WAHM Forums

I'm curious, has anyone gotten any paying business here? If not is this more of a "help" section, than people seeking to hire?



I'm not complaining, just asking a blunt question. :)



If it's both, then perhaps putting "Free" or somehting we all agree on
in the subject line, thus helping those looking for possible work. Then they would
know to pass it over and come back when/if they have the time.



Sorry if this sounds crass, but most of us are trying to earn a living
and do not have all the time we wish to just hang out. Maybe I'm out of
line, if so I'm sure I'll be told so ;)










Edited by: JCS100

I've gotten a number of clients from this site, but I agre, there needs to be a naming convention for thread titles, so we all know what is being requested.


I'm all for starting the threads with either


FOR HIRE: (when requesting a designer for hire)
QUESTION: (when you just need some help)
REVIEW: (for sites you want reviewed)
OT: (anything else)


Michele

That makes me wonder...who's the moderator of this forum? That person could modify the thread titles to the appropriate categories too.


Michele

I've done both, I suppose. I've received calls from clients who have
found me from this board and I've also helped out (for free) people who
have needed it.



It just depends on the work involved. If someone needs an element or
two on their style sheet changed, that's simple enough - a 5-10 minute
freebie. But if someone needs their whole cubecart customized, thats
really time consuming - no freebies there! smileys/smiley36.gif



I like Michele's idea of sort of categorizing. Of course, I still don't
like the idea of people posting their web designer want ad's here. I'd
really rather be contacted by someone who has done their due dilligence.

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I agree, the naming (For Hire: etc) would be a big help.

Melissa,


Isn't a client that's done their due diligence wonderful? You know, when they call you and know exactly what they want right then?


Sigh, for that to happen every time, or even the majority of times. Can I tell you how many emails and phone calls I'd have saved myself?


Now I'm off to return a call from a potential client that wants to discuss a "dot com page". smileys/smiley2.gif

I've never gotten a customer (that I know of) from the "Wahm's in Web Design" or even from any other section of wahm. smileys/smiley9.gif


Michelle and Melle, what's your secret?


Teresa

I have gotten clients from these boards as well as helped other wahms with their currents sites, as freebies too. I have also had other wahms contact me from word of mouth.


I think it would be good to have for hire, etc....


Jen

No secret, they just call me. smileys/smiley36.gif I am very flexible with WAHMs, though. I know how important budget is.



Working with well-organized clients is a dream come true! I had some
people who have brought their marketing consultant along and others who
know exactly what they want. It makes the job go so much smoother.



Then, on the flip side, I've done sites for people who have no idea what to SAY as far as text content. smileys/smiley5.gif
One time I set up a shopping cart for a company who had no idea they
had to have a merchant account linked to their cart in order to process
credit card payments. smileys/smiley5.gif



When I used to work for an ISP, they charged by the hour. It was $50 an
hour with a one hour minimum. So a 5 minute job would still cost $50.
Plus there were no contract clauses about mockups, so for the client
who has no idea what they want in a site ... well, you see how this
could get very expensive! I had to account for my time and if I spent 8
hours on a mockup that the client didn't like (and we didn't end up
using) I still had to charge for my time. I hated that big business
"stick-it-to-'em" feeling. smileys/smiley19.gif

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Edited by: chrlstoncharmed

Agreed Melle. I think the flexibility is the main component when working with WAHMs. I'm a Mom working on a home business, I know exactly where these ladies are coming from, and for me to try to take advantage of that situation would just be wrong. I always price at the best value for my service, and I walk my clients through each step one at a time. In the long run it's worth it. I've gotten more word of mouth referrals then anything thus far!


Michele

While it would be nice if people were to label their posts as to what it is, it is also not to realistic to expect them to do so. There are just to many different people posting on here with varying levels of web experience or knowledge of web etiquette to ever have it happen.


We have gotten business from here just from helping out and posting replies. If it is a simple question to answer then I have no problem helping out, my problem comes with the folks that seem to expect all kinds of help and never offer to pay for it. I have seen folks come here claiming to be a web designer with no idea of even the simplest things and expect the real designers to take time to basically design their site or clients site for free.


Networking is fine and needed, but to always expect to get free advise on complex questions without even a thank you in many cases, or offer to pay in the more complex ones. If I took the time to always post a reply to all the requests for free help on here we would never have time for our paying clients.


Not having a post labeled as to content is not that big a thing, I would much prefer to see the courtesy to at least reply to a PM when the poster had asked for a quote. Even though we offer greatly reduced pricing to the WAHM community, we do not usually give a price in a PM. Thereare just to many factors to do that and be accurate from the usual post on here, but it would be nice to at least get a reply back that it was received.


Well enough rambling from me.

Networking is fine and needed, but to always expect to get free advise on complex questions without even a thank you in many cases, or offer to pay in the more complex ones. If I took the time to always post a reply to all the requests for free help on here we would never have time for our paying clients.








Couldn't have said it better myself Harold.

Most message boards go the same way, the info on the net should be free
because I pay for my internet access. And with only one
complaining about my intial post I feel that the rest think as I do. We
like helping but need to pay the bills too.



How many profit from our help, and we get nothing, as said earlier
sometimes not even a thank you or link back etc.. If all those helping
here walked away how long would some of you continue to make all profit
and have limited expense?



A wise marketing guru once said "If you do not feel confident enough in
your business endeavor, to incur some expense, can it ever be taken
seriously ?"



Something else to think about, we are not required to be here. We do so
hoping to prosper and help others do the same. We come here as a
courtesy, and can leave the same way. But myself I will not leave
unless the site owners direct me to.



And if we ae not here to make money off others, why do you have your site url in your sig line ;)











Edited by: JCS100

I never said that advertising your site with your signature or trying to get some business from the message boards is wrong.. All I am saying why are you complaining this is a free space to express yourself, help others and yes I have post opportunities and such.. However your getting your word out regardless of the fact that you are complaining of never getting business and I do I agree that if someone is to post an opportunity it should be identified in the subject line.. However being here just to make money I think is wrong... I do understand that helping and not getting a thank-you is upsetting.. It would upset me as well..


Maybe I simply just misunderstood your questions..

I think you did misunderstand. Especially since you seem to be the only
one that took acception. Perhaps your needs here dictate all your
requests be free, either by desire or budget constraints etc.. Which is
fine, but as designers were are trying to make a living, and have
limited time to spend here acting as teachers. But rather than simply
vanish and end the help we can extend, I was trying to find a happy
medium. The addition of titles to the subject line is common courtesy
and even required on some sites. Is your concern,
that making a post requesting free advice, will result in your post
will be skipped over?



On a final note, if asking this type of question is not what this board
is for, then it's not going to be very condusive to business
relationships. I think my question should have been, are the WAHM's
women that can work from home, or are they women that are home and want
to try and make some income. There is a vast difference between the
two. And could be what is confusing me.



There are two types of people in business, one that says "How did they do that", and one that says "How can I do that?" ;)






Edited by: JCS100