Tom Hirst

2025 - A Year In Review

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 17:00:00 GMT

This is my seventh annual review. The ”blogging is dead” discourse is at an all-time high (I disagree by the way) but you can’t let a good tradition die.

I’ll start with a summary then expand into the details, covering sections on work, life and everything in between.

TLDR:

I let go of needing to be “a business owner”
I made over $450,000 (salary, projects, investments)
I hit 2 years at Magic Eden: 0 to 11 EVM chains
I worked on a $13M product launch that kid me would have loved
I shipped a digital art project with 16,584 pieces minted
I travelled less but made a bucket list trip to Japan
Parenting got easier (we’re out of the baby phase)
I broke my clavicle (pro tip: don’t get injured)
I had my most relaxed year in a long time
Contentment is my overriding emotion

Work

Working on a business idea or side project is now a nice to have, not a necessity. The weirdness I felt after walking away from my 14-year-old freelance business in web2 has fully dissipated. My work year was contented.

With hindsight, I’ve learned that it’s wasted mental energy to try and adhere to a label that you’ve given yourself. This unnecessary lift made little sense in terms of comparative outcomes, too. I’m making more now. I’m learning more now. My day to day is similar.

I often overplayed the difference between freelancing full time and having a remote job in my head. If you’re good at attracting people to your skills, that applies across the board. What matters most in your work life are the choices you create.

In November, I hit 2 years with Magic Eden. When I joined there were no EVM chains on the platform and now there are 11. Time flies in crypto.

I managed a small team in the first half of the year. We had improvements to make to our NFT launchpad product which I took ownership over. This involved individual contributions alongside system design and task management. Having run projects for over a decade in my consulting days, this transition was straightforward.

As a Pokémon kid, working on Packs was one of the highlights of my year. NFTs are a great fit for real world asset representation and digital entertainment demand is high. 115,000 packs were ripped ($13M worth) on Magic Eden within 7 days of launch. I worked on the smart contract and some front end finesse for the project.

I’ve been heads down on a new 0-1 bet with the team since late summer. If you’ve never experienced how this feels at a startup, you’ll learn more about building products in these times than most others. I’m enjoying the velocity.

Projects

Aeons was my one major project of 2025. I describe Aeons as an Internet Art Experience; a game running on the Base blockchain where the players decide the end state.

The novel concept in Aeons is time. Each NFT (piece in the game) started with 4 days of life and would die (be burned) if left unattended. Players could only extend the life of their Aeons by merging them with other Aeons.

The project was well received for its art and concept (though it did take some explaining!), with 16,584 pieces minted.

I got to flex my full stack muscles on Aeons. It’s a somewhat-complex system for an NFT project, needing a web app, indexer and bot to execute periodic blockchain transactions. I built these parts and wrote the smart contract suite. Traf handled the art direction, UI design and front end development masterfully.

I took my own advice from last year’s review and cut other projects. I stepped away from the price theory column I was writing and I didn’t do anything new on the educational product front. It’s a shame because I love to teach what I’ve learned. Until I feel ready to take a big swing at something in this category, I won’t pick it back up.

It was pleasing to make sales of my pricing book via historic recommendations and in person chats. 5 years since writing it.

Money

I wondered whether to include this section. In days gone by—when I was chasing goals like a first six-figure year—I found money more exciting to track. It feels less interesting to me now, but I know the information can be useful to others.

Between salary, projects, products and investments, I made over $450,000 in 2025.

Personal Finances

I often think in “years of runway”: cash reserves divided by yearly burn.

We’re ending 2025 with the most runway we’ve ever had. In past years, I used this measurement as a potential opportunity to take a year or two away from working. Now, at this better-than-ever point, I have no desire to. Funnily enough.

Paying off our mortgage has become viable. I’ll spend some time in 2026 evaluating our options but the balance is within reach.

I’ll continue to invest in experiences, especially with our kids. I’d rather spend on memories now than leave them more money than they need later. Far better ROI.

All larger purchases go through my British Airways American Express card (ref link). I’ve not had a chance to use the two for one flight vouchers earned, but I’ve stayed in hotels for free using Avios points.

I’ll switch to the Coinbase One Amex to get Bitcoin rewards once it launches in the UK.

Software Engineering

Someone recently asked me what my role is nowadays. Full stack product engineer describes it best. I’m working on front end, back end, blockchain and the glue in between. Mostly feature development and the iterative improvement of these features based on user feedback.

I’ve been using AI to help me write code for a while. This has accelerated in 2025. While I believe LLMs can’t replace the system design experience of a senior engineer, for everyday problems the chasm has been crossed. Models like Opus 4.5 are excellent at generating good code under guidance. AGENTS.md is your friend.

Much of my work now starts with a well thought out prompt in Claude Code. When I feel like things are working, I’ll review and modify this first pass in Cursor (now my default IDE). It’s useful to have quick access to alternate models. I often get the best (fastest) results from Grok Code.

I made 1,370 GitHub contributions in 2025.

Twitter (X) as we knew it is gone. The “For You” tab is full of content that doesn’t benefit me and most replies to any remaining interesting posts are from bots. I’ve completed my mourning of Twitter in its 2020-2022 guise.

I don’t see enough posts from my friends of that era to inspire me to contribute as much as I once did.

I’ve created much less content myself. My main pieces on X were technical deep dives on the Aeons project. I still document trips and family events on Instagram so I can easily look back on them as snapshots in time.

Though my one-to-many network may be smaller, my one-to-one network has grown in strength. I’m using DMs and group chats on X, Telegram and Discord to stay in sync with folks of similar interests.

Life

We’re happy where we are in Wakefield. We have a house we love in a location we love. But I’d still like to move abroad for a few years. Even if temporarily. We’re yet to find an appropriate destination and form a realistic plan.

Parenting is getting easier. Our kids are 4 and 6 so we’re out of the baby phase. At this current phase, the kids (and adults) enjoy whole family experiences way more. It’s great to see them get stuck in to activities and build their confidence. Our yearly Dubai trip was the best yet.

I broke my clavicle in August after landing on my shoulder playing football. Luckily, it didn’t require surgery and I have almost zero day-to-day discomfort. Things haven’t been easy in the gym. I’m 25% away from pre-injury strength four months later.

The forced rest was tough. I’m still trying to get back to my regular routine. Pro tip: Don’t get injured.

Travel

Internationally, I travelled to:

Kyoto, Japan in May
Tokyo, Japan in May
Madeira, Portugal in May
Amsterdam, Netherlands in August
Dubai, UAE in October/November

This was lighter than last year. But I got to hit one of my bucket list destinations, Japan. I only wish I had more time in this amazing country. The contrast between the temples of Kyoto and the suburbs of Tokyo was the perfect balance.

I can’t recommend a trip to Japan enough. I’m hoping to go back in the coming years to explore more places with Steph and the kids.

Domestically, I took a handful of trips to London. Mainly to watch Arsenal.

Investments

I started being a bit smarter with my money in terms of savings. One service I’ve been particularly impressed with is Flagstone. Flagstone lets you save across multiple banks to leverage FSCS protection while maximising interest rates.

In addition, I rebalanced my portfolio to reduce my overall crypto exposure.

Not investment advice.

Wrap Up

2025

My most relaxed year for a while. Things are settled in most aspects of my life. There’s still a lot that I want to do, but I’m happy where I am. It’s been a solid year for our family.

2026

I have a few targets like building strength in the gym, but I didn’t need a new year to start that. My feeling for 2026 is to take it as it comes. I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out.

Wishing you and yours the best in 2026.

This is my seventh yearly review. You can read the rest here:

Let me know if you write one!

2024 - A Year In Review

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 15:00:00 GMT

I’ve spent the last week strolling a subtropical island writing this review in my head. Planned in 22 degrees of sunshine and finished in 2 degrees of snow.

It’s a bit of a different one this year. Because its the first review that I’ve written about a year employed.

This is my sixth annual review. “Why do I write these reviews?” was another thing I pondered while walking the coastline.

I’ll continue to write them for myself while I find them useful for growth. And I’ll continue to write them for my kids so they can time travel in the future.

Plus, with the acceleration of AI technology; I feel this type of content is more important than ever.

Here’s a summary of my past year:

I made more than last year’s ~$350,000
I flew 22 times to 7 countries
Family mode is the new normal
I lost 1,000 followers on X
I established myself as a crypto engineer
Magic Eden became the #1 NFT marketplace in the world
I learned and earned from my projects
I broke some promises to myself
Gratitude is my overriding emotion

Let’s take a look at the details:

Work

Now that I’m an employee (for the first time ever) I have a salary portion of my income.

I know folks will want to know how this transition has felt. Especially as someone who has been independent for the 14 years prior. There are some shocks to the system. But they’re not as heavy as you might imagine.

To expand, you need to be cognizent of two things:

How you work best
Does the company you’re working for accomodate that

One non-negotiable, for me, is remote work. Another, is being able to work mostly on my own time. I have 90% of my lifestyle and professional needs met under these circumstances. It feels good to have found “Company-Engineer-Fit” at Magic Eden.

(We’re hiring, come work with me!)

The main change is scheduling time off more corporately. My work style is sprint, short rest, sprint. There are intense periods during launches. But overall, the pace has matched what I’m used to.

When you care about your work you’ll own the responsibility whether you’re delivering a freelance project or a company feature.

I worked on a wide range of engineering projects across ~350 PRs. From owning individual features to leading partner communications and app wide integrations. Notable mentions:

Dynamic wallet connect and user management integration
Relay integration to support cross-chain currency purchasing on all surfaces
Self-service product for creators to launch their own NFT projects

It was awesome to see the company become the top NFT marketplace in revenue during this time.

Many people have asked me why I took a job if I didn’t need one:

To prove myself at a new level
1. “Could a self-taught developer from a small town in England cut it at a unicorn startup?”
To deepen my engineering knowledge in a field I enjoy
To earn some equity in a company I believe in

Onto what I made from my work in 2024.

As with most tech roles, compensation is broken into base and equity portions. In crypto uniquely, there’s a token portion, too. Alongside this income, I made a significant amount from my projects.

In terms of cash, across both streams, I made more than the $364,217.96 that my personal company made in 2023.

This does not include any non-cash compensation earned. Which makes 2024’s figure considerably higher at current valuations.

Product revenue is at an all time low of $835.94. As in 2023, I made little effort to promote my book on pricing and course on personal websites. I did enjoy writing two articles on pricing in Q4. It felt great to flex this muscle again.

I had many things that I wanted to build this year. I promised myself I would get them out and I didn’t. Specifcally, a new personal website and a digital art project I’ve been working on.

I’ve learned two things from this:

Lofty goals are good so long as you don’t dwell on ideas
1. “Action or cut”
Beyond 1 or 2 main pursuits, your life has to take a hit to do more
1. (And it might not be worth it)

So instead of feeling bad about what you didn’t do feel good about what you did do. There’s nothing wrong with trying to do a lot. But you need to be at peace when you’re unable to do it all at once.

Personal Finances

Even though costs have increased we still have multiple years of runway to continue living the way we are now should I decide to take a break.

I’ve always been an advocate of enjoying your money. I think extreme frugality is a poor lifestyle choice. With that said, I’m glad to have put enough away to feel secure about my family’s immediate future.

Software Engineering

Working in a bigger team of engineers has made me a better one.

I’ve been a freelance web3 developer since 2021 but I established myself in crypto this past year.

My range of knowledge across the whole stack has increased. I’ve particularly enjoyed working with smart contracts across multiple EVM chains.

I wrote more code than words. With 1,351 contributions on GitHub in 2024.

Projects

When you have a builder’s brain you’ll always be working on something. 2024 has been no different to the rest of my life.

I was invited to produce a regular column on pricing for Freelancer Magazine. The first two issues published in Q4 2024 and Q1 2025.

Every time I write I remember how much I like it.

On the development side, I’m fortunate to have talented friends who like making cool stuff. Select projects I helped with were:

GLHFers website + NFT auction UI with Dith
Based Punks NFT gallery website with Traf
Blastoadz (now BasedToadz) smart contracts + game with Traf

In April, I shipped another update to Solidity Next.js Starter, my open source project for beginner web3 developers which sits at 350 stars on GitHub.

In 2025, I’ll look more at AI. Particularly, how I can use it solve some of my own day to day problems.

Digital Art

I’m still collecting NFTs. Mainly art based. You can view some of my collection here.

I love anything that uses blockchain mechanics to inject something new into a traditionally static canvas. That’s what excites me most in art x crypto.

I want to keep experimenting here.

Educational Products

I’m sad that I didn’t find time to do any new teaching in 2024. Perhaps this is where AI can help me in 2025.

I’m mainly using X and Instagram.

I tried Farcaster but I couldn’t stick to using it regularly.

My X account lost 1,000 followers in 2024. Understandably, because I’m posting less frequently, less niche specific and there were no viral moments.

Life

I was planning a move to Dubai in time for my daugther to start school in September. I’d been researching for a number of years and I was confident about making it happen.

Once it got to visa stage, however, we decided as a family to take a step back.

I’m disapointed we couldn’t get there and I still hope to make a move abroad one day.

Family

Having kids is the hardest and best thing I’ve ever done.

After 5 years of having my first child, family mode feels like the new normal. I’ve fully transitioned from Tom to Dad as my default.

I’m thankful to my wife, Steph, for doing the heavy lifting needed to make everything work at home. I could not do what I do without her.

Health

On New Year’s Eve, we had a minor health scare with my son. It was the most stressful day of my life. Luckily, it was nothing but a lesson about the importance of good health.

I went to the gym 2-3 times per week in 2024. This has slipped. I’ll get this back up to 3-4 in 2025.

Walking has continued to be one of my favourite hobbies.

“A healthy man wants a thousand things, a sick man only wants one”. — Confucius.

Travel

I travelled to:

San Francisco, USA in January
Paris, France in February
Dubai, UAE in March
Seattle, USA in April
Bend, USA in April
Chicago, USA in June
Mallorca, Spain in June
Berlin, Germany in June
Westward Ho!, England in August
Lisbon, Portugal in October
Cancún, Mexico in November
Tenerife, Spain in December

My highlights were walking (what felt like) the entirety of SF in a day, hiking in Smith Rock State Park and seeing my kids enjoy themselves.

It was awesome to see so much. But this was a lot. 12 trips didn’t make travelling lose it’s charm, however.

I’m looking forward to seeing more new places in 2025.

Home

No new work to our house. I didn’t get to revamp my office either.

Steph and I see a medium-sized rennovation on the horizon once our kids stop drawing on walls!

Investments

The percentage of my portfolio in crypto is starting to feel too large.

I didn’t write any new angel checks in 2024, but I’m open to doing so in 2025. Feel free to reach out if my experience would be beneficial to your startup.

On the degenerate side of the barbell I made some profit trading Solana memecoins.

Not investment advice.

Wrap Up

2024

The year I made the most money and the year I got least excited about making money. I feel less interested in sharing figures and more interested in sharing ideas.

The high expectations I have of myself got the better of me on a few occasions.

I got a lot done this year (despite it not being everything). My motivation is strong.

2025

I entered 2025 feeling grateful.

Software engineering is one of the best professions in the world. Crypto is an open industry where anyone can make a name for themselves if they put in the work. I like that. Getting to work from home and travel the world. Having a beautiful family who I love spending time with.

Life is very close to what I worked and wished for. It’s important to remember that while you continue to better yourself.

Wishing you good health and epic vibes in the year ahead.

This is my sixth yearly review. You can read the rest here:

Let me know if you write one!

The Truth About Value Based Pricing

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 15:00:00 GMT

If you’ve come within the orbit of the freelancing space, you’ll have heard of value-based pricing. Value-based pricing, or VBP, means pricing your work based on the value the results said work will deliver for your client. This sounds good in theory. A concept where everyone wins.

With VBP, fast freelancers get to decouple their earnings from their time and clients get an instant return on their investment.

But there’s a problem. VBP as a concept is simple to understand. VBP as a pricing methodology is a black box. It feels like everyone on the internet is using it but no-one can explain it clearly enough for you to use yourself.

Here’s the truth about VBP:

Not everyone is using it (some freelancers have no suitable scenarios to try it in)
Not everyone is using it all the time (VBP only suits certain projects of a certain scale)
And most importantly, it’s not just an equation you can simply apply to increase your earnings

A basic project example:

As a developer (like me), if your client is paying £30,000 for a software subscription and they want you to build an in-house solution, you can justify charging £10,000 for the solution because it will save the client £20,000. It’s a no-brainer to the client. And, as a fast freelancer, you have the opportunity to out earn what you would by charging hourly for the same outcome.

But VBP as a methodology makes an assumption that you’re a senior professional with years of experience who can deliver production quality work quickly. It assumes you’re comfortable—and have the time to—have “value conversations” (meetings where you ask your leads what the success metrics for their project is).

The aforementioned project example is not the reality for 90% of freelancers. You can’t “VBP” a £500 logo for a local pizza shop. Even the top 10% of freelancers who’re 10 years in at the top of their game can’t apply “VBP” to every project. Sometimes pricing can be as simple as what you’re willing to do the work for and what the client is willing to pay. It doesn’t always have to be complicated.

But all is not lost when learning how to price your work in terms of value. “VBP” still points to an important aspect of pricing that many never consider. Value provided is not always correlated to time spent. Meaning, no matter what methodology you use to price your work, always price with value in mind.

So if you’re frustrated about opaque value-based pricing advice, or perhaps you’ve tried pricing your specific skills based on a one-size-fits-all calculation. Here are 7 questions to ask yourself before giving your next project price (for a simpler life):

Is the deadline soon?
How big is the client?
How important is it that you land the project financially?
How likely is it that you’d display the work in your portfolio?
Is there someone else readily available that could do the work?
Do you have adjacent skills that can help tie the project together?
Do you have specific industry-level experience for the project at hand?

You can’t “VBP” the £500 logo. But you can probably charge £1,000 for it when they need it tomorrow.

Article originally published in Freelancer Magazine

You can learn more about pricing your work effectively in my book, Pricing Freelance Projects.

2023 - A Year In Review

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Writing these reviews has taught me a lot about the importance of streaks.

This is my fifth annual review. I couldn’t bare not write it, because of the reviews I’ve written before. They’ve become non-negotiable, and that’s how useful habits form.

Here’s a summary of my past year:

My personal co. made $364,217.96
I grew my X account to 33,347 followers
I began working with a web3 unicorn
I did zero WordPress work for the first time in 12 years
My education business’ growth stalled
I travelled to Ireland, Mexico, Spain, and the UAE
A chunk of my investments doubled
Spent lots of time with my family

Let’s dive in to the details:

Work

My personal co. made £286,065 ($364,217.96) in the last 12 months.

As 2022, nearly all of this came from software engineering work. With a tiny amount from my book and educational products.

Increasing product-based revenue is an obvious goal for me. But it’s funny to see how much one can make on the service side. Even though it’s much less celebrated online. The chime of a $49 sale for a product I created years ago does hit different.

“I have an itch to scratch somewhere”. That’s how I concluded last year’s review. Looking back, I only made a start on scratching it.

I’m in a good position because I don’t have to work. There’s runway to cover all of us without changing how we live. I remember when this felt like an achievement. But it doesn’t anymore.

I like working. I’m doing things I’d do for fun anyway. There isn’t enough time to do everything I want to do. I feel grateful that this is my biggest immediate problem.

2024 begins with me full of energy. Let’s see if I can finish scratching that itch.

Software Engineering

Most of my work time was spent as a software engineer in crypto/web3. In particular, the NFT space.

It’s a wild industry—with plenty of ups and downs—but the talent is unmatched. Digital ownership covers so many segments of my interests that I can’t imagine working on anything else.

I have a long history in web2. 2023 was the first year I didn’t do any WordPress work since 2009. If you’re thinking about a similar move to web3, let me know. I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have.

In September, I released v2.0.0 of my Solidity Next.js Starter to help developers quickly bootstrap a best practice EVM dApp. Onboarding to web3? This repository is a good place to start. It’s amassed 330 stars on GitHub so far.

With the end of Q3 came the end of my biggest gig. The week after, I was working on a mint site for a superstar athlete with a friend I’d met there. The month after, I was working with a unicorn in the space via another friend.

This made me realise how strong (and important) the network is that I’ve built. It’s not complicated, really. Do good work and you’ll get more of it.

Digital Art

I continued to collect and create digital art.

My favourite pieces were Semblance #18 and Interpretations of the Sun - Darkness Awaits by Rahul Iyer.

When Checks took off, I felt inspired by my friends at Visualize Value to create art again. Blockchain introduces a new medium. We can gamify art. We can put the collector in control as a curator of the final piece. It’s fascinating.

In February, I created Check Turtz. A simple mash up of Jack, Jalil and Traf’s Checks and my maiden project, Tiny Winged Turtlez.

Check Turtz was a free open edition mint with a twist. Holders of Checks and/or Tiny Winged Turtlez received a custom variant of the artwork. Props to Curtis for being first to find the dark mode easter egg.

I also wrote a tutorial thread to help others create their own derivatives.

On-chain art continues to interest me. I’m working on another gamified experience to be released in 2024.

Educational Products

I didn’t release any new material and I didn’t promote my existing products as much as I should have.

I’m not leveraging the effort I’ve already expended. Especially after writing my book (which should be in audio format and on Amazon by now).

Teaching is a passion of mine. It’s been amplified since I had kids. Imagine having all of your life lessons recorded. To pass on to them. I think that’s a cool mission.

I’ve learned so much from others during my career. I want to give back as much as I can. Expect bigger and better things on the education front.

Content Creation

I wrote consistently about my life as a freelance developer for two years. I was good at it. I still write about it from time-to-time. But it’s not flowing like it used to.

My writing stalled by trying to keep myself in that box. I know that being “the freelance guy” is the quickest way to grow my audience. However, I’m not interested in being so one-dimensional.

I’ve always tried to keep it real and I’ll continue to do so. Whatever I’m interested in, I’ll write about. Whenever I can share a lesson, I will.

In June, I went viral on X again. This quick fire thread on my life learnings at 36 has been viewed 5.2 million times to date. My content resonates best when I take off the handbrake and let it spill out. Perhaps, on this one though, people just liked the Mamba Green.

A tip if anything you post on X goes viral: mute the post and stop checking it. The inbound noise will wreak havoc on your schedule for at least three days.

My X account grew to 33,347 followers. I didn’t make an attempt to grow my accounts elsewhere.

Life

Balance is something I’m generally good at. After my second child was born, I struggled to separate my work and life identities. I felt pulled in two directions.

In 2023, I felt back on track. Working in sprints with AFK time afterwards helped me rebalance.

It’s been nearly five years since we moved to Wakefield. We love it here. There are good walks, pubs, restaurants and schools. We wouldn’t be anywhere else in the UK.

Family

Ruby is 4 and Jack is 2. Steph’s decision to take a career break was a great move for the family. You can see the results in how the kids behave. She works way harder than me.

We’re lucky that we can both be at home to maximise the time spent with our kids.

Overall, parenting has become easier this year.

Health

My weight and strength have remained the same. Which is to be expected because I didn’t change any routines.

I want to experiment more with my diet in 2024.

Travel

I travelled to:

Dublin, Ireland in March
Norfolk, UK in April
Cancun, Mexico in May
London, UK in August
Malaga, Spain in August
Mallorca, Spain in September
Dubai, UAE in November
Norfolk, UK (again) in December

Highlights included sailing on The Broads, visiting Isla Mujeres and taking the kids to see the sights in London.

Dubai is becoming a yearly visit for the family. I can see us spending even more time there.

Just one trip was business related. I did most of my work from home.

Home

We didn’t do any internal work to the house. The main change was a new driveway. The old resin drive was showing its age, and I needed an extra space, so we went with a wider asphalt layout. Progress pic:

My home office needs a refresh. I’ll be switching the layout to better suit the room and my goals. For example, moving my desk position so I can record video with a solid wall backdrop as opposed to one with a door in view.

Hardware wise, I’m planning to switch out my Dell monitors for an Apple studio display or two.

Investments

I wrote a small angel check for HireChain, a web3 recruitment startup.

I’m still primarily holding crypto and tech stocks.

A chunk of my stocks performed well against the FTSE All World index over the course of 2023, which was encouraging to see.

My main winner was $COIN.

Not investment advice.

Wrap Up

2023

I can feel my momentum building again.

Family life feels more settled as my kids are getting older.

It’s obvious that I made the right decision to change industry.

2024

I’m ready to put my foot on the gas:

Family first
Win with my work
Personal website upgrade
A new project or two
Help others

There’ll always be a reason why you can’t make something happen. But you can succeed in spite of that, too. In 2024, my focus moves away from problems and towards solutions.

Wishing you a fruitful year ahead.

This is my fifth yearly review. You can read the rest here:

Let me know if you write one!

Solidity Next.js dApp Starter

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 17:30:00 GMT

In this article, we’ll walk through how to build a full stack Ethereum dApp with Solidity and Next.js from scratch.

This code is for anyone looking to quickly bootstrap an EVM dApp using modern best practices. In particular, developers with existing JavaScript/TypeScript experience who’re newer to Solidity.

If you want to learn how to interact with a simple smart contract from the client side, this article is for you.

Here’s the Solidity Next.js Starter on GitHub, we’ll reference the code throughout this article.

Let’s dive in.

Packages

The repository for this tutorial has two packages named contracts and app.

Contracts

packages/contracts - This package contains everything related to the smart contract files and Hardhat development environment.

Contracts Stack

Here’s the complete list of tools we’re using:

Contracts Scripts

When you’re viewing a repository for the first time, it’s always useful to know what the scripts in package.json do. Here’s a breakdown for the contracts package:

yarn start - Starts your local Hardhat network
yarn test - Tests Greeter.sol’s functionality
yarn deploy - Deploys Greeter.sol to your local Hardhat network
yarn deploy:goerli - Deploys Greeter.sol to the Goerli test network
yarn format - Formats all code using Prettier

App

packages/app - This package contains everything related to the Next.js application.

App Stack

Everything I’m using to ship production dApps is included:

App Scripts

Here’s what the app scripts do:

yarn dev - Starts the Next.js local development environment
yarn build - Creates an optimised production build of your app
yarn start - Starts the Next.js application in production mode
yarn lint - Checks for problems in your code using ESLint
yarn format - Formats all code using Prettier

Prerequisites

To start this tutorial with the Solidity Next.js Starter repository, you’ll need the following in advance:

Getting Started

Now we’ve walked through how the code is organised, let’s dig in to how to get everything running on your local machine:

Initial Setup

Use git clone https://github.com/tomhirst/solidity-nextjs-starter.git to clone this repository to your local machine.

Enter the repository folder with cd solidity-nextjs-starter, then install all dependencies using yarn.

Solidity Next.js Starter uses Yarn workspaces, so this will install the relevant dependencies for each packages in one command.

Contracts Setup

Enter the contracts folder with cd packages/contracts and start your local hardhat node with yarn start. If you’re successful, you’ll be presented with a number of accounts (one of which you’ll need later). Here’s an example:

Account #0: 0xf39Fd6e51aad88F6F4ce6aB8827279cffFb92266 (10000 ETH)
Private Key: 0xac0974bec39a17e36ba4a6b4d238ff944bacb478cbed5efcae784d7bf4f2ff80

In a new terminal window, deploy the Greeter contract using yarn deploy. If you’re successful, you’ll get a contract address (that you’ll also need later) like this:

Greeter with greeting "Hello, world!" deployed to 0x5FbDB2315678afecb367f032d93F642f64180aa3

App Setup

Enter the app folder with cd packages/app from the root directory.

You’ll need a RainbowKit project ID. You can get one from WalletConnect Cloud and it will look something like this: 206a512b7abd9c469123b45fb272b68e (not a real key).

Afterwards, duplicate .env.example and rename the file .env. Then add your RainbowKit project ID like this: NEXT_PUBLIC_RAINBOWKIT_PROJECT_ID=[your-project-id].

NEXT_PUBLIC_CHAIN_ID should already be set to the Hardhat local network ID of 31337 (change this when you want your app to run on other chains).

Finally, set NEXT_PUBLIC_CONTRACT_ADDRESS using the contract address you recieved when you deployed. For example: NEXT_PUBLIC_CONTRACT_ADDRESS=0x5FbDB2315678afecb367f032d93F642f64180aa3

Once your environment variables are set, run the application using yarn dev. To view, open up localhost:3000 (or whatever port Next.js has assigned) in your browser.

MetaMask Setup

To fully demo the apps’ features, you’ll need a web3 wallet extension. If you don’t have MetaMask installed already, you can get it here.

If you haven’t used Hardhat before, you’ll need to add a test account to write to the smart contract that you deployed. Do this by importing one of the accounts you noted down earlier to MetaMask using the accounts’ private key (for example, 0xac0974bec39a17e36ba4a6b4d238ff944bacb478cbed5efcae784d7bf4f2ff80).

Once connected to the app with the test account, you can set a new greeting on the blockchain by using the form on page. You’ll get a confirmation message if you’re successful.

Advanced (Bonus Points)

Eventually, you’ll want to take your work from a local environment to a production one. Here’s how to deploy your smart contract and application to publically viewable environments, so other people can use them:

Advanced Contracts

Up to now, your smart contract has been running locally. The next step is to deploy it to a live test network. We’ll use Goerli for this.

Deploying to Goerli Testnet

First you need some Goerli test ETH. You can get some from a Goerli Faucet.

In the packages/contracts directory, duplicate .env.example to .env. You’ll need an Alchemy API key and the private key of the wallet you’d like to deploy your Goerli contract from. I recommend using a burner account that doesn’t hold any valuable assets on other chains.

Set the environment variables like so:

ALCHEMY_API_KEY=[your-api-key]
GOERLI_PRIVATE_KEY=[your-private-key]

Finally, run yarn deploy:goerli. If you’re successful, you’ll get a message ike this in your terminal window:

Greeter with greeting "Hello, world!" deployed to 0x2D3Dff7366c8FA680801E563E008C8303B36FBC6

Here’s a version of the contract I deployed earlier: 0x2D3Dff7366c8FA680801E563E008C8303B36FBC6

Verifying Your Contract on Goerli

Let’s verify your newly deployed contract with Etherscan. First, get an Etherscan API key here. Then add it to your .env file:

ETHERSCAN_API_KEY=[your-api-key]

Run yarn verify:goerli [your-contract-address] 'Hello, world!' to verify your contract. Be sure to pass the address of the contract you just deployed and the constructor parameter, which in this case is the default greeting.

If you’re successful, you’ll get a message like this:

Successfully verified contract Greeter on the block explorer.

Advanced App

Let’s look at deploying your application.

Adding an Alchemy API Key

To interact with smart contracts on a testnet or mainnet from your app, you’ll need an Alchemy API key. You can get one here if you didn’t get one earlier.

Add this to .env in packages/app like so:

ALCHEMY_API_KEY=[your-api-key]

This will let you point your front end at a publically viewable contract on a network like Goerli or mainnet.

Deploying to Vercel

You can deploy the application to Vercel by clicking this button:

Be sure to deploy from the packages/app directory and set these environment variables:

NEXT_PUBLIC_ALCHEMY_API_KEY=[your-api-key]
NEXT_PUBLIC_CONTRACT_ADDRESS=[your-contract-address]
NEXT_PUBLIC_CHAIN_ID=[your-chain-id]
NEXT_PUBLIC_RAINBOWKIT_PROJECT_ID=[your-project-id]

Here’s an app I deployed earlier: https://solidity-nextjs-starter-app.vercel.app/

Why I Built This

I built this to onboard myself to web3. Since 2021, Solidity Next.js Starter has amassed 100s of GitHub stars and helped devs land dream gigs in the space. Like Curtis at Yuga Labs.

Contributions

All suggestions for improvement are welcome. Please submit a pull request to contribute.

Disclaimer

All code in this repository is unaudited. Use at your own risk.

Things I Wish I Learned Earlier At 36

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 21:30:00 GMT

A stream of consciousness that I wrote on my 36th birthday containing all the things that I wish I knew earlier. The Twitter thread went viral and was viewed over 5 million times.

The only partner you should look for is one that aligns with your values.
The only audience you should look for is one that aligns with your interests.
Being attractive (in business and in life) is within your control.
Ask for what you want.
Tell people you appreciate them, often and now.
Show your personality.
Drive in sports mode.
Bank a year’s living expenses as fast as you can.
Your outcomes are bound by your appetite for risk.
Run your career like a business.
Charge more for your work every year.
Save your best hours for creative work.
Meetings before and after work only.
If you want a stressful life, schedule everything.
A personal website is the simplest way to stand out.
Learn to cook.
Learn to code.
Learn to sell.
If you find a partner who supports your endeavours hold on to them for dear life.
Having kids will make your life 10x harder but 100x better.
Keep a close circle of local friends and a network around the world.
Focus on the people you want to help.
To understand the benefits of doing something for a long time, do something for a long time.
The freedom to choose where you work from, who you work with and what you work on is worth a lot of money.
There’s a middle ground between billion dollar founder and 9-5 office job that will make you very happy.
Go to the gym.
Get a dog.
Share your work.
Get comfortable talking about money or it will give you headaches, resentment and anxiety for life.
The best time to start is now.
Perfect conditions don’t exist.
You can work with the best in the world from the comfort of your home.
Most routines are fake.
Whenever you’re optimising your productivity, check that you’re not avoiding the real work.
If you’re overwhelmed, exercise today and do something small tomorrow.
You have to stand for something or you stand for nothing.
There’ll always be a counterpoint to your point of view, so share it anyway.
There’s time for you to do everything, just not right now.
The key to fulfilment is working on things you like, spending time with people you love, and having the freedom to choose your next step.

2022 - A Year In Review

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 15:01:50 GMT

This year has been different. You can tell by the lack of posts between last year’s review and this one.

I’m calling 2022 my year of quiet wins.

Here’s the TLDR:

I realigned my expectations for a simpler life
My consulting business made 8x more than last year
My educational products made 8x less than last year
I stopped creating content and gained 0 followers
I fell in love with building things again
My wife took a career break
I travelled lots

Now let’s get into the details.

Work

In 2022, I worked on things that:

Gave me energy
Allowed me to focus
Fit with my autonomy goals
Had high financial upside
I’d do for fun anyway

Freelance, Consulting and Engineering

I continued onboarding myself to web3 at the start of the year. I find the blockchain space technologically, societally and culturally fascinating. The move from building marketing sites to decentralised applications has been positive for my engineer’s brain. It’s been positive for my bank balance too.

While hands-on WordPress work remained off the menu, I found new joy in my old friend as a WordPress Consultant. I like to be involved in product and marketing conversations. I like to think strategically about how things will be built. And I have over a decade’s worth of experience in translating business needs into WordPress solutions. So advising engineering teams has been a great fit.

A specific highlight was working with a multi-billion dollar company to help steer their headless WordPress project.

In Q2, I was approached by Origin Protocol. They’d seen my open source work and needed help from a senior web3 engineer with strong front-end skills and Solidity experience. I wasn’t looking for anything, but the opportunity to work with a crypto product studio across NFTs and DeFi intrigued me. After a positive project together, we decided to extend.

The talent at Origin is incredible. Though I’ve worked with global companies and big brands before, I still have to pinch myself sometimes. I get to work with people hailing from Coinbase, YouTube, Google and PayPal. From Barnsley to Silicon Valley (remotely, of course). Not bad, I guess.

I built the governance portal for OGV, improved Story (Origin’s white-label NFT marketplace product) for projects like Roofstock and Pudgy Penguins and owned the development of a new NFT data comparison tool. I’ve loved building alongside the core team in 2022 and I’m excited to continue.

My consulting business’ revenue 8x’d this year. While that’s not surprising considering I stopped working for 9 months, I made more monthly than I ever have. The decision to take some time off has paid off.

A takeaway: The ability to make a name for yourself in an industry, transcends industries. First, sharpen your skills, then learn how to market them. Because being talented at selling yourself is an incredible safety net.

Overall, I kept things simpler in 2022. This helped me to prioritise the work that drives the life outcomes that I want.

Side Projects

I mainly worked on projects with others while breaking into web3. In 2022, I wanted to build something solo to further my learning. This materialised as the Tiny Winged Turtlez that I set to fly in Q1.

Aside from my wide-ranging crypto curiosity, I became obsessed with on-chain pixel art (see Nouns, Anonymice, and Larva Lads). There’s something special about writing a single smart contract that creates and serves art and metadata with zero dependencies. Every NFT minted from the Tiny Winged Turtlez contract will exist unaided as long as the Ethereum blockchain exists. I find that pretty cool.

It was cool to meet others passionate about on-chain pixel art, too. Some of whom wanted to give building their own project a try. So I released the project’s source code to Tiny Winged Turtlez holders together with 3 modules of a DIY course, with 4 additional modules to come.

Twitter, Content & Community

I didn’t create much content in 2022. My content is usually written because I find writing cathartic. It’s fulfilling to know that writing about your experiences can help others. But I find it requires a different part of my brain than engineering work.

Chopping between coding and writing is hard for me. I deal with this by compartmentalising the activities. Whether that means spending half of my day writing and half coding or, sometimes, not coding or writing at all for a while. This year was my break from writing.

Social media is an incredible tool. While I haven’t used Facebook in years (the simplicity of Instagram suits me better) I’ve found great personal and professional value in Twitter. Over the last couple of years, I was writing tweets daily and my follower count grew fast. It proved that I’ve got a somewhat interesting story and a few interesting things to say. I made great friends and connections. So why did I stop? Because making content felt less satisfying than making other things.

