Freelance work

Discussion in 'Employment & Jobs' started by alexdc12, Feb 19, 2011.

  1. alexdc12

    alexdc12 Kilobyte Poster

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    Hi after a debate on here wether to add freelance work onto my cv i have created a website, and i would really appreciate your views on it, been good doing some html again! been a while!
    Its designed as a simple site, dont want some big flash page( that and im not capable of it! Lol) but its a simple site for a simple service
    let me know guys
    thanks

    Helps if i give u the address! lol

    http://www.ac-itsupport.co.uk
     
    Certifications: GNVQ Advanced IT, CompTIA A+, CompTIA N+, 70-680
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  2. dales

    dales Terabyte Poster

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    The site is certainly what it says isn't it. :) the services bullets do not appear as they should when viewed on google chrome. You use We/I quite alot, are you a company of people or sole trader. I understand that you may want to make the service bigger than it really is but theres no shame in being a sole trader.

    You will probably want a terms and conditions page up there for people to read and also some estimated costs for at least some services otherwise people may pass you by. (a shop without prices on the products in the windows is usually expensive!)

    It might also be a good idea to explain a little about what the A+ means as to Mrs Bloggs who's mouse has stopped working wont know.
     
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    WIP: Nothing
  3. alexdc12

    alexdc12 Kilobyte Poster

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    I/we is a fair comment i did think about that! i am a sole trader! I put the comptia a+ means i know my way around a computer as a "dumbed down" version of it.

    as for terms and condition i dont have any! lol
     
    Certifications: GNVQ Advanced IT, CompTIA A+, CompTIA N+, 70-680
    WIP: 70-685, ITIL v3 Foundation
  4. dales

    dales Terabyte Poster

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    You will need to have some terms and conditions, have a look round some other similar sites to get a feel for what they are including ( http://www.cam-pc.co.uk/cambridge-pc-support-legal.html this one seems reasonable). people will blame you for everything that subsequently goes wrong with their computer and will expect support for free if they can get away with it so you must cover your ass. Even better would be to get the customer to sign a copy of the T&C's before you even touch their computer so you have a copy of the agreement should anything go horribly wrong.

    It seems very anti local pc support guy to do T&C's but if you don't you may find yourself out of pocket by some sneaky end user.
     
    Certifications: vExpert 2014+2015+2016,VCP-DT,CCE-V, CCE-AD, CCP-AD, CCEE, CCAA XenApp, CCA Netscaler, XenApp 6.5, XenDesktop 5 & Xenserver 6,VCP3+5,VTSP,MCSA MCDST MCP A+ ITIL F
    WIP: Nothing
  5. alexdc12

    alexdc12 Kilobyte Poster

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    Fair play i was thinking about if something goes wrong, ill take a look thanks for the help
     
    Certifications: GNVQ Advanced IT, CompTIA A+, CompTIA N+, 70-680
    WIP: 70-685, ITIL v3 Foundation
  6. GSteer

    GSteer Megabyte Poster

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    Hey Alex, good on you for going for some freelance work.

    In my opinion for basic sites like this it's not worth coding it yourself these days unless you're a coder by day anyway, I'm not and last time I looked at making a site I decided that the time required to relearn CSS etc just wasn't worth it when there are premade frameworks already available and just waiting for your content.

    Nip over to www.wordpress.org and grab the latest copy, get whoever is hosting the site for you to rig up the required database and supply you the log on details. The wordpress install takes 5 minutes and once it's uploaded you'll have a professional looking site for your customers. Not knocking your abilities or enthusiasm but as you say yourself, it's simple site, but from a customers perspective there looking to be impressed.

    There are plenty of free themes for wordpress, and some paid for ones, that can be better, that don't cost the earth. Using a back end framework will save you time in the long run without having to do any (or very little) back end coding if you want to expand pages etc.

    Don't be put off by the fact it's promoted as blogging engine primarly, it can be used for simply pages:

    www.gregsteer.co.uk - shows four basic pages, this is just a themed wordpress install with text and image content I've added (please ignore the out of date blog that gets linked to there, to much work and not enough play!). I use Elegant Themes myself (note I am not affiliated with them) - low cost for better quality than some of the free ones although the backend is a bit clunky to be truthful.

    Another note I'd make - why does your .co.uk domain forward to a .co.cc one (the Cocos Islands)? Is there a good reason for that? As a customer I'd be immediately on my guard (ok, in reality they might not even notice) as the url I typed in has been redirected.

    Final point - with the quantity of content you have there four pages is a tad overkill, one well laid outpage would have more impact and everything the prospective customer needs will be right there in front of them.
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2011
    Certifications: BSc. (Comp. Sci.), MBCS, MCP [70-290], Specialist [74-324], Security+, Network+, A+, Tea Lord: Beverage Brewmaster | Courses: LFS101x Introduction to Linux (edX)
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  7. alexdc12

    alexdc12 Kilobyte Poster

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    the .co.uk i got came with webhosting but u could only use their templates and to be frank they were awful so i got some free hosting with a .co.cc domain to the untrained eye they may never notice! thanks for your comments.
     
    Certifications: GNVQ Advanced IT, CompTIA A+, CompTIA N+, 70-680
    WIP: 70-685, ITIL v3 Foundation
  8. skulkerboyo

    skulkerboyo Megabyte Poster

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    I have to echo what Gsteer said here.

