Someone told me recently that I can sometimes come across as harsh. Not wrong or unclear. Just harsh. The comment came from someone in the Midwest, which probably explains the gap more than anything else. What “harsh” actually means On the East Coast, direct communication is normal. You say what you mean, you get to…
It’s been a while since I posted. I accepted a full-time job as a full-stack developer with an agency last May, and it’s been a whirlwind experience ever since. Mostly good, but also a sense of mourning, leaving behind the life of a freelancer that gave me so much time to grow, learn new things,…
I’m not going to lie. The past four months have been rough. December is usually slow because of the holidays, but things normally pick up in January. This year, they didn’t. I’m still not sure why. Maybe it’s the economy. Maybe it’s the uncertainty everyone seems stuck in. Then came surgery in March, which knocked…
One of the first things people ask when they reach out about a new WordPress site is: “How much is this going to cost?” Fair question — but like a lot of things in web development, the answer is: it depends. The price can vary a lot depending on what kind of site you need,…
I started building websites in 1997, back when the internet was young and boring. Everything was tables and spacer GIFs. Flash was just starting to catch on. If you wanted to change a font, you were basically asking for trouble. But I was hooked. Since then, I’ve seen the web go through a lot of…
Let’s talk about money for a second. Specifically, deposits. I charge 50% upfront for every project I take on. Not 10%, not 25%, and definitely not “we’ll pay you when it’s done.” Half up front, always. Why? Because I’ve learned the hard way. When I first started freelancing, I was hesitant to ask for a…
Hiring a WordPress developer can feel like rolling the dice—especially if you’re not sure what questions to ask or how to tell the difference between a solid developer and someone who’s just good at configuring page builders. As a freelance WordPress developer, I’ve worked on projects that started off on the wrong foot because the…
When I first got into freelancing, I did what a lot of people do: I signed up for a few freelance platforms, set up a profile, and started scrolling through job listings. On the surface, it felt like the right move; lots of opportunities, lots of clients, all in one place. But after spending time…
As a freelancer, one of the most valuable lessons you’ll learn is that not every client is worth your time. In fact, saying NO to the wrong clients is just as important as saying yes to the right ones. A bad client can drain your energy, waste your time, and hurt your business in the…
I’m still on LinkedIn, but I recently canceled my Premium subscription… and honestly, it felt like ripping off a clingy bandage. The main reason? Spam and fake job postings have completely taken over the platform. I used to see LinkedIn as a solid tool for freelancers and agencies, but now it feels like every other…