A downside to not sharing much is forgetting to celebrate your wins. I’ve had big wins in 2022, but I didn’t really talk about them until now. This reduced the notification noise but probably didn’t propel my endeavours as far. On the flip side, here’s proof that you don’t need a 24/7 Twitter presence to have a successful year. Quiet wins are happening all around you.

My skills don’t seem to have atrophied as much as I thought they would have. The negative of not writing this year was breaking the habit. It’s easier to write today when you wrote yesterday. I want to write more in 2023.

While I’m still using Twitter, I’ve been most active in smaller Discord communities. Shout out to Shiny, in particular.

Educational Products

My book on pricing freelance projects and course on personal websites made just $4,817 in 2022 compared to $40,454 in 2021. Because I obliterated my top of funnel.

It’s simple. If you don’t market your products consistently, you’ll get fewer sales. And my marketing was writing on Twitter. I consciously omitted the work required and it showed. Most of the revenue came from the Black Friday promotion that I sent to my email list. However, the difference in product revenue I made multiple times over in service revenue.

I didn’t release any new products like I’d planned to. I want to reflect on my direction before I do. For instance, the branding of my products could be improved and I’d like to migrate off of Gumroad to my own platform.

There’s more I can teach people who’re looking to learn how to code, break into tech and improve their opportunities online. I have many ideas. Let’s see where they lead.

Mentorship

Like 2021, time didn’t allow for new mentees in 2022, however, I’m still available to my long-term mentees to help them navigate their career challenges.

I have 10s of people on the waiting list, so I’ll consider opening back up (with some adjustments) soon.

Life

Having kids makes your life 10x harder but 100x better. It’s a good deal, but nothing can prepare you for the “harder” part. It changes everything from your personal identity to your dynamic as a couple.

We suffered prolonged sleep deprivation in 2022 and it was tough.

My entrepreneurial day-to-day took having 1 kid in its stride, but things got more difficult after having our second. The effort of having 2 kids !== the effort of 1 kid * 2 (or, in other words, the effort required to care for 2 kids is more than double that required to care for 1). This meant I had to realign my expectations of myself.

If you’re a driven person who cares about being a mindful parent and partner, here are some simple rules that have helped me that I hope might help you:

Health, family and fun first
High-impact work only
Do less at once

It’s been valuable to go back to basics.

Family

Ruby is 3 and Jack is 1. Ruby has just begun preschool and Jack has just started sleeping better. They’re starting to look more similar but their personalities are quite far apart. I often sit back and watch them playing together with a smile. They’re so funny. It’s a blessing to have two happy and healthy kids.

Steph decided to take a career break. Both of us being at home feels like the best way to bring up our kids. We’re lucky to have this option and I feel proud to have provided the platform through my work.

Travel

Getting to travel more was one of my biggest wins in 2022. I visited:

Las Vegas in April
Anglesey and New York in June
Mallorca in October
Dubai in November

My highlights were:

Driving a pair of Mustangs up to the snow on Mount Charleston from the red-hot strip in Las Vegas:

Exploring my favourite place again (New York City) during NFT NYC 2022:

And taking Jack and Ruby back to the aquarium I’d taken Ruby to 2 years prior in Dubai:

While I prefer to be at home most of the time (having worked remotely all my life), this was a better balance.

Home

No home improvements in 2022. Though, I do have an eye on a garden room.

Investments

If you follow the markets you’ll know that 2022 was a terrible year for nearly everything and nearly everyone. I’m roughly 66%/33% in crypto/stocks at the time of writing, though I’m hardly paying attention and I’m mostly in cash.

Following charts and checking floor prices all day will do nothing for your productivity, personal life or mental health. I’m not making many trades right now and plan to ride out the current bear market because we don’t need to sell anything.

Not investment advice.

Health

I’ll give myself a B- for exercise in 2022. I stuck to 2 (at least) or 3 (sometimes) gym sessions per week and supplemented that with a lot of walking. I find walking easier than lifting weights on little sleep. I generally feel fit and strong.

My weight increased by ~10kg, nonetheless, I’m still holding on to a healthy BMI. I stopped eating as well, lost focus while travelling and exercised less than I’d have liked. I’m making the adjustments needed to get back on track post-new fatherhood.

Wrap Up

2022

I cut out low-impact work in 2022 and concentrated on what’s important. I’m thankful for all the good times I’ve had with my wife, kids, family, friends and colleagues.

This year has been a contrast to the 2 or 3 years that have proceeded it. I might be less outwardly productive, but I’m more inwardly at peace. Those quiet wins, huh?

2023

More of the same would be awesome. I’m happy where things are, but I still have an itch to scratch somewhere. I feel like I’m making a large impact, yet I’m always coming up with new ideas (the best ones come on my long walks).

I’ve tried a lot of things in my career, but my north star has remained constant. 13 grateful years of working when I want, from where I want, with who I want, on what I want.

Here’s to another year of that.

oembed: https://twitter.com/visualizevalue/status/1272544493867356160

This is my 4th yearly review. You can read the rest here:

Let me know if you write one!

2021 - A Year In Review

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 16:54:50 GMT

2021 feels like the longest year I’ve lived. Some highs, some lows, some wins, some losses. And the biggest direction change for my career in 12 years.

Here’s the TLDR:

Steph and I welcomed our second child!
I started a new business, made ~£50,000, then changed my mind
My books and educational courses made ~$40,000
I more than doubled my Twitter audience to 23,500+
I stopped taking web2 work in August to move into web3
I continued investing in stocks and started investing in alternative assets
I need to get better at cutting stuff out now my life is busier
I have two key areas of focus for 2022

Business

If the last decade were my exploit phase, 2021 has been an explorative one. And my direction is quite different in Q4 than it was in Q1.

I’ve been growing out of my freelance WordPress developer title since 2019. I felt like I could make more impact and being hands-on building marketing websites, though a sure thing, became less satisfying.

At the start of 2021, I was sure that I’d grow my WordPress business into something bigger. By the middle of 2021, I was in high-speed career sampling mode. Do I want to run an agency? Could I become an educator full time? What about an author? Should I start building projects in a new space? I tried it all.

Afterwards? I found a new game that I can play for a long time.

Freelancing

I niched down to headless WordPress at the start of the year by setting up a small agency called Run The Show. It started well and quickly brought in ~£50,000.

As the year progressed, a project that would have doubled this revenue was about to begin. I’d consulted beforehand to plan out the technical direction and we were just confirming a start date. Then the project fell through and I felt nothing but relief. I didn’t want to run an agency.

The cost/benefit hit me like a ton of bricks. I’d lose a lot of autonomy for a little more money. It didn’t seem worth it. So I decided to stay small.

WordPress

In August I moved WordPress from accommodating much of my head space for the first time in 12 years. I still remain bullish on headless technologies and WordPress as a CMS, but my intrinsic motivation has waned and I’m ready to solve new problems.

It’s tough letting go of the credibility you’ve built up, though, the funny thing about finding success in a niche is that the building blocks to finding success in another are the same.

Your skills are more transferable than you think.

Web3

What the heck is web3? Good question. It’s hard to put a definition on it as it’s still being defined, but here’s my best shot at a one sentenence summary: web3 is a blanket term for the concepts and technologies used by the next phase of the internet that will be powered in part by blockchains.

I’ve held cryptocurrency since 2017 but it never interested me beyond speculation. I wrote it off because I didn’t have the time to look into it further. But when smart people that you respect start moving towards something, it’s worth taking a look. So I did.

Since August, I’ve onboarded myself to web3 development by working on projects like Shiny Feathers, and Bildr web3 Passes with more launching soon. Blockchain technology has unlocked my creative spark and love for programming again. I can’t wait to show you what I’ve got coming.

Because I like sharing what I learn, I wrote articles on my introduction to NFTs and how developers can reduce minting costs in their smart contracts. The latter prompted a top 10 NFT project and a big company in the space to reach out. It’s always satisfying to manufacture luck.

oembed: https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1463868515404894210

On my reasoning to move towards web3: It’s easy to write off new technologies, especially those you don’t understand yet, as something and nothing until the penny drops. But for that to happen, you need to do the work.

The best way to understand web3 is to use it. Once I set up a wallet, transacted a few times on Ethererum and started to deconstruct smart contracts—and write my own—the mental models of web3 were etched into my brain never to be unseen. Web3 is an incentive alignment machine that lets regular people own their contributions to entities bigger than themselves.

I’ve worked in tech for all of my professional life and this is the biggest fundamental shift I’ve seen. I believe web3 has the opportunity to make more people’s lives better. From the creators struggling to make ends meet, to the global talent pool that just needs a chance.

The way that work, life, community, culture and markets intertwine is changing.

oembed: https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1437712722494464003

It’s not all a bed of roses though. Web3 isn’t without its problems (the user experience is terrible for the most part), but that’s part of the intrigue; To get involved and make it better. The space excites me and I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops from the inside.

Educational Products

My suite of products have made ~$40,000 this year.

In January, I released The Personal Website Playbook. The PWP is a video course teaching entrepreneurs how to make a website that works for them, without them. It was great to see so many people putting the details taught into action.

In July, I released Writing Tweets Daily, a course that will teach you how to write for Twitter and build an engaged audience. Having this system to get started is what lead me to develop my off-the-cuff voice.

On the first anniversary of my book Pricing Freelance Projects, I added more chapters and wrote an extension resource called Scenario Sheets. Adding to the text made me reminisce. I loved writing this book and I’d love to write another one.

I want to get Pricing Freelance Projects printed soon to reach a wider audience. I’m considering an audio book version too.

The good thing about having a library of books and courses is that they’re there for new people to discover forever.

I’m proud to see that my educational products have helped almost 7,000 people get ahead since April 2019.

I plan to release more products in 2022.

Mentorship

I decided not to open up my mentorship programme to new mentees this year.

I did however, continue to mentor a handful of long-term mentees who continue to inspire me with their work ethic and progress.

Life

Life has got busier recently. I guess having two kids in 2 years will do that! As a result, balance has been harder to find in 2021. I’ve found an all in or all out approach to whatever I’m doing to provide some solace here. Family time focused, deep work or no work. I’m still perfecting this as we all settle into our new roles.

Family

In October we welcomed our son Jack to the world.

They say that you never get 2 kids the same, and because Ruby is so great, we thought we might not be so lucky this time! It turns out the saying is right, but our presumptions were wrong. Jack is a superstar.

The first couple of months were rough, but after that, he’s slept really well. Both kids are getting on great together.

Steph has been on maternity leave since September and is doing a fantastic job with the kids during the day while I work. I sometimes wonder if I married Superwoman.

I’m grateful to have such a supportive foundation. My north star in life is to give my kids one too.

Home

Our property has gained ~20% in value since we bought it in 2019. While this is somewhat irrelevant financially (unless we sold up to rent, down-sized or switched area/country) as we’d have to buy another home at an equally inflated price, it’s interesting to note.

oembed: https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1373573830036316166

We extended our deck and added glass balustrades to finish off the garden project started last year. Other than that, we’ve had a quiet year on the home improvements front.

Investments

I added a little to my positions, mainly in tech stocks, this year but I haven’t done much.

My short-term plan is to consolidate my traditional investments into those that I want to hold for the next decade and move more capital into crypto.

Most of my trading this year was done in the NFT space. My Bored Ape Yacht Club ecosystem pieces have done well, though I wish I didn’t sell my original Ape for 1/12th of what it’s worth now! It’s all part of the fun.

Not investment advice.

Health and Balance

Exercise has faired better than diet. I exercise every day but I’m not being too picky over food. My current routine is 3 mornings in the gym (though this got patchier after Jack was born) and a walk every day (never missed). I often fast through to 11:00-12:00 without breakfast and this has allowed me to maintain my weight.

Aside: If you’re struggling to get to the gym, remember, the hardest part is getting through the door. Try leaving within 10 minutes of waking up. Before you know it, you’ll have a dumbbell in your hand! I get there for 06:00 before the rest of the house is up.

I like to completely switch off a few times per year. I didn’t do this properly in 2021 because we didn’t get the chance to travel aboard, which is when I usually rest my mind. There’s something about leaving the country that shuts down one part of your brain and boots up another. It really helps me disconnect then reconnect.

As an alternative, in August we headed down to London for a few days. Ruby loved her trip to the Zoo and Steph and I loved the view from our room on an evening while she slept.

oembed: https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1424819521328721933

Wrap Up

I hope you enjoyed my 2021 year in review. If you’d like to read my past yearly reviews you can view them here:

2019
2020

Will you write one? Let me know if you do.

2021

Would I have thought I’d leave WordPress behind this time last year? Absolutely not. Would I have thought I’d teach myself how to write smart contracts and start shipping web3 projects? Nope. I didn’t even know what Solidity or an NFT was!

Even with best laid plans and intentions we need to accept that life is more random than it’s often given credit for.

For example, I wouldn’t have known I’d write a book in 2020 without the randomness of a Twitter thread going viral either.

Sometimes you’ve got to try a lot of stuff to see what sticks.

Sometimes you’ve got to suck it and see.

And sometimes you’ll benefit from life’s randomness, by ending up in a position you couldn’t have imagined, because you had the guts to put yourself out there.

2022

No matter how much you love what you do, too much of anything is always a bad thing. When you have the freedom to work on what you want, it’s tempting to stack your plate.

I’ll more ruthlesslessly cut things out in the year ahead, accept that I can’t do everything and do more by doing less.

Building new things and teaching are what give me energy. So that’s where I’ll focus my time.

I didn’t set specific goals last year, and I won’t for 2022 either. Because I only have one really; to retain my autonomy for as long as I can.

The Ultimate Guide To Getting Started With NFTs

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 16:30:00 GMT

In this article you’ll learn how to get started with non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Whether you’re interested in starting an NFT art collection, trading NFTs like stocks, developing smart contracts for NFT projects, involving yourself in the NFT community or want to understand more about the NFT space, this guide will offer you a valuable entry point.

Please note: This article is for informational purposes only. Nothing contained within this article constitutes investment, tax or legal advice. Consult a professional in all instances.

My Introduction to NFTs
What Is An NFT?
How Do NFTs Work?
Why Do People Buy NFTs?
Where Can You Buy NFTs?
Buying An NFT Step-By-Step
Picking Profitable NFTs
Early NFT Mistakes To Avoid
Keeping Your NFTs Safe
Tax and NFTs
Contributing to the NFT Space
Recommended NFT Resources
NFT People and Communities

My Introduction to NFTs

I’ve been interested in crypto since 2017. Bitcoin’s value rose and, like many others, I bought my first coins. As a developer, crypto had been my “thing to look into next” ever since.

In summer 2021, I decided to follow my curiosity further. What made me finally dedicate the time? NFTs.

I’m currently onboarding myself to web3 through investing in NFTs, studying blockchain technology, building decentralised apps on Ethereum and contributing to the crypto community.

Here’s everything I learned while getting started with NFTs.

What Is An NFT?

An NFT is a non-fungible token stored on a blockchain. A token, in crypto terms, refers to an asset. “Non-fungible” means unique. Where a fungible token—like Bitcoin—is non-unique, an NFT can only be assigned to a single owner at any one time. Any one Bitcoin equals any one other Bitcoin. But there’s only one NFT. It’s irreplaceable.

The internet makes information abundant. The cost of replicating a digital asset, like an image file, text document or PDF is effectively zero. NFTs introduce scarcity to digital assets.

With NFTs, we can now see who owns what. No matter how many copies are created, everyone knows who holds the original. When the creator of an asset assigns a unique token to it, ownership is provable in perpetuity. From the initial creation of the NFT to every transfer of ownership thereafter. The blockchain stores this information and it can’t be tampered with.

What Are NFTs Used For?

The most common use of NFT technology, right now, is art. Artists are tokenising 1 of 1 pieces and teams are building profile picture projects at great pace.

Art Blocks is a collective of generative NFT artists.

The former use case is similar to how the traditional art world operates. One original piece of art work, bought by one person, who can then sell the piece on at their leisure. The difference is, the transaction is settled in cryptocurrency and ownership is transferred on the blockchain. Possession is no longer physical, but digital.

Generative artists like Tyler Hobbs and Brendan Dawes have become successful adopters of NFT technology in this fashion. Artists who can code are finding themselves at home with NFTs. Why? Because it makes sense to assign scarcity programatically when you create art programatically.

Tyler Hobb’s Fidenzas have sold for up to $3.3 million.

NFTs are a huge boost to the intersection of creativity and code, though not all crytpo art is computer generated. A drawing completed on an iPad or a scan of work created with paint, pencil or pen can be NFT’d too. Even photographs can be NFTs. Justin Aversano’s Twin Flames collection has proven popular amongst collectors, for example.

NFT photograph’s are being sold at Christie’s auction house.

Digital art is traded in public and private marketplaces. Owners who truly believe in a project, or want to hold a piece for the long term to maximise returns, may not want to entertain listing their assets at all. As with any market, rarity affects value, and thus price.

In September 2021, 107 Bored Ape’s fetched $24.3 million at Sotherby’s.

An NFT artist can create multiple editions of their pieces, each edition with its own unique token. Think of this like making a print of an original created physically, but limited and with provable ownership. Crypto artist, XCOPY, uses this mechanic to great effect making ownership more accessible to their fan base. In the artist’s “Afterburn” collection, 870 editions were minted to 870 collectors.

NFT art by XCOPY.

Like most people on Twitter, my introduction to NFTs came by seeing avatars changing. Punks, apes and cats everywhere. Yet profile picture projects (or, “PFPs”) have actually been around for a long time. Larva Labs released CryptoPunks in 2017. A project that’s now considered to be the bluest of blue chip projects in the NFT space, with sales of rare punks well into the millions of dollars.

CryptoPunks was one of the first PFP projects to emerge using NFT technology.

A PFP involves a number of randomly generated square images, featuring a person, animal or entity, that one can use as their social media avatar. Some owners go one further and form whole personas around their characters. You can see it as Pokémon cards meets World Of Warcraft; collectables with a social element.

The Pokémon collection unearthed from my parent’s attic. (This might explain my draw to NFTs).

The first NFT that I bought was from PFP collection, Bored Ape Yacht Club. I liked the art, the vibe and the community. It drew me in, but I was still weary of spending good money on a JPEG of a monkey. Still, I went for it. As a programmer, I saw use cases for the mainstream adoption of tokenisation. As someone who likes nice things, I saw a cultural shift towards digital ownership. Overall, I wanted to understand how the project worked.

Bored Ape Yacht Club, a limited NFT collection where your token doubles as membership to an exclusive swamp club for apes.

Each ape in the collection has its own specific traits. Randomised and weighted by rarity. For instance, there are 19 different fur types, of which only 46 apes have solid gold fur.

BAYC NFTs with solid gold fur.

My purchase of ape #9475 taught me how to buy an NFT. It taught me another lesson too. I listed and sold the art pretty quickly. While making a modest profit of 1 ETH ($3,924 at the time of writing), the project soared to wild heights soon after. The cheapest Bored Ape right now? 35 ETH ($137,353).

With value increases on NFTs that I’ve held since, it’s not all been bad news. NFT markets move fast and I expect continued volatility, on both sides, in the future.

As the price of some NFTs rises beyond the reach of mainstream investors, new ownership angles are being introduced. Tools like fractional.art let users buy, sell and mint fractions of NFTs. For example, collaborators can pool their funds to bid on NFTs as a team. This method ownership is called fractionalisation. If you want exposure to a certain piece, but don’t have the liquidity to become its sole owner, fractionalisation can be your route in.

The fractionalisation offered by fractional.art splits NFTs between multiple owners.

The transition to digital art can provide creators with greater discoverability. Being digital native unlocks wider network effects. Artists are no longer displaying their pieces in small galleries, but the largest gallery in the world—the internet.

NFTs give artists a better chance of getting paid in line with the value they’re creating, too. Artists can add royalties to their pieces that last forever; paid upon each transaction, not just the first.

OpenSea allows artists to set a percentage of sales to be paid back to them as royalties.

Let’s say an artist sells something for 1 ETH, with a 2.5% commission fee coded in. If the art sells for 2 ETH next time, the owner makes a 1 ETH profit and the artist gets 2.5% of the sale total (0.05 ETH) deposited into their Ethereum wallet automatically.

There’s upside for collectors, too. NFTs make art more accessible. Those who appreciate art, but wouldn’t go to an art show, have found an entry point into the ecosystem.

On the investment side, the incentives of creator and owner are aligned. As the popularity of an artist, team or project rises, oftentimes, so does the value of the owner’s NFT. And how do creators become more popular? By having the owners of their art promote it.

The internet unlocks owner participation possibilities that weren’t available before. Backing an NFT project with your capital and attention gives you a chance to participate in the upside of its future success.

NFT technology is being used to build win-win landscapes across the creative space.

Other Use Cases For NFTs

NFTs aren’t just for art. The technology can be used in other ways and will change the way we do many day-to-day things in the future. Anywhere that provable ownership records and automated financial transactions are important, is up for grabs.

Here a few examples and predictions:

Music. Artists use NFTs to raise funds to release albums. As a fan, you own a portion of your favourite artists’ music and can benefit from the upside created by them.
Ticketing. That football game you’re attending, your ticket’s in your wallet for entry to the stadium. You have a piece of memorabilia that can’t be lost and doesn’t take up physical space. Your club can see that you turned up and can reward you with merchandise for this in the future.
Charity. Make donations by buying NFTs. Show your affiliation to a cause by holding the token in your public wallet. Increase funds raised through social proof of purchase.
Property. The house that you own. Instead of the deeds being stored in a solicitor’s filing cabinet, your wallet holds your deed token. No middle-man is required to buy or sell the house, saving both sides of the deal money.
Accounting. Your services and products are NFTs. Your business transactions are done on the blockchain and the records are public. Tax is less complicated because it becomes automated.
Education. Enrolment is done with NFTs. Your certifications are NFTs. Leaders of decentralised schools learn and build at the same time. Schools provide ownership to students who contribute beyond the modules they take. Built-in job prospects are available to alumni via DAO projects.

I believe all these things will be disrupted by crypto in the future.

How Do NFTs Work?

This section will give you a technical overview of how NFTs work. It’s not just for developers. Improving your understanding here will save you time and money should you choose to invest in an NFT project.

Web3

NFTs are a part of the progression of the web from version 2 to version 3. As the name insinuates, there was a prior transition from web1 to web2, too. This happened around 2004, when I was 17 years old.

While I experienced the switch to web2 as a consumer, I missed it professionally. I didn’t understand what was happening under the hood. As a digital worker since 2009, it’s obvious to me that the web3 evolution is happening now.

Jack Butcher’s precise description of the web’s journey.

Listed below are the characteristics of each version of the web:

Web1. The first iteration of the web. Information focused. HTML based.
Web2. The state of play now. Centralised. Interactive. Social interaction. Ad revenue driven.
Web3. Where we’re going. Decentralised. On chain records. Stateful. Native payments. Fewer middle men. Value driven.

Ethereum

Ethereum is a blockchain co-founded by Vitalik Buterin. Unlike Bitcoin (or “BTC”), Ethereum’s capabilities go beyond value exchange. Decentralised applications, of all kinds, can be built on Ethereum using smart contracts.

The native cryptocurrency of Ethereum is ETH (or “Ether”), symbolised as “Ξ”. ETH is only second to BTC in market capitalisation at the time of writing.

Most NFT projects are built on top of Ethereum and are priced for sale in ETH.

Blockchains

NFT ownership is provable because records are held on a blockchain. A blockchain is a series of computers (referred to as nodes) around the world. This is what makes crypto technology decentralised. Records aren’t stored in one central place, like a fileserver in a cabinet, records are stored everywhere, by everyone.

6 connected nodes forming a blockchain.

A blockchain is a distributed ledger of transactions, and it’s accuracy is assessed by consensus. Records of token ownership and exchange are stored on these blockchains. Although NFTs are typically built on Ethereum, additional chains are emerging. It’s possible to create NFTs on Solana now too, with the primary benefit being, cheaper transaction (or “gas”) fees.

Solanart is the Solana chain’s version of OpenSea.

On Ethereum, nodes in the blockchain use a consensus protocol called proof-of-work (or “PoW”) to agree on the correct current state of information, however, this algorithm will be phased out soon in favour of the more scalable proof-of-stake (or “PoS”).

If a speculator believes in one particular blockchain as a whole, they can back the entire protocol by buying its token, as opposed to, or as well as, a particular NFT stored on it. For instance, by buying ETH if you’re bullish on the Ethereum blockchain and/or SOL if you’re bullish on the Solana blockchain.

The ERC721 Smart Contract Standard

An NFT is created when it’s minted by a smart contract. A smart contract is a piece of code that self-executes a transaction, or transactions, on a decentralised blockchain. Assets of the buyer and seller are swapped irreversibly by code, without the need for 3rd party involvement. Imagine a computer program exchanging your house deeds for the buyers funds, instead of a solicitor.

Minting an NFT means creating it for the very first time and becoming its original owner. In Ethereum terms, smart contracts are written in the programming language Solidity. Solidity developers are in high demand due to the increasing interest in NFTs.

The ERC721 standard is a boilerplate Solidity smart contract for the minting and management of NFTs within a collection. It provides functionalities to create a token, transfer a token from one account to another and to get the current balance of tokens available in a set; amongst other utilities inspired by the contract written by Larva Labs for CryptoPunks.

The ERC721 standard documentation on OpenZeppelin.

Most developers take this template and build additional functionality on top of it depending on the specific needs of their NFT project. There are three primary benefits to this approach:

Developers can get an NFT project off the ground quicker because they don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Using a standard firms up the way developers should be building things. This ensures familiarity when a new developer enters a project at a later date.
The longer a standard template is used in the wild, the greater confidence people can have that it won’t be exploited.

You can check out the ERC721 standard smart contract core functionality on OpenZeppelin.

All smart contracts used by NFT projects are open source and immutable. You can view the code of any project you’re interested in minting, or learning from on Etherscan. Once deployed, the code can’t be changed. Here’s the smart contract for the Bored Ape Yacht Club by Yuga Labs.

BAYC’s ERC721-based smart contract code.

Transaction Fees

Each time you transact with a blockchain, you use its energy. When minting, buying and selling NFTs on Ethereum, nodes on the blockchain compete to be the first to solve the PoW algorithm to gain the right to process your transaction. Because doing so comes with a financial reward. Ethereum miners (the nodes that run the PoW algorithm) receive 2 ETH per completed block at the time of writing.

Why are transaction fees necessary? To prevent misuse of the blockchain. If it were free to transact, the system would become jammed with infinite requests. No one could buy NFTs. So to solve this problem, gas is charged on each transaction that involves writing to a smart contract. This includes the minting and trading of NFTs. Reading data from the blockchain costs no gas. For example, viewing all of the NFTs owned by someone on OpenSea.

This means that each time you buy or list an NFT for sale on a marketplace, you will need to pay a gas fee. For example, an NFT that you purchase for 1 ETH, may require 0.1 in additional ETH to cover gas. Listing an NFT for sale isn’t free either. Delisting, too, should you change your mind about selling.

Gas is perhaps the hardest concept to grasp when getting started with NFTs. But it’s important that you understand the additional costs involved before you invest in anything.

Gas is measured in Gwei, a term for a very small amount of ETH. 1 Gwei is equal to 0.000000001 ETH. The exact amount of gas you’ll pay for a transaction fluctuates. It depends on the smart contract action you’d like to perform and the current network traffic. You won’t know exactly how much gas you’ll pay until the transaction has been completed. However, wallets like MetaMask give you a maximum potential gas cost before you confirm a transaction. Gas can also be used when a transaction doesn’t go through. For instance, trying to mint an NFT when the supply of tokens has run out.

MetaMask displays estimated gas cost and transaction time pre-confirmation.

Gas prices fluctuate because they’re part-determined on a most willing to pay basis. If someone wants their transaction to go through fast, they’ll pay a high gas fee. (What constitutes a “high” gas fee depends on the function being called and network traffic at the time.) This can create a problem referred to as gas wars. When many projects launch at one time—or a particularly popular project launches—the price of gas goes through the roof. Because failed transactions cost gas too, the excitement of minting can soon lead to disappointment.

The total cost of an NFT purchase includes gas.

Sometimes, lots of transactions get submitted with levels of gas attached that have no chance of going through before a project sells out. Sometimes poorly optimised smart contracts can lead to hopeful minters paying more gas than they should.

Stoner Cats founder, Ashton Kutcher, discusses the project’s gas problems on Twitter.

In July 2021 the launch of Stoner Cats saw 100s of hopefuls spend gas with no NFT to show for it. Over 300 ETH in total. Stoner Cat’s later pledged to refund the gas lost by users who experienced “Out of Gas” errors when minting. An error that, according to a technical discussion on Twitter, could have been avoided.

300 ETH was lost (and later repaid) during minting of Stoner Cats’ launch.

It’s vital that smart contract developers pay attention to gas efficiency. The aim should be to use as little gas as possible when transacting. An error in a smart contract can lead to real losses when users attempt to mint NFTs.

Twitter user 0xWave explains Stoner Cats’ technical issues.

From the consumer side, prior to jumping in to mint the latest project, remember that the true cost of minting an NFT is:

(mint cost * number of tokens) + gas cost of the transaction

Make sure you know what you’re spending and be prepared to lose some funds without success.

With gas issues becoming more evident as wider adoption of NFTs is reached, there’s hope that Ethereum’s migration to 2.0 (including PoS) will solve these problems.

ETH2 promises a more scalable, secure and sustainable Ethereum.

In the meantime, layer 2 scaling solutions like Polygon are reducing transaction fees on Ethereum by increasing the capabilities of the main chain as is.

Why Do People Buy NFTs?

NFTs are one of those things that you don’t get until you do. When you adopt any fast-moving technology, you often look silly before you look like a genius; “Why can’t you right click and save the image instead of buying it?”—a common rebuttal until it really clicks. Your friends and family might not get it yet, but there are a host of reasons why people buy NFTs.

The reasons people buy NFTs.

Art

Someone might buy an NFT for the appealing art attached to it. They might want to display it in their homes in a digital frame or on their Apple watch so they can appreciate it all day.

A Mutant Ape NFT as an Apple Watch background image.

Buying something for its looks is sometimes difficult to understand broadly because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When it comes to assessing NFT art—or art in general—it’s important to remember that value is subjective.

What you like, someone else might not. Just because something is valuable to you, doesn’t mean that it’s valuable to someone else. If you’re happy with the way an NFT looks, irrespective of how its price might fluctuate, you’re buying primarily for the art.

With this said, popular culture is important to follow, too. This is what drives wider acceptance and often, higher prices. Spotting “good” NFT art from “bad” NFT art comes with experience as your taste develops.

Luxury

With the price of some NFTs in the millions and few of the most desirable projects coming in under the thousands, we can start to class these digital assets as luxury items. In some circles, the Rolex is being displaced by the Apple Watch with NFT background for ”flexing” purposes.

Though the initial price of an NFT is determined by the artist, the ongoing price of an NFT will be determined on the secondary market via supply and demand. If there’s more supply than demand, prices go down. If there’s more demand than supply, prices go up. Just like traditional markets.

You can compare an NFT release to brands like Supreme releasing clothes. The limited nature number of tokens represents the limited number of t-shirts, hoodies or trainers. Scarcity drives price. Because people want items that other people don’t have.

Fashion brand Supreme are notorious for their limited drops.

The luxury goods industry was worth an estimated £349.1 billion in 2020. If trends towards digital continue, I expect NFTs to capture a lot of this value. People often buy things, partly, or entirely, for what their purchase signals. Because of the story it tells others and the story it helps them tell themselves.

BAYC hoodies to be used in Decentraland were gifted to Ape owners.

Why would someone buy a £1,000,000 NFT over a £100 one? For the same reason they’d buy a £500 Gucci t-shirt over a £10 H&M one. Luxury desires transcend the physical world. Especially now you can wear your clothes in the Metaverse.

Collection

Humans like to collect things. Beanie Babies, Pokémon cards, and football stickers. My sister and I had them all. My Dad before us was into stamps and vinyl records.

We know physical collection is a thing. But what about digital collection? Well, I sure spent a lot of time gathering items in World Of Warcraft.

Exclusive trainers are purchased by some collectors never to be worn. See, Yeezy’s and Jordan‘s. We’re seeing this happen in the NFT space too, with projects launching merchandise for token holders only. This highlights an interesting paradigm; digital and physical items being collected together from the same brand. 2 frontiers for fans to collect on. 2 ways for brands to monetise.

@ape9331 proudly shows off their hats in a protective display case.

There are a number of reasons that people collect things. From learning to relaxation, from pride to recognition, from nostalgia to the diversification of wealth. Collecting provides a purpose for many and NFTs offer that in the digital world with an added layer of indisputable ownership.

The pull to accumulate things from sets transfers seamlessly from the Premier League sticker book to Tom Sach’s Rocket Factory. Buying 1 NFT often leads to buying more. Whether for the gamified rewards or to increase exposure to a particular favourite project.

Tom Sach’s Rocket Factory released rockets broken into 3 parts (nose cone, body and tail assembly) as NFTs for collectors to assemble.

People will buy NFTs for the sake of collecting them.

Utility

NFTs can offer utility to their owners. For example, purchasing one NFT can lead to further NFTs being sent to your wallet in the future. This is known as airdropping. Creators do this as a show of support to their owner-base. Like a dividend from a company you’ve invested it.

These airdrops can be worth something substantial. In August 2021, the Bored Ape Yacht Club gifted owners a mutant ape from their new collection, the Mutant Ape Yacht Club. This, completely free NFT, has a floor price of ~4 ETH at the time of writing. A $15,763 gift. Owners earlier received a free NFT from the Bored Ape Kennel Club collection too.

BAYC provided utility to their holders by gifting them a free dog.

Utility comes in other forms too. Like access to a gated community, in-person events or a pass to mint something else in the future. Many NFTs are assets you can do things with, besides trading.

Opportunity

Owning a certain NFT could be your introduction to new opportunities. Changing your avatar to your NFT, on Twitter or Discord, signals trust and makes you part of an exclusive club. It says, “We are alike” to your club comrades. This can lead to new work or partnerships that you wouldn’t have otherwise had if you didn’t own the NFT.

Many NFT communities have participants involved with in-demand skills. Buying in is a way to network with them. Because the contents of your crypto wallet can act as credentials.

Ownership

The good feeling of owning a physical item can be felt of owning a digital item. Some in society’s digital native generations enjoy owning NFTs as much as, if not more than, houses, cars and watches.

Furthermore, many NFT projects offer intellectual properties rights to token owners. This can be useful when an NFT brand takes off because owners are legally allowed to use their NFT however they see fit commercially.

In the short term, this might mean printing the graphic on a t-shirt. In the longer term, this might mean earning royalties from your NFTs’ usage in a feature film.

Some NFT projects may convert to a decentralised autonomous organisation (or “DAO”). This crypto-mechanism enables community-based ownership of an entity. NFT buyers find this appealing when they’re contributing value to the community and have confidence in the project’s future prospects. Because they can benefit from any upside achieved as a part-owner.

Community

Nearly all NFT projects bring with them community. Discord being the industry standard platform of choice. These chat servers are usually part public, part private, with some gated elements exclusive for token owners.

Discord is the chat tool of choice for many crypto communities.

Here’s why community is important in the world of NFTs:

Access to information. For instance, what time the next cool project is minting or what’s on the horizon for an existing project. These ”alpha” tips can help inform your investment decisions.
Access to opportunities. Collaborations are born when sharing space with like-minded people. Many NFT investors are becoming builders of their own projects, which creates opportunities within communities for designers, developers and marketers to team up.
Learn from others. The people in NFTs are often as open as the source code in their smart contracts. There’s an innate willingness to share in these communities. Beginners are welcomed and there are no stupid questions.
Teach others. It’s fulfilling to teach others who’re a step or two behind you. I was grateful for the patience of others when I started in NFTs and I’ll be sure to pass my patience along, too.
Peace of mind. It’s comforting to get a second opinion on something. Especially your art, code or investments. Any due diligence you miss can be picked up by your community-mates and save you from costly mistakes.
Teamwork. Communities can choose to invest in NFT projects together. Individually, based on community sentiment or communally through fractionalisation. A shared win is a bigger celebration and a shared loss is a lesser burden.

Investment

NFTs aren’t just about the art. People like to make money. And people really like to make money that isn’t directly linked to spending their time. Like investing in a company on the stock market, investing in NFT projects can offer this.

Minting an NFT gives you the chance of getting something worth more than what you paid for it. Most projects mint at a flat rate cost (though other pricing methodologies are used too, see: English auctions, Dutch auctions and bonding curves) meaning you could obtain a rare NFT for the same price as a common one. Akin to pulling a Charizard from a £2.50 pack of Pokémon cards. In this sense, it’s digital art roulette.

The speculative aspect of NFTs is endearing to a broad audience. In August 2021, the founder of Shiny Object Social Club, Tom Osman, flipped an Ether Rock NFT for a $1.3 million profit in 19 days.

The rock trade in question.

These stories—though few and far between—make mainstream headlines, thus enticing more people to try their hand at trading NFTs.

Big NFT sales make for great headlines in the media.

