In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at building portfolios and teaching students. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered, send an email to askfreelanceswitch@gmail.com. Continue Reading

A small business owner may go looking for a freelancer and not necessarily know exactly what he needs. Maybe he wants a website for his business, but that may not mean that he can tell you whether he wants a blog, an e-commerce site or something entirely different. Educating clients on the services you offer can be a tedious process, especially if you find yourself doing it over and over again. There are a few options for providing your clients with a resource that can bring them up to speed on what you can do for them, without you needing to explain over and over again. One of the most useful may be offering a guide on your website, which clients can download and read.

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This semester, I had the wonderful opportunity to go back and teach a studio photography class at my Alma Mater, The University of Kansas. Before the start of this semester I never would have thought I would enjoy teaching as much as I have, and never would I have thought that I was going to learn as much from the students as they were learning from me.

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Photo by James Sarmiento (old account)

Students in Springbook High School’s Web design classes get a real-life glimpse into being a designer—their teacher is also a freelancer!

Zac Gordon, 26, graduated from this Maryland high school just eight years ago. For the past four years, he’s been freelancing in the design business. Because he’s got a side career going, it’s the perfect platform for his students to see what being a designer is really like. Now he’s created a business platform that will enable him to work with his students after they’ve graduated. He’s still teaching in the classroom, but has found that the benefits of his full-time job have translated into a thriving business.

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