Web Worker Daily

Creativity is an important aspect of a web worker’s life. From creating original designs to composing an apologetic letter to a client, we need to include a dose of creativity that gives additional value and originality to our work. Inspiration may not always be at our side and, even if it is, we still risk coming off as predictable if our clients or audiences are too familiar with our work. In other words, there’s no “oomph” factor.

So how do we get creative when we’re stuck in a routine?

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“Web workers needed. Unfortunately, we can’t pay right now. However, you’ll get loads of exposure …”

Sound familiar? It’s likely that all web workers have encountered ads like that. I know I have. In fact, I’ve even answered some of them - with both excellent and disastrous results. Is working for free worth it? Where’s the line between pro bono work and being a complete doormat?

To me, there are two simple conditions that make me consider taking on a free project:

If it’s a passion project. I’ve mentioned passion projects before, and basically these types of projects are your way of giving back - whether it’s to a cause you believe in or just to work on a personal project without thinking about money. These types of projects can be fulfilling, so they’re much needed in a web worker’s life.

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Experience may be the best teacher, but there are some things that I wish others told me before I started web working. Right now, there are so many resources for web workers, but this wasn’t always the case, and even if more resources existed I didn’t always know where to find them. Although I didn’t have any regrets, I know that there are somelessons that would’ve spared me a lot of headaches if I didn’t wait for experience to be my teacher.

Start as close as possible to the work you want to do. If you want to become a business blogger, there’s hardly any sense in writing $5 articles on dating. It’s not going to help with your folio, since it’s far from the niche you want to work in. I spent so many hours on those types of articles during my first year, but looking back I think those hours could have been better spent applying for jobs I really wanted, and building a folio in a niche I was passionate about.

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If you’ve done similar jobs in a row, such as designing websites for 10 different auto repair shops or writing hundreds of articles on credit cards, it’s likely that you’re looking for a change. It helps to have a bit of variety when it comes to web working, and taking on different projects and clients is a good way to do this.

What types of projects should you undertake if you want something different?

The Passion Project. Ever been interested in a no-paying or low-paying gig even when you’re not financially desperate? Sometimes, there’s a project that you really want to do regardless of any monetary benefit for yourself. This could be for a non-profit organization, a cause you believe in, or a field you’re interested in. These types of projects are often great morale boosters.

However, it’s important to know the difference between a passion project and being duped. There are several jobs out there that promise nothing but ‘exposure’ and ‘good karma’, but some of them are just trying to get away with a freebie. Just make sure that your passion project won’t require so much time and effort that it’ll look like an unpaid full-time job.

Keep in mind that some high-paying gigs can also be considered passion projects if you’re willing to do them even if you weren’t paid.

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In a previous post here at WWD, Mike Gunderloy made a list of some common mistakes made by new web workers. I wouldn’t be surprised if most first-time teleworkers have committed at least one of those mistakes throughout their careers. I know that out of Mike’s list, I’ve committed two.

However, it’s not just newbies who are prone to making mistakes. Even web workers with years of practice have their own weaknesses and faults. What are they and how do we avoid them?

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Charlie Chaplin is one of the most iconic performers of our time. He is known across generations and cultures, and his films are still enjoyed today. Is it possible for a web worker to be that memorable?

Possibly. But internet technology and culture is still too young for us to say for sure. Still, there are some things that the average web worker can do to be almost as memorable as Chaplin.

The first impression counts. The first time people saw Charlie Chaplin’s Tramp character, they immediately responded to him. He was charismatic, and presented himself as a gentleman despite his low social status. Also, audiences were drawn to his resourcefulness in times of crisis.

As web workers, where do people get their first impressions of us? The results that show up when people Google our names, our social networking profiles, our websites, our blog posts - why, that’s almost everything! Since the web is a non-linear medium, you can’t exactly pinpoint the exact time and way that people hear about your work for the first time.  In fact, with digital communication, it’s pretty easy to slip and give others a negative impression.

Because of this, web workers need to put their best foot forward - always. It’s a seemingly impossible task, but as long as you keep only your best work in the foreground, people will get the best possible impression of your work.

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Like a corporate career, web work can also be prone to seemingly irreparable damages. Whether it’s personal problems that affect the quality of your work, difficult clients who give you bad publicity, or the lack of strong business sense, you might get hurled down from your planned career ladder.

From personal experience I know what it’s like to have your own teleworking practice come tumbling further and further down. (I even considered turning my back on my work and becoming a video store clerk, but I suspect I was just being a drama queen.) When you get this low, is there a way to go back up?

I believe there is, but it requires some serious introspection.

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“Gee, that looks complicated.”

This was what I said when I looked through a friend’s project proposal, which included a mind map of madness.

She replied, “It has to be, if I want it to look professional.”

As a fan of living a clutter-free life, I had to disagree. With web workers being more prone to information overload and cluttered inboxes, it’s even more important for us to simplify our work.

So how do we keep things as simple as possible?

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