    Find a hosting company that supports wordpress and knock up a beautiful and simple website in no time. It's used by lots of people for professional looking sites as it's also a really easy to use CMS

    I've made a few sites using wordpress in the past

    http://www.webdesignerwall.com/trends/30-untypical-wordpress-sites/

    Here's a link to a list of sites made with Wordpress. Some pretty nice sites there.

    I'd link to my blog which is made using wordpress but then they'd find me!!!!:twisted:
     
    Certifications: MCITP:SA, MCSA 03, MCSA 08, MCTS(680+648),A+,N+,ITILV3 Foundation, ITIL Intermediate: Operational Support and Analysis
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  9. alexdc12

    alexdc12 Kilobyte Poster

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    my host supports it i may give it a try thanks
     
    Certifications: GNVQ Advanced IT, CompTIA A+, CompTIA N+, 70-680
    WIP: 70-685, ITIL v3 Foundation
  10. alexdc12

    alexdc12 Kilobyte Poster

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    All done! take a look.
    Could do with some recommendations on prices really, i got rough figures but i never charged anyone for work before :D
     
    Certifications: GNVQ Advanced IT, CompTIA A+, CompTIA N+, 70-680
    WIP: 70-685, ITIL v3 Foundation
  11. Mariusz

    Mariusz Byte Poster

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    the comptia A+ logo is too big an should be more on a side
    make a facebook and twitter profile and let people on facebook know what you re doing as well
    try to do some company logo, and the pictures on top don't look good, maybe think about removing them

    after few months of successful service pay somebody to do you pro website IMO as this one looks cheap, and won't attract too many customers (especially if it is IT service), and I say it from my point of view as customer. when web page looks cheap, I never use company/service, never buy from shop with cheap website etc. It's like going for a serious interview in hoodie and truck bottom
    if you want to take profits you must invest some money first.
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2011
    Certifications: ECDL Extra, ITQ Lvl2, CompTIA A+, N+, S+
    WIP: MCTS 70-680 Win7
  12. alexdc12

    alexdc12 Kilobyte Poster

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    Thanks for your reply.
    The picture on the top is part of a theme. the logo needs resizing i know i spotted that! Ill do a facebook profile soon! just wanna get the website right first!
     
    Certifications: GNVQ Advanced IT, CompTIA A+, CompTIA N+, 70-680
    WIP: 70-685, ITIL v3 Foundation
  13. alexdc12

    alexdc12 Kilobyte Poster

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    If i give my domain host the dns servers for my webhosting that will keep it all in the .co.uk wont it?
     
    Certifications: GNVQ Advanced IT, CompTIA A+, CompTIA N+, 70-680
    WIP: 70-685, ITIL v3 Foundation
  14. westernkings

    westernkings Gigabyte Poster

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    Alex,

    Why not have a gander at Theme Forest (http://themeforest.net), it's cheap as chips and you can get a real professional website for about 20 quid that you can then edit to your hearts content. Will make you look a lot more professional. 20 quid is nothing if were honest.

    Have a gander and let me know if it helped.
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2011
    Certifications: MCITP:VA, MCITP:EA, MCDST, MCTS, MCITP:EST7, MCITP:SA, PRINCE2, ITILv3
  15. alexdc12

    alexdc12 Kilobyte Poster

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    Too many! lol
    cant see one i like to start off with, ill keep lookin tho thanks
     
    Certifications: GNVQ Advanced IT, CompTIA A+, CompTIA N+, 70-680
    WIP: 70-685, ITIL v3 Foundation
  16. westernkings

    westernkings Gigabyte Poster

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    Check the Popular items, or Browse by category. :)
     
    Certifications: MCITP:VA, MCITP:EA, MCDST, MCTS, MCITP:EST7, MCITP:SA, PRINCE2, ITILv3
  17. GSteer

    GSteer Megabyte Poster

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    Looking better Alex.

    There are too many fonts going on though, you've one for the titles that appears to be Arial, then the sub-title looks to be Times New Roman variant, followed by Courior as the base text font. - I'd change the Courior font to Arial or similar, it's a newer cleaner looking font that people will find easier to read, it'll smarted the body text up as well and make the whole look more cohesive.
     
    Certifications: BSc. (Comp. Sci.), MBCS, MCP [70-290], Specialist [74-324], Security+, Network+, A+, Tea Lord: Beverage Brewmaster | Courses: LFS101x Introduction to Linux (edX)
    WIP: CCNA Routing & Switching
  18. alexdc12

    alexdc12 Kilobyte Poster

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    changed the font back before i read this was using <tt> reminded me of the a team! lol
    nah i realised it didnt look too great!

    westernkings im lookin at some of these and they are far too advanced for what i need really i think
     
    Certifications: GNVQ Advanced IT, CompTIA A+, CompTIA N+, 70-680
    WIP: 70-685, ITIL v3 Foundation
  19. Mariusz

    Mariusz Byte Poster

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    if you insist doing it on your own, remove the 4 hardware pictures on top left, and make the name of company bigger till it will almost reach the monitors on right

    BTW how much would it cost to do website like this in pro company/pro person?

    and one more thing - do you guy think that it has a sense to open small computer shop with PC service in town of about 85.000 people? there are about 5 small shops and PC World. it is an Idea I was thinking about for a year, but have no balls to try as I don;t want to loose my savings in case if it won't work.
     
    Last edited: Feb 20, 2011
    Certifications: ECDL Extra, ITQ Lvl2, CompTIA A+, N+, S+
    WIP: MCTS 70-680 Win7

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