Does a website help?

[tom_the_LD]

Hi all,

 

Question for the freelancers out there - do you think a website helps you? Have you got much work from it or do you find most of your work comes via word of mouth?

 

Not necesserily right now, but maybe as a future project for myself. But I'm also just curious!

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

Tom

[Ali2580]

Tom,

 

I'm not officially a freelancer but I have had quite a bit of work through a website so I'd say they are worth it.

 

Had a few people seeing my location and then finding I'm located near them and so they get in touch. I'd say it's a good idea because then people will know what you fully do and find out more about you.

 

Hope this helps a bit and looking forward to hearing from professional freelancers!

 

A

[smalljoshua]

Again, not a Pro but I have found the majority of my "Work" to be through my website. A good site with a good search ranking is a good way to get your name around.

 

Josh

[jacet]

I would imagine it depends on what sort of work you do. If a hire company needs a couple more freelancers to go out on a gig do you think they turn to google or do you think they would ask people they already know (and trust) if they know of anybody spare to who can help out?

In contrast if you are offering hires (i.e. functions / corporate stuff) I would imagine a website would probably be quite useful.

As a freelancer who exclusively works for other companies / people / venues all the work I've ever had and the contacts I've made have been through word of mouth. Thinking about it though a website advertising your services probably wouldn't hurt your chances of getting work though would it?

[Jivemaster]

Having a www cuts both ways! Firstly you MUST keep it current which costs in web designer time. Secondly you may sometimes NOT have the right to use images from your work so your current work may not be seen by surfers.

 

Remember that your work provider may NOT be the main contractor let alone the event booker. Several (most?) times the intermediate contractors pass off all their freelancers as their staff. you are part of that deception!

[David Lee]

As with Jacet, depends what you do.

 

I am a freelance tech and production manager. I would never book a tech through a website, hell I don't even look at the techs websites of people I work with or book. It is through working with people onsite that I get to know their strengths and weaknesses. If I can't find a tech I will get reccomendations from people I trust.

 

If you are running a hire co. then it is pretty much standard to have some form of web space to put up portfolios and contact details as the minimum.

[Ben]

Adding on from whats been said how much can a website really say? Anyone can make a site with great pics of shows they have worked on and with list of skills etc.

 

However from the other side how do I know when looking at your site if you are any good, I have had the unfortunate experience of having people in to do work that claim to be xyz but cant really do the job no website would be able to say what you can really do.

 

Word of mouth is far more reliable as when someone recommends a person for a job they have a good chance of being good as otherwise it looks bad on the person making the recommendation also.

 

With things like pics on a website how do I know from looking at them what you have done on them, I could put up pics of shows I have worked on like strictly come dancing but I didnt design it, I didnt program it so all you would really be seeing is a show that other people created and I had a hand in, pics are misleading.

 

If however you do design a lot or do your own events then a website with lots of pics is a good idea but for freelance work I would say that it is redundant as people dont turn to google for finding extra hands when needed they go to the black book then ask if anyone knows someone that might be free.

[J Pearce]

A website isn't necessarily that useful, but webspace is. To be able to upload files for clients to download, like my CV, plans etc for their events, and files that are too large to reliably send via email is very useful and looks more professional than using sendmyfile.biz

 

That said I have picked up a small amount of work from my website although as mentioned above it is an endless battle to keep it up to date and to have portfolio photos that you can post in public space.

[Big Jay]

I wasnt going to do a website, I just wanted to domain name for email purposes.

 

But then I payed and thought may aswell, It hasnt got my any work but then again I havent marketed it well, I mainly use it to file sharing (clients).

[Jivemaster]

Retail clients -the bride, the birthday person, the anniversary couple- will look on the web for suppliers so a really slick site may get you some work - all of the one night stand style for usually private clients.

 

Trade clients will almost never use the www so the hire conpany or the production manager wanting extra crew will not ever look on the www for extra hands. Trade clients will usually not want or allow you to publish pictures of their events, anyway you were probably only responsible for a small part if it anyway.

 

However when there is time and you are looking for work some web presence with a totally accurate and current CV may be the sort of thing that you can leave with possible bookers that you have contacted.

[dunk]

Look at it a different way, how do you usually find equipment/kit/crew/etc. It usually starts with the Internet!

[Jivemaster]

While searches these days start on the internet, most real world crew chiefs want people that they know and trust to do the job asked, so they are really looking for is trust and reliability which isn't usually indicated on a www.

 

Social and domestic clients will spend HOURS looking ar sites to look for party venues, entertainers etc. Corporate and business clients will look for a production company, production companies will have a black book of contacts. They will ring contacts to offer work or elicit a reliable dep for their contact.

 

Place yourself in the market, then target your most likely work providers.

 

A real email is a good plan, and some webspace to share with a client is a good idea but not as a marketing tool.

[Smiffy]

You need to manage your expectations of what a website will achieve for you.

 

My website just about pays for itself in terms of work that it brings in. For the most part however, it is used mostly by my clients that like to know what I am up to, and for their clients to get an idea of who I am, when a production team is being put together for an event or gig. The driving force behind the creation of my site was that I was getting a lot of calls from my clients asking for CV's, Biog's, and recent show pics while I was out working on other gigs. I deemed it faster and easier for all of us if just had an online resource that they could go to to pick out the info they needed.

 

So... Yes, a website can help, but understand what it is helping you with.

 

Cheers

 

Smiffy

[Bobbsy]

I have a slightly differing point of view.

 

In my experience work rarely, if ever, starts off from a web site no matter how good--the good jobs come from word of mouth. However, once the initial contact is made, a web site can be very good in terms of being able to send new clients there to read your CV, see (or, in my case, listen to) samples of work, give a reminder of contact details, etc..

 

If you're involved in sound, it's also useful to have web space where you can upload files for the client to listen to: "is this the sort of barking dog you have in mind?"....that sort of thing.

 

Bob

[djsam3000]

I would say it depends where about's you are already in the business. If you are perhaps a slightly maturer freelancer and have been doing it a while then you will probably already have your name "out there" (arguably). I think for newer business or individuals it is almost essential to start with a website. I am new in and therefore all my work comes through my website. I'm also a web designer and specialise in search engine optimisation, hence why if you were searching for audio hire Essex or sound hire Essex, you will find me number one. Imagine your an engineer in this area, someone Googles 'sound engineer Essex' and up you pop with lots of information explaining how amazing you are and how you can help at an event then the client doesn't need to look any further. As some people have said they wouldn't look at a techs website, but if there are images of your previous work and comments from people there or people you are working with, then why not, that's a testimonial and a recommendation.

 

Just my thoughts.