Ok, that makes total sense, and yep, I've been Reading Books on Business. Clearly, I need to edit: clarify and explain. KISS, right?
All right, that is the task for tomorrow.
Thanks, all!
You know, it's funny. We went to war never looking to come back, but it's the real world I couldn't survive.
Tracy ,'The Message'
Buffista Business Talk: I wanted simple, I wanted in-and-out, I wanted easy money.
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Strix - Jun 04, 2011 10:05:18 am PDT #51 of 1416
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger
beekaytee - Jun 04, 2011 10:08:37 am PDT #52 of 1416
Compassionately intolerant
Reading Books on Business
Oh lord. Save me from the adjacent websites!
It's like a frickin' disease! I can't seem to just know that I know what I need to know and not every theory is going to fit me.
For me, it's 2 parts fear and 3 parts procrastination, over 1 part curiosity.
Erk.
Strix - Jun 04, 2011 10:20:09 am PDT #53 of 1416
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger
Oh my god, I am obsessed, bonny. It's like a sickness; my first instinct when I don't know something is to research the hell out of it.
I think I have 25 books checked out on Wordpress, business taxes, marketing, freelancing...it's crazy.
I've skimmed several, tossed a couple, and am working my way slowly through a few.
And of course, the internet. I've finally come to the point where I'm not READING everything, and I'm starting drafting stuff.
amych - Jun 04, 2011 10:25:45 am PDT #54 of 1416
Now let us crush something soft and watch it fountain blood. That is a girlish thing to want to do, yes?
Erin, insent
Ginger - Jun 04, 2011 10:38:05 am PDT #55 of 1416
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
Yeah, the process of reading everything in order to have the perfect website can take four or five years.
Strix - Jun 05, 2011 6:16:05 am PDT #56 of 1416
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger
Hey, guys. A couple of questions...
Ok, I re-worked the services and rates section. Take a gander, if you would, and let me know if what I have now id better, too much, just right. [link]
(Note: website is still in beta; if you have any feedback about other parts of the website, I welcome them, too.)
Is it still too complicated? I tried to make it simple, information and friendly.
Question the 2nd -- How do people deal with payment issues? My Paypal account is through my personal email and goes into our general checking account; do I need to set up a merchant account, with a button and everything, or do I just give out PayPal info to clients when we have a contract? I think I need to start a separate business account, and sync that account to my wordslinger email addy.
Also, I know some people don't use PayPal. I don't want to get into the complicated world of credit cards, and I certainly don't want to be dealing with e-transfers; I don't want to give my account number out.
I'm thinking PayPal, check or money order. And I am going to require 1/2 of the payment down before I start a project.
Does this jibe with standard practices? Advice, warnings, good ideas?
Thanks!
Ginger - Jun 05, 2011 6:22:44 am PDT #57 of 1416
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
I'm mainly paid in checks, and I have a business account with my dba name. (That reminds me. I need to change banks for that account, because it used to be free and now there's a $10 monthly fee.)
Half up front and half on completion is pretty standard, although a lot of people take a third down, a third at some stated midpoint and a third at the end for bigger projects.
Strix - Jun 05, 2011 6:26:18 am PDT #58 of 1416
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger
And I can be flexible with that, since I am (thanks to y'all) keeping things vague enough.
I gotta call our bank tomorrow and see what kind of deals they offer. I should get a debit card to use for business-related expenses, too, for easier tracking.
Ginger, have you ever had problems with checks? One of the things I'm worried about is invoicing -- I've got a system set up (although I'm open to suggestions) but mainly I'm worried about non-payment and having to chase people down to get them to pony up.
Does this happen a lot?
Ginger - Jun 05, 2011 6:32:25 am PDT #59 of 1416
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
I haven't had it too often. I think it depends entirely on the client and scope. The start-up/new businesses have been the iffiest, although it did take forever to get the last payment from one client who entirely changed what he wanted over and over.
Strix - Jun 05, 2011 6:36:25 am PDT #60 of 1416
A dress should be tight enough to show you're a woman but loose enough to flee from zombies. — Ginger
I'm gonna include rewrites in my contracts, although I'm sure I'll have a few learning experiences down the road.
(Can I just say this thread is saving my freaking sanity! LOVES.)