The value of NFT projects as a whole can go up and down based on news, fundamentals, and market sentiment. If an investor feels a project is undervalued, they may choose to buy NFTs from it to later sell for a profit. Conversely, if an investor isn’t liking a project they hold anymore, they’re free to exit their position by selling their tokens.

NFT projects offer a new asset class to investors who wish to deploy their capital across a wider range of resources. Those who hold strong beliefs about the future success of cryptocurrencies, in general, might also buy NFTs.

Income

Some NFT projects offer holders income through ERC-20 token assignment. An ERC-20 token is different to an ERC-721 token in that it’s fungible. Meaning that it’s more like a currency than a collectible.

Projects like CyberKongz offer holders of their genesis NFTs 10 $BANANA tokens per day as a reward. The benefit to the project is that people holding their NFTs drives up the value of the collection. The benefit to the holder is that the tokens have a monetary value.

Screenshot of Banana token value chart from CoinGecko 4th October 2021

$BANANA tokens come with in-world utility. Owners can rename their characters, add to their biography and unlock gated channels within Discord. These mechanisms categorise the tokens as utilities as opposed to securities (see the Howey Test), which works in favour of innovation but comes with little consensus regarding regulation.

The lines can be blurry here. In October 2021, popular NFT marketplace OpenSea delisted the DAO Turtles project citing a violation of their terms of service after they promised passive income to holders. The issue? The guarantee of income with the lack of utility attached.

It’s important to know what type of token you’re being offered as utility and security tokens are treated differently and may require additional disclosure as a consumer depending on laws in your jurisdiction. Nonetheless, holding an NFT can offer an income stream to its owner through an in-world currency that can be swapped into ETH and then into fiat.

Entertainment

Gaming is a great use case for NFTs. Imagine a digital world, like World of Warcraft, but instead of your legendary sword being stored in-game (centralised), it’s stored on the blockchain (decentralised). Your sword is an NFT with provable ownership and trading functions, no one, not even the game developer, can take it away from you. Unless they pay you for it of course.

NFTs in gaming opens up inter-game transferability options, too. For example: Will we see your hard-earned Call Of Duty weapons being portable to Fortnite in the future? I think so. The benefit to the game developer is user acquisition, the benefit to the game player is earning clout once and showing it off twice.

People will buy in-game gold for real money, so they’ll absolutely buy NFT skills, outfits and weapons to boost their in-game characters.

In addition, people are buying NFTs to participate in play to earn games. Axie Infinity, whose platform generated an approximate revenue of $364 million in August 2021, gives players a chance to make money while they defeat monsters and breed their characters.

Axie Infinity uses NFT technology to offer play to earn gaming.

Finally, there’s speculation as entertainment. The £100 that you’re happy to risk on the poker table for a good time might now be your NFT budget. Just remember to only play with what you can afford to lose.

Where Can You Buy NFTs?

If you’re looking to pick up your first NFT, here are some places you can buy one from.

NFT Marketplaces

The easiest place to buy your first NFT is from a secondary marketplace. It’s less competitive than minting so provides a softer entry.

OpenSea is the biggest NFT marketplace. On the day of August 29th 2021, the platform recorded a trading volume of £322 million over a 24-hour period. Moreover, the number of people who have made at least one trade is growing fast, with over 350,000 users having met this criterion on OpenSea by early September. This growth tracks with the wider interest in NFT technology and highlights the potential size of the market to be uncovered.

A graph showing the number of registered users on OpenSea who have made a least one transaction.

I bought my first NFT on OpenSea and continue to use it to trade on the secondary market. Most people getting started with NFTs do the same.

Other NFT marketplaces include:

Project Minting Websites

A project minting website is an app that interacts with the smart contract of an NFT project. These websites are referred to as dApps, standing for “decentralised applications”. The decentralised part is the transactional portion on the blockchain.

Project minting websites will always have a front-end, the part you interact with in the browser, and a back-end, the smart contract that creates your NFT.

Unlike a secondary marketplace, where NFTs from multiple projects can be purchased, buying NFTs this way is project-specific. And when they run out, there aren’t (typically) more made available.

Minting through a project’s own website is often stressful for buyers as the best projects sell out fast. Seeing the number of tokens remaining plummet before your eyes is the ultimate ”FOMO” generator. Less popular projects take more time to sell out.

Aside from offering people the chance to buy NFTs, project minting websites are used to present the team’s vision. You can find information here to help you decide whether to invest or not. Such as the project roadmap, who’s involved in the project and the price/availability of tokens.

The CryptoZunks website, showing NFTs held and the option to mint a further free NFT.

Developers build project minting websites to offer a user-friendly way to purchase their NFTs. Because people are used to interacting with apps in the browser and less so with smart contracts on the block chain directly. A well put together, branded user interface provides a familiar purchasing experience, builds trust and encourages investment.

If you choose to buy an NFT through a project’s minting website, you’re relying on the team’s developers to ensure the front-end communicates effectively with the smart contract. Developers should set up automated tests for their smart contracts, using tools like Hardhat and Mocha, to ensure an error-free buying experience.

Direct From Smart Contracts on Etherscan

NFT collectors can mint directly from the project’s smart contract on Etherscan. This means bypassing the project’s custom front-end and going straight to the back-end on the blockchain. Technically, you’ll be using Etherscan’s front-end instead. This isn’t straightforward for your first purchase, but I’d recommend becoming familiar with this method soon after.

Every smart contract deployed live to the Ethereum mainnet has a unique address. You can usually obtain an NFT project’s smart contract address from their website, Discord or social media accounts. It’ll look something like this:

The BAYC website showing the project’s smart contract address.

Once you have the contract address, you can mint NFTs from it using the GUI within Etherscan—a platform tracking all smart contract transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. You’ll also have access to the smart contract’s public read and write functions.

Appending https://etherscan.io/address/ with the smart contract address you’d like to mint from will let you view its information. The link to the BAYC smart contract, for example, would be https://etherscan.io/address/0xBC4CA0EdA7647A8aB7C2061c2E118A18a936f13D.

To buy an NFT, you’ll need to head over to the “Contract” tab and click “Write Contract”. Here’s a link that will take you to this section of the Bored Ape Yacht Club (or “BAYC”) smart contract. (Remember this is just an example and you’ll need to find a project with available NFTs. We can’t mint apes anymore, unfortunately!).

You’ll find any mint function of a smart contract in the “Write Contract” tab.

Next, you need to locate the minting function. In the BAYC smart contract, the minting function is named mintApe. It’ll be named differently in other projects, but should have a reference to minting. This function takes 2 parameters, payableAmount and numberOfTokens. Because, at the time of minting, we knew that apes were priced at 0.08 ETH each, if we wanted to mint 1 ape, we’d enter 0.08 ETH in the payableAmount field and 1 in the numberOfTokens field. If we wanted to mint 2 apes, we’d use 0.16 ETH. And so on and so forth, depending on the project’s maximum number of mintable tokens per transaction.

When minting direct from smart contracts on Etherscan it’s vital that you send the right amount of Ether. Otherwise, your transaction will fail and you’ll still pay gas.

Note that you can only mint this way when there are tokens left to be minted. A project that is sold out can only be bought from on the secondary market.

Some teams, especially free to mint projects, like Loot, only circulate this method of minting on launch; bypassing any custom front-end altogether. Minting on free to mint terms means claiming an NFT as opposed to purchasing one, with the only cost being gas.

The Loot project pointed claimers to their smart contract to mint.

I’d not recommend minting from a smart contract on Etherscan when buying your first NFT. It’s not overly intuitive and things can go wrong (see token and Ether quantities). However, there are potential advantages once you’re comfortable. For instance, you might be able to send a transaction quicker using the Etherscan GUI compared to a project’s minting website. This can give you a better chance of getting an NFT you want when quantities are scarce. And from a technical, due-diligence perspective, seeing the code behind the project you’re investing in can put you at ease.

Buying An NFT Step-By-Step

Here’s how to buy an NFT step-by-step. Please tread carefully as there’s real money involved in this process. We’ll walk through buying an NFT on OpenSea with Ethereum and MetaMask as this is the easiest way to get started.

Buy Ethereum On A Crypto Exchange

To buy NFTs you need currency. For this tutorial, your currency is Ethereum. You can buy cryptocurrency on websites that will exchange it for your fiat currency. These sites let you to trade between cryptocurrencies too, like a bureau de change for digital money.

You can buy ETH from Coinbase.

I’ve used Coinbase since 2017 to deposit money by bank transfer to trade for cryptocurrency. It has the cleanest user interface of the popular exchanges, making it a good place to start for beginners.

After you’ve created and logged in to your Coinbase account, the first step is to add cash by bank transfer. Funds usually arrive within minutes, but your initial deposit can take a while longer.

Step 1: Click the currency you want to deposit in.

Step 2: Click add cash.

Step 3: Send a bank transfer to Coinbase for the amount you want to invest in Ethereum.

Once you’ve deposited, buy some Ethereum. The symbol is ETH. Like traditional currency pairings, how much crypto you’ll get for your fiat will depend on the exchange rate at the time.

Step 4: Click the “Buy/Sell” button from your Coinbase dashboard.

Step 5: Select Ethereum, add the amount you want to buy and click “Preview Buy”. Note: £10 is just an example. You’ll probably need to deposit more relative to what you want to buy. Even to claim a free NFT, gas can cost £50+ depending on network demand at the time.

Step 6: Note how much ETH you’ll receive, check the exchange rate and fees. If you’re happy to proceed, click “Buy now”.

Step 7: Click “Done”. Coinbase will send you an email when your ETH is ready.

Post exchange, your ETH should appear in your account balance right away. You now have ETH to buy NFTs with!

Step 8: Your Ethereum balance will update once your exchange has cleared.

Be aware that some UK banks are blocking payments to crypto exchanges. Some are picking and choosing who they approve of, others, like Natwest (in the UK), have a blanket ban in place at the time of writing. This can render buying cryptocurrencies tricky.

Revolut have a banking app that makes sending money to crypto exchanges easier.

You can solve the aforementioned problem by opening an account with a crypto-friendly bank. Revolut is a great option because they set you up in minutes. You can then transfer funds from your crypto-unfriendly bank account to your crypto-friendly one. Then deposit from your crypto-friendly bank to your crypto exchange of choice.

Add Funds To Your Crypto Wallet

Next, you need to get a crypto wallet. The easiest to start with is MetaMask, a browser extension for Chrome. Most decentralised apps (or “dApps”) like project minting websites work with MetaMask, too.

Step 9: Download the MetaMask Chrome extension that gives you an easy to use Ethereum wallet for buying NFTs.

I’d recommend using MetaMask on desktop as the mobile app has always proven buggy to me. Plus, when attempting a transaction, I’ve always felt less in control and more prone to making a mistake. (If you’re looking for a mobile Ethereum wallet, Rainbow is solid.)

Once you’ve installed MetaMask, click the browser extension icon (it’s an illustrated fox) to open up a small window.

Step 10: Once you’ve installed MetaMask, click the browser extension icon (it’s an illustrated fox) to get started.

Step 11: Clicking the MetaMask icon for the first time will prompt you to start a new wallet.

Step 12: Assuming you don’t have a wallet you want to import, click “Create a Wallet” to start one from scratch.

Step 13: Add a password for your MetaMask wallet. Pick something strong. 1Password have a strong password generator that you can use.

Step 14: This step is important. MetaMask will give you a series of words that make up your secret phrase. This acts as the only recovery system for your wallet. Anyone with this information can gain access to your wallet, your ETH and your NFTs. So guard it closely and never share it with anyone. Take noticed of the tips on this screen before you proceed to keep your secret phase safe.) that you can use.

Step 16: After completing a simple game to confirm your secret phase has been noted, MetaMask will present your empty wallet. You can view this page in the whole browser window or as a pop up window the next time you click the fox icon. The hash below your account name is your wallet address. Clicking this copies it to your clipboard.

You now have a MetaMask wallet! Now you need to fund it with ETH. Once you have the address on your clipboard, log back in to your Coinbase account.

Step 17: Click the “Send / Receive” button from the Coinbase dashboard.

Step 18: Next, add select to pay with Ethereum. Then type the amount of ETH you want to send to your MetaMask wallet, and then your MetaMask wallet’s address. Once you’ve checked the wallet address you’ve entered, click “Continue”.

Remember to check and double check that the address you’ve pasted into the Coinbase send form and your MetaMask wallet address match 100%. This is important. You’ll not be able to recover funds should you make a mistake.

Step 19: Coinbase will show you how much gas it will cost to send the ETH. Network transaction fees are not linked to the amount of ETH sent, so it usually makes sense to send currency in larger chunks. If you’re happy with what it will cost to send, and what your MetaMask wallet will subsequently receive, click “Send now”.

Step 20: The final total of ETH should be in your MetaMask wallet within a few minutes.

Remember to check and double check the address you’ve pasted into the transfer form and your MetaMask wallet address match 100%. This is important. You’ll not be able to recover funds should you make a mistake.

Step 21: Your ETH total in your MetaMask wallet will automatically increment once the transfer arrives.

You now have everything in place to make your first NFT purchase.

Buying Your First NFT on OpenSea

Opening up an NFT marketplace for the first time can be daunting. There’s a wealth of options to pick from. For your first purchase, it’s best to pick something that you like the look of and assume that you won’t make you anything.

You can purchase NFTs for anywhere between next to nothing and millions on OpenSea. How much you choose to spend is relative to how much you’re willing to invest overall. My advice, at this early stage, is to have low expectations and see any cost as a tuition fee. Let’s start by heading to OpenSea.

Step 22: Click the “Explore” button to view all assets for sale.

At the time of writing there are nearly 20 million NFTs listed on OpenSea. To filter this down to items that suits your taste and budget, turn your attention to the sidebar filters and top right sorting options.

OpenSea’s filtering options makes narrowing down NFTs to something that will suit your taste and budget easy.

OpenSea offers 3 ways to put NFTs up for sale. Sellers can list as an auction to the highest bidder with an expiry date, or, with a fixed purchase price until purchased or cancelled. All NFTs on the marketplace can be bid on. An owner doesn’t have to list their NFT for sale for it to appear on OpenSea. They grab the token’s information directly from the smart contract on the blockchain.

In this walkthrough, we want to buy right away. Activating the “Buy Now” filter will show you the NFTs that sellers have given fixed prices to. Paying the price listed means you’ll take ownership of the NFT right away.

Filter the asset list by clicking “Buy Now”. You’ll notice the total number of NFTs decrease.

You can further filter the NFTs through sorting. Here you can check out the most recently listed, most viewed and most favourited assets. The sort method to apply for your first NFT purchase is “Price: Low to High”. This combination will show you the cheapest NFTs that are available to buy now.

Further filter the asset list by selecting the “Price: Low to High” sort order.

You might even find something you like for free. Just bear in mind that you’ll still have to pay a gas fee. Should you wish to spend more, the “Price” filter is a useful feature. Set the currency to ETH, then enter the “Min” and “Max” amounts you’d like to spend. For example, you might want to spend between 1 and 2 ETH.

OpenSea lets you set price restraints to suit your budget when searching for NFTs.

If you’re an investor who knows which project they’d like to buy from, “Collections” is a useful filter. Let’s say you want to buy an NFT from the 0n1 Force collection. Stacking your previous filters and selecting 0n1 Force, will show you all assets in this collection that you can buy now within your price limits; from lowest price to highest price. The lowest priced item here is called the project “floor”. Buying in here is the cheapest way to gain exposure to a project that you like the look of.

Filtering down to a specific collection, alongside “Buy Now” and “Price: Low to High” allows you to see the cheapest NFTs in a set.

Once you’ve identified the asset that you want to purchase, it’s time to pay for it.

Step 23: Click on the NFT you want to buy.

On the single NFT page, you can see additional details about the asset. Price and ownership history are both pulled from blockchain to assist your purchasing decision (if available).

Step 24: If you’re all set, click the “Buy” button.

Step 25: If you haven’t already signed into OpenSea with MetaMask, you’ll be promoted to connect your wallet.

Step 26: OpenSea add a step to the checkout process to help ensure you’ve done your due diligence on your purchase. Because this is our first NFT purchase (and this one is free aside from gas), we’re happy to proceed based on our research. OpenSea’s confidence rating is certainly worth baring in mind when transacting for meaningful amounts.

Step 27: After checking the final price and OpenSea’s terms of service, initiate the confirmation of your transaction by clicking “Checkout”.

Step 28: Next, a MetaMask window will pop-up. This is where you finally confirm your transaction. Take note of the speed which your transaction will go through and the max gas fee you’ll pay for it. Finally, check the total max price (NFT price + max gas fee). If you’re happy to proceed, click “Confirm”. Note: There’s no going back from this point.

Step 29: The MetaMask pop-up will close after signing, and your purchase will start processing via the Ethereum blockchain. Tip: If you want to see the transaction’s progress on Etherscan, click the hash link.

Step 30: After a little while, your transaction will complete. This is usually in line with the estimate time quoted in MetaMask pre-confirmation.

Congratulations, you own an NFT!

Step 31: To view the new NFT within your collection, click your avatar in OpenSea’s top navigation bar. You’ll be taken to the “Collected” tab where you’ll see the token you now own.

Step 32: Click on the MetaMask fox icon. You’ll notice that your ETH balance has reduced based on what you paid for the NFT. You’ll also see the OpenSea transaction in your activity log.

Step 33: Clicking the transaction will show it’s details, including the final gas fee paid and the total fee paid.

If you ever want to sell your NFT, you can use OpenSea to do this. When viewing the asset as it’s (logged-in with MetaMask) owner, you’ll have all the same options to sell as other creators.

You’re free to sell your first NFT whenever you want on OpenSea. Just like how you bought it.

Picking Profitable NFTs

With new projects arriving daily, it’s important to consider the fundamentals alongside your tolerance to, and capacity for, risk. Here are a few things to consider before you buy.

Only invest what you can afford to lose.

Define Profitable

What does profitable mean to you? When investing time and money into something new, you need to consider what you’re looking for in return.

The interesting thing about NFTs is they converge many fields:

Code
Culture
Community
Investing
Collectables
Collaboration

So you need to determine what kind of NFT buyer you are:

Are you in it for the art?
Is community important to you?
Do you just want to make money?
Do you want to use NFTs as a vehicle to explore crypto?
Are you looking to participate in a project on paid terms?
Are you investing long-term or are you short-term trading?

Take time to ask yourself questions like these. It’s important to know what game you’re playing before making purchasing decisions.

There are several ways for NFTs to provide value. Be aware of your goals to ensure you’re getting a sufficient return.

Taste

Think about your personal taste and the communal taste of collectors in the space. Do you like how the art that the token represents looks? What’s the general consensus?

The perspective of the market matters for your NFT to retain value. But if you’re less of a speculator, you have to be comfortable holding an NFT even if it becomes worthless on paper. That’s why buying art you connect with is key.

Here’s a simple eye-test to follow:

Is the art well-drawn?
Is it free of layering errors?
Is it aesthetically appealing?
Would you hang it on your wall?
Would you use it as your profile picture on social media?

If your primary profitability metric is the art itself, then personal taste is the fundamental that matters most.

Projects Of Significance

Did the project mark a point of significance in the NFT space? For example, CryptoPunks—with Rare Pepes before them and CryptoKitties soon after—hold value for being one of the earliest NFT projects to market.

The history of NFTs. Image from Ownest

Newer projects like Bored Ape Yacht Club, launched in May 2021, have proven significant for their extreme success. BAYC, in particular, created a wave of however-many-thousand piece profile picture projects soon after. Though the quality of subsequent releases varied, this is considered a crucial moment in time by the NFT community. Since for mass adoption the technology, we’ll need more NFTs.

Projects from the emerging wave like CrypToadz by Gremplin, Cool Cats, Gutter Cat Gang and Pudgy Penguins are now writing their own history.

Project Mechanics

The age of a project isn’t the only thing that can make it significant. Alternative mechanics can differentiate it too.

What’s a mechanic in an NFT project sense? It might be:

The number of NFTs to be minted
How the release of NFTs is structured
- Mint pass (buy an NFT to have access to the future NFT)
- Pre-mint (reward active community members with early access)
- In batches (stagger the release of NFTs)
Inflationary supply (more NFTs appear over time, or forever)
Deflationary supply (allow NFT holders to burn their token in exchange for something else of value)
Project converts to a DAO with token governance (assign NFT holders tokens that work as votes that can be bought/staked/sold)

With most NFTs being part of PFPs or 1 of 1 pieces, those that take advantage of more interesting mechanics stand out. The Nouns project, that mints “One Noun, every day, forever” has raised 11,190 ETH ($44,583,086 at the time of writing) for its community treasury so far.

The history of NFTs. Image from Ownest

Cultural Relevance

Cultural relevance is hard to measure. We can look at the art itself and judge whether it’s on point for the times—have 3D glasses ever been in fashion? Or, we can look at the bigger picture: is the NFT marketed in a way that a buying audience can relate to?

Oftentimes, if there’s a portion of truth to a collection’s narrative, it’ll hit home. Take BAYC. It’s less about the cartoons and more about the story; A swap club for bored apes, or, a Discord server for a generation of internet-natives looking for entertainment. The Bored Apes are us.

A project has more chance of success when it relates to its target audience. As culture shifts increasingly online, much is shaped on social media. In a world where attention is scarce, an NFT that connects quickly visually, can help it become a mainstay.

Chubbicorns use community created memes on Twitter to increase the value of their project.

If a project becomes culturally relevant, you can bet on it to hold its value. In short, is the NFT you’re considering meme-able?

Team Credibility

If you’re looking at buying NFTs as investments, liken it to any other investment. For instance, if you were to buy Apple stock, you’d do so because you believe in the company’s future potential due to their track record. Or if you were to back an early stage startup, you’d do so because you believed in the founders.

As the barrier to minting NFTs lowers, it’s important to understand the team running the projects you’re interested in.

The nature of crypto allows projects to be launched anonymously. While this isn’t always a bad thing for a buyer—pseudonymous personas can build credibility too—it’s easier for project founders to make a swift exit and nullify all promises to their holders. This is known as a “rug pull”.

Do your due diligence before buying an NFT you’re looking to make a return on:

Check that the project has website.
Does it look well put together?
Does the website have a team page?
Who’s on the team?
Are they named or anonymous?
What have the done before?
Are they credible on Twitter?
Are they credible on Discord?
Do they have skin in the game?

“Aping in” (buying an NFT in the spur of the moment) can be exciting, but it’s an easy way to be left holding the bag. Know who’s behind what you’re buying.

Future Incentives

In a move akin to the startup world, NFT projects often entice buyers with the hope of future returns. Like startups, this can be financial. But unlike startups, this can be access to additional art or real estate in the metaverse.

Treeverse, by Loopify, sold Founder’s Plot NFTs which will relate to in-game land on release.

When considering an NFT, look at what the project promises:

Is it useful to you?
Do the features look farfetched?
How much confidence do you have in the team to deliver?

A roadmap is like a story. It’s important to know what’s planned to firm up your beliefs. But remember that a roadmap is only as good as the team executing it. There are no guarantees that incentives will be delivered on.

Momentum

In NFTs, there are two main types of momentum:

The build pace of the team behind a project
The frequency, or volume, of transactions

The former indicates that the project is still in active development. If a roadmap was promised, this is being executed and additional features are being delivered.

Start by checking the Discord server and Twitter account of the project. Assess the founding team’s activity. There will usually be an “announcements” (or similar) channel in Discord where updates are posted. Updates are often shared on Twitter, too. Check the care and attention that are put into these.

Some NFT projects are released without a roadmap. Just for the art and perhaps community access. Tracking momentum in this case can be done by:

Following community sentiment. Is the project still talked bout? Is it still relevant?
Sales. Are people still trading? Will there be liquidity for you to exit should you wish to?

Be wary of artificial momentum. Hype is usually at it’s highest when an NFT project launches. Everyone is trying to get in. You might even see a few high profile buyers. People with large followings are sometimes paid to promote new projects which can prove any initial traction to be somewhat artificial.

Organic, longer-term momentum is what you’re looking for; momentum that comes as a result of the quality of an NFT’s art, the expertise of its creators and the passion of the project’s community.

Liquidity

It makes sense to buy NFTs from projects that have liquidity. If no one is selling, no one can buy and if everyone is selling, few will want to buy. Like any market, an NFT project needs a balance to prove healthy.

NFTs are inherently an illiquid asset, meaning, they’re not the easiest investment to cash out of. For instance, it’s all well and good that you think your Adjective Animal is worth 10 ETH; but it’s irrelevant if there’s no buyer for it.

One way to check whether you’d be able to sell an NFT should you wish to, is it check the offers against it on OpenSea. Many of these are from automated bots, who often lowball, the fact that they’re there is a strong signal that the market is liquid. Why? Because these bots want to buy ~10-20% below the floor price and flip them quickly for a profit.

The offers panel on OpenSea paints the liquidity picture of an NFT.

You can use OpenSea to check a project’s activity too. Filter by listings and sales to see if the market is stagnant or moving.

The offers panel on OpenSea paints the liquidity picture of an NFT.

On an OpenSea collection page, click the activity icon.

Then check recent sales. Here we can see that one was made 25 minutes ago.

Rarity

Before you buy an NFT, it makes sense to check its rarity within the collection. In projects that have random traits, some will be less common than others. This helps collectors form a narrative around scarcity and price.

As a rule of thumb, NFTs with traits (eyes, hats, clothes, etc.) that few within the collection have, are most expensive. Common traits, ones that many NFTs within the collection have, are usually the least expensive.

Rarity Tools assesses the statistical rarity of NFTs within their collections.

Be wary of two things when using rarity to make purchasing decisions. Firstly, some rarity tools judge rarity using different metrics and calculations. Meaning the rarest NFT shown in one tool, might not be the rarest in another.

Secondly, some collectors assign rarity by sentiment, not by what is most statistically rare. One NFT that looks “clean” (plain but visually appealing) might be worth more than one that is actually scarcer when measured. Aesthetic can outrank rarity.

Owner To Token Ratio

A strong community makes a strong NFT collection. Part of how we can measure this is to look at the number of NFTs held by unique wallets.

If there are 10,000 NFTs within a collection, and one person owns 5,000 of them, the other 5,000 individual owners are at the mercy of that one person. They could decide to liquidate all of their NFTs which would lower the value of the remaining 50% in one swoop.

On the flip side, a more even spread of tokens between owners is a desirable feature. Because it’s less likely that individuals will liquidate all at once. It can also mean that more enthusiastic collectors can participate in the community too. Which is conducive to building a strong community, driving long-term value as a result.

~5,000 owners for a 10,000 collection, or ~2 NFTs per owner, is usually seen as a healthy signal.

10,000 Bored Apes are split between 5,500 owners at the time of writing. Each wallet holds 1.81 NFTs.

Historic Price

Consider historic price. While the NFT art explosion is only months old, you can establish the average price of NFTs from a collection by looking at the peaks and troughs on OpenSea.

Of course, the past isn’t a guarantee of what will happen in the future, but a steady price over time can allay stability fears. Especially once the dust settles after a launch.

Many NFT speculators right now aren’t looking for steady gains; rather, a 24-hour 10x flip. However, as the industry ages, historic price will become a metric of greater importance when analysing risk.

Ethereum Price

Because NFTs are priced in ETH, it’s savvy to be aware of its price relative to your local currency. Take an NFT that was 4 ETH in June 2021 and is still 4 ETH in September 2021. The price of 1 ETH then was £1,500 June. But move forwards to September and 1 ETH is valued at £2,500. This makes the same NFT worth £4,000 more in British Pounds from June to September, but the same in ETH.

This can have a knock on effect in the NFT markets. When ETH is high people might look to cash out their NFT gains. When ETH is low, NFTs appear “cheaper” to new investors.

If you want to keep funds in ETH for the long-term, the price is less relevant. If it doesn’t matter that your ETH is tied up, because you have no immediate need for the funds to pay for things you can’t buy in crypto, you probably won’t be price watching so frequently.

Evaluate whether the fiat price of an NFT is meaningful to you. Might you need to cash out? If “yes” keep an eye on the conversion rate so you know what you’re really investing.

You can check the current Ethereum price with Yahoo! Finance.

Influential Buyers and Sellers

People will mimic NFT investors with good track records. Just like people will follow Berkshire Hathaway’s trades.

The transparency of the blockchain gives everyone access to what an investor buys and sells. An NFT considered valuable by an influential person, can lead to the wider-market considering it valuable. Having this data quickly to hand offers an edge to those looking to spot NFT projects with potential early.

Be careful with who you consider to be an influential buyer or seller. A longstanding member of the digital art space is likely to have better taste than an influencer just entering it.

If you’re interested in the data behind NFT markets, paid tools like Nansen can help you track influential wallets, identify opportunities and follow the smart money.

Nansen tracks NFTs by project over time and highlights notable buyers.

Vibes

If the vibes around something are good, you resonate with it. If you resonate with something, it’s profitable. Ownership should feel good.

To assess the vibe of an NFT project is to trust your gut. Would you ever buy—or give your time to—something that didn’t feel quite right?

After you’ve been in the space for a while, you’ll develop an intuition that will help you make calls. While web3 is making the internet fun again, and it’s exciting to buy NFTs, there will always be bad actors in a quickly developing market.

If the vibes feel off, wait it out. Because in NFTs, “vibes are the new fundamentals”.

Vibes are the new fundamentals by Jack Butcher.

Early NFT Mistakes To Avoid

Aside from paper handing (letting go too easily) my Bored Ape, I’ve made a few more early mistakes too. Here they are so you can avoid them.

Not Doing Enough Research

Try not to buy things without at least doing some due diligence. The draw to act fast might be strong, but there are things you can do quickly to protect yourself:

Check that the project you’re buying is the right one. People will often make fake projects on OpenSea with similar names. Look out for the blue checkmark to ensure the project is verified.
Join the Discord server for the project. How many members do they have? Does it look artificially inflated? What’s the chat like? Make sure it feels natural.
Look the founders up on Twitter. What’s their track record? When did they join? Does it look like they’ve bought followers? You’re looking for a natural account.

Treat this as a bare minimum and take advantage of the more detailed research techniques in this article to help you make better investment decisions.

Only Buying 1 Piece From A Collection

If you have conviction around a project, it makes sense to buy more than one NFT from the collection. Otherwise, you might have to sell your only piece to take a profit when you don’t want to exit the community. Because staying part of a community carries its own value.

Here are a couple of strategies that can help mitigate this problem:

Buy two minimum. Should the project take off, sell one to cover the cost of both NFTs and retain one to retain your membership and to have exposure to any larger price rises in the future.
Buy three minimum. Should the project take off, sell one to cover the cost of all three NFTs. Retain one to sell should there be a price increase in the medium term. Hold one for the long-term to retain your membership and have exposure to any huge price rises in the future.

Fast Floor Rises & Falls

If you list your item for sale be prepared for it to sell. This might sound odd. What’s the point of putting a price on something that you don’t want to sell, right? So I’ll explain with a simple scenario:

Remember, the floor price is the lowest priced piece in an NFT collection. The cheapest entry point.

Let’s say you bought a floor piece for 10 ETH. You’re happy with the NFT, but you’d sell it for 20 ETH should a buyer come along, so that’s what you list it for. Because the floor price is 10 ETH, so 20 ETH would be a great price. Then you go about your week.

In the meantime, the floor price of the collection rises to 20 ETH, which makes your listing appealing to buyers. The problem is, you don’t really want to sell. Because you want a higher return than what the piece is worth as it’s more valuable to you holding it. You only really want to sell for a significantly high price.

This is when your NFT gets snapped up and you feel regretful about not being part of the club anymore. If you’d have kept an eye on the floor price, and re-listed your NFT at a higher price to suit, you might have felt better at losing your membership because you achieved the significantly high price you were looking for.

A chart of BAYC prices showing multiple sharp changes over time.

When floors move fast, what a high price is and what a low price is changes. Floors can fall just as fast as they can rise, which could leave a high priced asset becoming insignificant to buyers if you’re actually looking to sell.

If you’re not holding for a long time, it’s a good idea to track the price movements of an NFT collection you’re a part of.

Not Enough Liquidity

Even when you’re not actively looking to buy an NFT, you should keep some liquidity in your wallet.

Remember that every time you write to a smart contract, you need to pay a transaction fee. Cancelling an existing auction, listing a new auction and transferring an NFT to another wallet that you own, all cost gas.

It’s a good idea to be prepared for opportunities too. If an NFT you’ve had your eye on for a while becomes available, you’ll want to grab it before someone else does. It’s easier to do this when you have active funds instead of transferring fiat to an exchange, swapping fiat to ETH, then sending ETH to your wallet.

Keep your wallet topped up with a small amount for day-to-day housekeeping at least.

Trying To Buy The Bottom Floor Piece on OpenSea

When a project is in high demand, everyone is looking for the cheapest way to get in. Post-launch, after minting is complete, many buyers start listing their NFTs on the secondary market for a quick profit. Those looking to buy usually start their search by looking for the lowest priced NFT they can buy now.

The problem is, everyone’s looking at this view. When traffic is high, it’s unlikely you’ll be fast enough to purchase the lowest-priced NFT before someone else.

This is not only frustrating but costly, too. Because you’ll pay a gas fee even if your transaction doesn’t go through. Meaning you’ll have to try again (and potentially lose even more gas).

Two alternatives to trying to buy the absolute cheapest from the “floor view”:

Browse the collection from the activity tab and filter by listings. This will show you listings as they happen and updates faster than the floor view.

Filter by “Listings” on a collections activity page to see new auctions faster.

Attempt to buy an NFT that’s a few up from the floor item. Depending on how fast transactions are happening, the second row is usually a good bet. You might pay a little more, but when you factor in gas lost fighting for the absolute cheapest item, you’ll often net out on top.

Buying 3-5 up from the floor piece has more chance of going through in busy markets.

In markets that aren’t moving so fast, attempting to buy straight off the floor is safer, because you’ll face less competition.

Watching Whale Wallets Religiously

In crypto, a whale is someone with a lot of capital to deploy. In NFTs it means someone spending a lot of ETH. With all transactions on the blockchain being open, other investors track whale wallets to gain insight into what smart people are buying and selling.

Some creators try to take advantage of this. They know that people are watching whale wallets, so they create a “mint to” function in their smart contract. This lets them send an NFT from their project to a wallet that didn’t mint it. But it looks like they did. So those watching whale wallets buy NFTs from collections that they think the whales like. But they don’t.

Pranksy explains the NFT “mint to” problem.

Be aware that anyone is free to send an NFT to whatever wallet they choose should they know the address and pay the gas fee. Just because an NFT is in someone’s wallet doesn’t mean that they paid for it. Do some digging before taking what’s in someone’s wallet as a buy signal. Check that a price was paid.

Keeping Your NFTs Safe

Assets of digital value must be protected closely. You’d never leave your physical wallet laying around and you shouldn’t leave your crypto wallet lying around either.

There’s an important difference too. Everyone with an internet connection can see what’s in your crypto wallet. Not just the people within touching distance of it. You need to do everything you can to mitigate risk.

Here’s how you can keep your NFTs safe.

Keep Your Seed Phrase Private

Let’s start with the most important:

Never share your seed phrase (the series of words you get when setting up your wallet for the first time) with anyone. Remember that anyone with this phrase has access to your crypto funds and your NFTs. It’s meant for your recovery purposes only.

Never type it into a computer. It’s not safe on your machine and it’s not safe in the cloud. Write it down on paper (even better, on indestructable metal) and store it safely in multiple places.

Be Wary Of Socially Engineered Tricks

While you expect scams to be technical in their nature, most are socially engineered.

In October 2021, the CreatureToadz’s Discord was exploited. Subsequently, the community was tricked out of ~90 ETH ($347,364) through a fake minting website. Luckily, the hacker later sent back the funds (citing “research”) and explained on Twitter Spaces that they gained access by compromising a moderator with administrative rights via Discord messages.

This was all that was needed for the hacker to hijack a Discord bot and post a false “stealth launch” announcement linking to the fake minting website.

This situation could have been worse for the unwitting community, yet it illuminates my point. Be as socially vigilant as you are technically. A Discord message takes seconds to send but can do $100,000s worth of damage when you put the right information in the wrong hands.

Look Out For Common Scams

Here are some specific things to look out for to keep your funds and NFTs safe:

Any mention by a 3rd party of sharing the seed phrase for your wallet is a scam.
Avoid anyone who you don’t know direct messaging you on Discord or Twitter with a “mispriced” NFT opportunity.
Make sure that any OpenSea emails are from OpenSea. If you get an alert that you’ve sold an item or have an offer, be wary of clicking any links contained within the email. They can be to fake OpenSea clones that will request nefarious access to your wallet.
Always go to marketplaces like OpenSea directly, by typing the URL (opensea.io) into your browser. Be wary of clicking links to “OpenSea” sent by someone you don’t know.
When on OpenSea itself, ensure that the collection you’re buying from is authentic. Scammers will create copy collections to try and trick investors into buying their worthless NFT instead. You can do this by looking for the blue verified checkmark and checking that the name of the collection matches exactly.
Watch out for offers made on your NFTs that are in a currency other than ETH. Chancers will offer 3.5 USDC ($3.50) for an NFT listed at 3.5 ETH ($11,871 at the time of writing) on OpenSea. Don’t accept offers without double-checking the amount and currency provided.
When requesting support from an NFT project team or marketplace like OpenSea, make sure that the person is who they say they are. Ask for proof before you do anything.
If someone asks to video call to walk you through doing something, question why this is necessary. MetaMask lets you sync with mobile by presenting a QR code that a camera can scan. This is as good as giving away your seed phrase should someone screenshot it during a video call. Never open this setting on a video call or share this QR code with anyone.
If someone asks to trade your NFT for another, make sure the person is trustworthy. Sending your NFT to someone who you don’t know on the promises that you’ll receive theirs afterwards is probably not going to end well. You can always suggest buying each other’s NFTs for their ETH value or use a trading platform with a history of successful trades like NFTTrader.

