Ok, I've been a self employed web developer for about 6 months. I'm able to get business for now through word of mouth through current clients. That's running short. Any tips on how to attract new business? Also, I'm considering working for a company as well, but I have no experience working for someone in this field, but can do the job. Besides the newspaper and the usual methods, how can I get work?

Originally posted by dlyles
Besides the newspaper and the usual methods, how can I get work? Try the "Job Offers and Requests" forum. It could be a start for you;)

Aloha

well I have been at it for about 5 years now
I did a few jobs for free to get experience and have also worked with a few companies on there staff keeping my own company in the background for a bit
this gave me a lot of experience.
it is a up and down business just like any other business.
soem tips
do some freebe jobs for non profit sites etc... you like ??
I did our church site www.hopemaui.org
durring down time try to practice doing new sites or getting ideas down etc... so if a project comes up that might need somethign cool you can handle it
also are you the artistic one or the programmer type
try to find another person that you cna trust and get along with to do the side you are weaker at and you will be able to handle bigger projects and do projects faster.
there are many more

Originally posted by Honu
try to find another person that you cna trust and get along with to do the side you are weaker at and you will be able to handle bigger projects and do projects faster.

Finding someone you can trust that also has the necessary skills sure isn't easy. Have you been doing that successfuly?

I'm more on the programming side. I have two great designers/graphic artists working with me also. I have also done some free sites and even made one of my own, which I use to update my skills set. Good ideas, but I have noticed the up and down. When I first stopped "working" business was great. It's as if everybody was waiting for me to have the time. Now It's like I've used those resources. I wouldn't mind working for another company and putting my bus. to the side :( but I can't seem to get that happening either.

Originally posted by Seer


Finding someone you can trust that also has the necessary skills sure isn't easy. Have you been doing that successfuly?

Aloha

hehehheh my keyboard messed up a word again
darn keyboard this is the fourth one and it still can not spell corrrrrectly ;)

Yes I found somebody I can trust to help me out with programming I think it can be hard and I would want to work with someone local if I could my case he is in Florida I am in Hawaii
but I worked with him on a big job for 2 years
one thought you could always try local usergroups etc....
if you need artists try colleges etc...

I think if you get people that our trying to do well in there field they will stick to one side or the other
the first couple times I had people that would try to take over the whole project from me.
I just step back and tell the company that I am not going to get into this battle once this guy burns you come back let me know and I will fix it
this has worked for me so far.

I just got off the phone with another aviation company that I am going to do a clean up for so there might be a chance to work in a big team again which can be nice to do since the money can be stable
living on Maui I give up some salary as I will not move for big jobs
I have turned down some jobs around 100K each not to move
last year I made around $80,000 though
this year I think it will be around 50,000
lost a big job ;) and decided to start living again ;)
next year though I see over $80,000 or close to it
might give you an idea

you might try to outsource yourself with a company for part time work this tends to push you harder and you learn more cause you will get tasks you do not want to do and will have to do them
I learned a lot in 2 years at a big company
OH by the way I have somebody proof read and check all of my letters I can not write I am a verbal comunicator
what I lack in spelling english I make up in verbaly ;)
incase ya guys think man this guy has no punctuation skills etc....
I outsource that part
hehehheheehe
feel free to ask any specifics I can gladly help with