Advertising Etiquette
Originally written June 23, 2011

In the world of freelancing, I come across many ads looking for web designers. The ad you place can very much impact the kind of designer you get to respond to your ad. Today I’d like to go over a few observations and give you a few tips as to how to help you get the best people to respond to your ad.

My first piece of advice is to not to come across as rude. I have seen a lot of ads where the client has come across as rude or very demanding. I actually read an ad once that had a line that said “If you don’t know your s***, don’t bother applying.” This kind of tone in your ad will not get you a lot of responses. This sets you up as a problem client right away. Many designers will not work with you and will not even respond to your ad. The designers you do get will likely be very desperate for work and charge very little for your service. You get what you pay for.

Please be professional. In addition to not being rude, look professional. Take a moment to proofread your ad and make sure everything is correct. Especially contact information. I have actually had many emails come back as undeliverable. I have also contacted phone numbers that have ended up being someone who had no idea what I was talking about or were not even valid numbers at all. I know we live in a busy world and it is very easy to get caught up in something, but just step back for a moment and good things will happen. We want to get in touch with you.

Don’t come across as desperate or rushed. I have turned down work before based on a feeling of being rushed in a consultation. Make sure you get your ad placed early enough to allow time for the interview process. The first designer you talk to may not be the best person for the job, so don’t wait until close to when you need the project. Allow time to find the right designer and allow them time to properly plan out and design the right site for you.

The next thing I recommend is put a couple of basic details in your ad. I have seen many ads that just say I need a website, contact me. I know I personally get put off a bit when I see those kinds of ads. Many freelancers will look for projects that cater to their strong points. If there are no details in the ad, we don’t know how to proceed with our communication. Freelancers will tailor their contact emails or phone calls based on the ad. That way we don’t come off as robots when we contact you. Just a few quick things will help. How many pages, what technologies do you need to incorporate. As freelancers, we get paid by the job. Help us maximize our time and yours.

With these few tips, I know you will see marked in improvements in the number of applicants you get for a project and the quality of work the designers bring with them.

The Writings of Randy Pence

Advertising Etiquette