NFT trading platform NFTTrader show off a recent CyberKongz trade.

Here’s a first-hand account from collector, Jeff Nicholas who kindly shared his experience of being scammed so you can increase your vigilance.

Get A Hardware Wallet

Using a hardware wallet increases security because it reduces your attack surface area from every hacker on the internet to someone who gains access to your physical device.

A hardware wallet is a USB-drive-sized device that stores your seed phrase completely offline. It doesn’t store your cryptocurrencies and NFTs, they remain on the blockchain, but it does store the keys needed to access them. This keeps your wallet “cold” meaning it’s never been connected to the internet directly.

Every time you interact with the blockchain from an address associated with your hardware wallet, you’ll need it to hand. If you’re buying an NFT on OpenSea, you’ll need to plug in the device to your computer to “sign” the transaction. Signing in this way proves ownership of your seed phrase. It proves you’re authorised to approve the purchase.

Should you lose your hardware wallet, before anyone can use it to sign transactions, they’ll first need to enter a pin. This adds another layer of protection. Because having the device isn’t enough to gain access to your assets.

Ledger Nano X hardware wallet for keeping your NFTs safe.

Ledger are one of the most popular hardware wallet manufacturers. I use a Ledger Nano X with the Ethereum app to safeguard my NFTs. The Nano X has more space for apps over the Nano S, which is useful should you wish to protect lots of other cryptocurrencies using the same device. The X also has bluetooth connectivity for signing transactions from your mobile device using the Ledger Live app.

It’s safest to buy a hardware wallet from the manufacturers’ website directly to bypass potential phoney devices in third-party supply chains.

If you want to keep your NFTs safe, get a hardware wallet as soon as you can. You’ll save on transaction costs the fewer NFTs you have to transfer to it later.

Use A Hot Wallet And Vault Wallet

You can protect your most valuable assets by using two wallets to transact with the blockchain.

Here’s an example setup:

Hot wallet: The MetaMask wallet you keep a little ETH in for making fast NFT transactions and holding low value NFTs you’re looking to trade.
Vault wallet: The wallet connected to your cold-storage device that you keep most of your funds in and the NFTs that are of high value and/or you want to hold for a long time.

The advantage is, you only connect the wallet you’d find less painful being compromised to riskier websites. For instance, a project minting website built by anonymous developers. You also maintain speedy access should you want to buy an NFT without having to sign with your hardware wallet. Both while keeping your primary holdings under lock and key.

If an NFT bought with your hot wallet appreciates, be sure to move it to your vault wallet. You’ll have to pay gas fees for transferring between your wallets, as you would when transferring to someone else.

Tax and NFTs

Because cryptocurrencies are still relatively new, and NFT investing is really new, dealing with tax is tricky at this time. Furthermore, all jurisdictions treat tax differently. There are disparities between countries and states.

In the UK, while there is no official guidance from HMRC, all signs point to NFTs being treated like other intangible assets that might produce returns, with capital gains tax being due on profits for individuals. From a business perspective, if trading NFTs actively, realised profits are likely to fall under corporation tax.

So, if you buy an NFT for 1 ETH and sell it for 2 ETH, you made a 1 ETH gain. So that’s what’s taxable, right? Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as that. Because the price of ETH may have fluctuated in the time between purchase and sale. The gain made post-conversion to your local fiat currency is what’s taxable. This can throw up a scenario where you may have made a profit in ETH but a loss in fiat. On which you’d receive tax relief, not a tax liability.

You should keep track of your transactions alongside the exchange rate of ETH to your local currency at the time. If you’re not doing this already, the good news is you can do this retroactively by looking up your wallet’s transactions (on Etherscan and the historic price of ETH (on Yahoo Finance).

Tax and NFTs is a tricky topic. The picture will become clearer once the NFT space matures. Still, be sure to save some funds back from all profits taken so you’re covered. I’m taking a similar strategy to that when running my consulting business and reserving ~30% of any profits.

We’ll see wider regulation on cryptocurrencies and NFTs in the future. This should provide guidance to meet your tax implications accurately. Until then, keep up to date with any official advice from the jurisdictions you’re a tax resident in.

Contributing To The NFT Space

If you’re interested in getting started with NFTs, you’ll probably be drawn further into this interesting new technology. You might want to become a creator in the space alongside investing in NFTs that you like. You might want to help shape the future of the web.

I’m seeing many smart people moving into web3 and I understand why. It’s exciting because it feels like there are genuine differences to be made by contributing. It’s hard to imagine a future where the on-chain tokenisation of assets— both digital and physical—doesn’t become a thing.

The opportunity to get in on the ground floor seems wide open. So where does one start? By involving yourself:

Follow people who’re working in the space on Twitter
Tune in to Twitter Spaces conversations
Join a few Discord servers of projects that you like
Create learning materials to onboard others
Become a member of a DAO
Build projects

It’s why I’m writing this very guide. For more people to unlock the positive possibilities of NFTs we need more educational material. Onboarding isn’t straightforward, so anything that can help people better understand, invest in, or create NFTs will be valuable.

Whatever happens to the digital art space, we’re going to be left with some life-changing use cases of NFTs due to its explosion.

The floor feels like it’s moving beneath the internet and I want to be a part of the new landscape being created. This guide is my contribution to the NFT community.

Recommended NFT Resources

Here are some resources that have been helpful to me for you to check out next.

I’ll continue to add to this list over time. If you have a suggestion, email me with the details.

Software and Tools

Crypto Wallets

Chat Apps

Discord

Price, Wallet Tracking And OpenSea Tools

Hardware

Cold Storage/Hardware Wallets

Safe Seed Phrase Storage

Keystone Tablet

Media

Twitter Threads

Books

Token Economy: How the Web3 reinvents the Internet by Shermin Voshmgir

Code

NFT People and Communities

People

I’m thankful to these people for shaping my curiosity in NFTs, crypto and web3. Follow them all:

Communities

If you’re looking to learn more about NFTs, web3 and crypto alongside others, consider joining these communities:

Shiny Object Social Club
Developer DAO
Islands
Bored Ape Yacht Club (Even if you don’t own an ape. Yet.)

This post contains affiliate links that may provide me with a bonus should you use them. I only promote products and services that I use myself.

Counterpoints

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 16:00:00 GMT

Before I started sharing my philosophy on business and life as a freelancer, I was hesitant.

I knew that I wanted to change my direction. I knew that I wanted to help people through my experience. I knew that I wanted to create upside around me.

I wanted to start sooner. But I couldn’t get going until I understood the nature of counterpoints.

Why was I scared?

Because I wanted people to like me. Because I wanted my opinion to be infallible and agreeable.

I was hoping for an impossible safety net.

Since here’s the thing:

You can’t please all the people all the time. People will disagree with you and it’s OK.

There’s a crucial lesson that anyone who wants to share anything has to learn:

Every point of view has a counterpoint of view. And no one is safe.

This realisation can make you feel:

Even more scared
Completely at ease

This discovery freed me. And the more I shared, the freer I felt to share.

If you feel the fear, remember:

The world’s a better place when you share what you know with it.

Moreover, your world’s a better place when you share what you know.

Counterpoints aren’t scary. They’re the catalyst of growth. You can either run away from them and stay where you are, or embrace them and get to where you want to be.

Every point of view has a counterpoint of view.

So you might as well share yours.

Less Than You Think

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 17:00:00 GMT

When pondering a new decision we overinflate what’s needed to make it.

“I don’t have enough information.”

“I need more money.”

“There’s no spare time.”

In an attempt to protect us from the unknown our internal monologue prevents progress.

Of course, a wise person doesn’t jump in unprepared.

But a person too wise never jumps into anything.

There’ll always be more data to digest, cash to stash and time to wish you had.

So the next time you’re struggling to decide, ask yourself:

“What do I really need?”

Because it’s usually less than you think.

Run The Show

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 12:00:00 GMT

I’m excited to announce the launch of my headless WordPress company, Run The Show. You may have seen this coming.

In my last post, Upside Identification, I wrote, “My position as a freelance WordPress developer feels outgrown”. Life’s good, my clients are awesome and I make a great living, but the page needs to turn.

My interests have diversified from their web development roots. For example, I’m at ease creating content about independent business and marketing because that’s where my curiosity lies. My love of business has overtaken my love of programming.

As my drive shifts my WordPress business has to move with it. It’s the journey of an entrepreneur. And I’ve been putting this off for a while.

Something’s telling me to push forward. Maybe it’s the effects of the pandemic, maybe it’s because I’m becoming less risk-averse as I age. I can’t give you a single reason. But I have an overwhelming feeling that I have more to offer.

I want to teach others through my experience. I want to create tools that help people save time and make money. I want to help more businesses than I can help myself using a technology I believe in.

It’s time for me to become a business owner. Because I can create more value this way.

Why Headless WordPress?

The WordPress space has been good to me. Since 2009, I’ve consulted on projects for the likes of the NHS, Umbro and Facebook. I’ve worked with 10s of clients internationally. We’ve built everything from marketing sites, global multisites, intranets, apps and custom APIs. All on WordPress.

People come to me for my WordPress expertise and I’m known as someone worth working with. I’m grateful for that and I want it to continue. My existing clients and our partners at Run The Show can expect more of the same.

WordPress is an amazing content management system. It’s easy to use, flexible and familiar. As of 3rd March 2021, WordPress holds a 64.4% share of the CMS market. The president thinks WordPress is a good bet too.

New headless CMSs are coming to market—what feels like—monthly. The problem is, they aren’t WordPress. I owe a 12-year career to people wanting WordPress and WordPress only. This need isn’t going away.

The introduction of React to WordPress core is what brought it to my attention. After spending time learning JavaScript deeply, React’s popularity made sense.

As I was pulled further into the world of JavaScript, I started developing side-projects with tools like Gatsby and Next.js. Including the site you’re reading this on.

Gatsby identified a common goal between their users and those that want to use WordPress early. It’s obvious to me why they market towards the headless WordPress approach:

Security
Performance
Scalability
Content repurposing
Editorial familiarity
Presentational control

This stack will take smart businesses far. (I wrote more about the benefits of headless WordPress in 2019).

I’ve been building headless WordPress sites for the last 18-months with clients looking to level up online, push past their competitors and become the best in class. To great effect.

I see the need for headless WordPress becoming greater in the years to come. I’ve never been more bullish on something.

Not everyone who uses WordPress wants to battle with page builders to get their content looking half-decent. Or wrangle with low-cost themes and free plugins that never actually get them the functionality they want.

There are many markets to benefit from headless WordPress.

The digital marketing industry is booming. I see it first hand from my friends in the space. WordPress/WooCommerce is the common CMS/eCommerce platform of choice for their clients. SEO is about competition. If you have a traditional WordPress website like everyone else, it can be hard to edge ahead. If you go headless, however, you open up options that aren’t available to the person ranking next to you.

Businesses are becoming more technical too. It’s not an option to dismiss digital. If you want to thrive online, you need a strategy and you need quality implementation from people who understand business; partners who know websites can always improve through testing, analysis and iteration.

This is where Run The Show comes in.

Our approach is search-loved and conversion-minded.

We build marketing sites that are fast to load and don’t look like themes.

We build WooCommerce stores that are easy to manage and get sales.

We build custom frameworks that allow you to roll out new sites quickly.

We build APIs from your WordPress managed data to use wherever you want to.

There’s a market of people who love WordPress that want to create custom content systems, use modern front-end frameworks and leverage rigid testing and deployment processes too.

It’s a perfect match because now, I only want to do the same.

When your niche expands, find one within it.

Upside Identification

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 11:00:00 GMT

My career is in full transition for the first time in 11 years. There’s a weight off my shoulders having written that.

For the last 11 years, I’ve had a singular purpose; to work as a web developer for my clients. I wake up when I want, I work with who I want, I work on what I want. I have time to exercise, I have time for my family and friends, I make a great living.

When I write it that way, it reads like a dream. And it was my dream for a long-time too. But there’s something festering away at me. Things as they are aren’t my dream anymore.

Don’t mistake me. I love what I do and I’m privileged to work with such smart and interesting clients. There aren’t many better feelings than getting results for people.

Yet I can’t shake the nagging feeling that I’m thinking too small. My position as a freelance WordPress developer feels outgrown. With enough runway to not have to work for a year or more, this makes one think, “What should I do now?“. And more granularly, “What, of the options I have, has the biggest upside?“.

The problem with ideas is, you can’t tell if they’re any good until you execute them. My approach—as a doer—thus far has been to try everything.

My backlog of ideas is ever-long. When the pandemic first hit I picked two from the top of the list. First a lead sharing platform for freelancers. Then a home office gallery website. both saw initial traction, but not enough to hold my interest.

I started building an audience of like-minded people on Twitter. This introduced me to the world of online education. I wrote a book about pricing freelance work. I created a course teaching how to get leads from your personal website. I set up a coaching programme for freelancers too.

I’m working on a vehicle bigger than myself for my WordPress consultancy business. The WordPress world is a lot larger than it was when I entered it 11 years ago. The ecosystem is huge. WordPress’ market share continues to grow and niches within the niche have arisen.

Taking stock has helped me figure things out; What I’m best at in this context and where I can provide most value to the business and its collaborators. I’ll release more information on this soon.

I also have a SaaS product for creators in the works, working alongside a close friend.

Methodical as I am at taking action, I could be better at understanding what’s worth doing. You can’t try everything. You need to analyse upside first:

What most fulfils you?
What’ll make you the most money?
Where can you provide the most value?
How can you best be of service to the world?

This is a paradoxical notion. Because it’s hard to identify upside before taking action. You can’t pre-validate an idea to a 100% level of certainty. If you could, where would the fun be in life?

But you can build an informative picture through clear thinking, process and practice. You need to understand what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Asking others won’t cut it, because what’s worth doing is personal.

So where’s the sweet spot when it comes to upside identification? How can a multi-skilled lifestyle-first entrepreneur choose what to bet their time on?

I know that the answers aren’t binary. There’s no true or false response for, “Should I work on this?“. It’s more nuanced than that. Stock market speculation gets its name for a reason. And what we choose to do with our lives is as speculative.

Upside identification has many shades of grey and I’m intrigued to explore it further. To help me make my own choices and help others make theirs too.

https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1356512994675556353

Marketing For Freelancers

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 16:00:00 GMT

My Twitter thread on marketing for freelancers in article format:

Marketing for freelancers.

Everything I’ve learned.

A thread.

Marketing Is Essential

If you don’t take marketing seriously,

Prepare for a constant battle.

Marketing Makes Everything Else Easier & Better

Good marketing makes everything easier.

Getting clients
Pricing projects
Negotiation

All the hard stuff, made easier.

Good marketing makes everything better.

The clients you work with
The projects you work on
The pay you receive

All the important stuff, made better.

When supply outweighs demand, freelancing is tough.

When demand outweighs supply, freelancing is freeing.

It’s Great To Be Good, But You Still Need Marketing

You can be the best:

Developer
Designer
Or writer

But the best doesn’t always get:

The most work
The best clients
The highest pay

The perceived best often does.

You can’t market your way out of bad service.

But you can market your way out of good service.

It’s great to be good at what you do.

But people need to know you’re good.

Becoming A Freelancer Means Becoming A Marketer

When you start freelancing, prepare to work on your craft less.

If you want to code, design or write all day; get a job.

Becoming a freelancer means becoming a marketer.

Schedule time every week to market yourself.

If you don’t like marketing, do it until you do.

Keep Marketing Always

Don’t stop marketing when you get busy.

This is when you’re at your most vulnerable.

Because you get complacent.

You might be busy now, but what about next week/month/year?

Keep marketing always.

Market For More Than You Can Handle

Too much opportunity is never the end of the world.

Too little is.

Don’t worry about what you’d do with too much work before you have too much work.

With excess leads you can:

Outsource
Collaborate
Pay forward

It’s a good problem to have, not a bad one.

Inbound Marketing > Outbound Marketing

Make friends before you ask.

Asking people for freelance work is effective short-term.

Getting them to ask you is effective long-term.

How to get people to ask you to freelance for them:

Make friends with people
Demonstrate specific expertise
Show proof of work
Come recommended
Do a good job

Marketing Is About Trust

Marketing is about trust.

If people trust you, they’ll buy from you.

7 ways to gain trust:

Be discoverable (online and offline)
Be authentic (don’t fabricate)
Be transparent (show results)
Be accessible (help people)
Be relatable (tell your story)
Be brilliant (do great work)
Be useful (spread value)

You Need A Personal Website

Your personal website is the centrepiece of your marketing strategy.

A good website with solid content opens up opportunities from all angles.

If you don’t get enough work and you don’t have a website,

There’s your next assignment.

Refine Your Position

Trying to be everything for everyone,

Makes you nothing to no-none.

Pick a position and stick to it.

Choosing a position:

What’s in-demand
What you’re best at
What you enjoy most
What makes you different
What you can do for a long time

Look for the overlaps.

Identify the people you want to work with.

Profiling your ideal client:

Who are they?
What do they buy?
What are their problems?
Where do they hang out?

You Get More Of What You Show

Only show work that you want more of.

Only show clients that you want more of.

Play The Long Game

Your marketing efforts compound over time.

And shiny object syndrome kills.

Stick to the plan and go long.

Promote yourself without fear,

Until others promote you without fear.

Word of mouth and social proof are imperative.

High leverage marketing assets:

Your website
Your content
Your email list
Your social media accounts

Spend time curating them all.

Be Confident

Speak of your service confidently at all times.

Remove “this should”, “I might” and “I’m hoping to” from your vocabulary.

Replace them with “this will”, “I can” and “I’m going to”.

If using “marketing language” makes you feel queasy,

Get over it.

Fast.

Repeat Yourself

Marketing that sticks is marketing that’s repeated.

Messaging is everything.

Believe In Yourself

Believe in your ability and others will too.

Do Your Homework

Topics to study to up your marketing game:

Writing
Business
Psychology

Read business books.

Boost Your Chances

Give yourself the best chance of success;

Freelancing is easier when you make marketing part of your job.

The Restaurant With A Queue

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 12:00:00 GMT

“Plenty of folks in there!”, my Dad would point out.

Each trip to the entertainment complex followed the same dance.

There to eat, often with a movie on the side; satisfying four sets of dietary preferences was tough.

“Pizza, Tom?”, “Cheeseburger, Lauren?“.

Which restaurant do you choose when overcome with options?

The one with a queue.

Not the one with an hour’s wait—depending on your patience—but the one with enough of a queue to reassure you that it’s good.

“That’s why they seat people in the window, to draw us in.”

I’ve no proof that the restaurant servers were trained to do this, but there’s substance to my father’s theory.

I pick the busiest—never the quietest, at least—restaurant subconsciously.

On holiday with my wife, I bring up TripAdvisor to check the best-rated places near me.

I can’t help but look; even with full clarity that it sucks the fun of discovery out of my experience.

They may hate McDonald’s, but they certainly hate uncertainty even more. Nassim Nicholas Taleb

We yearn for proof of something being valuable, we hate to waste our time and we like to make the right choice. At the very least, the safe choice.

As Nassim Nicholas Taleb writes in Skin In the Game while observing a packed McDonald’s in Milan train station, “Shockingly, Italians are seeking refuge there from a risky meal. They may hate McDonald’s, but they certainly hate uncertainty even more”.

We want the decision taken out of our hands. To not have to think when gauging the value of something ourselves. So we follow.

Social proof is stronger than ever. Because the world is online more than ever.

Our eyes have been forced opened to the benefits of remote working. It isn’t niched any longer. Online business is mainstream.

We’re remotely collaborating more, remotely selling more and remotely hiring more. The status quo has shifted and those who embraced it are surviving and thriving.

Gaining trust on the internet is now an imperative skill.

https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1345400569784053760

And a recommendation is a powerful signal.

https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1332401596173611009

Applying for jobs?
Selling services?
Selling products?

Just putting yourself out there to see what comes back?

A kind word about something you’ve done leads to more kind words about something you’ve done.

Because we like what people like us like.

“Look! This restaurant has a queue!“.

It doesn’t mean the food’s good by default. But we tell ourselves that.

Decisions are made on the stories we fabricate. And the direction of our story is influenced.

Is someone with 100K followers—who someone you already follow, follows—worth following? Who knows; we can’t see what they’ll post next.

But I bet you want to follow them.

If you’re lacking testimonials or reviews, channel your efforts into getting them. Do great work, then ask.

Use your time online to build relationships with like-minded people. Those who you can help, and those who can help you should you need it.

Market yourself. Look for opportunities in more than one direction. Aim to never be without them. Being able to fend for yourself feels secure.

“But I can’t say yes to everything!“.

And that’s the point; you don’t have to when you have options.

Be choosy and cherry-pick. It’s calming to have choices and the right social proof brings that.

Monitor your actions to test this concept:

Oh no! You have a leak. Do you head to Google or call the plumber your friend recommends first?

You need a new read. Do you buy the book that doesn’t sell or the New York Times bestseller?

And the next time you’re choosing a new restaurant, see which one you’re drawn to.

It’s the one with a queue, right?

2020 - A Year In Review

Sun, 27 Dec 2020 16:20:50 GMT

I’m glad I started this habit.

Looking back on 2019’s year in review has been both interesting and reassuring.

I can identify growth in my thinking and have hindsight that things have gone in the right direction.

To keep the format of 2020’s year in review similar, I’ll resist the temptation to alter it.

The two-columned approach of Tim Ferris makes a lot of sense, but I’ll stick to my guns for future comparison.

Here’s the TLDR:

I made £100K+ from freelancing again
I sold $17K+ worth of digital products
I grew an audience of 11,000+ on Twitter
I closely mentored 20+ freelancers
I started investing for my family’s future
I decided how I want to bet my time in 2021
I’m grateful looking back and excited looking forward

I wanted to ignore COVID-19 in this review, but found it impossible.

Business

Freelancing

My business continues to run steady and 2020 brought another six-figures (£) from freelance projects.

March’s lockdown saw a down-tick for anyone doing anything.

With a website that typically brings in multiple leads per week, I noticed people choosing to sit on their hands.

Once the world started to loosen its post-COVID purse strings, however, there was an uptick in demand to make up for it.

As it became clear the pandemic was here to stay and that adaptable businesses were the ones most likely to survive; people started to invest in digital services, heavily.

November saw over £25,000’s-worth of headless WordPress projects completed at ~95% profit margin.

I documented the detail of this month and answered questions about it on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1336038698438287361

Audience Building

I’ve continued to enjoy sharing what I know.

There are few better feelings than having people tell me how my content has gotten them ahead.

Sharing my self-employment knowledge and experience has brought me over 11,000 followers on Twitter.

I focused on Twitter because I knew I could be consistent there.

My tweet writing skills have improved tenfold by writing more tweets. It’s become second nature to write valuable snippets for my audience and while ever people enjoy my content I’ll keep creating it.

A thread on pricing freelance projects in June did particularly well, receiving over 2,000,000 impressions.

https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1277933730078785537

Digital Products

The attention on Twitter segues into digital products, from which I’ve made over $17,000 this year.

You’ll find no mention of this direction in last year’s review. Because it wasn’t in the plan until COVID-19.

I’m a proponent of multiple revenue streams. Having a solitary freelance client at any one time, for example, is something I’ve always avoided.

So when things looked uncertain in the world I entered the creator economy.

I knew that if I was serious about making it in this space, I had to start building an email list. So in April, I launched my first digital product on pay what you want terms with Gumroad.

10 Steps To Becoming A Better Freelance acts a primer for early and intermediate freelancers looking to take their business to the next level.

Over 2,200 people have downloaded my first eBook to date. It’s been awarded mostly 5-star reviews and has generated more than $1,000 in voluntary revenue.

My second release, Pricing Freelance Projects, was born off the back of the aforementioned Twitter thread’s success.

With so many eyes on this series of tweets, I dropped everything to get an expanded version out of my head. I had to see how the market reacted to my knowledge:

Would people be interested in long-form content from me? (The book is ~30,000 words).
Would people buy it?

I quickly set up a pre-order page—again with Gumroad—and the sales started flowing in.

Purchases slowed after launch (as is to be expected), nonetheless, the book continues to sell regularly in the background.

I welcomed a large number of new readers on Black Friday; making $4,000+ in revenue on that day alone.

https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1332600724220424194

Pricing Freelance Projects has sold ~650 copies to date, making ~$16,000 in total revenue.

My early days in digital products leave me pondering, was the time investment worth the return?

Could I have made more than $17K freelancing in that time? Probably.

Do I enjoy creating valuable products for people more than freelance work? Probably.

It’s a tough question to answer.

I believe that being active in the creator economy can move your earning potential way beyond that of a solo-service-seller—Jack Butcher’s Visualize Value is proof of that.

But until compounding takes effect, it’s about balance.

Ideas for new products come weekly, if not daily. I’ve been self-employed for a long time and the questions my audience ask provide an ongoing flow of potential topics.

While I can call this semi-experiment a relative success—with more products on the near horizon—I’ll not be retiring just yet.

Mentorship

I wrote in my 2019 review that I’d soon launch a mentorship programme for freelancers.

Throughout 2020, I’ve helped more than 20 freelancers move their careers forward.

It’s been a huge investment, but I’ve loved every minute.

In doing something that doesn’t scale, I’ve uncovered again what makes freelancers tick. I’ve reset myself to when I started out in some cases and when I struggled for direction in others.

We’ve covered positioning, pricing and beyond. And it’s been one of the most fulfilling endeavours I’ve undertaken.

The programme started on a one-on-one email basis in January and was extended with a Slack community towards the summer.

It’s not perfect, but the ongoing subscriptions prove its value.

While providing peace of mind, offering an experienced ear, setting tasks and expecting accountability gets results, I feel the low price point results in less time committed.

I believe that the more people pay for something the more attention it receives. In October, I raised the price from £99 per month to £149 (for new mentees) as the service neared capacity.

I’d like to see how this goes in early 2021, however, I now understand why coaching often comes at a far higher premium.

Life

Family

We’ve been blessed with such a well behaved child in Ruby. She’s made my introduction to parenting a joy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CI_EPuTFwS6

We celebrated Ruby’s 1st birthday in October.

My wife Steph and I both enjoy being at home and “lockdown” has brought us even closer.

I feel grateful for time I’ve had to dedicate to my family.

Home

We made some more adjustments to the property we bought in 2019. This time, exteriorly.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-kY5uUFAPX

The back garden had a downward gradient in one corner (fixed with 10-tonnes of soil) and we timber-decked over the existing stone elevation.

It’s given us a much more usable outdoor space.

There’s more to do before summer, so I’ll reserve the before and after pictures until then.

Investments

I, like many, saw an opportunity to enter the stock market in March.

My portfolio is ~£15,000 in profit at the time of writing.

I’m not sure whether this was luck, a sure-bet due to the state of the economy or through semi-astute picks.

Nonetheless, I’ll continue to pursue this as an area of genuine interest and a way to financially secure my family’s future.

Balance

I’ve found balance harder to come by this year.

As someone who relies on exercise, I found it tough when the gyms closed.

A result of COVID-19 that’s hit me harder than I thought it would is the lack of social interaction. The lack of travel too.

Being able to reset short-term by going to a football game or longer-term by taking a holiday is important to me.

We managed to get out to Dubai before the travel restrictions, which was lucky in hindsight.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9SD3IBlU-h

With many ideas in my head, I started filling my COVID-enforced spare time with work. Never to excess, but nonetheless, something I want to include here.

I replaced the gym with long walks and have established a new love for reading.

The Autumn brought some unnerving health news in my extended family (thankfully with a decent outcome) and with it a tough few weeks mentally. With some work, I came out feeling clearer than ever about what’s important and where I want to go.

I’m starting to find peace knowing that I won’t be able to do it all.

Wrap Up

2020

A year like no other.

In the summer, while walking 2-meters away from the person in front, I thought, “How will I explain to my daughter that this is what we had to do?“.

Maybe we’ll be doing it forever and I won’t have to.

Professionally, I’m happy. I’ve made good money, helped people, made friends and had fun. I feel in transition but with clear direction.

As 2020 draws to a close, my lasting feeling is gratitude. In a world where many have lost so much, we’ve been OK. And for that, I’m thankful.

2021

I’m thinking not in goals but directions.

I have clarity on how I want to bet my time. At least until I see what works and what doesn’t.

I’m in full control of my schedule, the pandemic hasn’t hurt us much and my family are in decent health.

My platform to pursue the angles I’m interested in feels solid.

I’m excited for the future, wherever it takes me next.

Betting With Time

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 13:00:00 GMT

I realised control over my time the day I graduated from University in Sheffield, UK, 2009. Or so I thought.

“I can’t work for a boss” was my only criterion when entering the world after education. Even at 22, I knew I couldn’t work a 9-5.

While my cogs turned on a solution and money was sparse, I interviewed for a job at the local college.

My heart wasn’t in it. The interview process irked me, the paperwork bored me and the thoughts of what my day-to-day might look like filled me with dread.

Luckily, I didn’t get the job. And the next week, I landed my first freelance web development client.

It might have looked like I had a lot of freedom—to my friends at least—back then. But it was years later that I’d come to understand true autonomy.

In truth, when you have things you want, bills you must pay and little savings, you’re only a smidgen freer in self-employment.

In the beginning, you’re grateful for whatever work you can get from whoever you can get it from. You can’t really choose how to bet your time; you just have the illusion of being able to.

When you need the work, you need to bend. It’s only as time goes by and opportunities increase that you arrive at the holy grail somewhat disappointed.

Four years into my freelancing career, I could start to be truly choosy. Clients, projects, what days I worked, how long I worked for. I had enough demand for my services and money in the bank to start making the mirage of freedom a reality.

If false autonomy is the first stage of trickery for those of us who go it alone to evade, inaction induced autonomy is the second stage.

When you need to work less to pay your way, you have more time to bet with. And when you’re new to this surplus, you often wager it unwisely.

Parkinson’s law states that “The amount of time that one has to perform a task is the amount of time it will take to complete the task.”

When you have plenty of ideas and ample time to work—as many entrepreneurs do—it’s effortless to fill your calendar with fake progress.

Eleven years since entering self-employment, the overriding question of 2021 isn’t which clients I work with or what days I work, but whether I work at all.

And having time to bet with is stifling if you let it.

A Polymaths’ Curse

When you’re interested in a range of domains, you pursue them all naturally. Often until the one you’re most interested in creeps ahead, the rest of the pack fall away and a career is born.

This is how my early years in business played out.

My interests centred around video game development, art and the internet. Then I concentrated on the development of WordPress websites and this is where my knowledge lay while I cut my teeth in the world.

But with each year came a new interest, or two, or three:

In my early-20s, I started reading business books to get my WordPress consultancy ahead.

My mid-20s saw me pursue fitness, routine and self-improvement.

My late-20s saw me start an eCommerce business, leading me to study copywriting, digital marketing and sales psychology.

My early-30s brought me into authorship, digital product creation and stock market investing.

The older I get, the wider my mind opens.

By trade, I’m a programmer who learns new things easily. It’s a blessing in business but a curse when knowing how to bet with your time once you hit the aforementioned surplus.

I’ve learned that shiny object syndrome is real and not overwhelming yourself is a business skill. Choosing from the menu of options your brain serves daily is tough.

A few items on my brain’s à la carte at present:

Could I take a year off?
Could I write more books?
Could I create a video course?
Could I build a SaaS product?
Could I start an agency or two?
Could I teach people how to code?
Could I coach freelancers more intensively?
Could I trade the stock market more actively?

These are solid suggestions because the answer to all of these questions is “yes”.

When your days aren’t decided for you—or a portion of them, at least—choosing three square meals instead of snacking is tricky. Because they’re all attractive and viable options.

This introduces the concept of Betting With Time.

How people with specific knowledge in multiple fields and a diverse set of skills choose to prioritise their time fascinates me.

How does one wager their most valuable asset effectively?

Your Most Valuable Asset

Your most valuable asset is time.

Here’s one of my favourite quotes on the relationship between time and money from entrepreneur and investor, Naval Ravikant:

Earn with your mind, not with your time. Naval Ravikant

As someone who, in early life felt that my time would never run out and in early business, sold it hourly as a freelancer; clarity on this concept took—well, what would you know—time.

It’s difficult to understand the compounding effects of doing something well for a long time when you haven’t done something well for a long time.

Then you reach the tipping point and crystallisation of this concept is achieved:

You have to spend time early to make more later.

https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1340628876469399553

The Highest Form Of Wealth

The highest form of wealth is the ability to wake up every morning and say “I can do whatever I want today”. Morgan Housel

When I read this excerpt from The Psychology of Money, I felt grateful. Business has been good to me and the autonomy I’ve engineered allows me a fulfilling life.

I’ve often thought about how my life would be different if I made a multi-million-pound exit from a company I own.

After the Lamborghini and a month in Las Vegas, it wouldn’t be much different at all:

Providing for my family and being of service to the world by solving interesting problems and doing things I find fun.

No matter how wealthy I get from this point—so long as I keep ticking over—the end-game day-to-day is pretty similar.

I’m wealthy already. Because I have control of my time.

But control brings with it conundrums:

How can I best provide for my family?
How can I best be of service to the world?
How can I be the most fulfilled?
How can I have the most fun?

What do I bet my time on?

Deciding What To Bet On

I’m not risk-averse.

I’m partial to a sports bet, like to run my own investment portfolio and I pulled our new house to bits with a baby on the way.

As an overall assured person, making decisions never came difficult to me. Because—even if I didn’t realise it at the time—many of these decisions were already made.

The client was taken because my mobile phone bill needed paying and I worked evenings because I wanted a holiday.

As I write this, I don’t need to do anything to fulfil either.

With greater control of your time, decisions become harder until you prioritise with care:

“I could work on X, Y or Z; but what should I would on?”

I’ve realised that I won’t be able to do it all and I’m becoming OK with that; not every idea is a good idea.

So this presents the question:

How does one navigate betting with their time?

Here are my non-negotiables:

Family

My family will always come first. I refuse to play a non-active role as a father, husband, son, brother and uncle in favour of busyness for busyness’ sake.

The first portion of my betting budget is allocated here.

Health

My health relies on exercise.

Working out gives me clarity and allows me to take care of myself so that I can be better for those I care about.

I’ll always bet on exercise.

Life

I’ve always freelanced in a life-first fashion.

There’s no point in working to level-up your life—beyond a certain point—if you never take time to enjoy the life that you’re levelling-up.

I get a lot from the perspective offered by friends and travel in particular.

Things that are I enjoy will receive an allocation.

Business

Omitting family, health and life from your time priorities harms work time.

When work time is in oversupply and you love what you do, you’re susceptible to a blinkered vision of what success takes.

A perspective of, “I’ll get more done if I don’t take a walk/work out/go to the football game” is counter-intuitive, because each priority supports the others.

Sure, you might get more done in the short-term. But is it sustainable? And how’s the quality of the work you did on no sleep? How present were you eating dinner with your family?

That lesson has already been learned.

With essential time allotted, what’s non-negotiable when betting on business pursuits?

Here’s my working ruleset:

Take risks while retaining wealth (autonomy)
Realise that you can’t (and don’t have to) do it all alone
Increase the surface area of success without overburdening yourself
Make it fun and consistency will come as a byproduct
Identify long-term opportunities with compounding benefits
Invest in connections with effective people

While I’m prepared to gamble, I like the odds to make sense; whether that be on my football accumulators, the companies I invest in or when betting with my time.

And I believe these rules bring clarity when deciding what to bet on.

Hedging Your Bets

I write ten, sometimes twenty notes per day. Inspiration can strike at any time. Often while working on something unrelated, usually while walking my dog and sometimes in the middle of the night.

Remembering things is hard for me. I can’t remember a three-point shopping list without cementing it in my Notes app.

Equally, when a business idea arrives, I have to get it out of my head if I want to remember it.

The upside of having many ideas is that you have them, the downside is that you’ll never have time to action them all. You need to bring an idea to market to see if it’s a good idea.

While we’ve covered how to help you decide what to bet your time on, we’ve yet to approach volume:

How many ideas should one give focus to at any one time?

“Niching down” is a smart play and I owe a lot of my success in freelancing to the practice of this concept. However, a generalist can still be a specialist in their marketing.

For instance, I can still be a WordPress consultant to the people who land on my website through a Google search. And I can still help people get ahead in their freelancing careers through sharing my experience on Twitter.

You can be different things to different people and you don’t have to hang your hat on one quest forever. That wouldn’t be a smart play. You’ve got to move with the world because it’s not stopping for you.

One could argue that the multi-faceted approach is a personal brand enhancer as opposed to a personal brand diluter. Of course, talking about dolphins and gardening when starting to build a brand wouldn’t make sense.

Paradoxically, after focusing on one thing for a while, synergising dolphins and gardening may become your ticket to freedom. Or as writing expert David Perell coined it, your “Personal Monopoly”.

