Freelance Suggestions

Does anyone have suggestions for a good way (and cheap way) to solicit
freelance php based web programming jobs? I live in a phenomenal, over-55,
development (and absolutely will NOT relocate), but it is over an hour from
the three nearest metropolitan areas and almost all the work here is dot-net
type work (which I have been busy learning). In order to not have to dip
into savings, I don't need to earn all that much. I am looking for full
time work so that I cam pull in enough for the next three years and then
retire with enough to not have to worry. Pulling in 20K-30K via part-time,
from home, freelance doesn't seem such a big deal, but I have only worked
full-time, either perm or contract through agencies, before so I don't know
Step One in the freelance process.

So, are there any suggestions for a good way to proceed?

Shelly

For private communication off-line, my email name is sheldonlg and the place
I live in is called thevillages and it is a dot-net type of email address.

Re: Freelance Suggestions

Shelly wrote:
> Does anyone have suggestions for a good way (and cheap way) to solicit
> freelance php based web programming jobs? I live in a phenomenal, over-55,
> development (and absolutely will NOT relocate), but it is over an hour from
> the three nearest metropolitan areas and almost all the work here is dot-net
> type work (which I have been busy learning). In order to not have to dip
> into savings, I don't need to earn all that much. I am looking for full
> time work so that I cam pull in enough for the next three years and then
> retire with enough to not have to worry. Pulling in 20K-30K via part-time,
> from home, freelance doesn't seem such a big deal, but I have only worked
> full-time, either perm or contract through agencies, before so I don't know
> Step One in the freelance process.
>
> So, are there any suggestions for a good way to proceed?
>
> Shelly
>
> For private communication off-line, my email name is sheldonlg and the place
> I live in is called thevillages and it is a dot-net type of email address.
>
>
We have found it surprisingly hard.

In similar type areas. Companies do NOT like dealing with an unknown
entity on the end of a pair of wires.

My wife is slowly building up - actually via Usenet mainly - a local set
of clients who value her speed and professionalism in doing graphic type
stuff..and I help out on the techie aspects of web sites.

Word of mouth, a neat little personal website, and that's about it.

Essentially just network online like mad - as you are doing - and don't
expect it all to happen overnight.

Example No 1.

I was doing some work for a site that was mainly PC based in London.
They wanted an occasional PC guru. I knew of someone who had worlked for
a client, who had left and moved to London to pursue a musical career. I
phoned hi,m. He was delighted. He rushes round london on a motorbike,
fixing PC's by day, and in the evening sings classical material in
concert halls..


Example No 2.. A very old friend who has ME. Or something like that. On
bad days he can't get out of bed as hois blood pressure drops to about
1/3rd what it should be.. On very good days he is completely normal. In
between he can handle sitting at a PC and sorting out problems using
remote login stuff. He has a dozen or so people to whom his rates and
unconventional availability are actually highly suitable.

Example No 3. A friends wife makes a living worsdmithing advertising
copy. Unlike most people. she can in fact write grammatically correct
English and spell it correctly in either the US or UK styles. I believe
she originally made contact with clients via an agency. One year they
made more money in an attempt to protect her income against a falling
dollar than from the work itself. Well thats the futures market for you ;-)

Agencies may be worth contacting. But you have to be firm and absolutely
specify that telecommuting is your ONLY mode, or they will want you to
go and work on an oil platform in Alaska, or outer Mongolia, for megabucks.

My approach is a shade different: I have sort of retired, and make
almost enough from investments. I do free work for people, and recently
free work for a company that I will shortly have an equity interest in.

One day maybe that will bring me in a few hundred thousand dollar. Or
nothing at all. Well Its only spare time being wagered isn't it?

Re: Freelance Suggestions

"Shelly" wrote in message
news:13ff73j73r5bo99@corp.supernews.com...

> Does anyone have suggestions for a good way (and cheap way) to solicit
> freelance php based web programming jobs? I live in a phenomenal,
> over-55, development (and absolutely will NOT relocate), but it is over an
> hour from the three nearest metropolitan areas and almost all the work
> here is dot-net type work (which I have been busy learning). In order to
> not have to dip into savings, I don't need to earn all that much. I am
> looking for full time work so that I cam pull in enough for the next three
> years and then retire with enough to not have to worry. Pulling in
> 20K-30K via part-time, from home, freelance doesn't seem such a big deal,
> but I have only worked full-time, either perm or contract through
> agencies, before so I don't know Step One in the freelance process.
>
> So, are there any suggestions for a good way to proceed?

