1. FREELANCE WORDPRESS LESSONS
LEARNED
Or things I’ve learned about making a living with
WordPress for fun and profit
WordCamp Chicago 2012 Becky Davis

2. ABOUT BECKY
 Designer/Dev from Chicago
 1st WordPress site in 2009
 1st WordCamp – Chicago 2010
 1st WordCamp site design – Chicago 2011
 Number of WordPress custom themes built – 25+
 Solopreneur (for now), making a decent living
 Mom – both kids in college

3. LESSON 1 – IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KARMA
 Collaboration not Competition
 Pay it back
 Thank plugin developers
 Teach
 Meetups
 Rely on Friends
 Share resources
 Share ideas
 Bounce ideas and problems
It’s all about the community.

4. LESSON 2 – MAKE THE COMMITMENT
 You will never be a FT freelancer if you don’t do it
FT
 Have faith
 Accept the risk
 Network, network, network
 Try everything at least for a while
 Meetups
 Chamber of Commerce
 Local organizations
 Charge more as you build skills and confidence

5. LESSON 3 – NEVER STOP LEARNING
 Stop saying “No” to clients
 Challenge yourself and figure it out
 Ask questions – this is what the WordPress community is
all about
 Have tutorials ready for when you’re not busy
 Be open to new ideas
 Read
 Google is our friend

6. LESSON 4 - MANAGE EXPECTATIONS
 Much easier said than done
 Don’t assume what they understand
 Educating the client is part of the process
 Designers need special education
 How to give you files
 The dynamic nature of a WordPress site
 Balance between user editing and designer ideal
 Don’t ask, Don’t tell is not a good policy!

7. LESSON 5 – DO MAKE IT EASY
 Consider the end user in all decisions
 Add drop down styles in the editing area
 Make TRAINING a standard part of your bid and
process

8. LESSON 6 – GET PAID
 If you don’t track your time, how will you ever
know how to charge?
 Track out of scope changes
 Use contracts whenever possible
 Don’t launch without final payment
 Pay yourself the same every week
 Set aside taxes first
 Get off the roller-coaster
The only way you’ll make money is by knowing what
your time is worth.

9. LESSON 7 – LEARN HOW TO BREATHE
 Step away from the screen and get out of the house
 Disconnect regularly
 Remember it’s all about the Karma

10. CONTACT INFO
 Beckydavisdesign.com
 @beckyddesign
 Slides on slideshare.net/bdgardengirl
 MEETUPS IN CHICAGO!
 City – North side http://www.meetup.com/Chicago-
WordPress-Meetup/
 North suburbs (Lake Co) - http://www.wplc.us/
 West suburbs (McHenry Co) - http://www.wpmchenry.com/