A unique intersection of skills, interests and personality traits that make you one-of-a-kind. David Perell

It’s impossible to commit an appropriate amount of time to ten or twenty ideas at once. Most would agree on that. Yet one source of effort feels equal parts boring and risky.

Which leaves you to ponder:

What’s the magic number of concurrent viable pursuits?

Self-employment champion Daniel Vassallo describes his business as “A Portfolio Of Small Bets”. At the time of writing, his Twitter bio shows four active paths.

Having worked on a project basis for the past decade, I’m left with similar conclusions:

1 project is pedestrian
2 projects are steady
3 projects are great
4 projects are challenging yet manageable

My portfolio of pursuits has begun naturally arranging itself into position:

Growth of my WordPress consulting business
Helping freelancers through content, mentorship and digital products
A SaaS product (TBA)
Open, for now

The key to each pursuit being that I remain autonomous, with the ability to add more or less input as required. Just like when your kids need different things at different times; you still love them the same under varying attention.

I believe the solution to Betting With Time is to take risks under due diligence.

Think, “Which opportunities have both the biggest upside and the least chance of failing?“.

Think, “How much can I realistically handle—alone or with a small team—without experiencing diminishing returns in the rest of my life?“.

Think, “Can I fail and stay alive financially?“.

To bet with time effectively, you must increase your surface area of success without overwhelming yourself.

Betting With Time means to carefully consider what fulfils you and what makes the most sense to pursue.

Because life is a gamble and time is the currency.

Pricing Freelance Projects

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 10:00:00 GMT

I wrote a Twitter thread about my experience, learning and knowledge on pricing projects as a freelancer.

Over the next 36 hours it’d gained tens of thousands of likes.

Here’s “Pricing freelancing projects. Everything I’ve learned. A thread.” eternalised in article form:

Pricing Strategies

Having one pricing strategy that you can apply to every real-world engagement is often a fallacy.

Learn these pricing methodologies:

Hourly billing
Daily billing
Retainers
Fixed-pricing
Value-based pricing

Understand their pros and cons.

Understand your circumstances.

Understand the project.

Choose appropriately.

You don’t have to use the same pricing methodology for every engagement.

Client 1: Day rate
Client 2: Fixed priced project
Client 3: Ongoing retainer

Use the strategy that fits the work best.

Hourly Billing

Charging by the hour doesn’t work in favour of freelancers.

If you need to use it to get started, stop using it as soon as you can.

Hourly billing is by far the worst pricing methodology to use for profit.

Hourly billing is by far the worst pricing methodology to use for efficiency.

Do you want to avoid:

Estimating every small task?
Filling out timesheets?
Sending tons of invoices?
Having to justify every time you go “over”?

Avoid hourly billing.

Daily Billing

There are two ways to bill daily:

1 day = 8 hours or 1 day = 1 day.

Always use the latter.

The former robs you of your autonomy.

If you want to raise your rates in future, when billing by the day, max out at selling 4 days per week to clients.

Give yourself time to grow your own business.

If you bill your client daily, you’re giving them a day’s work.

Nothing else.

It’s a rolling engagement for a reason.

Day rate can’t come with a guarantee of completion.

“Day rate” where you guarantee a set amount of logged hours is worse than billing hourly.

It’s billing hourly for less money.

Fixed-Pricing

Rules for fixed-price projects:

Get a deposit
Get a fixed scope
To reduce the price you must reduce the scope
Don’t use estimated days x day rate = price
Add a minimum 20% contingency
Price high enough to make a profit after you’ve paid yourself

Remember that when you give a fixed-price for a scope of work, you are guaranteeing completion.

Going back to the table for more money at this stage leaves a bad taste.

Fixed-price projects are highly beneficial to efficient freelancers.

If quality is retained.

Fixed-price terms are nearly always best.

Value-Based Pricing

Value-based pricing requires the most effort when making offers.

But you should still research your client when using other strategies.

How valuable will you be to them?

Value-based pricing TLDR version:

Your client’s average lead value = £500

You estimate that your work will get them 100 leads in year 1.

That’s £50,000 of value.

You give a price for your work based on a % of that figure.

If you can show the value, you can justify the price.

Retainers

Retainer agreements are a useful safety strategy.

Give preference to retainer engagements that sell your availability to deliver knowledge, not your labour.

Proposals

Don’t get tricked into sharing tons of project specific information in a proposal.

If you can’t write a proposal without research then you need a pre-project.

Discovery work has value and should come at a price.

Proposals > estimates.

Estimates

Estimates are never accurate.

Deposits

Get. A. Deposit.

Your Value

You can’t charge a premium if your individual value isn’t obvious.

Things that increase perceived value and thus project price:

The scarcity of your time (availability)
What you’ve done before (credibility)
The project price itself

Reducing your price means reducing your perceived value.

If you don’t also reduce scope.

Positioning

If you’re the most expensive option, and a prospect who cares can’t understand why, your positioning is off.

Price tells it’s own story, but it needs back up from credibility.

Availability

If you’re instantly available, expect to be asked to lower your price.

Risk

If it’s most risky for you to work with the client the price should be higher.

If it’s most risky for the client to work with you the price will be lower.

Price mirrors risk.

Negotiation

Never use your bottom line as your price.

Negotiate on terms, not price.

Safety Money

When a hard deadline is introduced to a fixed-price project, add 20%.

If you think there’s a chance you might kick yourself for not charging enough, it’ll probably happen during the project. Add 20%.

Things To Note

Some people will pick the cheapest price because it’s the cheapest.

Some people will pick the most expensive price because it’s the most expensive.

The way that pricing methodologies are received differs from country to country.

Be aware of this when making offers.

Sometimes pricing a freelancing project can be as simple as:

Freelancer: “I’m happy to do the work for this price”.

Client: “I’m happy to pay this price for the work completing”.

Summary

Pricing freelancing projects is tough.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

Understand each method.

Have your preferences.

Be aware of your position.

Gauge what your clients are most likely to accept.

Apply the most appropriate strategy to get the job at a price you’re happy with.

Pricing Freelance Projects The Book

“Pricing Freelance Projects” the book, is available now!

All the details of pricing myself to a six-figure yearly freelance career are inside.

It’s a value-packed ~30,000 words across 135 pages.

If you liked the thread, you’ll love the book!

Get “Pricing Freelance Projects” Now

Communication Crowd Control

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 16:00:00 GMT

Dealing with interruption is a struggle that all freelancers and self-employed people face.

Whether the interruption comes from clients or family and friends, repetitive distraction prevents you from working efficiently.

_{^{Managing work without communication crowd control.}}

As a developer and someone who writes a lot, even the smallest unexpected interjection knocks me out of my “deep work” state.

“Deep work is the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task” – Cal Newport

This is frustrating because getting to deep work state takes time.

Any interruption is like pressing the reset button.

Having dedicated periods of time to perform intensive tasks is what lead me to become a better freelancer.

How do I define “better”?

Spending more time with my family, having more social time, being able to reserve time for exercise, feeling mentally level, earning more money, working with interesting clients, being able to pick and choose projects, doing work that I find fulfilling and being in a position to help others.

Everyone’s definition of success is different, but for me, this, collectively, is it.

When you’re aware of your strengths, when it’s clear that what you’re doing is working; you’ve got to double-down.

Because I knew that getting to, and maintaining, deep work state was good for me, I started to protect it.

Protecting deep work through your own actions is straightforward.

If not straightforward to develop the will-power to not perform state-breaking actions, straightforward enough to grasp the concepts and why they’re important.

“Stay away from social media”, “Your inbox is not your to-do list”, “Don’t invite friends round for coffee in the middle of the day”.

You’ve heard it all before.

What’s harder to control are the external factors.

When you run your own business, have a family who depends on you and friends who you’re close with; that’s a lot of people vying for your attention each day.

Which in turn, through no fault of anyone, causes interruptions during work time.

Some of this interruption, I absolutely want.

Most, I absolutely don’t.

If my wife or daughter need help with something urgent, please interrupt me.

If a client’s website gets hacked I want to know ASAP.

If my brother-in-law tags me in a post on Facebook, I really don’t care at this moment in time.

If my friend calls to ask if I’m free for a round of golf, I don’t want to allocate mental space to that right now.

If a client wants to shoot the breeze for an hour, that’s often not worth being broken out of deep work state for either.

So what’s the solution to this?

How can you maintain productivity by protecting yourself from excess external demands for your attention?

Without coming across as a self-important and lacking empathy?

Communication Crowd Control.

Communication crowd control is what I call the system that allows me to maintain everyday efficiency by setting boundaries with myself and managing the expectations of the people who want my attention.

The Communication Crowd Control System

_{^{Communication crowd control.}}

This is how the system is made up.

Personal Communication Boundaries

Firstly, I give myself the best chance of not being broken out of deep work state through communication crowd control.

These are the things that you can do yourself.

Notifications Off

I’ve tested deleting my social media apps, but as I use my devices outside of work time too, this proved annoying if I wanted to quickly catch up while out walking or chilling.

What works best for me is to completely remove notifications from my life.

This includes my phone, tablet and laptop.

You can have the best will-power in the world, but while your devices have the ability to call out to you, whenever they want, you’ll lapse at some point.

It’s exactly what notifications are meant to do:

Encourage that first engagement, then hold you there, capturing your attention within the app.

The only caveat to my “Notifications Off” stance, is if I’m working closely with people on a specific project.

In these instances, we’ll likely be using a real-time chat tool like Slack.

What I do here is mute all notifications except direct messages.

I then make my communication preferences clear to my collaborators so that they know to use this avenue sparingly.

For instance, in scenarios where the information I hold is necessary to unblock their progress.

Phone On Do Not Disturb

During work hours, my mobile phone lives in do not disturb mode.

Answering unsolicited phone calls all day isn’t a good self-employment strategy.

This revelation hit me a few years in to my freelancing career.

I’d been on calls all day.

Some calls following up enquiries that had come in through my website, most calls were completely out of the blue.

It was 09:00 one minute and 16:00 the next.

I got nothing else done.

None of my plans moved forward.

I finished work for the day feeling frustrated.

The calls all ended up being pretty much worthless.

Goodwill aside, the direct cost to me was a full day’s time.

The project work that I was involved in didn’t advance.

I didn’t get time to produce any content as part of my ongoing marketing strategy.

I made no money.

Couple this example of extreme unsolicited call frequency with the fact that even one is a deep work killer, and it becomes obvious that freelancers need to manage their incoming calls.

I took my phone number off my website right then.

The thing is, you don’t have to answer the phone every time it rings.

How do you know if it’s worth answering?

You can’t qualify an unsolicited phone call.

You can qualify one that’s to be booked in advance.

Sure, someone might have to wait a while for their answer.

But that’s not always a bad thing. For you, or them.

The person calling gets a well researched, prepared and considered answer as opposed to something less valuable, done off the cuff.

You get to focus on the work you’ve lined up for the day and because you don’t answer the phone right away, your time appears scarcer; which, rightly or wrongly, increases the perceived value of it (presuming you get back to people at all)!.

Taking charge of unsolicited calls allows you to filter contact through more manageable platforms.

If you train people not to call you by removing your phone number from your website and by not answering while you’re trying to focus, they’ll start using alternative routes.

For instance, receiving an email, or even a Tweet means that I can quickly read (and reply if needed) while on a break, without committing an unknown amount of time to the communication.

This means, if you want my attention quickly, an email or a Tweet is your best route.

Not a call out of the blue that I have no idea how long it will last.

Email Occasionally And In Bulk

Changing how I use email helped massively.

In my early career, I’d have the Mail app open while I worked.

I’d have half an eye on that little red number the whole day.

Not replying to the emails that arrived in my inbox would give me anxiety.

I took charge of managing this by starting from scratch in terms of how I deal with email.

Alongside my email notifications being off, I only check my inbox a few times per day, when I’m not aiming for periods of focused work.

Emails that need further attention, either a direct reply or another action, I set aside.

The rest, I leave.

I also reply to emails in bulk.

This is usually done at the start of the day, sometimes around lunchtime and at the end of the day.

Batching similar small tasks helps me to build up a flow of momentum.

Each task becomes easier due to the completion of its predecessor.

Retraining myself to use email as a whole allows me to prevent being interrupted by it, and, curb my need-to-reply anxiety.

Qualify The Necessity Of All Meetings

If you want to get work done, you can’t meet up with everyone who wants to enquire about your services.

You can’t even meet up with your clients every time they want to.

I used to feel flattered by being asked to attend lots of meetings.

That soon wears off.

It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to ~~be nice~~ get stuff done.

A meeting is the biggest form of interruption via external communication there is for a freelancer.

I’ve had people ask me to head to London (a 2-hour train journey from Wakefield) for an initial meeting, sans-payment of travel expenses.

It’s a huge commitment.

Time-wise and financially (“cost of sales” I hear you cry)!.

This is what makes gauging how essential, or necessary at all, a proposed meeting is.

“This meeting should have been an email!” – Everyone, ever

If someone wants to meet up to pick my brains about a project, as our first interaction, I can’t facilitate it.

A potential loss of time for nothing scenario is too much of a risk.

My experience also tells me, there’s a high chance this opportunity won’t ever come to fruition.

Take meetings sparingly; post qualification.

Ask yourself:

Does this meeting have a genuine chance of gaining business?

Seek answers from your lead to help you make the call.

I use questions like, “My projects start at £X, can this work?”, and, “Why do you want to work with me in particular?“.

This level of directness can make you worry about coming across abruptly (I know that’s how I felt), but in practice, people appreciate it when you get straight to the point.

Concluding early whether you’re a good fit to work together or not saves them time too.

Instances when current clients want to hold a meeting, of course, has more importance by default.

But you should still qualify these requests.

My default stance is to make physical meetings a rarity.

I clarify this with everyone that I work with from the off.

If I think that calling a meeting is going to result in better value being obtained than a combination of other communication, I’ll absolutely suggest it.

In practice, over an 11-year freelancing career, these instances have been few and far between.

When a client suggests a meeting, certify it with the direct time cost in mind.

Overestimate the involvement and underestimate your ability to do anything else that day.

A two-hour meeting with an hour of travel each way might look like half a day on paper.

However, if you’re anything like me, your sharpness will be shot in the afternoon afterwards.

That’s if your afternoon doesn’t get eaten into by meeting overrun or transport delays!

Stand up for the value of your time when meetings are called.

In my experience, a video call, email exchange or Slack conversation often gets equal results, faster.

Schedule Calls At Smart Times

When do you do your best work?

For me, it’s between 08:00–11:00 and 12:00–15:00.

That’s when the majority of my precious deep work happens.

Because I know this about myself, I schedule calls around these times.

This seems glaringly obvious to me now, but it wasn’t for a long time.

I’d accept any meeting time that a prospect or client suggested.

I was happy to have the call at all.

But I started to realise that because my calls were scattered across the day, often heavily amongst my best work periods, I was hindering my efficiency.

My tactic now is to steer people towards calls at the start and end of each day.

When a call is mentioned, I’ll suggest a date and time right away.

Not, “A call sounds great, let me know when’s good for you”.

But, “I can take a call tomorrow at 07:30 or 15:30, I’ll send you an invite for each, accept which is best!“.

Much of the time, the person will be able to commit to one of those.

If not, then it’s likely they’ll be able to the day after. The call organisation portion of communication crowd control isn’t a flat “no” system.

Obviously, sometimes you’ll need to schedule calls outside of these hours.

It might be a superb opportunity that you’re willing to make a concession for, or you might be working alongside an international client with a time difference.

Scheduling calls at smarts times means that you make a judgement call on each one.

Ask yourself, “Can this call take place outside of my best working times?“.

I bet most can.

External Communication Expectations

This is the harder part of the communication crowd control system.

Managing the expectations of other people requires considered conversation.

It’s easy for people to take your request for focus the wrong way.

When you let people know how you’re most effective, and why their potential interruption hinders that, it must be done with understanding and tact.

These are the external communication expectations that I talk about with others.

Work Time Boundaries

If you’re working, you’re working.

While the flexibility of freelancing is one of its key benefits, if you’re serious about maximising efficiency, when you’re scheduled to work, people need to respect this.

Equally, your business associates need to respect when you’re not working.

Setting work time boundaries goes both ways.

The time your clients and collaborators can expect you to be working
The time your family and friends can expect you not to be working

Having worked alongside a range of people on digital projects over the years, it’s commonly assumed that your working hours are Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:00 (give or take) local time.

Overall, this is a fair assumption.

However, this isn’t always how freelancers structure their weeks.

Family commitments might mean that you don’t work early mornings.

Perhaps, like me, you sometimes take Fridays off.

Even if you do fit into the commonly assumed schedule of working, you’ll still get people who’ll text, email or call at 21:00, and, expect a response.

But you will get people who’ll text and call at 21:00, and, expect a reply.

This happens because people project their schedule of working onto you.

It’s fair that people do this if you haven’t previously stated your preferences.

If you don’t give people an idea of what to expect from you, how can they know? They have to run with what they think is best.

The same goes for your nearest and dearest.

Your friend who comes round for an off-chance coffee at 10:30 on a Tuesday isn’t being purposely interruptive; they just don’t understand.

It’s on you to introduce, set and uphold your work time boundaries with the people who matter to you.

This can mean by coming up with a list of rules of engagement beside your client.

Or, at home, letting your partner know that if the office door is closed, that means you’d prefer not to be interrupted.

If you do this in the right manner, people will begin to understand your scheduling preferences, and, start adhering to them.

No Agenda, No Call

This is an expectation I set early on in any business relationship.

If someone doesn’t have an agenda in mind for a call with me, I explain why I’m not going to take it.

Even if they want to pay for my time, with no clear purpose for the call, the likelihood of a valuable outcome is drastically reduced.

An “I just want to pick your brains quickly” call is one of the biggest red flags in freelancing.

What’s the purpose?

What’s the objective?

How long will a call like this take?

If someone can’t set a general direction or come up with a short bullet-pointed programme, it’s pretty safe to assume that the call won’t go anywhere.

It’s definitely not worth being broken out of your valuable deep work state for.

An agenda shows advanced commitment on the call requesters’ behalf.

Without it, you increase the risk that you’ll give away time for nothing.

Limit Call Durations

If a relevant agenda is proposed for a call, the next thing that I do is to set a time limit for it.

The agenda of the call determines its duration. IE, the amount of time I’m willing to give to it.

Take an introductory sales call as an example.

Agenda: Potential client A and I are going to discuss whether we’re a good fit to work together or not.

After agreeing a start time, I’ll send out a calendar invite with a 20-minute duration attached. If you ask the right questions, this is more than enough.

This sets expectations right off the bat in a non-abrupt manner. You know how long the call will take and so will the person you’ll be speaking with.

Consultancy calls are commonplace in my weeks too.

Example agenda: Client B needs advice on topic X for reason Y.

With a clear topic to discuss and the reasoning for that pre-defined, I can allocate a sufficient amount of (paid) time prior to the start of the call.

You can avoid situations where calls become open-ended by setting an appropriate time limit in advance.

Be Clear How You Work Best

When you’re aware of how you work best, it’s important that you communicate that to others.

As I touched on earlier in this article, you can’t expect people to know this information if you don’t present it to them.

Early in my freelancing career, I was timid to express my communication preferences.

In the delight of my perceived importance to the project when being asked for calls or to attend meetings, I often fell into line with what other people expected and requested of me.

I know now, that the frequency and timing of incoming communication that I accepted back then, doesn’t allow me to do my best work.

My primary approach to taking control of this, and one of the key features of the communication crowd control system as a whole, is to be open and honest with people.

Keeping your preferences bottled up isn’t conducive to getting the best out of you. For anyone.

If you can’t do your best work, you feel frustrated.

If you can’t do your best work, your client gets a worse end result.

If you can’t do your best work, your ability to help others is diminished.

If you can’t do your best work, you’ll still be dwelling on it during non-work time.

You owe it to yourself and the people who matter to say how you work best.

People are often more understanding than you might think.

In terms of setting expectations with people, honesty, really is, the best policy.

Ask How Your Collaborators Work Best

Communication crowd control is a two-way street.

If you’re going to make your feelings known, you have to respect the wishes of the people that you work with too.

I always like to ask, especially at the start of a new project, what level of communication allows my collaborator(s) to do their best work.

In my experience, when I work with other developers, they largely prefer medium to large periods of deep work time like myself.

Projects managers, for instance, usually have slightly different preferences. Especially when it comes to communication frequency.

So in those instances, it’s important to come up with a compromise that best suits both of your needs.

This applies to family life too.

If staying in your office for 8 hours straight means that your partner feels lonely, you have a problem.

You can’t come up with a system that works for you and not the rest of the household.

It has to work for the unit in its entirety.

The Problem With Communication Crowd Control

There’s a problem with communication crowd control.

Some people won’t get the concept.

When you’re used to being in control of your own work time, you have to take into consideration that a lot of people aren’t, and don’t want to be.

Some people might even think that being rigid with your time is a selfish angle to take.

That’s understandable because it kind of is.

I need to manage communication to be the best version of myself. Personally and professionally.

Whether that be dedicating more time to writing articles than texting someone back during work hours or focusing on the current task at hand rather than answering every phone call.

“Selfishly” I want to be the best that I can be to get the most out of my time for me.

But it’s not just for me.

When I’m the best that I can be, I’m in a better position to help others.

I can be a better Dad to my daughter, I can be a better husband to my wife, I can be a better son to my parents, I can be a better brother to my sister, I can be a better confidant to my friends, I can be a better coach to other freelancers, I can be a better mentor to new developers, I can provide more value to my clients.

If I can set reasonable communication boundaries and manage people’s expectations then I can be fully mentally present and give 100% to the current moment.

With all this said, it’s a problem that I can live with.

In Summary

Learning to control how you deal with communication will guide you to become more efficient.

But do so with understanding.

If you can prevent the influx of daily information hitting you all at once, by allowing the right communication through your filter at the right times, you can be more effective across the board.

Use communication crowd control to get the most out of your time.

How to Start a Shopify Side Business and Sell It for 5 Figures

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 17:30:19 GMT

Since I can remember, I’ve always had an interest in business.

From selling mobile phones in college, to running my own WordPress consultancy for the last 11 years, and everything else in between.

Back in 2014, independent clothing was becoming a bigger thing. Throughout the UK and US, but even more so locally and within my circle of friends.

One day, a couple of those friends and I wondered if we could make our own independent clothing brand.

We started throwing a few ideas around and what started a semi-flippant conversation ended with us registering a company.

That’s where the story of how we built, ran and sold our Shopify business starts.

The Business

_{^{Myself, James and Jordan.}}

As soon as we started to discuss this seriously, I could hear the critics already.

Granted, 3 twenty-somethings starting their own “alternative” clothing line wasn’t exactly unique, but on paper, we had all the skills to make it work.

Jordan was (and is) an awesome graphic designer, James worked in logistics so had invaluable knowledge in that area, and I could build websites.

With our “what’s the worst that could happen” mentality in tow, we got moving.

I like naming things. Straight after the idea was touted, I started coming up with potential brand names.

We discussed one of my ideas that seemed most viable. It was catchy, had a little side reference to a cult film and shortened nicely.

In honesty, we didn’t think about this for too long. We came up with something that was half decent and went with it.

Jordan took the name and started to develop the branding and t-shirt design ideas.

_{^{T-shirt design ideas.}}

James got to work researching suppliers and planning distribution.

We then started thinking about how we would start selling our eventual products online.

Although my eCommerce experience laid with WooCommerce, I’d heard good things about Shopify.

It was up and coming, plus it gave me something new to learn from a web development angle.

The Shopify app made it easier for the three of us to manage the store collectively too.

After we’d made a decision on technology, the team made a wish list of products that the brand could sell.

While hoodies, coach jackets, sunglasses, headgear and other accessories were viable options, it felt like too much too soon.

We knew that graphic t-shirts would be our staple item, so for collection 1, we decided to keep our offering to 6 of these.

With no prior manufacturing knowledge, we deposited the now known to be an incredibly modest amount of £1,000 each (£3,000 total) into our business bank account.

After reviewing Jordan’s mockups and making a call on the designs and colourways for the tees, we started analysing the list of manufacturers that James had put together.

_{^{Product mockups.}}

It was only then that we realised just how much manufacturing costs!

We made a judgement call on our chosen supplier, who wasn’t the cheapest but could take a lot of the process off our hands for a fee.

With my freelancing clients to keep happy, this was fairly essential for me.

Our supplier would, de-tag, re-tag and bag all of the t-shirts for us.

Jordan had the logo artwork nailed down, so we had the hem tags made in bulk from a separate (cheaper) supplier.

We explored the possibility of the t-shirt supplier attaching these for us, but due to the additional logistical involvement, we decided to get this done by a local seamstress once we had the items in hand.

It was extra running about, but we knew we’d have to make some compromises.

Even when you use pre-made t-shirts and replace the labels with your own, minimal stock was a heck of an expense.

The order for the tees came in at around £2,500 for approx. 180 pieces.

While waiting for our products, we’d hold weekly meetings, usually over beer, rum, pizza and sides, to discuss the remaining items on our “for launch” list.

Jordan had made great progress on the website design.

After a few rounds of revision, he handed over to me and I started building out a Shopify site for the first time.

We wanted a custom look and feel, so I coded the theme from scratch.

_{^{The brand’s Shopify website.}}

Doing so allowed me to double down on the benefit.

We were using the best platform for the clothing line
I learned a new skill that I could sell as as service

A large part of the experience when receiving items from an independent clothing line is the packaging.

We studied this quite a lot, in the end going at it from the perspectives of, “what would we like to receive ourselves” and “what’s ‘cost-effective premium’“.

James had done a lot of work in this area and presented various samples to us.

In line with the “cost-effective premium” approach, we bulk-bought black tissue paper and brown paper bags.

_{^{How we packaged orders for shipping.}}

We branded these with our two custom-made ink stamps manually. A joyous task!

After the website was built and we had our packaging in hand, our stock arrived.

There’s nothing quite like feeling a tangible product that you’ve planned, designed and crafted yourself.

While planning a longer-term storage solution on the fly, I hauled the 12 boxes into my attic.

It wasn’t ideal, but it didn’t matter.

We were nearly up and running.

How We Ran It

_{^{Our first lifestyle photoshoot was in a local barbershop.}}

We had the perfect set up for this kind of business.

Primarily, we all had few responsibilities at the time which enabled us the time, alongside our “proper” jobs, to make it work.

Secondly, we all had complementary skills and knew people who could help us out when our internal skills wouldn’t cut it.

People of note to mention here were Jordan’s brother, who had photography skills that we could tap into and the various owner’s of local establishments that let us use their premises for shoots.

After our most “on-brand” friend volunteered his modelling services, we held the photoshoot for our first collection in a barbershop at a cost to the business of 3 t-shirts (thanks Dave, Liam and Karl).

_{^{Actually, the set for our first lifestyle shoot was the back of a shop.}}

We could then upload the products to the Shopify site and open up for business.

After building some initial hype locally, through our mailing list and on social media, the launch was well-received.

We made sales and people liked the products.

Every time the Shopify app sale notification pinged validated our decisions and reasoning.

It felt good.

We continued with the weekend meetings and set up a Slack community to stay in touch from day to day.

A typical week would be spent throwing ideas around on Slack, with an agenda being set beforehand for Saturday’s get together.

As design director, Jordan continued to work on things like digital assets and product development.

James continued to run the logistics side and posted out every order that came in from our Shopify store.

_{^{James modelling for the brand.}}

My role at this stage was to keep the website up to date, run the social media accounts and take charge of our marketing efforts.

Running the clothing line is where I first discovered the power of digital advertising.

How were we going to build our brands awareness outside of our small home town?

After spending time researching various intricacies and tactics, I proposed that we invest heavily in paid advertising to give us a head start.

We saw a solid return on investment for our Facebook and Instagram ads using audience relevant copy and lifestyle photography.

More importantly, this advertising started to build our brand.

People who bought once, often bought multiple times.

The paid ads were an intro to our brand, rather than just the cause of a one-off sale.

Social media continued to be an important platform throughout the lifetime of our involvement with the business.

I learned a lot in this field and saw a solid amount of success.

At the time of writing the Instagram account for our brand still has over 12,000 followers.

We’d continue release products every few months with no set timeline between collections:

Pick collection name/style
Product ideation and design
Order stock
Photoshoots
Upload products to Shopify
Launch via our mailing list and social media
Ship orders

_{^{Products on the brand’s Shopify site.}}

For a completely bootstrapped effort, the business ran pretty well, if haphazardly.

We were turning a profit on each product and investing that back into the business for growth purposes.

Paramountly, we enjoyed doing it.

I can’t say that our business was a well-oiled machine, but it made a little money and produced a lot of fun.

“Competitors”

_{^{A nature shot from our 4th lifestyle shoot.}}

It’s only when you enter a space that you see the true nature of it.

Some industries build peers up, others want to shoot them down through fear.

We found the independent clothing niche to be an incredibly protective one.

While everything I’ve ever learned bout marketing has taught me to collaborate, one business in the space took it upon themselves to actively try to devalue our efforts.

Or perhaps it was an attempt to diminish our resolve and get us to quit. We clearly had far fewer resources.

Who knows to be honest.

What I do know is that sending an organised group of people to spam another independent clothing line’s social media accounts, when they’ve done nothing wrong, isn’t how I’d act.

While a little shocked at first, we decided to take it as a compliment. They must have felt like we had a half-serious operation with room to grow within the industry.

In reality, we made most of our business-critical decisions while eating Domino’s and watching Match Of The Day.

_{^{Our typical meeting fuel.}}

Changes Along The Way

In 2016, James left the business.

As good friends, it was easy for him to be open about this with us; he wasn’t enjoying his side of the work anymore.

Jordan and I had more creative roles which came with greater power to influence the direction of the brand.

_{^{Just the two of us.}}

While there was nothing more important than getting orders sent out to customers, I understood his reasoning.

The logistics side of the business was tough and I suppose thankless at times.

As we started to stock more products, we soon had to move out of my attic.

James set up warehouse space and managed all stock and shipped all orders on his own.

I took over the warehouse/postage runs after he left and I began to understand his feelings even more.

The joy of hearing the Shopify ping soon started giving me anxiety knowing how many orders I’d have to ship.

There were no hard feelings what-so-ever.

Jordan and I bought James’ shares and carried on running the business until its close and subsequent sale.

Stock Held To Ransom

_{^{That time our stock got held to ransom in Turkey.}}

I’ve given this part of the story its own section as it’s equal parts informative and hilarious.

After we’d released a few collections using pre-bought t-shirt suppliers and local printer firms, we decided to spec our own custom-built products.

The hours we spent measuring garments we owned to craft the fit style that we wanted would allow us to increase our brand affinity, and our profits.

Jordan painstakingly learned how to produce a product specification that a factory could use to create our bespoke fit tees.

_{^{Our custom t-shirt spec.}}

We’d been in touch with a few factories. One in particular that had a representative who purposely sought us out through Instagram stood out.

The person who we dealt with had a factory in Turkey at their disposal that could produce custom fit garments, printed, tagged and bagged for far less than we were paying in the UK.

“This could be a big step forward”, we thought.

Although we were still living collection to collection in terms of cash flow, we made a judgement call to take the leap.

Our thinking was that if we wanted to jump up the ladder in terms of growth, this was the path to doing it.

So after approving an array of shipped samples, we went for it.

We specced up a new collection met the hefty minimum order quantities of our new supplier and sent over £3,500 to a person across Europe we’d never even spoken to on the phone.

At one point, a heap of regret fell over me.

It was only when we received the proof mockups of our garments via email that I felt confident that we hadn’t been scammed.

2-3 weeks passed and we received notice that our products were being shipped.

After an unanticipated run-in with a freight forwarder, our boxes were freed from the border and on route to the warehouse.

I got to the warehouse still half expecting the boxes to be filled with air.

But no, our custom fit t-shirts were here! The quantities tallied, the print quality was great and so was the sizing.

We were on to a winner.

The new products sold well and we raised enough money to order another collection and advertise its launch.

_{^{Our first batch of custom-fit t-shirts.}}

After following the same process through ideation, design, specification to ordering our new collection, my confidence started to lessen with our supplier.

The shipping timings weren’t aligning with what we’d come to expect.

“Your goods are en route” was the standard response for around 6 weeks.

Like any Yorkshireman with over £4,000 on the line, I chased our contact like my life depended on it.

The line of communication with the factory’s representative who we dealt with had become sporadic and hazy.

We only received put-offs and few answers.

This is when things started to get weird.

Jordan and I began to receive WhatsApp messages from the supposed factory owner’s friend.

How they found our personal mobile numbers, I have no idea.

Apparently, the representative we dealt with had cost the factory money.

In a similar way in which we were recruited by them, they’d been acting as a middle-person for other independent UK clothing brands and the bosses at the manufacturers.

The issue was that, although we paid for everything upfront, many of these other businesses didn’t.

Two, in particular, owed the rep and as it became evident that they were struggling to recover it, the factory bosses decided to take matters into their own hands.

We were told that the person we dealt with no longer worked with the factory.

A WhatsApp message arrived informing us that British independent clothing company A and British independent clothing company B hadn’t paid their bills.

“Sorry to hear that, but this isn’t our problem?”, we responded.

Soon after, it became clear that they were making it our problem.

Because we were also a British independent clothing company (they seemed to believe we were linked), our stock would be held in Turkey until we assisted in recovering funds from the other companies, or, paid their bills.

I actually started laughing when I read this.

If I didn’t laugh, I’d have cried.

_{^{My attempts at modelling for the brand were equally tear-inducing.}}

Of course, there was a decent chunk of money on the line, but the thought of having to participate in an international wild goose chase flattened me.

We were already working at 100%. We didn’t have time for this.

I knew that we’d this stock to have any hope of continuing the business and not losing any money, so, I mustered up the strength to take charge of the situation.

Many emails and WhatsApp to and fro later, after a few stressful weeks, the delivery truck turned up unannounced at our warehouse

Everything that we’d ordered was, thankfully, present.

This put an end to our engagement with the factory.

You might think that this was an “all’s well that ends well” scenario; we got the stock, so the business survived.

Unfortunately, it was the eye-opening experience that signalled the beginning of the end.

Winding Up

After stock-hijack-gate, Jordan and I held a couple of painful meetings.

We loved working on the business together, but we’d had a severe reality check.

We were making enough money to cover new collections and ad spends, but there wasn’t enough profit left over to grow the brand at any significant pace.

It was a labour of love (we paid ourselves in t-shirts), with a view on eventually being able to increase sales and profit margin through slowly raising brand awareness and ordering larger product quantities.

I could see the potential, and with a cash injection, I’m sure it would have gone further.

But the facts were, we couldn’t give the brand the time it deserved anymore.

Not for free, anyway.

We were both making good money from freelancing.

Jordan as a freelance graphic designer and myself as a WordPress consultant.

_{^{Jordan modelling for the brand. He always was the cooler one.}}

I started to resent the warehouse runs as it was directly taking me away from high paying client work.

4 years on since we formed the company, as our responsibilities increased, we had less time and it didn’t make financial sense for us to carry on running the business together.

We briefly discussed one of us buying the other out and continuing.

While I had ideas (holding no physical inventory enabled via dropshipping and print to order being the main one), it felt like the right time to end it there.

After selling the rest of our stock, we closed the books having each made a modest return on our initial investment.

What We Did Well

_{^{A lifestyle shot from our 3rd collection.}}

We learned a lot, we didn’t lose money, we paid our bills and for a long time, we had fun doing it.

As we discovered of other businesses along the way, this wasn’t always common practice.

The learning experiences I gained from our Shopify business are some of the most important in my career so far.

Some things that I feel we excelled at:

Branding
Audience identification
Teamwork
Use of technology
Product design
Digital advertising
Art direction

What We Could Have Done Differently

In retrospect, there were things that we could have done differently.

Perhaps doing these things would have meant we’d still be running the business.

We underestimated the amount of capital we’d need to get started. This put us on the back foot straight away.

An equal cash injection across the board wouldn’t have been viable, so we should have perhaps looked to take a loan at a good rate or external investment.

Cash flow stifled our growth massively.

_{^{If we had more cash, we’d have been able to release new designs more often.}}

Our initial product margins were too small.

In our excitement to get things made and our lack of experience in manufacturing, we went with the easiest option.

I dare say that if we had our time again, we’d have looked towards overseas manufacturing sooner; preferentially through people that don’t hold stock hostage!

On the topic of suppliers, once we’d decided who to use initially, we should have stuck with them for longer.

Over the first 4 collections, we changed the garment fit 3 times.

People don’t respond well to change in this regard and we lost some good customers due to this.

As is seemingly the standard cycle in the clothing industry, we fell into discounting, often heavily, old products to replenish cash flow to order new collections.

After new collections launched, it felt like a sale was sometimes the only way, rightly or wrongly, to rejuvenate interest in the brand and thus get sales.

I don’t like the fast-fashion business model and it’s not what I wanted us to become moving forward, but discounts felt like the only option for survival at times.

When you get stuck in a cycle of launch, sale, launch, sale, your customers become savvy to this.

People will often wait to get the items that they like at a cheaper price in the future. Because they know it’s coming.

If we were to have our time again, I’d hold sales in a far rarer and more unpredictable fashion.

_{^{Mail sacks full of orders that we shipped ourselves.}}

My biggest regret is not seriously revising the holding of our own inventory, warehousing and shipping early doors.

It was clear that this was the biggest bottleneck of the business and the job that we all disliked most.