Rent-a-coder.com is good. So is monster, careerbuilder and the others.
What I don't have yet, but will soon and expect good results from, is having
a web site that demonstrates your capabilites.
Check out the web sites of some of the ISV's out there, and build something
like what they've got and you'll get some stuff.


> For private communication off-line, my email name is sheldonlg and the
> place I live in is called thevillages and it is a dot-net type of email
> address.

Remaining anonymous is a good way to not get contacted. :)

Several years ago, I was posting a lot in VBScript newsgroups (pre-dotnet).
One day, out of the blue, because I was posting a lot of answers, MacMillan
publishing contacted me and gave me a contract to write "Teach Yourself
ActiveX Programming in 21 Days". I got a butt-load of money out of that
deal, and carrying the book to interviews gave me a LOT of (undeserved)
credibility.

That never would have happened if I'd chosen to anonymize myself.

Re: Freelance Suggestions

<13ff73j73r5bo99@corp.supernews.com>

> Does anyone have suggestions for a good way (and cheap way) to solicit
> freelance php based web programming jobs?
>

Have a look at the small company adverts in your local newspaper and
offer the companys who dont have a website your services .

I suggest a one page website for a set price to give them a web presence
and so they can put a www address of their letterhead etc .

That way you dont need to spend hours or days working on each website as
the one page website is only name / address / phone / fax / opening
hours / and perhaps a outside photo of the small shop /company .


--
(c) The Amazing Krustov

Re: Freelance Suggestions

"Sanders Kaufman" wrote in message
news:lKNJi.329$ua4.18@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...
> "Shelly" wrote in message
> news:13ff73j73r5bo99@corp.supernews.com...
>
>> Does anyone have suggestions for a good way (and cheap way) to solicit
>> freelance php based web programming jobs? I live in a phenomenal,
>> over-55, development (and absolutely will NOT relocate), but it is over
>> an hour from the three nearest metropolitan areas and almost all the work
>> here is dot-net type work (which I have been busy learning). In order to
>> not have to dip into savings, I don't need to earn all that much. I am
>> looking for full time work so that I cam pull in enough for the next
>> three years and then retire with enough to not have to worry. Pulling in
>> 20K-30K via part-time, from home, freelance doesn't seem such a big deal,
>> but I have only worked full-time, either perm or contract through
>> agencies, before so I don't know Step One in the freelance process.
>>
>> So, are there any suggestions for a good way to proceed?
>
> Rent-a-coder.com is good. So is monster, careerbuilder and the others.
> What I don't have yet, but will soon and expect good results from, is
> having a web site that demonstrates your capabilites.
> Check out the web sites of some of the ISV's out there, and build
> something like what they've got and you'll get some stuff.
>
>
>> For private communication off-line, my email name is sheldonlg and the
>> place I live in is called thevillages and it is a dot-net type of email
>> address.
>
> Remaining anonymous is a good way to not get contacted. :)
>
> Several years ago, I was posting a lot in VBScript newsgroups
> (pre-dotnet). One day, out of the blue, because I was posting a lot of
> answers, MacMillan publishing contacted me and gave me a contract to write
> "Teach Yourself ActiveX Programming in 21 Days". I got a butt-load of
> money out of that deal, and carrying the book to interviews gave me a LOT
> of (undeserved) credibility.
>
> That never would have happened if I'd chosen to anonymize myself.

You have a point there and I will consider it. As far as Monster, etc. is
concerned I don't anonymize.

Shelly

Re: Freelance Suggestions

"Sanders Kaufman" wrote in message
news:lKNJi.329$ua4.18@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net...
> "Shelly" wrote in message
> news:13ff73j73r5bo99@corp.supernews.com...
>
>> Does anyone have suggestions for a good way (and cheap way) to solicit
>> freelance php based web programming jobs? I live in a phenomenal,
>> over-55, development (and absolutely will NOT relocate), but it is over
>> an hour from the three nearest metropolitan areas and almost all the work
>> here is dot-net type work (which I have been busy learning). In order to
>> not have to dip into savings, I don't need to earn all that much. I am
>> looking for full time work so that I cam pull in enough for the next
>> three years and then retire with enough to not have to worry. Pulling in
>> 20K-30K via part-time, from home, freelance doesn't seem such a big deal,
>> but I have only worked full-time, either perm or contract through
>> agencies, before so I don't know Step One in the freelance process.
>>
>> So, are there any suggestions for a good way to proceed?
>
> Rent-a-coder.com is good. So is monster, careerbuilder and the others.
> What I don't have yet, but will soon and expect good results from, is
> having a web site that demonstrates your capabilites.
> Check out the web sites of some of the ISV's out there, and build
> something like what they've got and you'll get some stuff.
>
>
>> For private communication off-line, my email name is sheldonlg and the
>> place I live in is called thevillages and it is a dot-net type of email
>> address.
>
> Remaining anonymous is a good way to not get contacted. :)
>
> Several years ago, I was posting a lot in VBScript newsgroups
> (pre-dotnet). One day, out of the blue, because I was posting a lot of
> answers, MacMillan publishing contacted me and gave me a contract to write
> "Teach Yourself ActiveX Programming in 21 Days". I got a butt-load of
> money out of that deal, and carrying the book to interviews gave me a LOT
> of (undeserved) credibility.

