse. This goes along the same lines as grammar checking- and this is much easier to avoid.
    • Sign your name. Let the person you are contacting know who is emailing him. Usually for the first email I will also include my last name, and then drop it in any replies. This one drives me crazy because, especially with my students, I deal with a lot of people and don’t always recognize the email address.

    These four simple checks will make for an infinitely better, more professional looking email which in turn reflects better on you. Did I leave anything out? Disagree with me? Let me know in the comments.

  • March 20, 2008

    Email: Don’t respond right away

    email

    If you are anything like me, you are always connected to the Internet in some fashion. I have 2 laptops, a desktop, a blackberry and most recently, an iPod Touch (more on that later). Because of this, I get my email right when it’s sent to me unless I’m asleep or without my phone(which is veryrare). I am always tempted to respond right away, just as I do with text or instant messaging. It’s all instant for me. However, I realized it might not be best to respond to an email (specifically a client email) right away.

    I know some might think the sooner the better, however immediate response can have some negative effects. First, it’s important to know that most people are not like me- they aren’t always connected. They check their email at most hourly. So it’s a safe bet that they won’t be checking their email for your response right when they email you. Unless of course, you set a precedent.

    If you do respond right away, people will expect you to all the time. With my clients for example, if I consistently respond immediately, they will expect it. If you make it seem like you’re always available, people think you are, and that can really eat into any free time you try to set aside. I had a client who called me at all hours because I made it seem like I was always available. I had to explain to her that calling me at, for example, 1AM was unacceptable. But I was always there for immediate response. Besides that, it’s always helpful to put some thought into what you’re going to write back.

    Immediate response doesn’t allow you to think about what you write- it’s just what first comes to mind. For a quick note to a friend or a thank you email that might be fine, but in a professional relationship it looks bad. At the very least take some time to think about what you want to say and word it correctly. That extra time from when they email you and then hear back will show them you actually put some thought into what you want to say.

    As for me, I should heed my own advice. I have been trying the last few weeks and have already seen a difference as far as what’s expected of me goes. Now let’s see if I can maybe check me email less often…

  • March 18, 2008

    Entrepreneurship in Computing II

    work.jpg

    To continue with this short series I started a couple weeks ago, I want to talk about the next part of my presentation, starting the business.

    Why Start a Business?

    This was a topic of particular interest. Many people see too much risk in actually putting yourself out there, leaving a steady job, and running your own business. I knew for me I had to start my own business when I wasn’t happy with any of the jobs I had (aside from working my first real job at the deli). My experiences were primarily negative working retail (which is usually the case), but also with jobs in my industry. So I felt if I wanted to be happy I’d have to be my own boss. But that is not the only upside to starting your own business.

    The payoff is greater, and not just in terms of money. That might not be the case, especially starting out. However, you will get the opportunity to create work of your own and take the lead on projects. You will also do what you love to do, not just what you are told to do. I for one enjoy programming. At my last couple of jobs however, I was strictly XHTML/CSS. I wanted to do innovative and cool things. Running my own business, I can do that.

    It’s your ideas that manifest themselves into real products, not some upper management person or company. It’s also very rewarding to see people use what you create. You won’t get that working for a company.

    Have I convinced you yet? Next time I’ll be talking about some tips to running a business.

  • March 6, 2008

    Entrepreneurship in Computing

    work.jpg

    Recently I gave a talk on campus about Entrepreneurship in Computing. I talk about my experiences as a freelancer and consultant and give some advice to the undergraduate Comp Sci and Comp Info Systems students, and anyone else who would listen. I’d like to break my presentation down to a few posts here, starting with how I got my start.

    How I got my Start

    I was a sophomore in high school and my parish approached my about a website. At the time I wasn’t too savvy, but I figured I had Microsoft Frontpage; what more did I need? (I had a lot to learn). In any case, the gig just fell into my lap. I really enjoyed doing it and decided to look more into web development.

    Throughout high school, I did small site for other students, mostly bands or skateboard groups (this was about the time CKY/Bam Margera got big, so every skateboarder had a camera) who needed the five basic pages: Home, About, Shows (or Vids), Media, Contact Us. I’d charge them $50-100 for the whole site and be on my merry way. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college that I really became a web developer. In those first few years, however, I learn my most valuable lessons.

    Have Confidence
    If you don’t believe in your work, why should someone who is paying you?
    People Skills
    Communications is key. You need to be able to speak the client’s language. Put what you are doing in their terms, because if you don’t, they won’t get what they want and they won’t be happy about it.
    Specialize
    When I started out, I didn’t only want to do websites. I wanted to do everything- web development, graphic design, computer repairs, network set-up; you name it. However a Jack of All Trades is a master of nothing. So pick something you really enjoy and learn everything you can about it.
    Proper Business Workings
    I was at least smart enough then to start a spreadsheet with my basic revenue and expenses, though I didn’t realize what could be an expense at the time. I also learned what documents were important to try and protect myself and my business.

