Top 5 things you should include in your freelance website

I was just thinking of the most important things you should include in your website. When a client visits your website they are looking for certain things and often if they don't find it they will turn away.

1. Working portfolio

This has to be the most crucial element of any freelancers website. The portfolio of work is fundamental to obtaining clients interest. Perhaps show a variety of forms of work, website designs, banners, illustrations, renders etc.

2. Easy way to contact you

A direct e-mail link is not always the best option. Provide a clear form with a dropdown menu with the various departments (sales, partnership, jobs etc) and then a nice large box where they can type their message.

3. Testimonials

Previous customer feedback is another important part of a freelancers arsenal and one that alot of websites neglect. Real feedback from real clients could make the difference between a contract or not. Make sure to include links to the website in question and contact information for the client.

4. Price guide

A clear and well organised price guide that lists the various services you offer together with a base price or estimation. The second thing people look for after your portfolio are your prices! Make them easy to find and clear to read.

5.Skills/Background

A brief history of your background in webdesign/programming together with a documentation of your skill sets and qualifications will always impress. The more qualifications the have the more chance of winning the customer over!

Nice tips Rob. Portfolio is a must, that's the #1 thing I always look for!

Great list Robson.

Will take this into consideration when making my site.

Good tips, I'll see if I can put that in better in my next layout.

You would be amazed at some of the people i have worked with in the past, lack of information and working portfolios on their websites always turn me away.

good things to consider, ill be sire to implement them all in my new design

Yeah, awesome tips. If you've seen my portfolio, it's a bunch of images thrown on a page with numbers for the different pages... thats it. lol. I'll be developing this a lot further in the near future.

Heres another Tip.. Put a pic of me on ur website and trust me.. ull get clients like crazy.. Selling pics of my self for $1.00 each.. Paypal carlos@dylo.com

Carlitos.

Nice tips Robson, but I think that pricing part is different for all designers, some designers won't even quote the project without getting some details, some are ready to do something for a fixed price That's why so many companies out there put prices in ranges (like 100$-2k$), that is not to rip someone off. The purpose of that is to tell that it doesn't have a fixed price, because each client is different, each person's requirements aren't the same

I guess that's all I can add, otherwise nice tips from you, maybe Article section (like actual pages with articles, not forum threads) is next? (Just and idea)

Thanks for the tips. This will be next on my list.