ROFLMFAO!!!

sounds (and looks) like that would work great! right up until they asked if
they could see your book.

http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-Activex-Programming-Day s/dp/1575211637

i love the price!!! that's a whole lot of coin...maybe if it were a euro.

i was laughing hard at the ONE descent review posted by a programmer
'neophyte wannabe'. i also loved this review.

"The Authors dance around the issue of actually programming an ActiveX
control and only present a "tutorial" on how to use ActiveX in an HTML
document. In light of the functionality in FrontPage and InterDev to
drag-n-drop controls into an HTML document, this book is useless!!"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/1575211637 /ref=cm_cr_dp_all_top/105-3800919-5183606?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s =books#customerReviews

which is why any reasonable person doesn't buy a 'do anything' in 21 days
book. that is especially true if they just take the time to read 'about the
author' on the cover/inset. hell sanders, what can i say though? i've never
been published. ;^)

Re: Freelance Suggestions

"Steve" wrote in message
news:dGPJi.23$UX5.17@newsfe06.lga...

> sounds (and looks) like that would work great! right up until they asked
> if they could see your book.
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-Activex-Programming-Day s/dp/1575211637
>
> i love the price!!! that's a whole lot of coin...maybe if it were a euro.

If you're paying a euro for a 10-year-old tutorial on an obsolete
technology, you're paying too much.
Nowadays, the entire text with code samples is FREELY available online at a
lot of web sites.


> i was laughing hard at the ONE descent review posted by a programmer
> 'neophyte wannabe'. i also loved this review.

Yeah - that's the only downside to not hiding your identity.
Anonymous nay-sayers come out of the woodwork.

I remember this one crazy bitch from here in Dallas who, after the book came
out, dug up public info on me and my family and posted the craziest shit
about me.
On the other end of the spectrum, I got the opposite response from some
folks in Finland who praised me as some kind of God and wanted to work for
me.
Freaky.

> which is why any reasonable person doesn't buy a 'do anything' in 21 days
> book.

Yeah, a lot of folks say that.
But then, a couple of hundred thousand shelled out a couple of dozen bucks
each to say otherwise.

Re: Freelance Suggestions

"Sanders Kaufman" wrote in message
news:8nQJi.8740$JD.393@newssvr21.news.prodigy.net...
> "Steve" wrote in message
> news:dGPJi.23$UX5.17@newsfe06.lga...
>
>> sounds (and looks) like that would work great! right up until they asked
>> if they could see your book.
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-Activex-Programming-Day s/dp/1575211637
>>
>> i love the price!!! that's a whole lot of coin...maybe if it were a euro.
>
> If you're paying a euro for a 10-year-old tutorial on an obsolete
> technology, you're paying too much.
> Nowadays, the entire text with code samples is FREELY available online at
> a lot of web sites.
>
>
>> i was laughing hard at the ONE descent review posted by a programmer
>> 'neophyte wannabe'. i also loved this review.
>
> Yeah - that's the only downside to not hiding your identity.
> Anonymous nay-sayers come out of the woodwork.
>
> I remember this one crazy bitch from here in Dallas who, after the book
> came out, dug up public info on me and my family and posted the craziest
> shit about me.
> On the other end of the spectrum, I got the opposite response from some
> folks in Finland who praised me as some kind of God and wanted to work for
> me.
> Freaky.
>
>> which is why any reasonable person doesn't buy a 'do anything' in 21 days
>> book.
>
> Yeah, a lot of folks say that.
> But then, a couple of hundred thousand shelled out a couple of dozen bucks
> each to say otherwise.

i can't quite get a read on you, sanders. i know you live in texas...but
where? i live in north fort worth. surely we aren't neighbors! we may tip
the scales come election time! to atheists who most likely won't vote
republican. i suppose i could just look for another car on the road with an
egged paint-job and shoe polish sayings, like 'gawd don't like democrats' or
'if yur not for us, yur'n againus' (ha ha ha...i said 'yur'n')...or 'go to
hell, damned atheist'. ;^)

Re: Freelance Suggestions

On Sep 24, 4:15 am, "Shelly" wrote:
>
> Does anyone have suggestions for a good way (and cheap way)
> to solicit freelance php based web programming jobs?