    Next time I will talk about running the business, why it might be the right choice for you and what to keep in mind.

  • January 14, 2008

    The Business: 2008

    Last year was a really great year for me business-wise. I made strides in getting my name out there, the types of projects I picked up, and over all became more confident in my work. I’ve set up some goals for 2008 that I feel will really put me out there professionally and will help me take bigger steps to the ultimate goal of being my own boss.

    • Rebranding: Late last year I began rebranding JLC Web Design, giving it a new name, logo, and scope as far as types of projects. I will be revealing all that hopefully soon. Right now I am going through the processes of registering my business as a Sole Proprietorship in the state of NY. After I get the officially registered name, I will be talking in depth about that process and recommendations for going about it.
    • Better Finance Management: In 2007, I realized as I got a more constant stream of projects, I needed a better way to keep track of invoices and expenses. This year I will be subscribing to Vebio, which offers online invoicing, statements and reports, and most importantly, expense tracking. This should be a little better than an excel sheet. I will also be talking to an accountant as far as filling for taxes goes, and separating my revenue for the business from my personal finances- something I should have done a long time ago.
    • Flagship Projects: I currently have two project in the works- an Open Source one and a commercial one. The commercial one, Into the Open, has launched. I am currently working on advertising and a new logo. I also need to get on the PR side of things to really get the site out there. my goal is to have that up in full swing by March. For the second project- the open source one, I have been working almost none stop on it for the couple of weekends. My plan is to solidify a name and get a beta release out by the end of the month.

    Once i have some official documents with my new name, I will be talking about that process, the switch to Vebio, progress on the projects, and some other topics- like having real business cards printed.

  • September 27, 2007

    The Student Freelancer

    classroom

    Over at FreelanceSwitch they have a nice write up on Student Freelancing. As all I’ve really known is student freelancing, I could really relate to this. If I could take one tip from the article to really pass on to other student freelancers or students who want to, I would say this:

    You know what? I’m proud to be a student. I’m proud to be studying something I really do consider a benefit both to myself and society. My clients know that. They know I’m a student and sometimes I don’t have time to do some of their projects. What they also know that I’ll try. As I said before, be honest with your clients. There’s a good chance they also went to college, isn’t there?

    When I first started I was always worried that because I am a student, my clients might look down on me, or try to take advantage of that fact. And you will have those people; except those people will try to take advantage no matter what the situation. Most clients understand that you are a student and are very understanding of deadlines and balancing their work with school. That said, you shouldn’t take advantage of their kindness, because they will also remember that.

    The hardest part is definitely the balancing act, which I feel I’ve mentioned here but is worth reiterating. You need to gage your semester and see what kind of workload you will have as to not over-burden yourself. There will be times where you want to take on one more client, but you may have to put it off. What I am doing now that I am a little older and somewhat established is taking on one or two underclassmen that I think will do a good job. I teach them what I know and send a few jobs their way. That way the client gets the work they need done and you network a little for the future, while giving someone else a good opportunity they may have not had otherwise. College is the best place to network and I suggest everyone take advantage of that fact.

    So am I glad I freelance as a student, even with my free time doing a disappearing act and the stress piling up at times? Absolutely. I have gained a lot of professional experience that I otherwise would not have, and that will help me when I do get out into the real world.

  • July 1, 2007

    Freelancing: Distractions

    work

    As a freelancer that’s still in school, I move back home for the summer into a house with my parents and three younger brothers; and we are all close in age. That translates into a lot of distraction when I am trying to get work done. Between my parents asking me, since I am home, to do chores or run errands and my brothers bothering me to hang out, play cards, watch a movie or just plain bothering me, it can be pretty tough to get work done around here. So here are some tips on getting some work done if you face distractions like these.

    Close and Lock your door
    This might be the best method since when people see my door closed they usually know not to distract. Without people coming in and out of my room, it’s much easier for me to sit down and focus on what I need to do.
    Headphones
    My friends at school like to make fun of me for them, but I have a pair of big headphones that really do a great job of drowning out any and all ambient (and not so ambient) noise. With my music and nothing else in my ears, I find even in crowded rooms I can focus.
    Work when your friends work
    The nice thing about freelancing is you make your own schedule. So if you find yourself tempted by going out or working, just find out when your friends work and get your work done then. That way you get to work free of distraction (from them anyway) and get to hang out later when they get off work.
    Saying No
    My parents and friends don’t like this one so much, but when it is crunch time and my friends want to hang out or my parents need me to go to the store, sometimes I have to say no. It’s tough to draw a line between work and play (or whatever not work is) when you don’t have set hours, but when it comes down to it they will understand you need to get your work done.