We could have explored dropshipping more thoroughly.

Having tees made and shipped to order would have allowed us to release more products, more often and retain more time to work on the brand.

My final reflection is, did we really need 3 of us to run this business?

Knowing what I know now, it’s a resounding “no”.

Our business could have been better streamlined for sure.

But do I regret how we set up at the time?

Definitely not!

It was a major learning experience and a heck of a ride.

Running the brand alongside two of my best friends was one of the most fun periods of my life.

And when it made sense to end it, we did so amicably.

They say that you shouldn’t go into business with friends. I say that they had the wrong friends.

The Sale

So how did we sell the business?

It took over a year from the close of trade to selling it.

This might sound odd as most people want to buy a business that has active revenue coming in.

However, our buyer wanted a ready-made brand and eCommerce platform that was already semi-established.

Our dormant business was perfect for them in this regard.

After emptying our warehouse, I started to think that there may be some value in what remains.

“How much would the branding, product designs, garment specs and custom Shopify website cost someone if starting from scratch?“.

It wouldn’t be a cheap transaction and you’d begin with no brand awareness what-so-ever.

I spoke with Jordan and it was OK’d that I’d try to sell the brand as a package to someone who could carry it forward.

In the first instance, I went to Flippa and Shopify Exchange to list the site for sale using their automated estimates.

It was something like $6,500.

_{^{I listed our business for sale on Shopify Exchange.}}

But the site was only a small part of the package; we had all the branding, all the garment specifications, all the custom artwork that could be used on an array of potential products.

We had a few offers early on, but none came close to the price that we believed all of this was worth.

I made a post on the business’ Instagram account announcing that the brand was up for sale in its entirety.

I wouldn’t check the account every day.

The first comment that we received from our eventual buyer I didn’t see for a couple of weeks.

We started talking and it seemed like a deal had legs.

Their enthusiasm for the brand really impressed us.

_{^{Talk of a sale shone a light on the value that we had created.}}

I’d video call with the buyer a few times over the coming months to discuss things like, what our direction for the brand would be, what the sales figures were like and how we’d transfer ownership of the domains and social accounts.

After a while, the contact went cold for 6 months.

I thought the deal was dead in all honesty.

Then out of the blue, the buyer resurrected the conversation and was keen to progress quickly.

A handful of calls later, we eventually got the deal over the line for a significant 5-figure total.

It was a good deal for both parties.

Our buyer got the ready-made brand that he wanted; with digital assets of value that far outweighed the price paid.

And we managed to recoup some money for the time we’d invested.

The lesson here is to not let assets lie unused. They could be of significant value to someone else.

At the time of writing, I’m not sure what’s happening with the business to date.

We hope it’s been well looked after and that the buyer makes every success of it.

The brand was our passion project for a long time, so with the sale, we were glad to see it continue and get some money in return for our efforts.

Conclusion

_{^{All good things come to an end.}}

The concluding question that I ask myself with and without hindsight is, “Would I start this business again?“.

Then? Yes. It was definitely a positive outlet for me.

Now? In the way we did it? Probably not.

I do have a feeling that I’ll have another Shopify business one day. Selling what, I’m not sure yet.

It’s a great platform and there are plenty of eCommerce opportunities to go around these days for people with minimal time at their disposal.

The caveat at this stage of my life is that it’d have to run at least 90% automated.

This article was inspired by a similar one from Richard Haine’s entitled, How I Created A Company Then Sold It.

Why Freelancers Should Be Scared Of Whale Clients

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 16:41:33 GMT

I wrote a tweet recently that gained some attention:

https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1251583806026518532

Additional points were raised in the ensuing discussion and further explanation was requested, so here’s a deeper dive (pun intended) into why having a single “whale” client should scare you as a freelancer.

What is a “Whale” Client

Firstly, you need to know how to tell if you have a whale client.

A whale client can be defined as a client that accounts for a large part of your business’ revenue. Often well over half.

In freelancing terms, a whale client might even be the only client you’re working with; accounting for every penny that you’re earning.

Why You Should Be Wary Of Whale Clients As A Freelancer

It’s easy to think that you’ve arrived as a freelancer when you land such a big engagement, but in truth, it’s a false sense of security.

I went through this exact scenario with my first freelancing client.

Working solely for one client was great, until they decided to move on.

Others divulged similar experiences too:

https://twitter.com/financiallymint/status/1251590178826866691

They Can Pull The Plug At Anytime

The main thing that’s scary about the whale client setup is that clients can stop giving you work whenever they please.

Often with zero notice (unless you have a notice period detailed within your agreement).

https://twitter.com/AdrienneNakohl/status/1251883745554071552

Although you should always try to mitigate risk as a freelancer (more on this later), going from all to nothing without warning is frightening.

Your Business Is 100% Reliant On Someone Else’s

When you have a whale client you remove a level of control from yourself.

Your business’s success becomes reliant on one other business’s success born from other people’s decisions.

It’s an incredible risk to take as a freelancer to relinquish such a large amount of control.

A bad decision from the CEO at your whale client could be the difference between you being able to continue to live in the manner that you are accustomed to, or not.

At the end of the day, if your client starts struggling, they will pay themselves first.

Plus in circumstances like these, freelancers are commonly the first ones out of the door.

It’s Like Having A Job

https://twitter.com/lovevalgeisler/status/1251922615234703360

Are you a freelancer at all if you have a single whale client?

A key benefit of freelancing is the agility and flexibility it affords. You rob yourself of this a little by going all in on a whale client.

It’s another forfeit of control.

Another reason to be scared is that you’ll likely be so busy with your whale client that your business becomes paralysed.

Whale clients can keep you so tied up that you have no time, or energy, to continue marketing and moving your business forward.

https://twitter.com/_marcba/status/1252112206113767424

Caveats

Alongside those that agreed fully with the sentiment of my original tweet, there were people who drew valid attention to some caveats.

https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1251953096621776897

While I stand by singular whale clients being a scary prospect for a freelancer, the risk mitigation techniques discussed in the above exchange are important to note.

If you can get a notice period in your contract, by all means take this on board during your analysis of what makes your client a whale.

I’m a proponent of spending less than you earn, so having a “rainy day” fund gets a thumbs up from me.

With that being said, I’d be more comfortable not having to dip into my savings because my whale client ditched me.

All in all, you should always look to manage risk as a freelancer, and whale clients are one of the biggest to be managed.

How To Avoid Falling Into The Whale Client Trap

In short, don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.

What has always stood me in good stead as a freelancer is to have multiple revenue streams and/or opportunities in the works at any one time.

For instance, you might have one large project running alongside a couple of smaller ones, with an iron or two in the fire for more work when your availability next allows.

Or you might work 2 days per week for one client and 2 days for another; as opposed to 4 days for one. (1 day retained for working on your own business’ progress!).

I’m not saying that you need to have multiple engagements running concurrently at all times. I appreciate that this is not always achievable (although it would be beneficial).

Nonetheless, if you’re in a situation where a singular whale client makes up the majority of your income, you need to be cautious.

Look towards the diversification of your client base to prevent the rug from being pulled from under you.

Investigate other revenue streams that can supplement your client work.

At the very least, keep marketing, and thus the opportunities flowing, alongside your whale client in case it swims off.

Introducing My Mentorship Programme For Freelancers

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 12:00:00 GMT

You may have read in my last article, 2019 - A Year In Review, that I was preparing the launch of my freelancing mentorship programme.

The good news is, I’ve just launched it! And I wanted to write a little bit about how it came to be, here.

I’ve been mentoring a handful of people on freelancing for a while now. I’ve found it to be incredibly fulfilling personally and, based on their feedback, my mentees have gained much valuable insight from the process.

It’s a great feeling to truly help people who were in my shoes; looking to get ahead in their freelancing career.

Based on this success and after receiving further direct requests for mentorship opportunities, I wanted to get this out to a wider audience. So here we are.

If you want to learn how to get paid what you’re worth, work smarter and find balance through one-on-one freelancing focused mentorship, you can enrol on my freelancing mentorship programme today by clicking here.

To allow me to offer this, my mentorship programme is a paid service. I want to ensure full commitment from everyone I teach.

The price is £99 per month and you can cancel at any time.

My aim is to provide big value at a low price. I want my mentorship to pay for itself many times over through the guidance you’ll receive.

As an introductory offer, my mentorship is half price for 3 months if you enrol before 12/02/2020. That’s just £49 per month.

There are limited positions available, so don’t hang around if you’re serious about upping your freelancing game.

Start your mentorship

If you have any questions about my freelancing mentorship programme, please feel free to send me an email. I’ll be happy to help.

How I Built It

I’ve included this section as I know there may be questions from my fellow developers!

When I first had the idea to set up my mentorship programme, my first thought was to use Memberful, Gumroad or similar to handle the heavy lifting.

My thinking was that it’d provide a quicker time to live.

With that being said, I wasn’t in a rush to launch and the inquisitive, forever learning side of me soon took charge.

Memberful, from what I could gather, is essentially a Stripe API wrapper. I could build this myself and keep it more in line with my site’s branding and only pay the Stripe fees, I thought. So I did just that.

My website is built on Gatsby (hosted on Netlify), so it was first a case of building out the relevant React components I’d require; for instance, forms.

I then made use of the React Stripe Elements package to bring in the card entry field to said forms.

I wanted to keep the back-end code for the platform separate to the front-end Gatsby code.

There is the possibility with Netlify to use Lambada functions to cater for the server side code required, but I decided to write a Node.js app that sits on Heroku.

Using the Node.js Stripe API library, Express and MongoDB, I developed all of the functionality required, including:

Handling the initial enrolment transaction.
Creating mentee accounts.
Handling mentee login.
Displaying all relevant mentorship information on an account page.
Allowing mentees to cancel and reactivate their mentorship.
Allowing mentees to change their password and update payment details.

If you want to know more specifics about the implementation, I’d be happy to chat more about it via email.

2019 - A Year In Review

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 12:50:50 GMT

I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve sat down to write a yearly review.

I’ve got a chunk of time and felt compelled, so here we are.

This will be both a professional and personal review of my last year.

TLDR: It was amazing, fulfilling, loving, eye-opening, character building, stressful and hard work. All at the same time.

Business

I didn’t turnover quite as much from my freelancing business this year as I did in the previous year. 17.5% less in fact.

I put this down to three main factors:

I’ve taken lots more time off (for a number of reasons).
All my “spare” office time has been focused on personal projects outside of this business.
Being way more picky about the projects I work on and the clients I work with.

This might sound strange, but the drop hasn’t worried me at all.

The lower turnover was a result of my choices and circumstances I’ve controlled.

I still made more than enough for the year’s results to have no effect on my business or my family.

Coding continues to invigorate me in general.

I find it empowering to know that I can build out any of the ideas that come to my head.

I love that there’s always more to learn.

At this moment in time, I can’t imagine myself ever working outside of digital.

With all that said, throughout the year, there have sometimes been periods lacking fulfilment.

Nothing major. Nothing that would make me want to close my laptop for good. But a little voice in the back of my mind saying, “Is this it?“.

During the third quarter of 2019, I’ve been taking the initial steps toward making some career based adjustments.

I’ve been working for myself for over ten years. During this time, I’ve become pretty good at it.

My interest in the business of freelancing, efficiency as a solo business owner and digital marketing has always been high.

It’s a topic I’ve studied profusely and I attribute the success of my freelancing business to this.

My experience and studies have brought along a skill set enabling me to freelance as a web developer to a high level of success. I’m super thankful for this and grateful for everyone who has helped forge me along the way.

I’m a big believer in passing on knowledge. Everyone wins when we share expertise. Writing articles about freelancing has been a cathartic exercise for me since 2016.

Since August, I’ve stepped up the sharing of my freelancing knowledge in the form of tweets containing tips and advice.

https://twitter.com/tom_hirst/status/1166598162129326080

This continues to be really well received; leading to people enquiring about potential mentorship opportunities.

I love talking about freelancing and I get a ton of fulfilment from giving others a leg up.

So in the near future I’ll be launching a one-on-one mentorship programme to help other freelancers get ahead.

My freelancing mentorship programme will run as an aside to my own freelance business.

I have awesome clients who I’m immensely lucky to work with and I’m looking forward to continuing my existing engagements in 2020.

More about freelancing mentorship soon.

Update 22/01/2020: If you’re interested in learning how to get paid what you’re worth, work smarter and find balance through freelancing, you can enrol on my freelancing mentorship programme today by clicking here.

Life

My life has changed quite a lot this year and I’m changing as a person.

I don’t believe that you have to be the same person you always were. You can adapt to your circumstances and sometimes, quite simply change because you want to change.

As I’m always trying to better myself in business, I’m always trying to improve as a person.

Six years or so ago, I started to work out regularly and this was an important turning point that lead to me being a better version of myself.

In 2019, I continued to prioritise this, meeting my exercise goals and in return, keeping my head straight.

In my opinion, taking care of yourself is the biggest gift you can give to your loved ones. It allows you to be better for them.

This past year has perhaps been the one where I’ve noticed the biggest difference in myself.

A lot of this has been brought on by the changes in my life:

Selling a house is stressful. Buying a new house is stressful. Renovating said new house right away is bloody hard work. And doing all this while expecting a baby could be described by some as lunacy.

I managed the renovation project in the summer alongside my uncle, which catered for a lot of my time during this period.

We’d been looking to move on from our house in Barnsley for a while. As a house we built ourselves, it was sad to see it go but we left it in safe hands.

We picked a general area and after a few months of searching, in April of this year, we completed on our new house in Sandal, Wakefield.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv4oz5xFtol/

As regulars to the surrounding area, we’d driven past this certain row of houses many times, always remarking how much we’d like to live there one day.

Once a house on the row appeared online, I knew we’d buy it. Even before we’d stepped inside to take a look.

Although a larger financial commitment than our previous property, in short, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

The day-to-day life of my small family is brilliant here and there have been no down sides to the move whatsoever.

About my small family - in October we were blessed with the arrival of Ruby Carys Hirst.

As soon as I saw her, I knew she had changed me forever.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B6dPIiZlJXy/

Before I met my wife, having kids wasn’t really in the plan. With that in mind now, I can’t believe what I was thinking.

Being a Dad is incredible.

I once read having kids described as, “making your life 10x harder, but 100x better”.

I’ll go with that.

While I’ve always been a champion of work life balance, the arrival of our first child has raised its importance to me.

This year I’ve introduced additional measures that allow me to work hard and smart during work hours; with plenty of time off to enjoy alongside family and friends.

In my continued quest for balance as a solo business owner, I owe a lot to my fantastic wife, parents and family as a whole.

I’m privileged to have their continued backing, guidance and support. This year and in years gone by.

Wrap Up

If you’d have told me what I’d achieve in the last couple of years, back in 2015, I wouldn’t have believed you.

In 2018, my freelancing business had it’s most successful year ever and I got married.

In 2019, I had my second best year as a freelancer, we made a big jump on the property ladder and we had our first child.

But primarily, life has never been so fulfilling.

And writing this review of 2019 has made that ever more clear.

Continual improvement is important to me. It’s something I’ll always strive for. I’m driven like that.

Nonetheless, I’ve found it’s also important to take on board perspective in equal measures.

Sometimes you can get so lost chasing the dream that you fail to remember you’re already living it.

9 Ways To De-Stress Business Travel For Work From Home Freelancers

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 16:30:50 GMT

Introduction

Depending on the type of person you are, travelling in general can heighten your anxiety levels. Even if it’s for leisure purposes.

When you’re used to working from home, travelling for work can be particularly stressful.

It’s not your day to day norm. You can’t do everything as you usually would. It totally throws you out of your routine, so it’s an understandable pain point.

With that said, it’s an important part of being a freelancer.

Occasional travel for work can be a good break from monotonous cycles. It helps build your character and keeps you in touch with reality; an important check for yourself when you’re used to being relatively insular in a business sense.

Although a worthwhile experience, it can still be straining.

I’ve learned to de-stress travelling for work by having a set of plans and routines in place.

Here are 9 ways to decrease your stress levels when travelling for business as a work from home freelancer.

1. Clear Your Decks

When travelling, it’s harder to be as responsive.

Anything that absolutely has to be done during the time period you’re travelling should be finished before you set off.

There’s no fun in trying to find a quiet corner of an airport to put a website live on slow Wi-Fi, believe me.

Prioritise these tasks above less involving work in the days before you’re due to travel.

2. Be Realistic With Your Schedule

In my experience, you can’t work exactly as you would from home when travelling.

On a train or plane it’s not so bad, even if you’re only actually seated for a part of your travel duration. Good luck if you’re driving, however.

Take this into account when booking work.

If you have a day, or a few days of travel coming up, lighten your load for this period.

If you over promise while you’re restricted by travel, you’ll end up letting people down.

Knowing how to be transparent about your limitations is of high value in general. In this instance, it’s no different. People hold honesty in high regard.

Try not to arrange meetings or agree to deadlines that could be significantly influenced by your travel plans. It’s less stressful for you and less frustrating for others that way.

3. Inform Your Clients In Advance

You’ll likely have more than one client as a freelancer. Travelling to meet with one client will often make it difficult for you to service others.

It’s important to make your client base aware of your current schedule. If this involves downtime due to travelling for work, be open about it; managing expectations is one of your most significant jobs as a freelancer.

Conventionally, it’ll not be for weeks on end that you’re away. Most of the time it’ll be a day or two. And usually, people understand - your clients will often travel for work more than you do.

If you properly inform your clients about your plans in advance, it will reduce the amount of chasing-type emails and calls while you’re on the move. This will in turn reduce the stress of the scenario.

4. Take Care Of Things At Home

When you’re always at home, you take it for granted that things there will get done and be taken care of.

There’s the bigger daily responsibilities like taking the kids to school or walking the dog. Plus the smaller things that are inconvenienced by your travelling, such as someone being in to accept deliveries.

Not being home as a remote working freelancer is often a hinderance to whole running of the household. You have these daily responsibilities that contribute to the smooth running of things that you won’t be able to fulfil and alternative arrangements need to be made.

To relieve yourself of worry, as you would when going on holiday, don’t overlook getting things in order at home before you travel for work.

5. Book The Extras

I’m a firm believer that you should always invest in the tools and equipment that allow you to perform to the best of your abilities.

Like having a well-kitted out dedicated office at home, you should invest in your experience when you travel.

It easy to think, “I’ll not need a £5 fast track pass through airport security” at the time of booking. That is until you’re stuck in the queue with only 20 minutes to boarding.

In reality, the money you outlay on some upgrades is earned back ten-fold in time saved and it helps decrease the overall travel tension.

Other examples:

Paying extra for a hotel in the best location with good Wi-fi.
Upgrading to a first class quiet carriage on the train.
Taking an express train over the slower variety.
Using meet and greet parking right outside the airport terminal.
Booking an airport lounge.

A small aside - I’d list business class flights here too, but in my opinion they’re only worth it:

On long haul when you can earn back a similar amount from working onboard (which is still hard when the flights are so expensive).
If you have an important engagement right off the flight that you need to be on your toes for.

With that being said, in general, book the extras.

6. Research Your Destination

You’ve arrived at your destination. Where are you going? How will you get from the train station to the meeting venue? How will you get from the airport to the hotel?

This is can be a taxing experience without proper research.

I’m not saying you should plan everything from the thread to the needle, but it’s good to have some idea on how your visit to a new place will flow before you get there.

To illustrate my point:

I once arrived in Oslo thinking the done thing was to get a taxi to the city from the airport. ~£120, an hour and a few jokes from my colleagues later, it became clear I should have got the train for ~£10 taking 19 minutes.

It’ll help your trip run smoother if you take the time to research your destination in advance.

7. Do Everything Earlier Than You Think You Need To

This can be hard for a one-person businesses when time is precious.

However, one of the biggest stress relievers for me when I travel is to always give myself plenty of time.

I hate being late for anything, but especially meetings. I feel that being late is being disrespectful of another person’s time.

As a busy freelancer, you’re always trying to use your time in the most productive way possible. Despite that, don’t leave your travel margins too fine.

Start your drive an hour before you have to. Get the train one earlier than you think you need to. Fly a day in advance if you can. Try to give yourself a buffer for any unforeseen circumstances that could cause you to be in a rush.

Rushing is one of the biggest causes of stress. And, when you’re rushing, you don’t make the best decisions.

Give yourself plenty of time when travelling for work to de-stress the event.

8. Budget For The Costs

Consider the fact that while you’re giving one client your undivided attention you can’t bill anyone else.

If you’re travelling to meet a lead you often can’t bill anything at all.

There’s the none-obvious costs too, like paying someone to walk your dog while you’re away.

Travelling for business as a freelancer means you’ll need to discuss who’ll cover what costs.

Will the client you’re travelling on behalf of pay for your expenses? Direct travel costs, accommodation, food and drink?

Make sure you have an agreement in place regarding expenses before you take the trip. This will help you steer clear of any awkward conversations afterwards.

Going out to meet a client is a big commitment for a freelancer. It’s an investment of time and money.

Try to mitigate any financial nervousness by making sure it’s worth your while before you commit.

9. Book-End Periods Of Travel With Office Or Rest Days

Even though I find big value in travelling for work now and again, as someone who is used to working from home, I need to recharge my batteries when it’s over.

If you know you have a period of travel coming up, try to plan for a day on either side of this where you’re fully office based.

Use the day before your journey to properly prepare. Clear the decks, talk to your clients, fix up your schedule, research your destination and plan how things will work out at home.

On the day of your return, depending on how long you’ve been out of the office for, it can be helpful to put off any meetings too.

This gives you a chance to return any emails you’ve missed and do any post-trip administrative work, alongside getting your head back into your projects.

Better still, take a day off to give yourself a genuine rest after an intense trip.

Conclusion

Travelling to meet leads, work with clients and go to conferences can be a stressful time for a work from home freelancer.

Nevertheless, it has its benefits and I’d encourage any regular remote worker to do so from time to time.

Give yourself the best opportunity of positively gaining from the experience by de-stressing the situation as much as possible.

Find A Mentor To Get Ahead

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 10:45:00 GMT

People learn in different ways.

Some of us learn by doing, some of us learn by studying and some of us learn best from others.

Some of us utilise a combination of the three.

While my learning methods differ depending on the subject, I always get the most value, the most quickly, from personal relationships.

The amount I’ve absorbed from my various mentors over the years has helped me get ahead in many areas of my life.

The business, freelancing and programming aspects of my career have all profited from the mentorship provided to me by others.

I’ve progressed in all of these areas at a faster pace than I would have without this input.

Having benefitted from being a mentee and as someone who enjoys helping others through my experiences - in this article, I’ll dive a little deeper into my thoughts on mentorship.

Who Makes A Good Mentor?

A good mentor is someone who is:

Where you aspire to be in a certain area.
Skilled in something that you study.
Exploring trains of thought that you relate to.
Patient, humble and genuinely wants to help by sharing.
Able to convey points well in person, during calls and in written communication.
Willing to listen and advise in equal measures.

Where Can You Find A Mentor?

During my life, I’ve found mentors in two ways:

1. In Existing Connections

Look towards the relationships you already have.

You may have a good connection with a family member, friend, teacher or colleague.

If you learn well from them, ask if they’d explore the possibility of mentoring you more proactively.

This avenue has been super successful for me, having found long-term mentors in family and colleagues.

2. By Searching Online

By searching online for mentors and thought leaders in your field of interest, you’ll likely find specialist individuals.

Many will author books, blog posts or videos. If this content resonates with you and provides value, it may be worth initiating a one-on-one mentorship.

From here, you can work on things that are important to you in a more tailored nature.

Perhaps you’ve struck up an understanding with someone on social media. Could they help you get ahead?

You’ll be able to build the same level of rapport with an online mentor as an in-person one if it’s the right fit.

I’ve had some of my most worthwhile conversations with mentors over email, Skype, Slack and Twitter.

What Are The Benefits Of Mentorship?

There are both mutual and individual benefits.

Life is all about connections and so is business. Having a go-to person you can consult with on topics of interest is good for the soul.

Being a mentor or a mentee widens your understanding of a topic by gaining an alternative perspective.

Mentorship benefits your personal growth. On both sides of the relationship.

From a mentors side specifically, the main benefit is that it’s a sincerely awesome feeling to help someone who was in your shoes 2, 5 or 10 years ago.

Sure, I feel great about launching web projects that I’ve worked on; but the buzz I get from genuinely making a difference to someone is greater.

I assume the feeling is similar to what a school teacher feels seeing a student progress in class.

You can be at the top of your field, but if you’re not giving back in some way, people miss out. Yourself included.

Through a mentees lense, I would say the main individual advantage is getting ahead. And doing so quickly.

The three main interests in my career are business, freelancing and web development. I’m lucky to have had strong influence from people in all of these areas. People who were further down the line in their careers than I was at that particular stage.

My first mentor, and my current business mentor, is my Dad. He’s been running his own accountancy firm for decades and the knowledge I’ve gained from him has been invaluable.

Although we’re quite different in terms of our business approach, the fundamentals he’s instilled in me from an early age still serve me well each day.

The insight he established in me has assisted my freelancing career too. With that said, I’ve always been a keen learner in this field and have often sought out my own mentors.

We’ve never met personally, but I would cite Jonathan Stark (author of Hourly Billing Is Nuts) as a mentor.

Jonathan puts a ton of helpful content out that has boosted my freelancing efforts over the years.

Using the internet we can find mentors across the globe.

At the start of my web development career, Chris Coyier’s content over at CSS Tricks was essential to me.

While Jonathan and Chris aren’t mentors to me in a everyday, one-on-one sense, their content has had a huge affect on where I am today.

Since my early coding days, I’ve worked with many supremely talented developers as part of amazing teams. Each person I class as a mentor.

The things I’ve picked up from others in code review and pair programming sessions (shout out Gaya Kessler) has sky rocketed the pace of my learning.

Aside from career based matters, I’ve found mentors in close friends and family on subjects like fitness and cooking. Both topics that I needed particular education on in my early twenties that has benefitted me into my thirties.

We’re each a unique product of the little bits of knowledge each person shares with us.

Being advised, trained, schooled and counselled by mentors in key areas of my life has lead me to get further in front, faster.

I wouldn’t call mentorship an easy route to success (there’s still a lot of work involved), but it’s a solid shortcut to it.

10 Years Remote

Tue, 21 May 2019 16:50:50 GMT

A colleague and friend of mine posted a link to Viktor Petersson’s reflections on a decade of remote work in Slack. As an advocate of remote working and digital lifestyle, I read through it with anticipation. I love this kind of post.

A whole decade working remotely. That’s a long time. Then it hit me; as I approach my 32nd birthday, this summer brings up my 10 years too.

I left university with a degree in multimedia and communication design, an after-school qualification in HTML and a newly found interest in WordPress. After applying for a couple of digital jobs unsuccessfully, I advertised myself as a freelance web developer. Starting with working on local businesses websites from my bedroom, I now consult for companies and agencies all around the world.

So, with the internal discussion that Viktor’s post provoked as inspiration, here are my experiences from 10 years remote.

Focus Is Everything

While this applies to every job role, I can’t stress how important focus is for remote workers.

It takes a certain type of person to be able to work remotely for long periods of time. Are you comfortable in your own company? Do you enjoy putting everything into a specific task for a few hours? Can you do that without being distracted? These are the sort of questions I ask people when I’m quizzed about remote work avenues.

Whether you’re working from home or on a beach, you need to be productive. This can only happen with periods of intense focus in my opinion. Remote work often does not lend itself to this. Some people openly admit that they’d succumb to distraction – whether it be the TV downstairs or the beer at the bar. In this case, remote work is not for you.

Focus is not always under your own control. For instance – when working with agencies, you will get interrupted. What I can recommend is to set boundaries with your colleagues and leaders. Let them know how you work best. Put limits on times of the day you’re willing to be interrupted. Breaking your flow (and that of your collaborators) is counterproductive for everyone.

When working, a remote person needs the ability to zone in on their work and zone out of everything else.

Distraction Is a Killer

Put your phone on do not disturb. Use an app to mute social media. Get the game consoles out of your office.

Speaking with my peers who don’t work remotely, they often struggle to understand how I stay focused while not at “work”. The thing is, I am at work. My home turns into my workplace during working hours.

While I do appreciate the level of flexibility remote work offers me, I’m pretty strict during these hours. I won’t start my day watching Game of Thrones; even if the day is long and full of spoilers. I’ll watch it when I’m out of work mode.

You’ve got to give yourself the best chance of being the most productive you can be. This does not happen if your head is out of the game (of work, not Thrones) an hour here and an hour there.

For developers and engineers, in particular, distraction is a killer. Any programmer reading this will know about flow/crunch mode/the zone.

It’s a magical dream-like state where the time goes twice as fast and code flies out of your fingers. If you’re not getting to this state at least a couple of times a day, you’re likely getting distracted.

It only takes 1 notification.

A Dedicated Workspace Is Vital

I can’t speak for the digital nomad approach to remote working. I’ve always had a home office.

As nice as it is working from the garden when the sun is out, the real work gets done in my dedicated workspace. My office is set up specifically with all the tools I need to best do my job. When the door is closed and the headphones are on it’s a distraction-free zone.

If you’re struggling with day to day remote working, without a specific place you work from in your home, I’d encourage you to set one up.

I saw a saying once that resonated with me, I think it’s an old proverb but I’ve never been able to find the source:

Always buy good shoes and a good bed. Because if you’re not in one, you’re in the other.

I want to add a good chair to that too. We are literally sat on our backsides for much of our lives. I invested in a Herman Miller Embody Chair when I started my freelance business. ~£1000 for a chair might seem expensive, but £100 a year isn’t bad. My back (and backside) has thanked me for it.

It’s super valuable to invest in the proper equipment for your workspace. It pays for itself.

Routines and Habits

A common attraction to remote work jobs is flexibility. No one looking over your shoulder, make your own hours up as long as you get the work done, go for a pub lunch, take an early finish if you need it.

Flexibility is a definite perk, but I’m also a firm believer in baselines routines. What I mean by this is how a standard work day should typically go.

What made me a better remote worker was to embed a set of routines and habits into my work day. The first of which was to get up earlier.

I’m not a natural morning person. I’ve had to work on my sleep routine a lot over the last few years and I’m still tweaking it.

My Current Morning Routine

05:50 – Alarm
06:20 – Gym
07:50 – Walk the dog
08:20 – Shower
08:40 – Breakfast + morning emails
09:00 – Work starts

The habit of getting up early has directly boosted my remote working and my life in general as a byproduct.

Your end of day routine is just as relevant as your start to the day. As Viktor mentions in his post, I also try to add a hard cap on the time I finish working. For me, this is currently 19:00. This is not the time that I finish every day, but the time I won’t work past.

An efficient remote worker will be utilising routines and forming habits. And in my experience, routines and habits make other routines and habits easier to come by. Something as small as drinking a bottle of water with lunch can start that momentum.

Although the “21 days to form a habit theory” has sort of been debunked, (James Clear cites, it takes between 2 and 8 months to develop a new behaviour in your life), start small and stick to it. My routine became second nature soon enough.

As an aside: If you’re interested in habits and habit-forming, check out James Clear’s book – Atomic Habits.

Please Excercise

Remote worker. You. I’m talking to you! Please, please, please exercise.

Just as much as I’m not a natural morning person, I’m not a natural athlete either. Starting to exercise regularly, around 6 years ago, changed my life.

The mental clarity I have after a session in the gym is unrivalled. Plus, heading out to the gym gets me out of the house where I’m cooped up so often. And generally, I feel a lot better about myself.

It’s extra relevant for people in sedentary jobs to take exercise seriously. A person with a desk job will burn off fewer calories while working than someone in a manual role.

Don’t let working out get pushed to the bottom of your to-do list. No matter how busy you think you are, no matter how dumb you think you’ll look, no matter how unfit you feel.

There are no downsides to regularly exercising. Make no excuses.

As with the habits; start small and stick to it. It will get easier and it will improve your life.

Communication Is Your Most Important Skill

The most important skill of any remote worker should be their communication. Whether you’re a designer, a developer or the CEO of a company. If you can’t communicate well, you’re set to fail.

This is another reason why I think remote work is not for everyone. Some people don’t excel in written communication. Video conferencing is used a lot nowadays. But the vast majority of exchanges are still text-based.

If it’s hard to articulate a project brief, describe a bug clearly or ask for help in a concise way via email/Slack, remote work is probably not for you.

A Few Tips on Communication

Get straight to the point. That way, the receiver can prioritise your request within their workflow. Be pleasant and direct.
Spell things out. It’s sometimes hard to convey the wider context in written communication. Same with emotion and intent. Therefore be clearer than you think you need to be. Use emojis!
Manage expectations. If you get a message or an email with a request that you know you can’t get to within a reasonable time, let the sender know that. It will save frustration on both sides.
Respect statuses. If someone is set to “Do Not Disturb”, try not to message them. Trust them to have a good reason for having set this.
Use meetings sparingly. Before you call a meeting, think whether the issue could be solved in a quicker way. When you do sign up for a meeting, make absolutely sure to attend it on time.

If I were hiring an engineer to work remotely for my company, I’d first look at how they communicate before looking at how they code.

Treat Everyone The Same

Working as a remote individual, a remote company, or a company that hires remote workers, there are a number of scenarios you’ll come across.

I’ve worked in agencies where some employees are remote and others are based at HQ. Many companies are going full remote. Conversely, some companies like everyone in-house (way to kiss that extended talent pool goodbye!).

Day to day remote work for an individual, though often their choice, is isolating. While I don’t struggle with face to face interaction myself now, some remote workers are remote workers because in-person meetings are their idea of hell. In my earlier years as a remote worker, this avoidance of meetings perpetuated feelings of isolation.

To the Company That Hires Remote Workers

Treat your remote hires in the same way as a person based at the office. Be accommodating of them. Include them.

If you have a company get together or retreat, make it easy for your remote employees to attend. Pay for their travel and accommodation.

When delegating projects, try to pair remote workers with employees at the office.

The people that work for you remotely will appreciate it. It helps them to feel like part of the team, which will be paid back to you in good morale and loyalty.

To the Remote Worker

Make the effort to visit your colleagues in person every once in a while.

Treat your employers and/or collaborators the same as you would if you were sat in the office alongside them.

This might mean making additional efforts to get to know your co-workers personally. Follow them on social media. Have a few non-related work-related chats. It’s cool to get to know people and it will make collaboration in work time flow better.

Be competent, reliable and present. The people who you’re working with/for have placed trust in you. While not in the office physically, offer the equivalent level of respect to people and perform your role in the same way.

Set Boundaries with Family and Friends

Your family and friends will think you’re not properly working half of the time.

I’m 10 years deep working from home. Nevertheless, some of my friends still call me when they have a day off to play golf. (You know who you are!).

I don’t know why, but there still seems to be this stigma around working from home and freelancing. Particularly from people who work 9-5 jobs.

Now I know people usually mean no harm, but it does get waring at times. Spell it out that you’re unavailable during your work hours.

Providing you haven’t completely alienated yourself for not playing that midday 18 holes of golf, it’s important to make time for an at least modest social life.

Remote workers often miss out on the end of week drinks and the Christmas parties. So with that said, extra effort is usually required to be social.

I’ve spoken with other remote developers who struggle with this. It can be difficult to rectify depending on where you live, proximity to your friends and other circumstances. I’d suggest joining a gym or sports club (exercise ✅) to help. It’s really worth making that effort.

My wife and I are always out walking the dog together or eating at restaurants. Most members of my social circle are in completely different lines of work and we like to go for drinks fairly regularly. This is great for me as it allows a level of separation from work.

It also provides something that is crucial to me personally. Perspective.

I often get lost in my work, stressed out and set in my ways. It’s beneficial for me to hear about how other people are getting on in their lives.

“Not Working Guilt” Is Real

Switching off is something I’ve struggled with for years.

As a remote worker with a home office, there is always that temptation to carry on working. It’s like reverse distraction.

I can be sat watching TV and I’ll get this overwhelming feeling of guilt that I’m not being productive. I can be having a conversation with someone, but thinking about work, appearing uninterested in the conversation I’m having. It annoys me when I’m like this.

Stamp that stuff out. You’ve done enough work for today and it’s no fun talking to someone who’s not completely present.

There are more important things in life than work.

I’m a work in progress in this respect, but I’m getting better.

Make Time to Take Stock

Remote working and running your own businesses is all-encompassing and a greatly internal thing. It’s healthy to reflect on your situation from time to time.

I’ve started to set evaluation periods where I look at my current habits, routines and the general balance of my life.

It’s so easy to get lost in your work sat alone on a computer all day. Take stock by talking to other remote workers and business owners; gain perspective from their experiences as well as your own.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. However, just because your current situation isn’t bad, it doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.

Save Time By Qualifying Your Freelance Leads Early

Mon, 07 Jan 2019 16:13:13 GMT

There’s nothing worse than being multiple emails deep with a prospect, then realising they have a £100 budget for a £10,000 project. Well, perhaps if you’ve taken a few phone calls and had a day off work for a meeting to then find out the project is unviable. That would be worse.

An important skill to learn as a freelancer is how to qualify your leads quickly. Freelancers are a one-person operation, so chasing bad leads can seriously impair productivity and consequently, how much money they can earn.

I have wasted lots of time discussing projects only to hear the dreaded, “we’re on a really tight budget” or “can you sit in our office while I watch you work” late in the negotiations. Especially in my early years as a remote WordPress consultant.