Craig's List (www.craigslist.org). But be forewarned: you have to
sift through enormous piles of garbage to get a single gem. In my
experience, there are a lot of posts from people who have no
experience with Web development and for lack of better knowledge
assume that the world is full of people who can build them a custom
Web site for $50. Over the last year or so, I replied to about 200
Craig's List postings and got one very steady customer and a bunch of
small-to-medium-size jobs. The interesting part is, almost none of it
is local; my steady client is two states away and most of the other
clients are well outside the 50-mile radius.

Cheers,
NC

Re: Freelance Suggestions

"NC" wrote in message
news:1190660653.920161.228680@g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> On Sep 24, 4:15 am, "Shelly" wrote:
>>
>> Does anyone have suggestions for a good way (and cheap way)
>> to solicit freelance php based web programming jobs?
>
> Craig's List (www.craigslist.org). But be forewarned: you have to
> sift through enormous piles of garbage to get a single gem. In my
> experience, there are a lot of posts from people who have no
> experience with Web development and for lack of better knowledge
> assume that the world is full of people who can build them a custom
> Web site for $50. Over the last year or so, I replied to about 200
> Craig's List postings and got one very steady customer and a bunch of
> small-to-medium-size jobs. The interesting part is, almost none of it
> is local; my steady client is two states away and most of the other
> clients are well outside the 50-mile radius.
>
> Cheers,
> NC

What filters do you use to minimize the crap? No need to reinvent the
wheel!

Shelly

Re: Freelance Suggestions

"Steve" wrote in message
news:dJQJi.33$UX5.10@newsfe06.lga...

> i can't quite get a read on you, sanders. i know you live in texas...but
> where? i live in north fort worth. surely we aren't neighbors! we may tip
> the scales come election time! to atheists who most likely won't vote

I'm in NE Dallas - just North of Jupiter Rd and Garland Rd.

> republican. i suppose i could just look for another car on the road with
> an egged paint-job and shoe polish sayings, like 'gawd don't like
> democrats' or 'if yur not for us, yur'n againus' (ha ha ha...i said
> 'yur'n')...or 'go to hell, damned atheist'. ;^)

Wow - you really don't have a bead on me, do you?

I'm not a Democrat.
I'm a Republican, as was my father before me.
I got my lifetime membership card after I graduated from the Defense
Information School (Med school for spin doctors).

I'm also not an Atheist.
I'm a Jew.

Re: Freelance Suggestions

"Sanders Kaufman" wrote in message
news:zQ7Ki.1104$hI7.574@newssvr17.news.prodigy.net...
> "Steve" wrote in message
> news:dJQJi.33$UX5.10@newsfe06.lga...
>
>> i can't quite get a read on you, sanders. i know you live in texas...but
>> where? i live in north fort worth. surely we aren't neighbors! we may tip
>> the scales come election time! to atheists who most likely won't vote
>
> I'm in NE Dallas - just North of Jupiter Rd and Garland Rd.

small world, eh?

>> republican. i suppose i could just look for another car on the road with
>> an egged paint-job and shoe polish sayings, like 'gawd don't like
>> democrats' or 'if yur not for us, yur'n againus' (ha ha ha...i said
>> 'yur'n')...or 'go to hell, damned atheist'. ;^)
>
> Wow - you really don't have a bead on me, do you?
>
> I'm not a Democrat.
> I'm a Republican, as was my father before me.
> I got my lifetime membership card after I graduated from the Defense
> Information School (Med school for spin doctors).

roflmao. i'm republican too...so if i am represented in the government right
now, that means i want bigger government and one that spends more money. i
wonder what the democrats are going to do without their playbook? ;^)

> I'm also not an Atheist.
> I'm a Jew.

"well, you jews ain't chrischunz...may uz well ah-ta go aheadun be." ;^)

cheers

Re: Freelance Suggestions

On Sep 24, 1:35 pm, "Shelly" wrote:
>
> > > Does anyone have suggestions for a good way (and cheap way)
> > > to solicit freelance php based web programming jobs?
>
> > Craig's List (www.craigslist.org). But be forewarned: you have
> > to sift through enormous piles of garbage to get a single gem.
>
> What filters do you use to minimize the crap?

Strictly one: aggressive cost containment language (my favorite so
far: "do not apply if you expect this gig to pay your mortgage"; and,
of course, the ever-present "put this on your resume" bit). Beyond
that, there's not a lot (in my experience, anyway) that can let you
pinpoint a solid lead with high degree of accuracy.

Cheers,
NC