Freelance Website

Project 
Personal freelance website 

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Program Objective
This website demonstrates how I meet the following program objectives:

• using technology effectively to create and deliver persuasive, informative, engaging texts and explore technologies as rhetorical contexts

• participating in the profession beyond the classroom 

• conducting myself as a professional at all times, representing the profession well

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To complete this project, I had to follow web design best practices to market myself as a freelance writer and editor. This project has enabled me to take on freelancing gigs outside of class. Therefore, I have had to update my website and market my services to clients. I have learned how to conduct business as a freelancer and negotiate projects.

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Context
In the summer of 2019, I took a Preparing to Freelance course taught by Dr. Karen Kuralt. Freelance work interests me because I can work on my own schedule. I can pick up side gigs or work as a full-time freelancer. It allows me flexibility to work when I want and do projects that are unique to my skill set. The website was the final project in the class and acts as a website that clients could reference in regard to what freelance services we would offer. The site needed to include work samples, prices, and information about ourselves. I also included a blog on my website so that I could build more samples of my content writing skills.

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I wanted to include the website as a whole as part of my graduate portfolio. Click the Link to Freelance Site button, and you will leave this site to go to my freelance site. 

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Audience
This website is for potential freelance clients. I have also used the site as a work portfolio of sorts when interviewing with potential employers. I created this site to display my work samples, services, prices, and contact information all in one place.

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Process
I began with an outline of what I wanted to include on my website. I knew I wanted to include an “About Me” section, a list of my services, work samples, and my contact information. Then, I had to select a platform to build the site in. I’ve had previous experience using Wordpress, but prefer to use that mostly for blog posts. Google Sites is easy to use, but I feel like the design options are too basic for a professional site. One of my classmates suggested Wix because it has easy-to-use templates and walks you through the design process. Wix was user-friendly and intuitive, and I had no trouble designing my website.

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The site was designed using a minimalist approach. I chose a simple sans serif font so it would be easier to read on screen.  Pink, black, and white were chosen for the color scheme to evoke a modern yet feminine appearance. On my homepage, I knew I needed a quote or catchphrase to grab people’s attention. Somehow I came up with “Let me provide your business with quality documentation!” It was simple, but clearly explains what service I can provide. The services listed are based on my skills and strengths, and the prices were researched and selected based on current market rates and my experience level. The portfolio contains some of my best work as well as a copy of my resume and academic transcript. These pieces show my style and degree of work and give clients a chance to see that firsthand. The About Me section was actually one of the hardest sections to write. I struggle with talking about myself and making it sound interesting. I chose to keep it short and simple and include some hobbies outside of writing. The Blog section was added last. I have content writing experience and have also worked at the UA-LR Forum newspaper, but I don’t have a lot of samples that I can show to clients. I started this blog to update after class so that I can have content writing samples. My blog also gives me a chance to practice this style of writing and gives me a platform to talk about topics of my choice.

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Overall, I feel that my website has been a success. Potential employers compliment it during interviews.  I have also gotten a few small freelance gigs from promoting my site on social media. If I decide to freelance full-time, I think that this site could land me more clients if I apply the right marketing strategies.