A tactic I’ve employed, to great success, is to qualify my freelance leads as soon as possible. Simply put, I ask myself these questions during initial exchanges:

Is the prospect going to be hard to manage should they become a client?
Is the briefed project something that suits my skill set and/or of a suitable nature?
Does the lead have the money to finance the work they’re requesting?
Can the proposed deadline work with my existing schedule?
Will the enquirer allow me to work mostly remote?

This not only saves me lots of time but ensures both parties are on the same page at an early stage. More often than not, someone enquiring to hire a freelancer will appreciate the straight-talking approach. It saves them time too after all.

That said, it can be difficult to find out this information from a lead. Questions about the budget, in particular, are often swerved in early negotiation.

I do, however, have some actionable tips that will help you make informed calls on your freelance leads at an early stage.

How Can I Qualify My Freelance Leads Early?

Add Key Fields To Your Contact Form

Assuming you have a website (what freelancer doesn’t?!), an easy win to check the quality of your freelance enquiries is to add specific fields to your website’s contact form.

The key here is to not bloat your standard form too much so that it gets filed under “I’ll do this later”, while also adding the right amount of fields that can help provide the data you need to answer the questions I mentioned earlier. It’s about finding the right balance.

Here are the bare minimum fields (and example placeholders) I include in my contact forms:

Name (John Smith)
Email Address (john@smith.com)
Budget (£4,000)
Deadline (Within a month)
Project Details (This project is for Company X and requires front-end and back-end WordPress development)

At the time of writing, it looks like this:

Only budget and deadline are outside of what you’d expect to see on a standard contact form. However, they’re super important in measuring the quality of any freelance prospect.

The budget field gets an answer to the awkward question off-the-bat. Nine times out of ten you will be able to at least _disqualify _a freelance lead by the answer to this field.

Adding a deadline field to your form will usually let you know if a project is worth chasing straight away too. If you’re booked for a month and the need is immediate, for instance; you can let that one go.

If you’re afraid that potential clients won’t want to fill out many fields in a starting enquiry form, I’d counter that with the point that if they can’t take the time to answer a couple more questions, what makes you think their communication will be any better once the project kicks off (see question 1 from the earlier list!)?

In my experience, the more accurate the initial contact, the better quality the lead.

Ask The Right Questions

If you don’t have much detail in your initial enquiry, it’s time for you to ask some questions.

Depending on the information I already have, I pose relevant questions to the prospect that will help answer my qualifying criteria. For example:

Do you have a brief containing specific requirements? (A good prospect should be organised and know exactly what they want from you).
How much are you looking to spend on this project? (Is the potential client aware of your rates? Are they just tyre-kicking?).
Ideally, when would you like to launch? (Is this feasible in terms of how long the work will take? Does this date fit your schedule?).
My day to day requires me to work remotely, does this work for you? (Be clear with your preferences).

Most of the time, that’s all you’ll need. Be precise and to the point.

Negotiation should not just be about the client outlining their requirements for the engagement; spell out your expectations early too.

Don’t Meet Too Early

Try to qualify freelance leads before spending time in meetings. You can ordinarily find out if you’re a good fit for each other way before this.

Arranging a meeting with a potential client as the first point of contact is something I rarely do. This might not be the typically done-thing in terms of business in general, but hear me out.

As a freelancer, contractor or consultant, taking time out of your day to meet with a loose prospect is a big outlay. For myself, as a work from home freelancer, the day is pretty much gone after I’ve headed out in the car or taken a train to a meeting. That’s a day I could have been paid for.

In my opinion, you should not meet with someone who can’t explain their project requirements in writing or during a short phone call first.

When a business prospect wants to meet right away, I try to steer them into giving me more information before-hand. Specifically, details that will help answer my qualifying questions. If putting a face to a name is something they like to do, I offer a video call afterwards. If they persist in wanting to physically meet before offering up any details, I more often than not let our engagement pass.

While sales are part and parcel of a freelancers role, you have to be smart about it. Don’t meet prospects with vague briefs too early.

Read The Warning Signs

Over the years, I seem to have gained instinctive detection of likely problematic clients. Perhaps it’s not so much instinct as it is experience.

Taking note of the early warnings signs can save you so much time when qualifying leads. The obvious ones to look out for are:

The offer of company shares and/or exposure in exchange for your services. (Don’t devalue your service by working for, what will likely turn out to be, nothing).
A mention of a low/tight/small budget, relative to the work requested. (Low budget clients are often the most demanding too).
Super close deadlines cited. (Rush jobs are mostly poorly briefed, likely incurring scope creep).
Excessive meetings and phone calls requested. (Being micro-managed is not fun and will seriously hinder your output as a freelancer).
Unclear and/or sporadic communication. (Will it be hard to decipher the client’s comments? Are they serious about the arrangement? Will they reply in a timely nature during the project?).
Not addressed by name in emails. (Do they know why they want to hire you in particular? Are they sending this email to you only or using a scattergun approach?)

Get A Deposit

The only true way to test if your lead is serious is for them to financially commit. Let’s face it, a client isn’t fully committed to a project until payment has been made.

Imagine booking out weeks in your calendar only to be let down on the day you’re due to start work. This sucks. Not only would you lose money for the project, but you’d also be left with a big gap in your schedule. I learned quickly to take a deposit as soon as an agreement is reached.

If your lead is serious about hiring you, they will be happy to pay a deposit. My usual terms are 50% of the project cost up front, with the remaining 50% due on completion. This shows commitment from both parties and allows you, the freelancer, to qualify your lead without much doubt.

Wrap Up

Being able to spot a tyre-kicker from a solid lead is an essential skill in any freelancers’ toolbox. The ability to identify this as early as possible in business negotiations is even more essential. Remember to:

When a lead comes in, ask yourself your qualifying questions.
Add relevant additional fields to your website’s contact form.
Ask the right questions to get the information you need to check the prospect’s eligibility.
Only take business meetings when you’re confident the project is a good fit.
Take note of any warning signs from the off. Trust your gut.
Get a deposit payment to ensure your client’s commitment.

Try putting these tips into action within your freelance business today!

Freelancing Interview with Gaya Kessler

Fri, 02 Nov 2018 09:54:01 GMT

Gaya and I have worked closely together during the last 8 months for a mutual client. He’s taught me a lot and I’m thankful for our friendship.

Chatting most days during this time, it was only natural for me to ask for his insight into freelancing after making the switch not so long ago.

Gaya is an expert in JavaScript, React and web applications, freelancing as CleverNode:

The Interview

TH: How did you get into freelancing and remote work?

GK: I got tired of working at an office on the same daily routine. Every job I was at came down to the same old thing in the end, and I wanted to switch things up pretty badly.

I always had side projects to keep myself interested in the work I do, these projects give the freedom to choose and create whatever I want. When an investor offered me money to stop working and start doing projects full time I stopped an wondered what that meant. It really caught me by surprise! Someone was willing to invest money in me doing what I love and I didn’t even have a business model for it.

That made me confident enough to quit my job and make my own money doing what I love. To support myself financially I began accepting jobs and have had clients ever since. Some long-term, some for shorter projects.

To eliminate the need to travel I started working remotely also, this saves a lot of time and makes sure the office I work in is that best environment for me to work in. I never took the investment by the way.

TH: Where do you usually work from?

GK: I usually work from home, when I work remotely. Some clients prefer it if I come to their office and when I give workshops it’s easier if I am there in person to teach the people attending.

Sometimes when it gets too loud outside of my home office, because I live in a new neighbourhood still in construction, I go for a walk and brainstorm new ideas. I like to call it my solitary meeting room on the go. It’s the best.

TH: What does a typical day look like for you?

GK: A typical day for me would be to start the day by checking my email and Slack messages to see if I missed anything.

Then I’ll look at the tasks I planned for myself the day before, maybe try to fix some loose ends there.

I mostly just work on the task at hand and see where the day goes. I try my best to keep mornings my time of the day when I do the hardest tasks. I found that I have the best concentration in the morning because I’ll have a fresh look at things after a good night sleep.

Sometimes I have meetings, be it through video calls or face-to-face, but I try to keep them as minimal as possible.

Throughout the day I talk to other developers I know and befriended through chat, which I think is quite important if you don’t have any direct colleagues in the room to talk to.

I try to take long lunch breaks, grab a bite, go out for a walk, really get some time to enjoy the environment around myself. After an hour or so I get back to work again and finish of the day doing less hard tasks. This includes preparing tasks for the next day, documentation, stuff like that.

At five I stop working completely. I will turn off any notifications and start my non-working time. To wind down from working I will most of the time cook a meal for me and my wife. After I like to go to the gym for a workout or put on my running shoes to go for a run.

TH: What do you consider to be the positives of freelancing and remote working?

GK: Freelancing and remote work allows me not only to pick the people I want to work for but also the stuff I want to work on. The demand has been so high that I say “no” more often than “yes”. Which is a great position to be in.

It has also allowed me to feel free about the time I can spend on a client. If I want a day off, it’s not a problem. If I want to work different hours: no biggie. I found that when being employed I was always counting the days off I had left, and if it was enough to go on holiday still.

Freelancing has also allowed me work less and get paid more, who wouldn’t want that?

TH: Are there any negatives that you can think of?

GK: It can get lonely at times, but it helps to have a client who wants you to visit their office. In the beginning it has also quite stressful for me since I gave up the “financial security” I used to have. I put quotes around it because nobody really knows for sure if the job they do, even with a permanent contract, still exists in a few months / years.

Also keeping your own books and handling taxes etc. can be hard at first. It’s really overwhelming when you start off charging your clients. My advice here is to work with clients you know personally in the beginning who can help you with things like invoices. It also really helps to other people you know who freelance or have their own business. I bet you they would love to help you get things off the ground.

TH: How does client work arrive at your desk? Where do the jobs come from?

GK: Most of the jobs I take on get from people I know and have spoken to at some point in my life. Be it in real life or through the Internet.

I think most people find me through reading my blog, following me on Twitter, my GitHub repositories, or attending a talk I gave at a meetup / conference. They’ll reach out to me when they need the specific skill I have

There are also a lot of people I don’t know who reach out, and I think most of them find me through my site and LinkedIn profile. I have yet to take on a lead like this, because I am very wary of clients like that. A lot of them are recruiters too, which is an immediate “no” for me.

TH: Do you work primarily on client projects or do you have other income streams?

GK: As of now, my income comes from client projects. I am building projects on the side and would love to create a product which will provide my income completely. It’s a process I am working on at the moment.

TH: If you’re a home worker, how do you maintain focus and avoid distractions? Any tips?

GK: Make your office a place you like to work in. Dress it up the way you want your office to be. Make it as comfortable as possible for yourself. I for one like to listen to music, but don’t like wearing headphones, so I bought myself a nice set of speakers (which go really loud). I have never had any trouble keeping a focus on work when I am in my home office. One of the main reasons I think is because my office is only meant for work, and not tasks around the house.

I do have some old consoles hooked up to an old CRT television when I feel like playing a game, but that’s when I do not have any inspiration for the work I am doing. It helps me relax and reset my brain a bit. It does not distract me from work or makes me work any less.

TH: Would you ever consider going back to full time, in-house employment for a company? If so, why?

GK: No. If you don’t count working on your own company’s product that is. I think I have done my share of working in companies and experience how it is to grow within these boundaries.

What I have noticed is that I need a lot of challenges in the work I do and most of the time it’s not possible to provide this excitement for myself when I work at companies. The freedom to do as I please is also something I’d miss too much.

TH: Do you feel that freelancing provides you with a good standard of living and work/life balance?

GK: It has never been better. If I need time off: I can give it to myself. If I have room and want to work some: I can. It’s really important to set boundaries for yourself. That’s why I stop working after five and don’t do any jobs during the weekends.

TH: Finally, where do you see your career and the digital industry heading? Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

GK: Five years is a lot of time. If I look at myself five years ago I was in a very different place, personally and professionally. If I manage to grow the same amount in that time I would be a very happy person.

I can not tell you where I see myself in five months, let alone five years, so it’s a really hard one for me to answer.

Where I want to be in five years I can answer. I want to work on a product or multiple products I love, teaching other developers about developing good pieces of software. Sharing knowledge has always been the fundamental drive to go and learn. I love sharing, and I love helping people grow.

Wrap Up

Thanks to Gaya for taking the time to do this interview on freelancing. You can check out Gaya’s blog here and his company website here.

For more interviews with remote freelancers in the digital field, check out the archive.

Freelancing Interview with Suganthan Mohanadasan

Sat, 21 Jul 2018 15:19:49 GMT

Introduction

As a remote freelancer, watercooler chats with colleagues are few and far between.

In the interest of getting to know my peers a little better, I’m putting together a series of interviews. Short catch ups with other digital contractors and consultants across the world who have kindly offered up their time.

The first freelancing interview of the series is with Suganthan Mohanadasan. Suganthan and I have a mutual client in Oslo, Norway, where we met earlier this year. Since then, we’ve kept in touch, and he was one of the first to offer an insight into the life of a digital freelancer.

Suganthan is the founder of his own digital marketing consultancy, Basic Gravity and has been freelancing for the past 5 years:

The Interview

TH: How did you get into freelancing and remote work?

SM: I moved from the UK to Norway and made friends with a developer while working for a company, and when he left and joined a new company, he recommended me and got me into the same company.

From that point onwards I started working as a freelancer.

TH: Where do you usually work from?

SM: I have an office.

TH: What does a typical day look like for you?

SM: My day is usually split into different client/project/campaigns. Sometimes the working order changes depending on priority.

I allocate a certain amount of time for each client, and when I’m working on a project/campaign, I use CRM and sales pipeline software to manage my work.

I also track my time and bill clients accordingly. Some clients hire me as a consultant basis which means I have to check their staff’s work and give feedback and recommendations.

So between setting up meetings, conferences and actual work I have to be laser focused.

TH: What do you consider to be the positives of freelancing and remote working?

SM: Flexibility. I consider this to be the biggest positive thing about freelancing.

TH: Are there any negatives that you can think of?

SM: Sales forecasting. If you’re not careful and fill your diaries right, you might lose income on specific months and if you overbook you will end up with a lot of stress and unhappy clients due to delayed and missed deliveries.

TH: How does client work arrive at your desk? Where do the jobs come from?

SM: I get a lot of work through client referrals. I also subcontract work for a few significant development and marketing agencies in Oslo. Other than that I get a few leads through my website.

My rule of thumb is never to lower the rates even if that’s going to cost a client and avoid working with family or friends.

TH: Do you work primarily on client projects or do you have other income streams?

SM: I have several income streams. I do a lot of affiliate marketing and client referral bonuses. I negotiate every deal and add plenty of values to both parties.

TH: If you’re a home worker, how do you maintain focus and avoid distractions? Any tips?

SM: I don’t work from home. Especially with 2 little kids. It’s impossible. I have an office space and I work from 9-5 and when I come home I try not to think about work.

TH: Would you ever consider going back to full time, in-house employment for a company? If so, why?

SM: If such extreme circumstances arise, I would say yes. But, I’m building a business model which will ensure a steady lead flow and passive income revenues.

The trick is to under promise and over deliver to clients so they become repeat customers and will bring other clients along the way.

TH: Do you feel that freelancing provides you with a good standard of living and work/life balance?

SM: That’s hard to say. One of the negative things about freelancing is losing all the benefits of having full-time employment. Especially the holiday money in Norway. Other than that if you’re careful and plan accordingly, you can have a right work/life balance.

TH: Finally, where do you see your career and the digital industry heading? Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

SM: I want to become even better at my line of work. I see myself as someone with more experience in the next 5 years.

Wrap Up

Thanks to Suganthan for answering my questions. If you’d like to find out more about him, check out his company website, Basic Gravity.

For more interviews with remote freelancers in the digital field, check out the archive here.

5 Ways Accomplished Freelancers Take Breaks

Tue, 10 Jul 2018 10:07:03 GMT

We all need time off from work. As a freelancer, contractor and/or business owner; taking a proper break can be easier said than done.

I try to spend at least a month away from the office each year. No matter how hard I find it to switch off, I force myself to take this time – whether holidaying or spending extra time with family and friends.

I’m more productive in the remainder of the year and I regularly return to work fired up, and with fresh ideas.

I’ve found that accomplished and successful freelancers take care of themselves as a priority. They’re aware that taking regular breaks will directly help towards the success of their business.

Here are 5 ways you can put this into practice yourself:

1. Don’t Feel Guilty

You deserve a holiday, just like employed people. You shouldn’t feel guilty about downing tools for a period. Take as long as you need, when you need it; reaching a burn-out phase will set you back much further than a few weeks off.

In a world where “constant hustle” is often the norm, a sense of guilt is common for freelancers who have a break on the horizon. “If I go away I’ll lose my client”, “This trip will cost me double” and “I’m neglecting my business” are all thoughts that have run through my mind.

If your client doesn’t retain you for taking time off they probably aren’t worth having, the unpaid time off you’re taking will pay for itself in productivity when you return and your business will benefit from coming back to it with a clear mind.

Book that trip, set your out of office and forget about work. You’ll thank yourself for it.

2. Prepare Your Clients and Colleagues

While schedule flexibility is a plus point for any freelancer, contractor or consultant, it’s common courtesy to inform your clients and colleagues of your planned breaks. Preferably as soon as you know about them.

Put yourself in your clients’ shoes. They rely on you. It’s important to communicate well with the people who you work with.

Something that I like to do is try to align schedules with my clients, if possible. For instance, if they have a break coming up themselves; I work on the project while they’re away, then while I’m away they can review this work, leaving me to come back to their comments.

Make sure that someone else knows how to move things forward while you’re away. Try to minimise any downtime that could potentially destabilise your projects. Assign appropriate and realistic deadlines around your time off.

Offer alternatives. It’s useful for freelancers to have plans in place in the event of absence. If you have another freelancer in your network, link them up with your client if your break could become a problem.

3. Plan Financially

Unlike people with a monthly salary, a freelancer’s earnings are not always fixed or guaranteed. This means that if you’re looking to take an unpaid break, you’ll need to plan for properly for this.

It’s not a nice feeling to be worse off financially than you imagined you would be. Especially with leave or an imminent holiday. We can forecast all we like, but the harsh reality is that freelancers often get let down on payments. I’ve had my fair share of late paying clients over the years!

When planning to take time off, I like to negate any potential financial strain by setting aside some money from each payment I receive.

It’s good for self-employed people to save regularly in general. Set up an ISA or separate bank account where you can put money out of sight. You never know when you might need this buffer.

4. Manage Your Workload

Don’t leave everything to the last minute. Make sure you manage your time wisely.

There have been times when I’ve worked 14 hour days to account for the following week away from my keyboard. Take it from me, this isn’t healthy. It’s far better to taper off at a regular pace.

Some clients will apply pressure for things to be finished when they know you have a break coming up. I try to see this coming and manage expectations at an early stage.

Have a clear idea of what you will be doing when you return. If you’re working on a longer-term project, this could be the next main task you’ll start back up on. If aiming to complete a job beforehand, get something new lined up. This will alleviate the pressure on yourself when going back to work.

5. Completely Switch Off

To the despair of my family and friends, my laptop has made the plane on occasion. Speaking from experience, I would persuade you to completely switch off from your business during downtime. If you can.

No doubt there will be the apologetic emails and phone calls that every freelancer on holiday will have at some stage, usually marked “urgent”. I’ll hazard a guess that only a small percentage of these are genuine emergencies.

Granted, some things won’t be able to wait. Try to minimise the sun-lounger phone calls though.

By disconnecting as much as possible, you can gain perspective from the people you’re spending time with, who are often in different lines of work. You can also gain perspective and ideas from new surroundings. These experiences can all have direct value.

When freelancing and running your own business, the day-to-day can be so involving. Your mind and body will no doubt need rest and you will likely come back stronger and more focused. My work life always benefits from this respite. Your friends and family will appreciate it too.

Have Your Say!

Do you have anything to add to this article that could help a fellow freelancer? How do you manage your business when taking breaks? Leave a comment below!

Why You Should Step Out of Your Technical Comfort Zone

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 14:50:39 GMT

An opportunity recently presented itself that would take me out of my technical comfort zone.

As a web developer, I’m generally used to keeping on top of my skills progression. With that said, this would be a significant change for me. I’d start to learn a new programming language on a (near) production ready app.

The Scenario

A company I partner closely with needed more hands on a JavaScript-heavy project they’re working on. Although the back-end is built on WordPress (my bread and butter), the front-end is built with React; something I have less experience with.

(If you don’t know what React is, it’s a JavaScript library for creating user-interfaces developed by Facebook.)

When I was first quizzed about this project I made it clear that while my JavaScript was pretty good, my React knowledge was relatively small. It was obvious that I’d need some training time before I could start work and luckily the project lead was willing to give me that.

I was offered the chance, a few discussions later, to join the React team for the foreseeable future. And I took it.

Don’t Be Scared to Learn As You Go

It’s natural to be wary of a change in direction. You become comfortable with your day-to-day; the programming languages you know well and the clients you deal with all the time.

But if you want to grow, you have to step out of your comfort zone. Pressing on and learning new skills is the best way to become better in your field.

The biggest fear I had when taking the React role was the loss of control. I’m somewhat of a control freak, especially when it comes to my business. I’d imagine a lot of long-term freelancers are.

I went from knowing exactly what I’d be doing every day, to not knowing if a task would take me 1 hour or 8. When working with WordPress (a platform I’ve used for years) I’d be able to break down, estimate and complete tasks pretty easily. In my first couple of week’s with React, I’d have to take a real step back to digest each part of what I was trying to achieve.

The upshot of my scenario is, after a week’s training, I made my first successful contribution to the project. It took longer than usual to code, but it felt like a bigger achievement.

It will naturally take longer while you’re conquering the learning curve; don’t panic when taking this extra time. If you’re working with the right people and everyone is on the same page, they will allow you the leeway required. You can learn as you go.

Lessons Learned

Stepping out of your technical comfort zone is a great chance to learn lessons about yourself. From my experience, in relation to the scenario above, these are:

I can find the time to expand my skillset; I just needed to find the right situation.
The push from this opportunity was just what I needed. I’d like to self-initiate more learning in the future.
It’s satisfying to help the people you work with by being flexible.
It makes business sense to invest in yourself. I’ll become a better developer because of this.
Clients and colleagues are more understandable than you might think. I shouldn’t be wary of progress on the fly.
Learning itself is a skill of high value to a freelance developer.
I get a higher level of job satisfaction from completing something for the first time than the 100th.
The process of learning initiates a snowball effect. I’m more at ease to try new things in future projects.

Action You Can Take

Although this post is geared towards my role as a freelance web developer, you can apply the thought process to other fields.

As a graphic designer, you could learn Sketch on top of knowing Photoshop or Illustrator. Project managers could learn and introduce new productivity or task management systems to their teams. A bookkeeper could move up from small business’ accounts to a larger business’. These are just a few basic examples; no one truly knows everything about their job, technical or non-technical.

Generally speaking, it will depend on how you best learn new skills. Some people like to read books, some like to be thrown in at the deep end and others like a mixture. However, the overall principle of stepping out of your comfort zone remains; don’t be afraid to do it.

Ask your boss, employer or client if you can bring new ideas to the table. You could have a big effect on the overall direction of a project and you’d have another string to your bow too.

Set time aside for your own personal development. This is a hard one sometimes, especially when your day-to-day is jam-packed. Despite this, if you’re going to improve in your role, it’s important. Look for non-obvious angles, it might not be a case of eating into your leisure time. Could you learn as you go on a work project?

The Bottom Line

The bottom line of why you should step out of your technical comfort zone is that you will improve yourself. It’s human nature to seek comfort in our roles, but it restricts our growth. By relinquishing some of that comfort and overcoming the initial fear, you can push yourself to new levels.

When you get that chance to learn something new, just go for it! I’m glad I did.

The Importance of Sleep Routine When Working From Home

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 17:49:33 GMT

I’ve struggled to maintain a regular sleep pattern for most of my life.

In my younger years, I would often game until 01:00-02:00 on weekdays and 03:00-04:00 on weekends, not getting up until 11:00 and midday respectively. This was my normality.

When I first started my freelance business, I carried this through into my work days. I thought I was on to a winner – “I’m more productive when the house is quiet and no one’s emailing me” became the go-to state of mind for why I was working in the middle of the night.

While this sort of worked as a 21-year-old with few responsibilities, my health was a bit of a mess. Physically and mentally.

As my career progressed as a freelance WordPress developer, it became strikingly clear that my sleep routine wasn’t sustainable. Still not getting to my desk until 11:00 (at best), I was too far detached from what a lot of my clients were working and leaving no time to look after myself properly.

Improvements were made in the coming years, but it’s only recently that I’ve finally nailed down a sleep routine that works for me.

My Sleep Routine

In an attempt to go back to basics with my sleep and attempt to establish a routine, I started to test myself.

Going to bed at different times, getting up at different times and trying exercise at varying times of the day. For me, it didn’t seem to matter what time I went to bed; as long as I woke at a set time I’d feel rejuvenated and fresh. I found myself to not be a person who needs X amount of sleep, but much more of a person who needs to get up at the same time most days.

I eventually hit the sweet spot by setting my weekday alarm for 06:51. It doesn’t matter what time I get to bed, I always get up at 06:51 when I have work to do.

Why 06:51?

It felt right to my body but also felt right to my life. I have a couple of morning commitments before my day starts when I’m working form my home office.

I have four non-negotiable gym sessions per week that I like to take first thing on a morning. I’ve tried after work sessions and it didn’t suit me. The thought of having to go to the gym after a full day’s work wasn’t something I looked forward to. By getting it out of the way on a morning it feels like I’m being productive straight away. This leads me perfectly in to work as I feel like I’m already getting stuff done. Productivity breeds productivity.

Another reason for the 06:51 alarm is that I have to walk my dog. Getting a dog pretty much forced me into becoming a morning person. As someone who works from home more often than not, I can definitely recommend having a four-legged friend that relies on you for exercise. It’s an excuse to step away from the screen for a break and sometimes you need that push. I take my dog out straight after the gym – usually around 08:30.

After that, shower and breakfast; most days I’m at my desk ready to work between 09:00 and 10:00. Having my external commitments crossed off and in the bank before I start gives me clarity and a clear run at the working day ahead.

Benefits of Sleep Routine to a Remote Worker

I can’t stress how much a steady sleep routine has benefitted me. Although I’m a believer in being flexible as a freelancer, having a fixed workday alarm time has made me a better home worker. I’m more level mentally, I’m in better shape physically and my productivity is as high as it’s ever been. To expand on these benefits:

When I get up at 06:51, go to the gym and walk my dog, I feel like I’ll have a good day in the office. It sounds really simplistic, and I guess it is; once I’ve started checking off tasks, the next one feels a million times easier. And the next one after that and the next one after that. I rarely feel overwhelmed by my workload.
Getting up earlier allows me the time to look after my physical health. In my experience, this is something that is often neglected by remote workers. I do this much better now that I have a regular sleep cycle.
Humans are creatures of routine and your sleep pattern is a big part of that. I feel comfortable with the predictability of waking up at the same time. This routine simplifies my life and allows me to do more by providing regular periods of focus.

While these benefits are generic in terms of how a consistent sleep routine will make you feel, the way you achieve this will likely be unique. Just because I perform well with no set bedtime but a set wake-up time, doesn’t mean you will.

Everyone’s lives are different and everyone’s bodies are different. You need to find a sleep routine that allows you to be at your best.

Find your 06:51.

Update 02/09/2019

Since the time of writing, I’ve pushed the start of my morning routine further one hour to 5:50 as it better suits my current commitments.

Turning myself into a morning person continues to be directly beneficial to my mental state, physical health and business profits.

How Successful Freelancers Retain Clients and Earn Repeat Business

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 10:39:19 GMT

As in most fields, customers you’re already in contact with, have seen what you can do and are happy with your product or service; are more likely to become customers again. That said, just because you’ve worked well together in the past doesn’t make their ongoing business a sure thing.

In relation to the growth and success of my remote freelance business, retaining customers has been super important. Long-term working relationships are something I actively pursue and have become the basis of my monthly income.

If you’re a serious freelancer, contractor or consultant, you should work hard on client retention. Here are a few ideas how:

Connect with your clients

In my development business, I’ve worked with lots of different types of client. While you’ll not always find common ground with everyone (as is life), it generally makes working together better if you can find some kind of level.

Ask questions now and again. “How’s the weather where you are?, “How’re the kids?”. Typing those sort of things out feels cheesy, but trust me; it builds rapport, makes your work interaction easier and can form the basis of a lasting partnership.

I’ve seen work from home freelancers struggle with the idea of connecting with their remote colleagues and overseas clients. Sure, we don’t have that everyday face-to-face interaction; but it doesn’t start and end in the office. Make use of tools like Slack for chat, Skype and Google Hangouts for video calling and once in a while, get together for a coffee.

People hire people. Build a relationship, talk about more than work. Be personable, not robotic. Above all, be sincere.

Cut a deal (sometimes)

I’m not a big believer in lowering my rates to get work. Usually, I think that if someone really wants to hire you, they will pay the going rate. At the same time, there are a couple of circumstances where you could think about cutting a deal with regular clients.

Imagine this scenario. An agency client has previously worked with you on a successful project. They have a ton of overflow work coming up in the months ahead and don’t have the capacity to fill it. They look to you as someone who could fill the void but want to negotiate on your usual rate. Say your usual day rate is £300, but the client has 3 months worth of work, they could offer you £250 per day. While this is lower than your regular price, you gain security for a longer period. This can be highly calming for a freelancer.

Retainers would be another angle where I’d potentially cut a deal. X amount of guaranteed monthly income in exchange for Y amount of set-aside hours/days work within that month. These deals can work in your favour as a freelancer. Along with the positive of regular payments, hours unused by the client usually don’t roll over into the next month. This could leave additional time to work on marketing or personal projects while still bringing home a paycheck.

Willingness to be flexible on price (within reason) can lead to longer deals.

Prove your worth

Once you take on a project, it’s time to prove your worth. Be capable and do a solid job. Add value to your clients’ business. You’d think this goes without saying, but I’ve heard some horror stories on past hires from the people I’ve dealt with.

In my experience, people can already be a little wary of hiring freelancers. Especially if you prefer to work remotely or don’t have the largest portfolio. Don’t give them a reason to doubt your integrity. Use your skills to do the best job possible.

The feedback I get is; a good freelancer who is reliable, personable and adds value to their client’s business is worth their weight in gold. Be that person for your clients.

My career as a freelance WordPress developer took off on the basis of this value. Starting out, I impressed an agency with a one-off theme build. The next time the agency had a similar project, they passed it on to me again. This eventually grew to ongoing monthly work and I became the client’s go-to hire for WordPress jobs.

Make yourself indisposable.

Be realistic with deadlines

Clients usually appreciate straight talk. If you’re too busy, you’re too busy – don’t overpromise.

The nature of freelancers is to try and take on as much work as possible. The reasons being, freelance feast and famine is a common occurrence and we simply like to please the people we work with. The fear of turning down work is one you should try to overcome if you want to keep your client relationships strong.

A big part of being a freelancer is managing the expectations of multiple clients. It’s important to not overstretch yourself with deadlines by taking on more than you can handle at any one time. This can cause disappointment if you’re unable to stick to agreed timescales; an unreliable freelancer won’t earn repeat business.

If you think a job will take a week longer than the brief suggests, be sure to communicate this. Be realistic with all time estimates.

Go the extra mile

If you’re looking to improve your client retention, show willing to go the extra mile. There are a few ways you can do this ranging from small touches to really pulling out all the stops.

Ask for feedback on any work you’ve done. Check that your client is happy with what you have produced for them. Send thank you emails when they send a payment on time. Take the time to have regular phone calls.

There could be occasions when the client has a rush job – consider taking it if you have the capacity and can agree on suitable compensation. There will be instances when emergencies surface; your client base will greatly appreciate you jumping to their aid.

If you take care of people, you build their trust. And, in my experience of freelancer-client relationships, they normally take care of you back.

Bad Habits You Should Break to Grow Your Freelance Business

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 11:12:42 GMT

We’ve all got our vices and it’s super easy to form bad habits when you’re your own boss.

As freelancers, we often work alone for long periods. Freelancers are often not challenged on the how’s and why’s we do things. This can lead to complacency and inefficient working.

In this post, I’ll share the bad habits you should break in order to grow your freelance business.

Writing Poor Emails

If you’re going to write an email to someone, do it properly. There’s nothing that says “I can’t be bothered” or “I’m too busy for this” than badly structured emails that make little sense.

Everyone will make a mistake once in a while. But generally speaking, your written communication should be as polished as possible. I’m not necessarily talking about typos here either. We definitely all make those!

You should take the proper time to read and analyse emails from your customers. Believe me, it’s obvious when replies have been written based on only skim-read questions.

Writing poor emails to prospects and clients will put them off.

Being Impersonal

When looking to grow your freelance business it’s important to retain clients. People invest in people and by being impersonal you could hinder any repeat business.

In my experience, lasting relationships come from building rapport and common ground with the people you work with. I’m lucky to have clients come back to me years after our first engagement. Try to leave an impression on anyone you collaborate with.

As a day-to-day remote worker, it’s sometimes difficult to be personable with sparse face-to-face contact. A few ways you can improve on this:

Build rapport by talking about things other than work.
Encourage the use of video chat for meetings.
Connect with prospects and clients on social media.
Be nice! Go out of your way for people every once in a while.

Bad Timekeeping

Managing your time is a vital part of any freelancers’ regime. Not only in terms of getting things done but perhaps, more importantly, making the right impression on the people you deal with.

When I arrange meetings, they’re often done over the phone, Skype, Google Hangouts or similar. To keep things running to time, I like to set up a Google calendar event and send an invite to all other attendees. That way, everyone knows exactly what time to dial in and how long the chat will last.

Just because your meetings aren’t always in person, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be on time. And, if you are going to be a touch late, be courteous and let people know.

Reliability is a trait that clients value as important as technical nouse. Break your bad punctuality habits right away.

Not Following Up On Leads

Even during busy periods, it’s always a good idea to follow up on leads. Not doing so is a freelancing bad habit.

Be sure to reply to everyone that enquires about your freelance services. Even if it’s to turn them down this time. Make it clear that while you’d love to help, you don’t have the capacity at this time or the budget is too low on this one.

I often find that people will be flexible with their requirements if they really want to hire you. Whether that be increasing their project spend or hanging on to book you at a later date when you are available.

It’s good practice to be pro-active with prospects too. When you’ve taken the time to write out a quote or share ideas on a project, you owe it to yourself to give them a nudge if you hear nothing.

A quick tip regarding leads; whenever anyone contacts you regarding work, add them on social media. This keeps you fresh in their mind for the current and future projects.

Any business contact is valuable to a freelancer. Chase them up and retain connections.

Reluctance to Phone Conversations

This is one that I struggled with. In the first few years running my freelance business, I would actively avoid talking on the phone. I hated it and it stressed me out.

As my experience has grown, I’ve found utilising spoken communication to be imperative. Being available at the other end of the line offers a level of confidence to clients that is hard to achieve with text. It’s a strong method of building affinity and is part of offering a personal service.

One thing I can assure you is the more you converse with clients, the easier it will get. Quick tips that I follow to build confidence when speaking on the phone:

Schedule calls rather than offering up your number to anyone at anytime.
Prepare for calls by making notes and bringing up relevant assets beforehand.
Try to speak to every client on your books on a semi-regular basis.
Practice makes perfect.

Reactive Marketing

Marketing and the growth of your freelance business come hand in hand. One bad habit of freelancers I’ve picked up on is that they only start marketing when they’re going through a dry spell.

In any form of self-employment, there will be times of feast and famine. Sometimes you’ll have more work than you can handle and sometimes you’ll have no work at all. How you manage this is what will determine your success.

Reactive marketing isn’t the best idea if that’s the only time you market. What I mean by this is; marketing should be done constantly. You should try to keep on top of your portfolio updates, social media outreach and lead follow-ups whether you have a current project or not.

If you’re only starting to market yourself once you have no paid work, you’re likely doing it too late.

Failure to Stay Relevant

Most remote freelancers who work from home, like me, are in digital trades. This industry is the perfect example of why staying relevant is so important.

Web development moves forward so quickly. There are new frameworks, languages and tools appearing every day. Setting time aside to brush up on new, suitable skills is something you should do regularly.

As well as technical skills, keeping on top of what’s going on in your trade will stand you in good stead. For instance, part of being a professional WordPress developer is knowing what the latest security flaws of plug-ins are, what front-end techniques are best for performance and what tools to utilise for the most efficient build stack.

Allow time to read, research and expand your knowledge base. Make yourself as hireable as possible. Give your clients confidence in your abilities. It’s always beneficial to stay relevant.

5 Steps to Becoming a Better Remote Worker

Tue, 02 Jan 2018 16:43:17 GMT

We’re all looking to better ourselves and become more successful. I’ve found that being proactive in my career development has given me an edge over the years.

I’m not just talking about technical skills either. There are many other non-technical aspects of a remote workers’ day. Brushing up on these will be advantageous in terms of your overall success.

Here are the 5 steps I follow to becoming a better remote worker:

1. Use a Specialist Workplace

I’ve worked from home for a long time. Day-to-day, I take refuge in my office.

While there’s nothing wrong with heading out to a coffee shop now and then or working while you travel to a meeting, I’ve found that having a dedicated workspace makes me more efficient.