    For me, the first three methods work better than the last one. As many of my friends know, I have a hard time saying no to people. That’s actually why I have so much work, which is what lead me to write this post…

  • June 22, 2007

    Facebook as a Business Model

    Facebook

    It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Facebook. They have a niche user base, their application is clean, easy to use, and has numerous built-in features. Now with the new Facebook Apps, people can add basically any feature they want to Facebook, assuming the can develop or know a developer. This has led me to think about the Facebook approach to things- the way they develop and the way the actually listen to feedback. Both of these things are very important in the development of a web application.

    Looking at Facebook’s progression, it seems they did things the right way. They started off small. To use it, your school had to be added. It gave the basics of a Social Networking App. As they grew, so did their features. They added photo albums and notes. And not just like MySpace had them. The Photos are completely organizable and easy to use. And the notes- you can tag friends and import RSS feeds. When they added the mini feed (which I think people have come to like), there was some uproar, but the people at Facebook spent the next 2 days listening to people and making adjustments. Before they rolled out the new design, they got feedback. They really care about their users.

    So how is this a good business model? Facebook knows that without users, they are nothing. So they want their users to have a good experience. And the best part is they are able to make money off of it in a non-intrusive way. Go to MySpace on any given day, and you will be met with an outrageous skin for an upcoming movie, full page redirect ads, or animated ones that are almost as annoying as the animated background your friend is using on her page. Facebook neatly integrates ads into the mini feed, and under the sidebar- and the sidebar ads are from facebook users. It’s a very neat an clean way to do things.

    All in all, I feel Facebook is the benchmark of a good web application- it has the right features, a good user base and makes money.

  • June 18, 2007

    Freelancing: Promote Yourself

    Promotion

    As a freelancer, it’s important to make sure you get your name out there. Promote yourself, let people know you are doing whatever it is you do and well, and people will come to you. Here I will talk about the most important way to promote yourself: networking. It cheap, it’s easy, and it’s effective.

    I’ve been known to say to my friends, “Every opportunity is a business opportunity.” When I say that I mean always look for an opportunity to put your name out there. Talk to people about what they do, see if you can help them out by offering what you do. Make some friends. Whenever a comedian or band came to the school, I would always make it a point to talk to them about their website, which I would check out before hand. If they mentioned they were looking for a developer or were not happy with their current one, I would tell them why I was their best bet. And I always had cards on me.

    Business cards are something that are pretty easy to produce on your own if you have a little bit of skill and a printer. I’ve been making my own cards since I started freelancing and it’s been fairly cheap to do. I just keep a few in my wallet and give them out when appropriate. Another cheap (free) way to promote yourself is social networking websites. I’ve put my business information up on MySpace, created a profile on LinkedIn and have put my resume on Craigslist. However, possibly the best and most fruitful was the marketplace listing I put on Facebook [last week]. I simply listed myself as a freelancer with my rates, skills, and specializations and have gotten a few responses back already. And all of the methods I just listed, including the Facebook one, are free.

    When promoting yourself, it’s also important to keep in mind what to promote. Make a portfolio of your best work and mention anything you specialize in. For me, it’s PHP/MySQL, and WordPress development. If you don’t have a specialization or know at least one tool well, I’d suggest learning one. Not only does it give you a specific skill set but it shows you take initiative and have the ability to learn new things well.

    I mentioned it a little before when I mentioned business cards, but face time is the most important, crucial part of promoting yourself. When you are pitching yourself to someone it’s an interview. You have to appear confident and know what you are talking about. If you impress them enough, they will take a closer look at you. If you can do that, and have a solid portfolio, the work will come.

  • June 11, 2007

    Getting Gigs

    Working

    The most important thing about being a freelancer is you need to find enough jobs to support yourself. If you don’t have paying clients, you don’t have income. For the most part (especially getting started), my clients are “who you know” people. Friends or family of friends that needed websites for their business or their idea. But over time I have found a number of resources to find gigs. These are great for me at this stage of the game.

    • Craigslist: A free website where people can go and list information on anything they are looking for, Craigslist is pretty good for finding gigs. The site is broken down by region, and they recently expanded to a lot of new ones. I’d be careful with who you are dealing with on Craigslist though, because it is free and anyone can post.
    • FreelanceSwitch Job Boards: As a resource for freelancers, FreelanceSwitch provides lots of great advice for the freelancer, as well as job boards broken down by designing, programming, writing and misc.
    • 37Signals Gigs: Another set of gig boards by 37Signals.
    • Authentic Jobs: This is my favorite site of the ones listed. It’s organized by full time/freelance, design/development, and most of the jobs for freelance have a location listing of “Anywhere,” which opens up a lot of options for someone like me.

    I should mention that with FreelanceSwitch and 37Signals, they also have a listing for “Anywhere,” but Authentic Jobs has much bigger numbers (at the moment at least). The last three also are people paying for that space, so it might be a little more legit than Craigslist.

    UPDATE: Today (6/12), FreelanceSwitch had a nice post on How NOT to Apply for a Freelance position. Pretty good timing if you ask me!