[RESOLVED] What To Do/Say?

[humair4]

Hi ppl,


Some people on the internet require portfolio's to begin with I don't
have any portfolio cause I have worked with corporate companies
up till now.

I perviously worked with a guy and made some flash intro's and
design's, but I was'nt paid.I got riped off. All my hard work went to
waste, But his hosting was closed.

I made a policy that I would take 50% before I begin and 50% after
I finished my work and the client was satisfied.

some people say they are not willing to pay like that cause they
think they might get riped off. Now I am a professional I tried to
think of alternative ways so that the client and I both would be
secure.I can't seem to find a way. Is there a alternative to this
problem and is my policy alright or should I change it to something
else or maybe just leave the policy crap.

[KDLA]

Have you ever thought of writing a contract?
Also, stay in close communication with your clients. Don't just agree to do something, then not speak to them until it's finished. Give progress reports (in writing). These will prove you were working on the project; any acknowledgment by the client, too, will prove you were working on it and they knew it, in case you need to take them to court.

KDLA

[russell]

Also, it is best to produce a functional spec right away and have them sign off on it. This should include rudimentary ( but not finished! ) screen shots. This avoids any dispute over the scope of the project. The reason for rudimentary but not complete screen shots is that once they see screen shots that look like finished products, they think you are almost done, when in reality, you've barely started.

[Reli4nt]

Never bother with clients unwilling to put up some of the cash. True there is a risk you misght disappear on them but so too is the risk that they will disappear on you. The whole idea behind half up front the other on completion is that you both assume equal risk. Anything else would be unfair.

There is nothing unprofessional about requiring that.

Regarding the portfolio issue, honesty is the best policy. Tell them you don't have one and explain why. I myself have done a lot of my work on behind the scenes applications but I often use the company names (references help here) and a description of the work performed and whenever ossible I also make screen shots of my work when they won't compromise security for the client.

There are many options here but the most most important thing is whether or not you are confident in what you have done and what you can do. Worse case scenario should be that you have to create a comp for a client before they'll pay you. Try to avoid this but in the end whatever gets the job done is a success.

[KRILEE]

i dont think just flat out telling someone you dont have a portfolio is a good idea at all.


you should at least have something, you know?

[kzaid1]

Thank you all for your great advice's, I liked all for your advices specially reli4nt Thank you all once again

[pjam]

It's always funny when somebody says they are a web developer yet have no web site of their own. It really doesn't matter if your jumping from a contract to FTE with various companies. As long as you have references and pass the interviews, it might work. There are tons of intranet sites in the world.

However for some random business, it's a different story. They don't know you, they probably don't know much about IT, hence why they are hiring you. So the only thing they have to go on is your website with clients and so on.

Put it this way. You wouldn't hire a landscaper who didn't have a lawnmower or weed wackers and so on. Your web site is your equipment. That is what future clients will look at...

Build your own website up first, and then at least you have one portfolio example on top of telling customers about companies you worked for.