It’s easy as a remote worker to fall into the trap of “if I’m on my laptop, I’m working” state of mind. It’s all about output, and in my experience, if I don’t have a home office to take solace in, my output isn’t as good.

A safe-haven where you can shut out day to day noise will simply make you more productive (noise cancelling headphones can help here too).

Take advantage of the days where you can work in peace.

2. Have a Semi-Flexible Routine

I’m a routine based person and I struggle when I break out of it. Having said that, working from home offers us an amazing level of flexibility.

I like to have a fairly strict routine with a few flexible elements. For instance:

A non-negotiable part of my week is four visits to the gym. I like to get there before my work day starts and I like to have my weekends for rest. That leaves me with four sessions to fit into five days before work.

In an ideal world, these sessions are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Usually possible, occasionally not. But because my routine has a little bend, if I have an early meeting on Tuesday, it’s not a problem to move that gym session to Wednesday.

A work from home routine is super important to add structure to your days. Make sure you have some room for flexibility in there too.

3. Follow Industry News Closely

This goes without saying for any professional, but even more so for remote workers. We spend a lot of our time alone, removed from the typical workplace environment.

We’re deprived of those watercooler chats about the latest version of X or the newest update to Y. Industry conference visits are also often beyond a freelancers’ reach due to time or money constraints. It’s up to us to keep on top of what’s going on.

I make good use of Twitter to follow relevant accounts in the web development, web design and technology fields. I also like to set time aside to brush up on my coding skills when new techniques arise.

It’s paramount to stay relevant when becoming a better remote worker.

4. Do a Good Job Networking

I’m not big on in-person networking. By this, I mean networking for networking’s sake. It’s always seemed forced to me.

In my opinion, a retained client, a word of mouth recommendation and a friend in a similar field are all better contacts than someone met for the first time at a local business gathering or an industry conference.

We’re remote workers, our catchment area is global – it’s important to be good at digital networking. Your portfolio website and social media accounts are all part of this. Make sure they properly portray you and the services you offer.

A networking aspect I focus on is simply doing a good job. If you do a good job, you will get more work. Whether it’s from the client themselves or someone they know. Be knowledgeable, be reliable, be personable.

Good remote workers stand out.

5. Be a Better Communicator

Last but not least my top tip for becoming a better remote worker. Do all you can to improve your communication skills.

It’s always nice to get positive feedback. I find it extra satisfying when a client praises my approach to project conversation. I’m often told that my personal, yet to the point style of communication is exactly what people are looking for in a remote worker.

In my opinion, this is what leads to me getting successfully hired and retained more than anything else.

Some basic action points I follow are:

Take the time to write better emails.
Speak more on the phone to clients.
Utilise regular video chats.
Show willing to meet in person when it suits both sides.

Good communication is an invaluable trait as a remote worker.

5 Business Questions Every New Freelancer Should Ask

Sun, 11 Jun 2017 17:28:08 GMT

I recently received an email from a close friend of mine asking for advice on how to set up a freelance business. My friend had been working as a graphic designer for an agency and has decided to take the jump into full time freelancing.

Although an expert in design, the accounts and business side of going freelance wasn’t so clear to my friend. I often get messages from other designers and developers asking how I started my freelancing career, in particular the business setup; so I’ve decided to share my experiences via my reply to him.

Disclaimer: For any business decisions, my first recommendation is to talk to a professional accountant and/or business advisor. The following is from my experience as a freelance developer of 8 years. The majority of this applies to UK based freelancers.

1. Should I register as a limited business or sole trader?

Starting as a sole trader is easier, there’s not as much setup, but it’s far less safe than trading via a limited company.

Let’s say for some obscure reason (probably will never happen, but could), a client decides you’ve cost them money and wants to sue you. As a sole trader you’re personally responsible for any debts your business incurs. So in this extreme example, you could lose your house, car, etc.

As a limited company, your liability is limited (hence the name) – the debt is with the company, not with you personally. A limited company is legally separate from the individuals who run it.

Another reason many contractors register a limited company to trade through is there may be financial benefits. This is where your accountant would come in and work out exactly which route you’d be better off taking, based on your estimated yearly earnings, if you’re looking to work from home, average monthly business expenses and so on.

I started as a sole trader and registered as a limited company when it made financial sense. Knowing what I know now, I’d have gone limited straight away, but I’d consult an accountant and describe your specific circumstances.

Either way I’d be looking to use something FreeAgent to keep everything on track.

Further reading: https://www.gov.uk/set-up-sole-trader and https://www.gov.uk/limited-company-formation.

2. So you’ve already advised on FreeAgent, do I still need an accountant, and what for? I’m new the accounting side of things

I’m sure people roll without an accountant, but alongside running your business it’s a lot extra to juggle. For me, what I pay my accountant is easily offset by the time it saves me. A good accountant will also advise you on business setup and structure that could save you money too.

A one man freelance business shouldn’t be a large job for an experienced accountancy practice, so I wouldn’t expect to be paying thousands. It makes their lives much easier too if you use something like FreeAgent as you’re essentially bookkeeping as you go along.

I’d get an accountant, even if you don’t specifically need one.

3. When you quote/bill clients, do you add VAT or is it inclusive in your day rate?

At the time of writing you only need to register for VAT if your business’ VAT’able annual turnover is over £85,000. You can also voluntarily register for VAT if your annual turnover is less than this; reasons being it can present you as a “bigger” firm to other businesses and there can also be financial benefits (again, consult an accountant).

Digital and design services aren’t VAT exempt, so if you think you’ll hit the threshold in a 12 month period VAT registration is compulsory. If you are not VAT registered, you should not charge VAT – either as a separate % on your quotes and invoices or included in your day rate.

Further reading: https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration/overview

4. How does it work with tax deduction. What kind of things should I be documenting or keep an eye on?

I know I keep saying it, but this is where you should talk to an accountant.

In short, if your business performs a transaction, in or out (sale or purchase), you need to record this. FreeAgent is awesome because when you raise an invoice there, that sale is recorded and when your bank feed pulls in, all your purchases are recorded (with descriptions of what that money out was for added by you).

Some businesses expenses are offset against your corporation tax payments. Even things like entertaining for business purposes are claimable – there’s an A-Z of what you can claim on here: https://www.gov.uk/expenses-and-benefits-a-to-z

As a rule of thumb for my freelancing business, my accountant told me to set aside 25-30% of every invoice that comes in (it’s varied slightly over the years). I wouldn’t use that figure as gospel for your own specific circumstances though! Get your budget worked out based on your estimated earnings.

5. Should I open a business bank account?

Yes, especially if you go down the limited company route.

Having all your business transactions completely separate from your personal ones prevents major bookkeeping headaches for you and your accountant.

Most banks will give you 2 years free service before they start charging too.

Finally, is there any key questions I’ve missed or things I should know?

My main advice for freelance finance is to keep on top of your records. Don’t let it build up and become a harder job that it has to be. I’d definitely use FreeAgent as it keeps me in check and has done since I started my freelancing business.

Oh, and did I mention to get an accountant?!

Other than that, good luck!

How to Start Freelancing From Home When You Have No Clients

Wed, 08 Mar 2017 17:21:01 GMT

How can I start freelancing from home when I have no clients? A question that ran through my mind when struggling to find a permanent developer’s job back in 2009. In my case, it was the major doubt that prevented me taking action sooner when offering my services as a remote freelancer.

I get it, it’s a big risk – especially coming from a decent steady income (even more so when you’re flat broke as I was!). The natural inclination is to stay in your comfort zone or even ditch the idea of working from home altogether. I know I considered it.

I started freelancing remotely eight years ago, successfully running my own web development business ever since. In this article I’ll detail the major factors that saw me go from zero clients to working with a number of global brands and consistent repeat customers. Alongside this there’s a great idea at the end that I’d like to share. Considering this when I started out would have been huge for me.

Although written from a remote freelance web developer’s perspective, I’m positive this article can help anyone looking to start working from home with no clients.

Make Yourself Available

Waiting for enquiries to drop in to your mailbox won’t work. You need to make yourself available. It might be scary putting yourself out there, especially as someone new to self-employment. But this is my number 1 tip; let the world know you’re a contractor taking on new projects.

The simple things you can do to achieve this are:

Get a Good Website

As a freelancer, your website is your top marketing tool. People are searching for people like you. Every day.

A presence is essential and it’s not too difficult or expensive to set up. Using WordPress, a premium WordPress theme from ThemeForest and the Lite Package from TSO Host – your remote business could be online for under £50.

Once up and running, focus on content. Concentrate on making clear:

The service(s) you offer
How much you charge for this
When you’re next available to carry out work
How people can contact you

My website was the first thing I set up. It has consistently brought in most new project leads.

One thing I’d suggest to 2009 Tom is to start blogging sooner. Establishing yourself as a source of knowledge/expertise in your field can be lucrative.

This speaks for itself. You’re moving from a typical job to working for yourself. The easiest and quickest way to let people know is via social media.

Update the following:

Facebook intro
Facebook employment details (get a page for your new business)
Twitter bio and website
Instagram bio and website
LinkedIn job details
Consider “looking for work” posts

These are quick and easy wins. Free ways to get the word out about your new venture.

Taking care of this early opens you up to further social media possibilities in the future. Facebook ads being the best for fledgling businesses in my experience.

I’ve not needed to explore this with my freelancing business (I have with my retail one), however the specificity of targeting is unparalleled. That said, I’d only recommend paid for your freelance business once the basics are in place.

Personally, I use Twitter as the voice of my freelancing business. Keeping it relevant is important such as what you’re working on, when you’re next available and industry news. Though people buy from people. Don’t be afraid to be yourself (within certain limits!).

Use Existing Relationships and Make New Ones

If you have a skill that is transferable to a remote business, no doubt you have contacts. People who could be clients that you already know of:

Your boss (could you phase into freelancing?)
Existing colleagues
Businesses people in the same field of your existing job
Friends (and contacts of)
Family (and contacts of)
Tutors from college or university
Fellow students

My advice would be to sound out these people. Could they use your services? Do they already use someone else for the service you’re wanting to provide? You could have potential clients staring you in the face already.

This angle got me my first three leads, one of which ended in a multi-year working relationship. To expand:

My friend was in a band, they needed a website – I’m your guy. The band had a photographer that needed web support – there’s another client. My Dad has his own business too, he had a contact who’d just let his web developer go – what a great lead that turned out to be!

Make new connections and nurture them. While typical business networking events have never worked for me, willingness to make new connections is vital. Working from home doesn’t mean you can’t be personable:

Be friendly in your email conversations, make small talk
Interact with people on social media
Be willing to talk over the phone/Skype (big one)

Contacts will grow naturally as your business grows. Do a good job, exceed expectations and you will get re-hired. You may also get recommended to one of your clients colleagues or friends.

Find Your Niche, Specialise and Stick to it

So you’re a content writer. What do you write about? Anything? Imagine trying to market yourself to the whole spectrum of people looking to hire a freelance copywriter. It’s hard, it’s competitive. Consider specialising.

For instance if you write awesome book reviews, target people in this area. Not only will you be doing what you’re best at, your lead conversion rates should be much higher.

I’d fancy my chances more moving from targeting a broad range of potential clients who have many freelancers to pick from, to a smaller specific group who find only a handful of specialists.

The best thing I did to get new clients for my remote business was to specialise.

Starting out I listed the following service pages on my website:

Web design
Web development
Front end development
JavaScript development
PHP development
Web Consultancy
The list was endless…

It’s natural to think that a catch-all approach will work. However, condensing this content and naming myself a “Freelance WordPress Developer” was what made things tick. I still use all the listed skills, but the aforementioned is what my potential clients are looking for.

Optimising my website through copy lead to much more free search traffic from Google than the broader terms ever brought in. What’s more, the leads are of higher quality due to the specificity of my content. IE, more likely to turn into paid projects.

I truly believe specialising is an amazing angle for people looking to start a freelancing.

You Don’t Necessarily Need “Clients”

This is the one I mentioned in the article introduction. I wish I’d have based my freelance business on this model when starting up. What if you don’t need typical clients?

My reservations about going it alone were focused on having no work lined up there and then. Projects from people who would employee me to do a specific job, then pay me for the work. Instead of chasing these projects, could there be another way?

Producing something that can sell to many people rather than just one specific client is an angle. I’ll explain:

There’s a large market for digital products. As a developer, sometimes I think it makes sense for me to quit client work. Building a general theme once that can be sold over and over again has huge return on time investment potential.

Granted, there may not be these opportunities in your specific field. Nonetheless another way of looking at the client/work relationship.

Conclusion

Looking to start freelancing from home when you have no clients can be daunting. But there is a way. Essential takeaways from this article are:

Put yourself out there with confidence
Don’t discount the easy/obvious stuff
Make use of existing relationships
Nurture new relationships by being personable
Specialise as soon as you can
Think outside the box for earning angles

I hope you find my experiences useful and they provide some level of confidence to you. Just remember every freelancer has to start somewhere! If you enjoyed this article please share it with your friends. Good luck!

Flexible Freelancing

Sun, 27 Nov 2016 19:58:09 GMT

I’ve found freelancing to be unpredictable at times; you’ve got to take the rough with the smooth and be flexible in a number of scenarios.

Here are the lessons I’ve learned in my time as a freelance developer about flexibility:

Projects Don’t Always (Ever?) Run to Time

In an ideal world, a two-week long project will start at 9AM on the first Monday and be tied up nicely by 5PM on the final Friday. This almost never happens. In my early days freelancing this would annoy me. I felt like the project was being badly ran, either by myself, my client or the both of us. As I’ve gained more experience I’ve gotten used to this as part and parcel of digital projects.

If at all possible I like to charge out at my day rate. That way, this kind of scenario can’t really happen. The issue is that most clients, whether design agencies or other companies, prefer a fixed price for their project’s development.

I’ve found it beneficial to be time flexible in this situation. For instance, it’s not the end of the world if projects overlap slightly – even when quoting a specific number of days time for the work. It’s not realistic to think that your 2 week project, your 1 week project and your 2 month project will dove-tail nicely. No matter how well you schedule work, there will be at least one set of amends that fall outside the designated project time.

It’s best to accept this and add a little flexibility to your calendar. I try and set aside a few hours on a Friday, an evening if I’m busy, or even on a weekend to take care of the little jobs that nearly always crop up. Adding an additional day’s time to your fixed price quotes will often cater for payment of this.

Work When You Want From Where You Want

I imagine this to be one of the major plus points of freelancing and working from home. Generally my work days are fairly fixed. I work from my home office, roughly 10AM – 6PM, every weekday. I don’t stick to this entirely as some projects require you to bend a little.

When an interesting proposal comes to light, it’s advantageous to be flexible as there’s more chance of getting the job. For instance, a client may want weekly meetings or have a clause that the entire development be coded on premises. I’m often willing to consider terms like this on a project by project basis as it opens myself up to a wider range of work.

Aside from proximity, a massive benefit for work from home freelancers is choosing our own hours. I personally like to start around 10AM (working until 6PM) as this enables me to go to the gym or walk my dog before work, while still keeping within the usual working hours of my UK based clients. Occasionally however, I’ll set up 7PM conference calls with my American clients.

Having no set location or fixed hours are two valuable assets for remote freelancers. Be flexible and make the most of them.

Clients Are Human

Everyone needs holidays right? Your clients will go on holiday, they will take days off for appointments and there will be times when they’re unreachable. Sometimes it’s easy to be so focused on your business that a break in a project can really throw you off, no matter how plausible the reason. That said, it’s important to remember that clients are people just like ourselves!

In parallel, there will also be times when you need to go that extra mile for a client. A flat no, is never a good answer for these type of requests in my opinion. As long as the right general boundaries are set, there’s nothing wrong with pulling an all-nighter for a valuable client on occasion. There are people who will push this flexibility to the maximum however; and I wouldn’t consider these valuable clients.

It’s important that the client/designer/developer communication line is open and clear. In general it’s best to cut clients some slack and allow some leeway, you’ll usually get the same back.

Be Flexible, Get Flexible

As mentioned previously, if you’re flexible with your clients you will often get the same level of leeway in return.

Being able to take time out when we want is great, but remember that this will affect your client and their project. I’ve found that, especially in longer-term working relationships, being open to a margin of variation will stand you in good stead when the roles are reversed.

From my experience, as long as I’ve forewarned my clients of any holidays in advance they’ve been fine with it. Smaller out of office absences like appointments, or single days off, I’ve built up the trust to cater for these on the fly. I operate in the same manner with anyone working for me; when I’m the client so to speak.

It’s unrealistic to expect freelancers (and clients) to be completely rigid.

In Summary

Flexibility is an essential trait for a freelancer and something that clients, especially those with reoccurring work, will always look for.

Learning to build an adaptable and dynamic business is something that has taken me time. If I could go back a few years, my advise to myself would be:

Don’t panic when projects overrun slightly. Include amends time in fixed priced projects.
Use the time and location freedom you have to your advantage. Adapt project by project.
Cut clients some slack. The leeway will usually be reciprocated.
Surpass expectations for the right clients, but don’t be taken advantage of.
Emergency situations will happen. Be prepared for them!

Next/Previous Post Links in Same Top Level Category

Thu, 20 Oct 2016 13:20:51 GMT

In WordPress it’s often desirable to restrict pagination to posts within the current posts’ category (or custom taxonomy); usually because of particular ordering requirements. For instance, when it wouldn’t make sense to mix posts of a certain category with others.

The easiest way to display next/previous post pagination on your single.php template (or single-custom-post-type.php template) is to use the next_post_link() and previous_post_link() functions. These both display the relevant posts adjacent to the current post.

But what if you want to paginate posts within the same category? Or, extending this further, within the same top level category.

How to Keep Post Pagination in Same Parent Category

By default WordPress will paginate between the first category the post is assigned to alphabetically. Probably not you’re after as navigating back and forth between posts will provide an inconsistent order.

The next_post_link() and previous_post_link() functions have built in parameters that we can make use of. First of all, to ensure the next and previous adjacent posts are within the same category (or taxonomy) we can set the $in_same_term option to TRUE:

<nav class="pagination">
   <ul>
      <li class="prev"><?php previous_post_link( '%link', 'Previous Post', TRUE ); ?></li>
      <li class="next"><?php next_post_link( '%link', 'Next Post', TRUE ); ?></li>
   <ul>
</nav>

Yet what if you want to paginate between posts within top level categories only? I came across this in a recent WordPress project using a custom post type (event) and custom taxonomies (event-category) to organise event data. The event category structure was as follows:

Top Level Event Category 1
- Child Event Category 1
- Child Event Category 2
- Child Event Category 3
Top Level Event Category 2
- Child Event Category 4
- Child Event Category 5
- Child Event Category 6

An event is exclusively categorised in one of the top level event categories and in up to three child event categories. Although $in_same_term is set to TRUE, the next_post_link() and previous_post_link() functions were linking to adjacent posts in any of the event categories the current event was in.

From the WordPress Codex on next_post_link():

If the post is in both the parent and subcategory, or more than one term, the next post link will lead to the next post in any of those terms.

Therefore not what we want when trying to retain a uniform order of events.

Exclude All Categories That Aren’t Top Level

The next_post_link() and previous_post_link() functions have another parameter that can be used together with $in_same_term; $excluded_terms. This can be passed an array of, or string of comma-separated taxonomy term IDs to exclude.

This can be used to link to the next/previous post within the same category, unless that category is within the excluded categories.

In my case I used this to exclude any child level categories from my pagination, as I wanted to display events in order of either top level event category.

I wrote a custom function (in the theme’s functions.php file) that would return all term IDs of the current event post that aren’t top level:

function get_excluded_event_categories() {
   // Get event categories of current event
   $current_event_cats = wp_get_post_terms( get_the_ID(), 'event-category' );
   // Declare array to store excluded sub event categories
   $excluded_sub_event_cats = [];
   // Loop through current event categories
   foreach( $current_event_cats as $cat ) {
      // Check if current category has a parent category
      $parent_cat = $cat->parent;
      if($parent_cat !== 0) {
          // If it does, add it's term ID to the excluded array
          array_push($excluded_sub_event_cats, $cat->term_id);
      }
   }
   return $excluded_sub_event_cats;
}

To give me the required pagination order for the events in my single-event.php template, I could subsequently call my function here:

<nav class="pagination">
   <ul>
      <li class="prev"><?php previous_post_link( '%link', 'Previous Post', TRUE, get_excluded_event_categories(), 'event-category' ); ?></li>
      <li class="next"><?php next_post_link( '%link', 'Next Post', TRUE, get_excluded_event_categories(), 'event-category' ); ?></li>
   <ul>
</nav>

In Summary

Most of all it’s important to note that the above is a solution to a problem I encountered on a specific project. The code should be adapted to suit your needs. This will probably be straightforward and changing the taxonomy name should work for most cases.

You’ll also want to give the custom function a more appropriate name if you’re not dealing with events.

I hope this helps someone out!

Freelancers: Remember, It’s All Work

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 11:54:01 GMT

This is a short but sweet lesson I’ve learned during my time freelancing.

The reason behind posting this now is that I’m going through a two week patch with my web development business where I’ve not done any proper coding. By “proper” I’m talking about getting my teeth stuck in to a multi-week-long WordPress build that I consider to be my bread and butter.

What Do I Mean by “It’s All Work”?

“It’s All Work” is a phrase I remind myself of when I’m in between projects.

At the start of my freelancing career, like anyone who works for themselves I assume, I’d panic if I didn’t have a specific project to fill my day/week/month with. I found it really easy to fall into the mind-set of “I’m not efficiently working if I’m not coding away on a job for a client”.

Over the years I’ve found this to be a counter productive state of mind. If you don’t have a specific project to be working on that day, do something else that’s meaningful to your business and its progress.

It All Counts

Although I’ve not taken on any new projects for a small while, I’m sure working on it! I’m talking to prospects every day, submitting proposals and negotiating – it all counts and although not the typical technical work, it’s just as vital for a freelancer. Even writing this blog post right now, _it’s all work: _

Emails
Phone calls
Proposals
Marketing
Side projects
Open source
Blogging
Social media
Bookkeeping
Accounts

As a tech freelancer, there’s pretty much always something to do.

Don’t Beat Yourself Up

Contractors of all trades will sometimes have periods where they’re in between jobs, it’s the nature of the beast.

I’ve found that being productive during this down time will bear fruit more often than not. Putting a tweet out to let people know I’m available, updating my portfolio with recent work and writing articles have been my go-to’s over the years. And, if the cupboard really is bare after that, there’s always the end of year accounts to get ahead on!

Just remember, it’s all work.

Add Custom PHP Code to Visual Composer Pages

Thu, 06 Oct 2016 11:41:20 GMT

I recently encountered a WordPress project where I needed to add some specific PHP code to a certain part of a page template. Obviously this is relatively straight forward, depending on the code, with usual WordPress theme files; this build however, was using the page builder plugin “Visual Composer” to construct all of it’s pages.

What’s a Page Builder? And What’s Visual Composer?

Page builder plugins are majorly popular in the WordPress community right now, especially with non-development minded users. In short they enable users with little or no coding experience to create more complicated layouts. Visual Composer is, at the time of writing, probably the most popular.

How to Insert Custom PHP into the Visual Composer Flow

I explored a few options. It’s not the best idea to add PHP directly into text editors for security reasons, so that was out. I couldn’t go into the page template files themselves and start dropping PHP/HTML in there as it wouldn’t appear in the Visual Composer layout order.

I thought about using the built in Visual Composer API to create a custom layout block, but my output was so simple I considered this to be overkill; plus I like to prevent “lock-in” if at all possible. For instance, if it were decided that the project wouldn’t use the Visual Composer plugin anymore, I’d like my code to still work using standard WordPress features.

Eventually I settled on building a custom shortcode to output my PHP code, meaning that anywhere you can use a shortcode in WordPress (including a Visual Composer Text Block) you can output custom PHP and HTML. Here’s a step by step guide for getting lines of PHP to output where you want them in any Visual Composer page layout:

Build a Custom Shortcode to Output the PHP

Using the WordPress shortcode API guidelines, in your functions.php file (or other include depending on your theme setup) add the following:

// Shortcode to output custom PHP in Visual Composer
function my_vc_shortcode( $atts ) {
    return '<h2>This is my custom PHP output!</h2>';
}
add_shortcode( 'my_vc_php_output', 'my_vc_shortcode');

Be sure to name the function and the shortcode something relevant to what you’re trying to output on the page, this is only a simple example.

Insert Into the Page using Visual Composer

Now that your shortcode is registered it can be called into Visual Composer using a “text block“. In the WordPress admin area, go to Pages and find the one you’d like to drop your custom PHP in to.

From here, add a Visual Composer text block with your newly created shortcode called within it. For this guide the shortcode is [my_vc_php_output]:

Then drag and drop this text block to the specific area you’d like the custom PHP from your shortcode to be displayed:

The above shows the shortcode in position using a full width Visual Composer column. It’s also possible to place the shortcode in more complicated layout types, like within one of the four adjacent columns:

Check PHP/HTML Output on the Page

Now that the shortcode is in your Visual Composer page layout, check the results of this on the page to ensure the output is as expected:

In Summary

Obviously, there are more possibilities than returning a header tag using this solution; it can be expanded to serve any functionality possible with the WordPress shortcode API, such as shortcodes that handle attributes.

I hope this quick guide helps other people facing the same issue; trying to add your own PHP into a page laid out with Visual Composer can be tricky, especially if you’re used to building bespoke WordPress templates as I am.

FreeAgent: Accountancy Software For Freelancers

Sun, 25 Sep 2016 17:41:25 GMT

When I first started my remote development business I had little grasp of what was not only good bookkeeping practice, but what was legally required for me to produce in terms of financial documentation.

Like most things, I learned as I went; soon realising that my paper receipts, folder of drawn up invoices and calculations on the back of envelopes wasn’t the answer. I knew there must be a better way and I found one in FreeAgent.

Here’s my take on what I consider to be the best freelance accountancy software.

What is FreeAgent?

FreeAgent is online accounting software made specifically for freelancers and small businesses, with access for their accountants.

Key FreeAgent features include:

Estimates – including custom PDF templates.
Invoicing – send via email direct from FreeAgent.
Expenses – track both bank payment and “out-of-pocket” project costs.
Projects – build to-do lists and manage profitability.
Time Tracking – track billable and billable time per project.
Banking – explain transactions as they come in.
Financial Reports – Profit and loss, balance sheet and trial balance.
VAT – Auto VAT returns and submission to HMRC for UK freelancers/businesses.
Self Assessment – UK freelancers who are sole traders or directors of limited companies can file their return directly to HMRC.
Corporation Tax – Using day-to-day bookkeeping information, FreeAgent can automatically forecast what you have to pay and when.

What Do I like so Much About FreeAgent?

The Dashboard

Each time you log in to FreeAgent you land on the dashboard. This is my go-to screen.

As a small business or freelancer, it’s essential that you know where you stand financially. Failure to adhere to the accounting and tax requirements of the country you operate in can lead to severe implications.

The main figure I like to keep regular track of is my company’s corporation tax. FreeAgent forecasts this information in a concise “Tax Timeline” widget on the dashboard.

Alongside other “at a glance” figures like cashflow, bank balance and invoice totals, this feature keeps my business on the straight and narrow. No nasty surprises with FreeAgent.

Ease of Invoicing

When I first started billing for my freelance work, I used Microsoft Word. I created a basic template that I’d use to add items to, manually increment the invoice number and add up totals, save out to PDF and send via my email client.

Not only was this a bit of a longwinded process, it opened up room for error. I found this out the hard way with duplicate invoice numbers and wrongly billed totals!

FreeAgent makes the whole invoicing process so much easier. Now, I simply locate my client, pick the relevant project and start creating a new invoice.

I usually bill by the day, so having my day rate set in the FreeAgent price list enables me to simply add the number of days worked, with the software coming up with the relevant totals (taking into account VAT and/or discounts, if applicable).

From this point, I can save as a PDF (using my custom template with logo) or I can send direct to the email address stored for my contact via FreeAgent itself. So easy!

Automatic Bank Feeds

When I first started using FreeAgent, one of the features myself and other users were crying out for was bank feeds.

Originally, the software required you to download a CSV file from your online banking to submit transactions to bookkeeping. After the introduction of automatic bank feeds, once you’ve set up the initial link between FreeAgent and your bank account – everything is done for you.

All transactions from the bank account specified are fetched daily, and what’s more, FreeAgent will even guess the explanation (IE, specific invoice receipt, reoccurring bill, etc.) of that transaction for you if there’s enough historical data.

Not only are auto bank feeds an amazing feature, it shows the development team are willing to act on feature requests from the software’s users. A major plus point for long term use.

You Still Need an Accountant!

A good accountant is invaluable to a freelancer or any small business.

While FreeAgent doesn’t replace the need for one, it will make life a lot easier when it comes to things like producing end of year accounts. Having a comprehensive set of books at the end of the financial year is a massive help to an accountant and should produce less transaction queries if things are kept up to date. FreeAgent provides the tools to do this.

My accountant and I use FreeAgent together for the majority of my businesses’ needs. You can even set your accountant up with their own log-in and define levels of access to your information. A great feature.

From my perspective, any tool that will make my accountants life easier is a bonus as it will likely reduce my accountancy fees!

How Much Does the Freelance Accountancy Software Cost?

If you’re a UK based user, FreeAgent has a rolling monthly subscription cost that varies depending on the type of setup you have:

Sole Trader – £19 per month.

Partnership/LLP – £24 per month.

Limited Company – £29 per month.

For the US business it’s priced at $24 per month and for the rest of the world it’s $20 per month.

FreeAgent Discount Code

All FreeAgent users have the chance to refer others and get up to 100% off their monthly subscription. If this article has helped you decide on using FreeAgent, feel free to use my referral code when you sign up – we’ll both receive 10% off our monthly subscription cost!

FreeAgent referral code: 42itc2k7

In Summary

Considering the money saved on accountancy fees, array of features on offer and the general ease of use, FreeAgent is great value for money. I’d recommend that any freelancer, remote or otherwise, give it a try.

I’ve Never Been to a Web Conference

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 20:32:33 GMT

Whether it be development based, design focused or an area that I specialise in such as WordPress, I’ve never had the urge to attend a web conference.

Being a developer with preference to work remotely, I’d imagine that I’m not completely on my own here. My reasoning may differ from what you’d expect, or it may resonate with you – either way this isn’t intended to demean.

Why Have I Never Attended a Web Conference?

I remember in my early days working in web being intrigued by conferences; talks from famous faces in the industry hosted at amazing locations, it sounded great. That said, I never attended any, primarily due to ticket/travel costs and at that stage of my career I couldn’t afford to take time out on the few contracts I had.

This reasoning still holds true, to some extent, with my feelings on conferences today:

Expense and Time

Conferences aren’t cheap. Ticket, travel and accommodation costs are one thing, but the main cost factor that puts me off going to conferences is the break from the working week.

As a freelancer taking time out effects my business on a large scale. Whenever I take a holiday, I need to prepare heavily – deadlines on current projects need to be met, plans need to be put in place for work upon my return and I need to financially work out how much taking the holiday will cost my business. This isn’t just the price of what I paid for the trip, but the cost of revenue lost.

I have an instance fresh in my mind where a week’s holiday directly cost me a contract that I’d been negotiating before my time off. Five working days out of the office was enough for the potential client to look elsewhere, even though I’d explained my forthcoming absence well in advance. So alongside the money spent on going to the event itself, I always consider the money lost from taking the time off to attend. This is usually too much for me to forfeit.

Taking time off for me = expensive, and being honest, I’d rather use it for holidays with family than conferences.

Educational Value

The web industry is fast moving and there’s always something new to learn. I totally get how many people will thrive on learning information in a conference setting, I’m just not one of those. Throughout my education, I found going away and reading alone or actually _doing, _would be of far more educational value to me than digesting information from my tutors directly.

When deciding on an eCommerce platform for another project of mine, I arrived at Shopify. I knew nothing previously about the platform and it would be the first time I’d used liquid templating, but the site got built in two weeks by learning on the job.

For me, a technical talk at a conference just isn’t going to sink in much. I’m not saying I couldn’t come away inspired in another direction, but as a purely educational tool for my profession – it’s not going to be worth it.

I’d forgive you for reading up to this point thinking I’m an introverted remote developer, who doesn’t like social settings, looking for excuses.

Considering web conferences are largely social, or there’s usually a “social” at the end of the day, I can see how this could be intimidating for a web developer who prefers to spend a lot of time alone. It probably would be for myself a little, but it’s not a pressing issue as to why I haven’t been to an event for social reasons.

Coding websites is a passion and I consider myself really fortunate that I enjoy my job – but spending social time talking about code, doesn’t always appeal. That might sound like an odd statement, especially in the current climate of “constant hustle” in the tech community, I just need my off topic time. It keeps me fresh and focused on my work.

I have friends in the industry who I work with regularly and if we go out for a something to eat or drink socially, we rarely talk about our latest projects. It feels healthier to me that way.

What Am I Missing Out On?

I hear a lot of people saying conference are the best place to make contacts and subsequently gain good quality leads. Of course, this would be a major plus point for anyone running their own business. That considered, there’s only so much work one developer can take on.

The self-growth and learning aspects of conferences I fully understand is a major pull for a lot of attendees. I sometimes get a burst of motivation from a book I’ve read or a film I’ve watched, and often hear about stand out talks being of similar inspiration to people. Perhaps that’s my route in to finding value.

Would I Attend a Web Conference in the Future?

I don’t see why not.

An angle that could work for me would be attending a conference as a team exercise within a start-up or agency setup; building internal relationships based on experiences and similar interests usually creates overall good feeling, productivity and loyalty. If I find myself in either of these arrangements in the future, I would certainly consider a conference visit.

In my current role as a freelancer, I’d have to get into a position where I could justify the overall cost, time commitments and level of value I could pull from the event.

At this moment in time, no single occasion is ticking those boxes.

How to Get Your First Remote Development Job

Wed, 17 Aug 2016 15:33:25 GMT

So you’re starting out as a freelance web developer and you’re ready to take on your first client. Now what? Here’s how I landed my first remote coding job, off the back of which I forged a successful web development business of seven years.

How I Started Developing Remotely

I imagine I started out as most developers born in the eighties do; tinkering with the family computer, gaining interest in the internet and how everything works. At fifteen I undertook an after school HTML course at the local college, which basic as it was, gave me the confidence that I could go on to code for a living.

Fast forward a few years and after a brief foray into video game design/dev, I picked up a degree containing a module loosely based on building a website. This is where I discovered WordPress and my employable niche.

Where Did That First Freelance Lead Come From?

After University I applied for a couple of permanent positions in IT, unsuccessfully. It was the best thing that could have happened to me.

The Preparation

I decided that I wanted to work for myself aged twenty-two, fresh out of education with little idea in real world business terms, but endeavor to succeed in working from home as my own boss. I knew what I wanted to sell (websites), I knew my platform (WordPress), I needed clients, so I pulled together a number of approaches in a bid to get that first client through the door:

Making use of existing connections. Any friends who had a business that may need a website.
Contacting local businesses. I put together a list of local companies who I felt could benefit from a new website and contacted them.
Contacting local design agencies. I compiled a spreadsheet of agencies in the area and made them aware of my services.
Self promotion. Making it known that I was available for hire, via word of mouth, business cards, social media.

Initial Mistakes

I limited myself with contacting only local business and design agencies within the county. As a remote worker, the primary benefit of this business model is that you can work for anyone from anywhere. I wish I’d made greater use of that in my earlier career. The takeaway being from seven years down the line that only ~10% of my work is done for clients within my home county.

Landing My First Remote Development Job

After dodging time wasters and people who wanted to pay next to nothing for a website because their cousins’, friends’, son can “put together a website” (you will get these early in your career, but that’s one for another article!), I gained an interesting lead. A family member, who also runs their own business, had a secondary contact that required a junior developer.

The company was fledgling at the time, with a list of clients waiting for WordPress websites to be delivered – it was perfect and I broke my back to make sure I got my foot in the door. The role grew over time and I ended up working pretty much full time for the company, one day on-site and four days remotely.

Maybe I got lucky, maybe I made my own luck through trying. Try every angle.

Nurturing Client Relationships

The mantra of my business is that I want to keep my clients and you will learn that:

Doing a good job for people is highly satisfying.
Repeat business is king.

Nurturing your early client relationships, whether it’s your very first job or your 10th for that person is so important. It’s much easier to find work, when you’re in work.

Modern Remote Work Avenues

There are more avenues for remote workers than there were when I started, mainly because it’s more of a standard practice, with entirely remote software development companies not being unusual. Here are some home working specific job boards that I’d recommend checking out as they could also be the source of your first remote development job:

In Summary

Getting your first freelance development gig will come down to a number of things – your skill set, your niche/platform, your existing connections, your willingness to put yourself out there and being the right person for a company at the right time.

It can be tough at the start (as can starting any business), plus throwing into the mix a preference to work remotely, you may lose out on a few clients initially.

That said, it seems there are more jobs now than there has ever been for developers who wish to work from home. The right clients are out there and you can successfully build a development business based on this model. I’m the proof!

Tom Hirst

2025 - A Year In Review

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2025

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2024 - A Year In Review

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The Truth About Value Based Pricing

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Solidity Next.js dApp Starter

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Things I Wish I Learned Earlier At 36

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