I’m not a big fan of generalizations, but I’m also painfully aware that when it comes to freelancing, there are a number of women out there who aren’t getting the gigs and compensation commensurate with their experience.

Going it alone as a web designer will quickly lead to the discovery that your accounting skills are as important as your design skills. If you’ve ever done any freelancing you know exactly what I mean. When should I bill? How much should I charge? What kind of pricing structure should I use? These are questions I’ve wrestled with more than once over my eight year tenure as a freelance web designer. But fortunately, out of the heap of triumphs and failures, a refined set of principles has emerged. I’m sure these rules will keep you out of some sticky situations.

If you’re a designer looking for a job—whether of the freelance or permanent variety—then an online portfolio is pretty much mandatory. In many instances, your portfolio will be looked at without you present, without any other information about you, and probably by a person who has never spoken to or seen you in person. If your portfolio has to stand alone in a critical situation like hiring, it’s worth spending some time making sure it’s going to get the job done!